The Gold Coast economy has grown by 25 per cent since 2020/21 to surpass $55 billion, but perhaps the more significant story is what sits behind the headline number.

For decades, the Gold Coast has been viewed through the lens of tourism, lifestyle and population growth. The latest State of the City Report suggests that perception is increasingly out of step with reality.

Released by Invest Gold Coast, the report ranks the Gold Coast as Australia's largest non-capital city economy and, perhaps more notably, second nationally behind Sydney for Economic Complexity, a measure that assesses the diversity and sophistication of an economy.

It's a result that places the Gold Coast ahead of Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, highlighting the extent to which the city's economic base has broadened beyond its traditional industries.

Today, the Gold Coast supports more than 350,000 jobs, is home to over 83,000 businesses and generates $19 billion in annual exports. Manufacturing now accounts for 62 per cent of international export growth, while sectors including health, education, advanced manufacturing, technology and professional services are becoming increasingly important contributors to the local economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the report confirmed the city's evolution into one of Australia's most significant economies.

"The Gold Coast economy continues to grow at an incredible pace. This is no surprise to those of us who have watched the evolution up close," Mayor Tate said.

"As one of the most entrepreneurial, investment driven and opportunity focused economies in the country our ambition has been realised and possibilities are endless.

"The Gold Coast has built a reputation as the city that says yes. We say yes to investment, yes to opportunity and yes to people who want to build something.

"It's this mindset helping us drive major growth across health, advanced manufacturing, screen production, marine, technology and the knowledge economy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]

While population growth has been one of the defining stories of the past decade, the report points to a broader economic transformation taking place.

The city's knowledge economy now contributes $7.9 billion annually and supports around 31,000 jobs, while the health and wellbeing sector contributes $5.2 billion and employs more than 42,000 people. Together, the six priority sectors identified in the report account for almost $24 billion in economic output and more than 145,000 jobs.

One of the strongest examples is the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct at Southport. The 200-hectare precinct now contains more than $5 billion worth of health, education, research and innovation infrastructure and supports over 16,000 jobs.

The report also highlights the growing role of advanced manufacturing, particularly in aerospace, defence and modular construction.

Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies recently became the first Australian commercial company to attempt an orbital launch, while companies including Modscape and ModnPods are helping establish the Yatala-Stapylton corridor as one of Australia's fastest-growing advanced manufacturing hubs.

The city's entrepreneurial culture is also translating into business growth.

Since 2019/20, the number of businesses operating on the Gold Coast has increased by 22 per cent, while firms employing more than 200 people have grown by 80 per cent. The report suggests the next challenge is converting more local start-ups and medium-sized businesses into nationally significant companies.

Development activity remains another key indicator of confidence.

There are currently more than $23 billion worth of major projects underway across the Gold Coast, supported by a record 75 active cranes, a figure that now exceeds Brisbane and represents a 150 per cent increase since 2016.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112024 project_image_fid=343235]

Importantly, the report notes the next phase of investment will need to extend beyond residential development.

While 93 per cent of crane activity is currently tied to housing, Invest Gold Coast argues future investment will increasingly need to focus on cultural, civic, infrastructure and industry-enabling projects that strengthen the city's long-term economic resilience.

Invest Gold Coast Chair Will Hodgman said the city was now benefiting from years of economic diversification.

"What is happening on the Gold Coast is the result of the city's economic base broadening, fuelled by industries with long-term, high-growth potential," Mr Hodgman said.

"This is no longer a secondary Australian economy, the Gold Coast is becoming a globally connected city with deeper capability across health, knowledge and creative industries, advanced manufacturing, technology and exports."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365786]

Looking ahead, the Gold Coast's population is projected to exceed one million residents by 2046.

For a city that was once largely defined by tourism and lifestyle, the latest figures suggest the Gold Coast is becoming something more significant, one of Australia's most diverse and economically sophisticated urban economies, and increasingly one that national and international investors can no longer afford to overlook.

Joel Robinson

75 cranes, $23 billion pipeline and a $55 billion economy: Inside the Gold Coast economic boom

Ron Bakir's Homecorp has sold more than 75 per cent of the apartments in its wellness-driven Florence Residences in Surfers Paradise following its first weekend release.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/florence-residences-24-monte-carlo-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">26-storey project on Monte Carlo Avenue</a>, which commenced construction earlier this year, has seen a flurry of buyers secure their slice of the Gold Coast's latest wellbeing-focused offering in one of the nation's most competitive property markets.

Since the pandemic, the Gold Coast's population has grown by more than 11 per cent, a rate approximately four times faster than Sydney's, driven largely by lifestyle changes and interstate migration. While buyer activity has moderated in some markets nationally, demand for newly built dwellings on the Gold Coast continues to gain momentum as purchasers increasingly prioritise lifestyle, amenity, wellbeing, liveability and long-term investment potential.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372743]

Homecorp CEO Ron Bakir says buyers today are looking for more than just a home.

"What we are seeing is a shift in how people define value in property," Bakir says.

"What attracts residents to new developments is a desire for more than just a residence. They are looking for a place that complements their lifestyle, supports their wellbeing and reflects the way they want to live into the future.

"Lifestyle, longevity, proactive health, wellbeing, connection and a sense of community are increasingly shaping purchasing decisions, particularly on the Gold Coast, where these factors continue to be a major drawcard."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372744]

Bakir says Homecorp is responding to this shift through an approach that places greater emphasis on design, amenity and experience working together to create places that feel considered, connected and enduring in value.

Inspired by Eastern European design, Florence Residences will comprise 120 apartments alongside a private residents-only wellness club featuring a resort-style rooftop pool, hot and cold plunge pools, a spa retreat, contemporary gymnasium, and a spacious yoga and Pilates studio.

The development will also feature a residents-only lounge with private dining facilities and a rooftop bar, premium outdoor entertaining areas, a hotel-style lobby lounge, generous bike parking, and pet-friendly amenities including a heated dog wash.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372742]

A limited number of apartments remain available, with an exclusive collection of four-bedroom sub-penthouses set to be released in the coming months.

Florence is one of the latest additions to Homecorp's expanding multi-billion-dollar property portfolio, which also includes plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/homecorp-lodges-plans-for-260-million-moroccan-bathhouse-inspired-tower-in-budds-beach">$260 million development in Budds Beach</a> tailored to the growing wellness market.

A development application has been lodged for a 27-storey, 156-residence tower at 8–10 Acacia Avenue and 25–27 Oak Avenue, featuring a residents-only Moroccan spa-inspired sanctuary.

Apartments at Florence Residences are priced from $1,249,000, with construction expected to be completed by late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150414]

Buyers rush to Homecorp's Florence Residences as Gold Coast wellness trend gains momentum

The NSW Government has expanded its $1 billion Pre-sale Finance Guarantee program, broadening access for affordable housing providers and smaller residential developments as it seeks to accelerate housing delivery across the state.

The Minns Government says the program has already helped bring forward more than 600 homes across Sydney and regional NSW since launching in September 2025, with similar models now adopted in South Australia and Western Australia.

The latest changes, announced by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, are designed to improve access to finance for projects that have planning approval but are struggling to secure funding.

Among the key changes is an expansion of support for community housing providers. The program will now support up to 100 per cent affordable housing projects valued at up to $30 million when delivered by not-for-profit providers, while support for larger affordable housing developments will increase for projects worth up to $80 million.

The government says the changes will help accelerate the delivery of housing for low-income workers, older people, people living with disability, and those at risk of homelessness, while reducing reliance on direct grants or subsidised loans to bridge funding gaps.

The eligibility criteria for smaller residential developments have also been broadened. The previous $5 million minimum project value threshold has been removed and replaced with a requirement that projects deliver at least four homes.

Support has also increased for projects delivering fewer than 20 homes, with the guarantee now able to cover up to 75 per cent of dwellings in a development, capped at $30 million per project.

The changes are expected to particularly benefit smaller-scale and regional developments, which often face greater challenges meeting pre-sale requirements imposed by lenders.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the scheme demonstrates how government can use its balance sheet to stimulate housing supply without relying solely on taxpayer-funded grants.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee shows how this Government is using its balance sheet to reduce risk and unlock private investment, enabling new homes to move from design to construction faster," Mookhey said.

"This landmark reform allows us to deliver homes for working families at a lower cost to taxpayers, while also maintaining strong financial discipline."

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the program had already proven effective in bringing stalled projects to market.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee has already proven it can unlock stalled projects and accelerate housing delivery by giving lenders the confidence they need to back good developments," Scully said.

"These changes will allow more affordable housing and smaller developments to access support so more homes can be built faster where communities need them most."

Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the expansion would help community housing providers overcome financing barriers that often delay projects.

"We know community housing providers are ready to build more homes, too often they're held back by barriers to finance," Jackson said.

"Expanding the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee helps remove those barriers so more affordable homes can get off the ground sooner."

The announcement was welcomed by the Property Council of Australia, which has long advocated for measures aimed at improving project feasibility and access to finance.

Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson described the expansion as a practical intervention that addresses one of the most immediate constraints on housing delivery.

"This is exactly the kind of practical intervention we need right now, focused on getting projects out of the ground, not just approved," Stevenson said.

"It builds on a model the Property Council has worked closely with government to develop following calls for such a scheme ahead of last year's NSW Budget, so it's great to see it being expanded."

Stevenson said the reforms would help unlock projects that are ready to proceed but have been delayed by financing challenges. However, she noted that broader feasibility issues remain a significant barrier to increasing housing supply.

"The biggest challenge in NSW housing today is delivery. Too many projects have planning approval but are simply not financially viable to proceed under current settings," she said.

Speaking at the Property Council's NSW Housing Summit, Housing Minister Rose Jackson acknowledged that feasibility and financing pressures continue to constrain housing delivery, while reaffirming the government's commitment to work with industry on solutions.

Stevenson said the government's recognition of those challenges was encouraging ahead of next week's state budget.

"It's positive to see the government clearly recognising that feasibility pressures are now a binding constraint on supply," she said.

"With the Budget just days away, the focus must be on backing delivery, making sure projects stack up, finance can flow, and more homes can move from approval to construction."

The expanded Pre-sale Finance Guarantee forms part of the NSW Government's broader housing agenda, which also includes planning reforms, the NSW Housing Pattern Book, and a series of rezonings intended to increase housing capacity across the state.

NSW expands Pre-sale Finance Guarantee to unlock more affordable and regional housing

Design-led developer-builder Lowe Living has unveiled its latest residential development, Jardin House, marking its first foray into Melbourne's blue-chip City of Boroondara.

Located a short walk from Camberwell Junction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House</a> has been designed to appeal to affluent local downsizers and established families seeking a low-maintenance alternative to the large homes that have long defined Camberwell and surrounding suburbs.

The project will comprise a collection of two and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 92 sqm to 280 sqm, alongside a limited number of penthouse residences featuring rooftop terraces spanning more than 100 sqm, with optional private pools.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372212]

Lowe Living Co-Founder and Managing Director Tim Lowe said Camberwell represented a natural next step for the developer as it expands into some of Melbourne's most tightly held residential markets.

"Jardin House is an important project for our team as it marks the next evolution of our portfolio into different well-established blue-chip pockets of Melbourne," Lowe said.

"Camberwell, with its incredible walkability, family-led neighbourhood feel and superb access to education and transport, makes it a natural choice for us."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372227]

Designed by Tristan Wong Architects, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie and landscaping by Acre, the development takes inspiration from the Art Deco architecture that remains a defining feature of many of Camberwell's established streets.

A curved facade, arched openings, textured brickwork and sculpted forms reference the suburb's architectural heritage, while extensive landscaping softens the building's presence and creates a strong connection to the surrounding tree-lined streetscape.

The project will be set behind a secure gated entrance, with residents arriving through landscaped gardens designed to create a transition between the public realm and private residences.

Inside, the residences feature natural stone and timber finishes, full-height glazing, Miele appliances and generous open-plan living areas designed for long-term owner occupation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]

While the apartments themselves have been designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers, it is the amenity offering that sets Jardin House apart from many other boutique projects currently launching across Melbourne.

The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.

The wellness precinct includes mineral pools, hydrotherapy experiences, a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and dedicated relaxation spaces, creating what Lowe Living describes as a private wellness retreat exclusively for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]

The collaboration follows Lowe Living's recent partnership with Aurora at Maison Savoy in Brighton, although Jardin House is the first project to incorporate both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.

Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.

"Collaborating with Lyndall Mitchell from Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse for a second time is an intentional nod to creating residences that are more than just homes, but a way to enrich the lives of our residents through wellness and longevity," Lowe said.

The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.

The launch comes as developers increasingly target Melbourne's established eastern suburbs, where rising land values, ageing housing stock and growing downsizer demand are creating opportunities for boutique apartment projects.

Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.

"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.

"The generational change of wealth in these locations expected in the coming years is significant, so we see an opportunity to create exclusive residences that appeal to older families and downsizers in order to meet this demand."

Apartments at Jardin house start from $1,195,000. The project forms part of Lowe Living's near-$1 billion portfolio of new developments across Melbourne.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]

Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

As <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> continues its transition from a commercial centre into a more layered residential and lifestyle precinct, a new generation of apartment developments is reshaping expectations around scale, amenity, and long-term liveability.

Improved transport connections through the Victoria Cross Metro, continued investment in dining and public spaces, and a constrained supply of new luxury apartments have sharpened demand for homes that combine proximity to the CBD with the privacy and outlook traditionally associated with harbourside houses.

At 177 Walker Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a>’s new apartment development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> enters the market with a distinctly residential approach to high-rise living. The 30-level tower will deliver 161 residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to sub-penthouses and a full-floor penthouse, all oriented to capture uninterrupted views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and out toward the Pacific Ocean.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project takes advantage of the site’s natural topography and elevated position above the harbour. Rather than relying on density alone, the architecture focuses on outlook, orientation, and spatial flow, with every apartment occupying a corner position to maximise natural light and cross ventilation.

Rothelowman says the site itself shaped much of the architectural response.

“The site has a long history in terms of its inevitable transformation and when we came in, we took inspiration from the idea of reestablishing a sense of the site’s natural terrain and fall. Our scheme aims to integrate with the terrain and the landscape, using the undulating site to slowly reveal glimpses and views of the harbour. The rotation of the tower off grid means every apartment has a view and is naturally cross ventilated. The building's colour palette is quintessentially Sydney, with bronze and sandstone and a luminescent green colour in the glass, making it very earthy and grounded in its location.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]

Inside the residences, the emphasis moves toward larger-format living typically associated with standalone homes. Kitchens sit at the centre of the apartments, connecting directly to open-plan dining and living areas before extending outward into expansive winter gardens and balconies. Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, integrated appliances, and custom metal detailing are used throughout, while three distinct interior palettes, Terrace, Opera, and Harbour, allow buyers to personalise the spaces without compromising the architectural consistency of the project.

The larger residences place particular attention on separation between entertaining and private zones. In many apartments, master suites occupy the outer corners of the floorplates, allowing bedrooms to benefit from floor-to-ceiling glazing and harbour outlooks independent of the living spaces. Dressing rooms and ensuites continue the material palette through fluted detailing, freestanding baths, and layered stone finishes.

Rothelowman says the design intent centred on creating homes that feel enduring rather than transient.

“Our philosophy is all about the way people live in these spaces, and we wanted to create homes that reflect the quality of life in this unique Sydney location. The apartments showcase expansive living spaces that are generous, sophisticated, and bold, with the ability to connect with views throughout each apartment.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=353235]

A separate four-storey amenity building known as The Pavilion expands the residential offering beyond the apartments themselves. Positioned alongside the tower, the building consolidates wellness, recreation, and social spaces into a dedicated resident retreat. Facilities include a 20-metre rooftop pool and sundeck, sauna, spa, ice bath, wellness studio, gymnasium, concierge service, wine cellar, residents’ lounge, private dining spaces, and dedicated co-working areas with meeting rooms and boardroom facilities.

The amenity mix reflects the buyer profile emerging in North Sydney, where owner-occupiers and downsizers are increasingly prioritising convenience, apartment scale, and long-term usability over purely investment-driven decisions.

The Walden also represents a significant milestone for ALAND, marking the company’s first major move into Sydney’s inner-city luxury apartment market after more than two decades delivering large-scale residential communities across Greater Sydney. Founder Andrew Hrsto says the Walker Street site stood apart because of both its positioning and its rarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]

“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic.”

At launch, The Walden recorded more than $103 million in sales, with buyers drawn to the project’s harbour positioning, apartment scale, and proximity to the Metro, which now connects North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes and Martin Place in five.

ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

The Walden pairs house-scale living with North Sydney connectivity

Title Tattle

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Coal mining executive Peter Bond has snappily sold the Watsons Bay harbourfront semis he only bought a year ago for $4.25 million.
The chief executive of Linc Energy bought the adjoining two-bedroom properties with approved plans for one residence from thoroughbred horse breeder Jocelyn May.
But <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-watsons-bay-nsw-2030/227280/?searchID=40143361" target="_blank">James Dack of McGrath Estate Agents sold them</a> well ahead of the scheduled 21 June auction where Bond had reported hopes of recouping his purchase price.
No sale price has been given, but prospective buyers were being told they'd need to better $4.7 million.
Title Tattle recalls the pair of semi-detached cottages failed to sell at 2012 auction when listed with $6 million price hopes. 
Owned by the May family for more than 50 years, the properties have DA approval to combine them into one house with a main bedroom suite upstairs.
The properties are on the beachfront strip fronting a boardwalk near the landmark Doyles restaurant.
In 2007, Jocelyn May sold another pair of semi-detached cottages on Marine Parade for $6 million to developer Graham Werry.
Peter Bond has also listed<a href="/expert-insights/investing/linc-energys-peter-bond-lists-redfern-post-office-premises"> the Redfern Post Office office premises</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Linc's Peter Bond sells beachfront Watsons Bay semis in quick flip

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A modernist house designed by architect Peter Hirst at Pymble on Sydney's upper north shore has finally been sold.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-pymble-116529043" target="_blank">No price indication</a>, but it was listed with reduced $2.95 million plus hopes several months after having a $3.25 million asking price after failing to sell at its early-2013 auction.
The Peter Hirst-designed house, built in 1969 for the Blunt family, sold through the<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/property/for-sale/house/nsw/pymble/?adid=2011083969&amp;autoplayvideo=1" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </a>Modern House agency.
"Gere and Anne Blunt commissioned the architect Peter Hirst to design a house in Pymble located next to PLC on a battleaxe block that affords extreme privacy," their marketing advised.
It is the home of George Pethard, owner of steel-manufacturing business Nevco Engineering, and his wife, Karen, who bought the property for $2.8 million in 2007 from the Heath family.
Set a 2,384 square metre block with a heated swimming pool, level lawns and established gardens, the Pymble Avenue property was renovated in 2006.
The renovation was undertaken by the lawyer Derek Heath and his wife, Elizabeth, by Lesiuk Architects. 
<a href="https://www.modernhouse.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Floor+Site-Plan_31-Pymble-Av_BLUNT-HOUSE_vf.pdf" target="_blank">The five bedroom, two bathroom house</a> comes with a Carrara marble kitchen, plus large formal and informal living areas that flow onto the garden.
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Peter Hirst-designed modernist Blunt House, Pymble finally sells

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Singer Natalie Imbruglia has sold her North Bondi townhouse for $1.22 million. 
The Blair Street property cost for $660,000 in 2000.
The London-based Imbruglia sold the three-bedroom investment through McGrath agent Damien Steele.
It was last available for rent in late 2010 at a $900 a week asking rent.
Photo courtesy of Flickr/<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>. 
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Natalie Imbruglia sells North Bondi townhouse

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Property Obserser noted recently that McGrath Estate Agents now expect more than $850,000 at Lara Bingle's Darling Point apartment auction.
The agency initially was quoting more than $825,000 for the stylish one-bedroom that is set for <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/apartment-darling-point-nsw-2027/225301/?searchID=39312079" target="_blank">14 June auction through Richard Bonouvrie</a>. 
The model bought it from interior designer Blainey North for $882,000 in 2010, soon after her break-up with Test cricket captain Michael Clarke.
Now <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/celebrity" target="_blank">Fairfax Media's Domain suggests $1 million</a> will be secured at auction tomorrow.
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/bingle-june-13-onw.jpg" alt="">
Source Domain.
Just not sure with what authority!
It is in their celebrity section so might be some wayward exuberance rather than an expose on bait pricing.
<a href="/expert-insights/buying/buyer-secures-slight-discount-on-fashionista-model-lara-bingles-darling-point-apartment">Post Script: The apartment was passed in at $855,000</a>, with a reported sale by Saturday evening.
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Fairfax's Domain tips Lara Bingle will secure $1 million plus

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All the attention was on the art filled, stark white matrimonial home of Ron and Odetta Medich this week, given its eventual, but rather rapid sale this week.
<a href="/news/ron-medich-finally-sells-point-piper-harbourfront-trophy-home">It was sold for around $38 million</a> by the estranged couple.
But Title Tattle's antennae has been elsewhere too.
Back in the south of France where some of my recent sojourn was spent tracking down the retreat of Odetta Medich, the noted arts patron of Point Piper where Tasmanian tiger sculptures by Caroline Rothwell feature poolside on Sydney Harbour.
There'd been whispers ever since 2008 that she'd acquired a bolthole, though not much more than the suggestion it was somewhere between Monaco and St Tropez.
In mid-2010 provocatively Odetta tweeted: "st tropez is so much better than miami!!!!! love love love st tropez!!!!!!"
Earlier this year Title Tattle spotted <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=692598610784181&amp;set=a.404463676264344.94963.198495266861187&amp;type=1" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">The World Of Interiors magazine</a>, January edition. 
While the apartment was not the one featured on the cover, there was a small noteworthy mention; 'Chameleon on the Cote d'Azur: The French Salon that turns into a New York loft'.
<img src="/images/2014/06/12/worlds-of-interrior-june-12.jpg" alt="">
Inside, the article made no mention of the owner's name, but the art work was the clue, as it was Odetta through and through.
It was especially the Caroline Rothwell mantlepiece sculpture that piqued Title Tattle's attention, and then the mention of the expatriate Australian architect Carl Pickering of Lazzarini Pickering. He is best known as having done  Icebergs restaurant in 2003 overlooking Bondi Beach, but he has been Rome-based since forming the partnership in 1983.
The magazine revealed it was in the coastal Beaulieu-sur-Mer town which, when it comes to the French Riviera, Title Tattle happens to know like the back of one's hand, second only to St Jean Cap Ferrat.
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/Beaulieu-sur-Mer-june-13-map-tow.jpg" alt="">
Courtesy of Google Maps.
The apartment's location, with its distinctive gargoyles, was indeed within view from the much frequented 81 route bus-stop.
The magazine spiel suggested the apartment was "the riddle on the Riviera".
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/interior-june-12-three.jpg" alt="">
Photo: Matteo Piazza. Source: World of Interiors, January edition.
"How do you give a Belle Epoque apartment on the Cote d’Azur the party-ready functionality of a New York loft? 
"You knock down the walls, replace them with panels that are actually doors – and scatter liberally with reflective black surfaces leading to ‘secret’ spaces," the magazine's Lee Marshall suggested.
The interior photography by Matteo Piazza revealed the restored stucco work, marble fireplace and newly installed pointe de hongrie oak parquet flooring inside the apartment.
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/interior-june-12-one.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/interior-june-12-two.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/interior-june-12-four.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/interior-june-12-five.jpg" alt="">
Photos: Matteo Piazza. Source: World of Interiors, January edition.
Set on the busy road midway between Monte Carlo and Nice, the four storey Royal Residence has around 20 occupant buzzers with Odetta Medich having the split-level patio balcony apartment. It appears to have valley views of the town, but nothing much of the Mediterranean sea in view.
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/odetta%20june%2013%20one.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/odetta_0001_2.jpg.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/odetta-june-13-four.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/odetta-june-13-two.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/odetta-june-13-five.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/06/13/odetta_0003_4.jpg.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.ideainterni.com/residential.php?d=1&amp;g=1071" target="_blank">The Idea Interni builder's website gives photographic details</a> on the 2010 project. Ditto the stoneworks company, <a href="https://www.italworks-usa.com" target="_blank">Italworks</a> as the project progressed.
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Source: Ideainterni
Odetta, is Ron's second wife, 20 years his junior. The SMH investigative editor Kate McClymont once suggested the Lithuanian-born Mrs Medich had spent $5 million on the then unidentified French Riviera bolt hole. 
And Title Tattle will have to defer to Kate's price advisory given the difficulties of navigating the French commune's title transfers. Estate agent shop windows had prices ranges from €135,000 (A$195,000) for studio apartments to the dearest on offer at €4.2 million (A$6.4 million). And of course then there's the extraordinary renovation which these interiors show unfold. Possibly an over capitalisation? 
It is within a 1900 townhouse, which the magazine describes as handsome without pretension, Belle Epoque without too many frills and furbelows. 
Some of the locals know of her as Mme Odetta Chtouikite.
Feature photo of Beaulieu-sur-Mer: Ramón Cutanda López. Source: Flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>.
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Odetta Medich's French Riviera glamorous bolt hole: Title Tattle 

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Model and actress Liz Hurley is selling one of her luxury Midland homes – for £6 million. 
The six bedroom Ampney Knowle (pictured above), near Cirencester, Gloucestershire has been listed so she can concentrate on decorating and furnishing Donnington Hall at Ledbury, Herefordshire.
Liz is planning to live at Donnington Hall, which is 40 miles away.
The larger 13 bedroom property was bought in 2012 with her ex, former Australian cricketer Shane Warne, so Title Tattle suggests it appears she will now buy out his half share interest.
“It’s no secret that I bought Donnington Hall with my former fiancé and it was a tough decision to choose which house to keep as I love them both," Liz told the The Sunday Times Home supplement after her recent decision.
“But I’m looking forward to decorating and furnishing Donnington.
“I’ll be sorry to leave Ampney Knowle because every inch of the house and garden holds a happy memory for me.”
The swimwear designer bought stone-built <a href="https://www.countrylife.co.uk/property/uk/properties/7392945/sales" target="_blank">Ampney Knowle</a> for £3.3 million in 2003.
It is set in 450 acres of Cotswolds countryside, has six bedrooms, a guest annexe, cottages in the grounds and outbuildings.
The Cotswold estate, that comprises more than 144 acres, <a href="https://search.knightfrank.com/cho140193" target="_blank">has been listed by </a><a href="https://search.knightfrank.com/cho140193" target="_blank">Knight Frank</a>.
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Liz Hurley lists Ampney Knowle, to keep Donnington Hall

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Scott Penn, the part owner and chairman of the Manly Sea Eagles, and wife, Nicola secured $4.28 million for their Manly beachfront apartment.
The sub-penthouse in the Waillea building was bought in 2010 for $4.38 million as a weekender but because they are so busy they haven’t used it very much and have decided to sell it.
The third floor apartment in in the Susan Rothwell-designed block on North Steyne.
It had been <a href="https://www.belleproperty.com/buying/NSW/Northern-Beaches/Manly/Apartment/12P4327-12-133-137-north-steyne--manly-nsw-2095" target="_blank">listed through Belle Property </a><a href="https://www.belleproperty.com/buying/NSW/Northern-Beaches/Manly/Apartment/12P4327-12-133-137-north-steyne--manly-nsw-2095" target="_blank">agent Anthony Calacoci</a>.
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Tide retreats a bit, but Waillea, Manly sub-penthouse sold

The tennis champion Pat Rafter has yet to sell his Woollahra terrace.

It was listed initially for 24 May auction with $2.6 million plus hopes then again for 7 June auction&nbsp;through Paul Ephron of Run Property.

<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-woollahra-116801671" target="_blank">The contemporary Wallis Street three-bedroom terrace</a>&nbsp;cost $2.35 million in 2007.

The price&nbsp;guidance is now $2.5 million plus.

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The Noosa-based&nbsp;sportsman previously had&nbsp;his Sydney home on Hopetoun Avenue, Mosman which was sold in 2007 for $7.75 million.

Former tennis ace Pat Rafter is selling his stylish Woollahra terrace for more than $2.6 million.

The two-time US Open winner and Bonds underwear model bought the contemporary three-bedroom terrace in Wallis Street in 2007 for $2.35 million to use as his Sydney base after he sold his Mosman home in Hopetoun Avenue that year for $7.75 million.

Nowadays the Rafters are based in Noosa, where they set a record in 2006 when they bought their double block for $9.5 million.

Pat Rafter Woollahra terrace remains listed for sale

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Property entrepreneur Jono Deague and his wife, photographer Ella have snappily sold their contemporary South Yarra residence of seven years.
Set close to the CBD and a few minutes’ walk to Fawkner Park and Royal Botanic Gardens, the property came with $5 million plus hopes<a href="https://www.kayburton.com.au/property/99-millswyn-street-south-yarra" target="_blank"> through Kay &amp; Burton agents Michael Armstrong and Michael Gibson</a>.
The couple undertook a major renovation on the Millswyn Street property when they moved into the Botantic Gardens precinct.
The four bedroom home became a three bedroom, opening up more space throughout the residence which was built on the 415 square metre block which cost around $3 million in late 2006.
It comes with a spa, pool, cellar, gymnasium, and four car underground garage.
Jono (Jonathan) Deague is the executive director at Asia Pacific Group, which owns the Art Series Hotel Group, a collection of boutique hotels that includes the renowned Blackman Hotel on St Kilda Road, Cullen Hotel in Prahran, and Olsen Hotel in South Yarra. Ella is a photographer, working in interior design and architecture.
No price has been revealed though the agency <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://vimeo.com/96670539" target="_blank">declared it as a "bullish" sale</a> where the "good interest" matched up to "where the vendor was pretty accurately."
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Jono Deague snappily sells South Yarra home

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Millionaire property developer Ronald Medich has sold his Point Piper harbourfront house, understood to be for about $38 million, just shy of its revised $40 million asking price.
The sale occurred at around 9pm last night. 
The 112 Wolseley Road property has been on the market for several years. Its sale ranks as Sydney's highest since Altona sold last March for $52 million elsewhere in Point Piper. A $28.5 million sale took place last month, just a few doors along Wolseley Road, nicknamed Millionaire’s Row, was a nascent sign that the prestige market activity was finally gaining slight momentum.
The buyer was not immediately identified, but was Australian, according to The Australian newspaper exclusive report which then inaccurately reported its sale price as $48.5 million, around $10 million plus more than Property Observer quickly gleaned it actually fetched. The News Ltd publication subsequently amended its likely selling price to $38.5 million and advised the buyer was the SummitCare Australia aged care provider Peter Wohl.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2014/06/11/medich-screenshot-june-11-two.jpg" alt="">
Source: The Australian
First listed in 2011, Ron and Odetta Medich had hoped for $55 million for the property. 
Agents had estimated the Medich home was worth close to $40 million in February 2011 when <a href="/news/nsw/ron-medich-seeks-40-million-plus-for-harbourfront-point-piper-home">Title Tattle</a> first reported its offering. 
The initial and eventual selling agents were Ken Jacobs of Christie's International and Bill Malouf of LJ Hooker Double Bay, with prestige conjunctional agents having periodically introduced potential buyers. One agent was due there this week with a buyer, so was advised not to bother.
Title Tattle gathers the buyer first saw the property two years ago.
Inspections have been difficult to secure given the acute sensitivity of the listing.
It is understood the local buyer was introduced by Savills International agent Martin Schiller. 
Seemingly going against the trend towards Chinese acquisitions, estate agents who'd taken international Chinese buyers through the home, indicated they had faced buyer hesitation given the circumstance of the listing. They also had fears that FIRB approval would not be forthcoming. It ought be noted that while the nationality of the buyer is on record, their ancestry has not yet emerged.  
It was May 2012 when the property was officially listed, having been listed quietly listed for sale, without publicly marketed in print or internet over the prior year.
The Australian architectural studio Katon Redgen Mathieson completed the Point Piper project in 2009 for Ron Medich, who made a fortune with his brother developing industrial sites in Sydney’s west.
His estranged wife, Odetta, has been one of the country's most generous patrons of the arts.
The David Katon-designed house replaced the house bought from the restaurateur Wolfie Pizem in 2003 for $15.1 million.
Pizem had bought the 780-square-metre property for $160,000 in 1978.
At the time of its initial listing, one agent quipped that the Medichs' art collection was worth far more than the house. The artworks include poolside Tasmanian tiger sculptures by Caroline Rothwell. The internal walls of the four-storey house come with extensive artworks of mostly photographic works.
Despite all the ructions, there's been no caveats or refinancing on the official land title for the past three years. The last refinancing was in mid-2009.
Pleading not guilty, Medich, has been charged with the September 2009 murder of businessman Michael McGurk, who was killed by a single gunshot outside <a href="/expert-insights/investing/cremorne-house-of-the-murdered-michael-mcgurk-sold">his Cremorne home on Sydney's lower north shore</a>.
He will stand trial in the Supreme Court on August 25 with the proceedings expected to last three to four months.
The Crown alleges Medich, who was embroiled in legal disputes with Mr McGurk, conscripted then friend and associate ex-boxer Lucky Gattellari to carry out a hit.
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