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

<html><body><div class="custom-container">
<div class="custom-padding">
<div class=" row ">
<div class="col-md-6 col-sm-6 col-xs-6 col-lg-6 none-padding">
The former Golden Crust bakery in Armadale has been sold by the Village Roadshow boss Clark Kirby and his wife, Sara.
It came with a guide of $17.3 million to $19 million.
Logistics company entrepreneur Mark Rowsthorn sold it to the Kirby's for $11.5 million in 2014.
<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/2019/12/19/Golden%20Crust%20Bakery%202.jpg" alt="">
In 2006 Rowsthorn paid $4.5 million for the property and in 2010 the architecture firm Jackson Clements Burrows converted the 1915 property <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-armadale-132385970" target="_blank">into a five bedroom home</a>.
It still bears the original bakery signage on its brick exterior. A wet edge pool and spa sit in the 1,850 sqm landscaped grounds.
This article was first published in The Weekend Australian.
 
 
 <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-armadale-132385970"> </a>
 
 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

Luxury Golden Crust bakery conversion in Armadale sells

<html><body>
The former Golden Crust bakery in Armadale has been listed by the Village Roadshow boss Clark Kirby and his wife, Sara.
It comes with a guide of $17.3 million to $19 million.
<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/2019/11/29/armadale%202%201.jpg" alt="">
The 1915 built property was converted into a luxury five bedroom home in 2010 built home by architects Jackson Clements Burrows by the logistics company entrepreneur Mark Rowsthorn.
Rowsthorn had paid $4.5 million in 2006 for the property when it was bought from antique dealers who has used the premises as their home and gallery.
<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/2019/11/29/armadale%203%201.jpg" alt="">
It still bears the original bakery signage on its brick exterior.
A wet edge swimming pool and spa sit in the 1,850 square metre landscaped grounds.
<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/2019/11/29/armadale%201%201.jpg" alt="">
Marshall White Stonnington agent Marcus Chiminello has the listing.
This article was first published in the Weekend Australian. 
</body></html>

Luxury Golden Crust bakery conversion in Armadale for sale

<html><body>
Musk Farm sold at its overcast onsite weekend auction for $1.59 million through the Pat Rice &amp; Hawkins agency.
The late interior designer Stuart Rattle and cattle farmer Michael O'Neill, partners for 16 years, paid $93,000 in 1998 with a $76,000 mortgage, for what was to become their expanded renovated Musk Farm, Daylesford masterpiece.
Selling agent Matt Childs had anticipated the <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/11-school-road-musk/Property-Details-buy-residential-7025401" target="_blank">cottage</a> on 1.2 hectares would <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/11-school-road-musk/Property-Details-buy-residential-7025401" target="_blank">fetch $1 million plus</a>, with it announced on the market at $1.14 million.
<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/2014/06/02/musk-june-2-two.jpg" alt="">
There were six bidders who pushed the final sale price well above expectation after the $850,000 opening bid by the eventual buyer. Property Observer gathers the East Melbourne buyers will have Musk Farm as their weekender.
The auction attracted 350 plus attendees to the Victorian central highlands offering. The underbidder, standing with glasses (pictured below), congratulated the buyer in the sienna orange jumper.
<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/2014/06/02/musk-june-2-four.jpg" alt="">
 <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/2014/06/02/musk-june-2-one.jpg" alt="">
A clearance rate of 73% was recorded this weekend compared to 71% last weekend, from the bumper 1,057 auctions reported to the REIV. More than 10,000 homes have been sold at auction so far this year.
The Rattle estate included an adjoining 30 hectare cattle farm lot in the acclaimed Daylesford district expected to fetch $550,000 plus, sold for $660,000 to other buyers. Subject to council approval, the holding could get a residence since it qualified above the 20 hectare minimum block size.
<a href="/news/vic/musk-farm-the-stuart-rattle-michael-oneill-garden-estate-listed-for-auction">The former school property</a> started as a derelict garden overun with blackberries. 
<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/2014/06/02/musk-june-2-three.jpg" alt="">
But taking their inspiration from the English Arts and Crafts movement of Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll, the couple set about its restoration starting with the planting of hydrangeas outside the 1880s old school house.
It comes with chinese tea house and a garden with 16 distinct garden rooms, joined by interconnecting walkways, and separated by large clipped hedges, English Box (Buxus sempervirens) and viburnum (Viburnum spp) and Ligustrum vulgare (Privet).
The garden, especially the pond, was not to its usual amazing high open day standard, looking slightly unkempt given the constraint on funds since the events of last December.
Attendees could partake in scones, iced yo-yos and Lavazza coffee with Peter Rowland catering.
Mossgreen auctioned the contents having set a pre-sale estimate of $299,000, but strong interest from around 600 registered bidders secured a sales tally of $711,000. A portrait of James, Duke of York, sold for $26,840, including buyers' premium. The family will donate a statue called The Thorn Boy from the gardens to the Wombat Botanical Gardens as a memorial for Stuart Rattle.
<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/2014/06/02/musk-june-2-five.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Musk Farm sale draws big crowd to Stuart Rattle garden estate auction

<html><body>
Furniture maker Nicholas Dattner has listed his redundant 1862 Collingwood kiln warehouse apartment.
It was fitted out in 1999, with copper fronted kitchen benches after it was bought for $280,000.
It has been leased for the past six years given his move to Castlemaine.
The three bedroom 16/26 Wellington Street apartment is tipped to fetched $1.35 million to $1.45 million at its <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-collingwood-115320547" target="_blank">21 June hockingstuart auction</a>.
Dattner thought about selling in 2007 but wanted $1.7 million for the apartment which was part of the sprawling former Carlton United Breweries operation that stretched from Victoria Parade to Gipps Street.
The brewery stopped work in the early 1990s.
Dattner long maintained a property at Chewton, near Castlemaine, then buying 60 hectares nearby, at Harcourt where he built an ultra-modern place inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright.
</body></html>

Furniture maker Nicholas Dattner lists Collingwood kiln apartment

<html><body>
Karin Upton Baker's Elizabeth Bay dormer pied-a-terre, has been sold four years after the collapse of her husband Gary Baker's speculative property development empire. 
Title Tattle gleans it has been bought for just a little more than $5 million by a company directed by Phillip Wolanski, along with Melbournites, Stewart Baron and Sam Alter in a mortgagee sale by the lenders previously known as Challenger Managed Investments. The exchange took place earlier this month, with no settlement details yet available. The purchasing company, 27 Billyard Pty Ltd was only set up in mid-April by the veteran developers. Wolanski is known in the prestige neighbourhood for his Belltrees project.
The Bakers' then home, a mansard-roofed Billyard Avenue, Elizabeth Bay penthouse, had been initially listed for sale in 2010 as the couple fought litigation from lenders who claimed they were owned $18 million.
Upton Baker remains the managing director of French luxury-goods house Hermes's Australian operations where she has been for a dozen or so years. The indefatigable Karin Upton Baker was previously viewed as the magazine editor from Central Casting with her designer wardrobe, the Joh Bailey, Double Bay blow dry along with an apparent charm that had magazine advertisers eating out of her gloved hands. Hearst Magazines even had her fill in when Liz Tilberis, editor of US Harper's Bazaar, died in the late 1990s.
Gary Baker's three year bankruptcy concluded this week, his regularly sighted Rolls Royce driving seemingly just one of the quirks of the bankruptcy system.
Spotted around Camperdown in recent times, Gary Baker burst onto the eastern suburbs property scene in the brash late 1980s heydays when directing the aptly named Dynasty Pty Ltd, before adding Dredge &amp; Barge Pty Ltd, followed by Pile &amp; Bucket Pty Ltd.
The delayed sale was in part due to trying to align the strata plan in the sales contract with the final design of the neo-classical multi-levelled apartment that was their ever-enlarging home for two decades.
Gossip columnist Annette Sharp wrote in 2007 that the couple had then quietly put their Elizabeth Bay property on the market seeking $16 million for the three-level penthouse apartment through agent Jennine Leonarder-Collins before withdrawing it days later.
It came with rooftop garden, lap pool, billiards room, three bedrooms, Roman-style bathhouse and fleet parking. There was also Karin's department-store style wardrobe.
</body></html>

Gary Baker and Karin Upton Baker's Elizabeth Bay penthouse abode finally sells

<html><body>
Businessman Paul Ehrlich and his wife Lauren secured a bullish $10.1 million for their palatial Vaucluse home, highlighting the price resurgence of inland Vaucluse mansions.
It had been listed for auction last night, first with hopes of $8.5 million, then $9 million plus, but three Australian/Chinese buyers pushed the price into double digit million territory.
<a href="https://www.raywhite.com/nsw/vaucluse/1133320/" target="_blank">The three-storey Towns Road mansion</a> dates back to the architect Harold Finger who built it around two decades ago.
He sold it in 1996 for $4.28 million to Oriental Technologies Investment vice chairman Laurence Luo-Lin Xin.
The Ehrlichs bought it for $4.1 million in 1999. They met at Maccabi squash in 1983.
{qtube vid:=xeAzzKnNcYI}
Bidding opened at $8.7 million, with auctioneer James Keenan calling it on the market at $10 million, when it was subsequently knocked down to the opening bidder.
Set on 1200 square metres, the six-bedroom residence comes with a tennis court, indoor and outdoor pool and rooftop terrace with Sydney Harbour views.
It sold through Ray White Double Bay agents Elliott Placks and Ashley Bierman.
Last year close to 50 houses sold above the <a href="/news">2013 Vaucluse suburb median</a> of around $3.1 million as increased sales activity signalled the emerging signs of momentum. The median was once $3.8 million in 2011.
The top three harbourside properties sold at $14 million, $15 million and $19 million, but it is arguable that the resurgence hasn't yet got to the waterfront homes. 
The Singapore-based BRW rich lister Brett Blundy has yet to his Kutti Beach home, but secured around $7 million on his neighbouring non-waterfront home. 
Rag traders Nick and Susie Kelly bought last year from nautical engineering entrepreneur Philip Goymour and his wife, Tanya, setting the highest price for the year at $19 million on Kutti Beach.
But the mainland Chinese buyers appear to prefer inland with King Chu and Xiaoyi Zhu spending $15 million when they bought the Vaucluse Road, Vaucluse home of John and Mary Andrews from the Haverick Meats family mid-last year, some two years after its listing.
Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke recently bought his inland five-bedroom home for around $8.3 million. 
Lawyer John Williamson-Noble, a partner at Gilbert+Tobin, and his wife Renee, sold their Coolong Road home earlier this year at $6.5 million, having been listed last September with $6.5 million-plus hopes through McGrath's Hamish Robertson.
</body></html>

Bullish $10.1 million under the hammer Vaucluse trophy mansion sale

<html><body>
Art gallery owner Rob Gould’s South Yarra home has been listed for sale with $5.5 million plus hopes.
But the Scott Redford sculpture 'My Beautiful New Polar Bear' in its courtyard, landscaped with limestone tiles and architectural grass trees, is not included.
It's a modern, white-washed abode behind its ordinary classic Victorian facade.
Renovated by architect John Wardle, it has hovering floors that float above indoor water features. 
The four-bedroom early 1900s Park Street semi has been <a href="https://www.23parkstreet-southyarra.com/" target="_blank">listed by Marshall White agent Marcus Chiminello</a>.
It's all on a modest 379 square metre block.
Wardle restored the formal reception rooms at the front of the house and retained original architraving, lead-light windows and ornate ceiling roses, while furnishing the rear of the property with floating ceilings, walls and walkways, and long, clean walls which provide hanging space.
The gallery owner’s art collection features works of Charles Blackman and Sidney Nolan.
Chiminello says some buyers had expressed interest in buying the artworks.
<div id="gallery">
<div class="img-wrapper">
<div class="premGallery">The prominent art dealer received media attention in 2012 when his former partner, Sotheby’s Australia chairman Geoffrey Smith, took legal action in an attempt to secure a share of assets after their 14-year relationship came to an end. </div>
<div class="premGallery"> </div>
<div class="premGallery">Gould is downsizing and has not ruled out a move to Sydney, where he owns an apartment.</div>
</div>
</div>
</body></html>

Art dealer Rob Gould's South Yarra home offering - polar bear not included

<html><body><div>
All the big life changes have merged for James Mathison into the same scenario. Job issues, new baby and shifting home.
But the dumped breakfast TV presenter James Mathison held his nerve to knock back $1.11 million when his Bondi apartment went to auction this week, just days after the official cancellation of the Network 10 breakfast show Wake Up.
The Confidential column of the Daily Telegraph came across the listing by Mathison and partner Carlie Fowler who were hoping for $1.2 million for the two-bedroom two-bathroom apartment.
{qtube vid:=RSOos66PEVI}
Thankfully the Henderson Street offering through Ray White Woollahra did sell post-auction the next day, achieving the desired $1.2 million for the Bondi Vue apartment. <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/nsw/bondi/1129146/" target="_blank">The website says </a>the apartment is under offer.
They paid $1.06 million in 2012 after James sold his Clovelly apartment for $700,000. The often sardonic Mathison, last spotted by Title Tattle MC-ing an REIV event, had bought the apartment for $630,000 in 2008, in his Australian Idol co-hosting days.
The couple, parents to one-year-old daughter Luca, are expecting their second child in December.
The News Ltd report says the couple are upsizing to a three-bedroom property in the eastern suburbs.
Property Observer gleans they had the apartment available for lease recently at $1,050 a week.
Mathison remains under contract to Channel 10.
The 206 square metre apartment comes with a 111 square metre courtyard.
</div></body></html>

Expectant redundant James Mathison sells Bondi apartment

<html><body>
The celebrity chef Bill Granger - who retains two restaurants in Sydney, along with four in Japan, and in London's Notting Hill and Clerkenwell - has opened Bills Sydney in Hawaii. And his next outlet opening will be Seoul in June.
<a href="https://www.billshawaii.com" target="_blank">It is a rustic-chic beach house in Waikiki</a> that opened last month.
The trademark creamy scrambled eggs that put him on the culinary map are available at 280 Beachwalk Avenue.
It's between the Hilton and Westin in low-level contemporary <a href="https://www.thebeallcorporation.com/projects/280_beach_walk/BW_1_DSC_1495" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">building</a> (pictured above) that also houses the Hard Rock Cafe in the two-story 30,519 square foot retail building.
Located at Waikiki’s west side, Honu Group’s retail development is close to the Fort DeRussy Reservation.
<a href="https://www.thebeallcorporation.com/pdfs/280_beach_walk-brochure.pdf" target="_blank">2006 stats showed a daily US$202 expenditure by Oceania visitors</a> which Bills will be seeking some of the spend especially from those who know of his fare.
"I only open where I’m inspired; something about the place and lifestyle needs to speak to me," he recently said.
"Honolulu is my favourite type of beach town - urban.
"I had no idea how vibrant the food scene was; I’ve been inspired by the tropical produce and fusion of Vietnamese, Japanese and indigenous cuisines (with a bit of Brooklyn thrown in).
"The menu includes nods to these local dishes, plus all the bills classics and pizzas piled with fresh healthy toppings," he says.
He is not the only Australian in the complex as CBRE's Andrew Starn secured <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2013/06/12/pacific/search/results?q=Andrew%20Starn" style="line-height: 1.3em;"></a>tenants including Le Blanc Art with the Australian-born artist Shane Bowden. The other tenants include Akakura, a high-end shoe store, 24 Karat, a Japanese surf shop and the Rome-based women’s clothing and accessories boutique Brandy Melville.
Title Tattle recalls Bill Granger got his training at the iconic La Passion du Fruit on Paddington's Oxford Street after hailing from Melbourne.
Granger opened the original bills in the Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst in 1993, when he was 22.
His Queens Court, Woollahra restaurant recently closed, replaced by the vibrant Luxe.
</body></html>

Bills of Sydney rides wave of international success to Waikiki, Hawaii

<html><body>
The prolific author Deborah Abela and her television director partner Todd Decker secured $950,000 for their Glebe weatherboard cottage.
The couple are trading up to a nearby $1.32 million Darghan Street Victorian terrace.
They bought their two-bedroom Colbourne Street cottage for $600,000 in 2005.
It has the tiniest of office/study off the living room. Her books for children include the <a href="https://www.deborahabela.com/site/Max_About" target="_blank">Max Remy Superspy</a> series.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-glebe-116836215" target="_blank">McGrath's Michael Glynn</a> had hopes of $900,000-plus ahead of the scheduled weekend auction.
Abela worked in the script department of Southern Star, the television production house, then the kids' show Cheez TV as a producer and writer before leaving in 2001 to write full-time.
</body></html>

Title Tattle

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Title Tattle

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News