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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The low-key Huang family were hosting guests at Altona, their prized $52 million Point Piper home, yesterday.
It was an outdoor lunch on the alfresco terrace they've installed on the previously neglected tennis court block.<img src="/images/2014/05/27/alotna%20may%2027%20threee.jpg" alt="" style="line-height: 1.3em;">
Leeuwin Estate and Penfolds shiraz were available along with the BBQ prawns.
The family and guests had earlier popped down to the harbourfront jetty to take photographs with the trophy home, Altona as the backdrop.Title Tattle was cruising Sunday morning spotting the obviously proud family as they posed and then pointed out the classic features of their iconic Victorian Italianate home to their international guests. 
Possibly they were all oblivious to the silly speculation in the Fairfax Media Sunday tabloid that had suggested Altona was the "next" trophy home set for demolition. "Altona likely to be demolished," said the headline without any subsequent proof.
<img src="/images/2014/05/26/SMH-may-26-one.jpg" alt="">
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
Title Tattle gathers neighbours have been merely advised to expect bathroom renovations at the Wunulla Road property, not the wrecking ball. 
Indeed the mere absence of the property from the forthcoming 1995 Woollahra Council local environment plan update doesn't make it the next to be bulldozed. There has been no application by the Huang family, just an overdue consideration by council of what homes across the municipality should and should not be included in the updated local environment plan.
Title Tattle suggests <a href="/news/goodbye-craig-y-mor-the-prof-wilkinson-point-piper-home">t</a><a href="/news/goodbye-craig-y-mor-the-prof-wilkinson-point-piper-home">he recent demolition of nearby Craig-y-mor,</a> anticipated for five years, ought not have been extrapolated into the reckless weekend report that Altona too faces the same outcome.
However the depiction of reality further faded by mid-morning when the international Daily Mail website managed to completely mangle the earlier Sun Herald report to its worldwide audience.
<img src="/images/2014/05/26/daily-mail-may-26-one.jpg" alt="">
Source: Daily Mail
It wrote:
"A $54 million waterfront mansion located in an exclusive Sydney suburb is set to become the most expensive Australian property to be knocked down.
"The Altona residence in Point Piper, located just metres back from Sydney Harbour, will smash the current record for a demolition property by more than $20 million if a decision to move the wrecking ball in get's approved next month.
"The fate of the 1960s estate is in the hands of Sydney's Woolhara (sic) Council, which will need to assess whether the benefits of building a more contemporary estate on the site outweighs the current property's heritage listed significance. A heritage assessment report compiled for the council recommends against the knockdown of the Victorian Italianate residence, but the report only lists the original features of the two-storey residence as being a parapet, two chimneys and a tower."
The entire Daily Mail report was wrong, jumping to conclusions based on the misleading intent within the originating Sun Herald article. The Australian Financial Review has also republished the piece under the heading, Sydney mansion Altona faces demolition. 
Last June, after <a href="/news/altona-reigns-in-title-tattles-subdued-top-20-house-sales-list-of-2013">its $52 million sale</a>, Woollahra councillors moved a motion that a report be prepared considering the heritage significance and possible heritage listing of the property at 54-56 Wunulla Road, Point Piper, known as Altona including its curtilage.
It concluded renovations and extensions over the decades meant there was little origin heritage within the estate.
That's a pity, but it hardly warrants the hysterically misleading weekend reports.  
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Point Piper's Altona stands proud amid tabloid media demolition hysterics

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Ailu, the 1885 Camberwell mansion, became the suburb's record price holder at auction this weekend. It fetched $6.8 million at its Marshall White auction with three strong bidders.
Property Observer gathers the landmark Italianate, slate roofed Victorian residence on a 1,580 square metre block, last sold for $1.1 back in 1996.
It was bought in 1996 from the Jolly family that had owned it since the mid-1930s, when the property was known as Toowomba.
Showcasing the impressive proportions of its era, it has been faithfully renovated to preserve its traditional period features.
But Marshall White selling agent James Tostevin stressed the interiors also delivered luxurious living spaces geared to today's contemporary family lifestyles.
Located in one of Melbourne's finest residential precincts, the Tara Estate, the home features a wide double arched hallway with parquetry floors.
There is a sweeping staircase leading to the tower which has two bedrooms and an upper terrace with 360 degree views all around the Melbourne skyline.
Marshall White marketing utilised drone imagery, a new technology allowing buyers to view properties from perspectives that would previously have been inaccessible. There were 1900 pre-auction views of the youtube offering.
{qtube vid:=CmLisGpZngE}
With a $5.4 million opening bid, James Buyer Advocates indicated Ailu was announced on the market at $6 million with all three bidders back in the race. After the day's auctioning, Marshall White director John Bongiorno told Fairfax Media the prestige Melbourne market was finely balanced and not as strong as some people thought.
Locals advise that the earlier Camberwell record was set when lawyers Peter Gordon and partner Kerri O'Toole secured $6.275 million in 2012 for 69 Broadway. It was a five bedroom 1901 home on a 3300 square metre holding sold through Kay &amp; Burton which had likewise sold in the mid-1990s, selling at $1.25 million in 1998.
RP Data puts <a href="/news">Camberwell</a>'s median at a near record $1.38 million. 
Melbourne's fourth and seventh dearest house sales this weekend were also in Camberwell with the REIV reporting a 73% and APM a 74% clearance rate across Melbourne.
The other top house sales that Property Observer was aware of this weekend:
2. 15 Avondale Road, Armadale $4,900,000
3. 4 Riversdale Court, Hawthorn $4,350,000
4. 49 Cookson Street, Camberwell $3,190,000
5. 1 Laburnum Court, Brighton $2,925,000
6. 9 Tiffany Grove, Templestowe $2,656,000
7. 119 Wattle Valley Road, Camberwell $2,650,000
8. 39 Hannan Street, Williamstown $2,500,000 
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Ailu, the 1885 Italianate Camberwell mansion, fetches $6.8 million record price

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The veteran ABC sports commentator Peter Wilkins, best known as "Wilko" has sold his Elanora Heights home.
It has been his two storey, five bedroom Sydney home since paying $835,000 in 2003 with wife, Susie. They have two children.
Some $1.3 million plus was sought for the 1975-built Kalang Road house on a 703 square metre block.
Its<a href="https://www.ljhooker.com.au/HCSF6Q/5-bedroom-house-for-sale-elanora-heights" target="_blank"> LJ Hooker Collaroy selling agent Gordon Spring</a> has declined to give a price result.
Apparently the couple are seeking a South Coast sea-change.
RP Data puts the median house price at <a href="/news">Elanora Heights</a> at around $975,000.
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Peter "Wilko" Wilkins, ABC sports veteran, sells Elanora Heights home

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It was 2007 when the wandering NRL player Willie Mason bought a home at Clovelly for $2.3 million. His contract at the Bulldogs and endorsement deals earnt him at least $600,000 a year on the back of winning the Clive Churchill Medal in the 2004 premiership victory.
Mason, whose mates dubbed him "the king of the eastern suburbs" during his subsequent stint with the Sydney Roosters, then headed briefly to the Cowboys in far north Queensland.
He certainly missed the lifestyle around Clovelly, during his 2011 stint in France playing rugby union for Toulon.
Title Tattle recalls longtime Channel 9/Fairfax rugby league reporter Danny Weidler writing that Mason had renovated the property and was relying on his French deal, and $1,500 weekly rental, to keep the mortgage under control.
It was then off to the Newcastle Knights where he currently flats with a teammate. Title Tattle presumes Mason is among the unpaid players at the club where Nathan Tinkler's ownership is unravelling. The Hunter Sports Group released a statement today confirming they have handed over ownership.
Title Tattle undertook a review this week of the team's property portfolio only to spot the Clovelly property of Mason (pictured above) has been <a href="https://www.belleproperty.com/40P0815" target="_blank">listed for June 21 auction through Belle agent Daniel Gillespie</a>.
It is set directly opposite Clovelly Beach, with ocean and coastal views to Wedding Cake Island and is a coveted oceanfront reserve setting with freshly schemed interiors.
There are two double bedrooms and two distinct living areas, including one opening to a glass-framed entertaining terrace with views. It is freestanding to the east side.
Willie Mason was born in Auckland in 1980, moving to Australia as a five-year-old growing up at Toronto. He was recently praised for visiting children in hospital, then later while shopping at Westfield Kotara, much to his credit, remembering a patient and pausing to encourage his recovery. 
A $2.5 million plus price is its unconfirmed price guidance.
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Newcastle Knights prop Willie Mason lists Clovelly property: Title Tattle

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The six bedroom Brighton home which has accommodated the latest batch of Masterchef contestants on the Channel Ten competition, has been listed for sale.
<a href="https://www.marshallwhite.com.au/323-st-kilda-street-brighton-7027769/" target="_blank">It was designed at 323 St Kilda Street</a> by Peter Carmichael, and then constructed by Everclear.
"Un-paralleled luxury levels make their presence immediately apparent throughout dramatic, dynamic spaces for living, dining and entertaining that are matched by equally memorable alfresco areas while a Miele equipped kitchen, filled with northern light, meets contemporary needs with evident elegance and efficiency," the Marshall White marketing suggests on the Brighton offering.
"It is a home of substance and status," Marshall White agent Michael Paproth said.
It comes with home cinema, play room, cellar, swimming pool, spa and gymnasium, security surveillance and garaging for six cars on an allotment measuring some 1883 square metres.
The beach and the bay are at the end of the street.
It has been listed with $5 million plus expectations.
Thousands auditioned, with judges Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston scouring the country to handpick Australia’s best home cooks, selecting the Top 24 to join them in Melbourne’s MasterChef Australia kitchen in the sixth series, and second in Melbourne.  <a href="https://tenplay.com.au/channel-ten/masterchef/photos/selfies-gallery#17" target="_blank"></a>
<a href="https://tenplay.com.au/channel-ten/masterchef/photos/selfies-gallery#17" target="_blank">The 24 contestants who share a passion for food, while bunking down in Brighton</a>, are competing for $250,000 cash, a Hardie Grant cookbook publishing deal, work experience in some of Australia’s best kitchens and an Alfa Romeo Giulietta.  
Close to 70% of MasterChef Australia alumni now work in the food industry.
This week Property Observer revealed <a href="/news/channel-tens-the-bachelor-heads-to-hunters-hill-leaving-la-joie-de-vivre-behind">Clifton, the heritage listed Hunters Hill mansion, is the home of the next series of The Bachelor</a>, replacing La Joie de Vivre at Bayview.
The reality television show on the struggling Network Ten is currently being filmed in the stunning Sydney mansion.
It last sold in 1993 for $2.75 million.
The 5,124 square metre near-riverfront estate with a lawn tennis court was recently vacated by the McCaffrey family.
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MasterChef Australia home in Brighton for sale

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McGrath Estate Agents expects more than $825,000 for the Darling Point apartment that Lara Bingle bought from interior designer Blainey North for $882,000 in 2010, soon after her break-up with Test cricket captain Michael Clarke.
It's a stylish one-bedroom that is <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/apartment-darling-point-nsw-2027/225301/?searchID=39312079" target="_blank">set for </a><a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/apartment-darling-point-nsw-2027/225301/?searchID=39312079" target="_blank">June 14 auction</a>.
It is a Goomerah Court company title art deco apartment apartment with city and harbour views from most of its 65 square metre space. It was not the apartment that Lara lived in while filming her reality television series, which was based on Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach.
It has American oak parquetry floors. It had been traded at $700,000 when bought by Blainey North.
There have been two other McGrath sales in the block when $925,000 was secured for <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/apartment-darling-point-nsw-2027/76865" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">a two bedroom unrenovated listing</a> and then a <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/apartment-darling-point-nsw-2027/193910/?searchID=38820498" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">renovated two bedroom sale last October</a> at around $800,000 which Title Tattle suggests would explain the latest pricing estimate.
RP Data puts the current apartment median in <a href="/news">Darling Point</a> at around $1.2 million, which has eased over the past month from $1.3 million.
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Lara Bingle looks set to lose on Darling Point apartment listing

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Lochiel, the 1858 Hamilton house in Brisbane, has been listed for sale with offers due 13 June.
With views of the city, river and Story Bridge, <a href="https://hjre.com.au/listings/residential-140277-house/" target="_blank">Lochiel is set on a 2,344 square metre holding</a> surrounded by one hundred year old trees.
It is for sale through Gail Havik of Havik &amp; Jackson.
It last traded for $6.4 million in 2006.
It was built for auctioneer Sir John F Buckland, then and now one of Hamilton's largest private landholdings. It dates back to 33 years after Brisbane was first settled, situated in the most prestigious suburb in Queensland, Hamilton Hill.
Buckland had arrived in Brisbane in 1862, born in 1832 at Runnymede, in a farmhouse formerly used as a hunting lodge by King John, and situated immediately opposite the spot where the Magna Carta was signed.
The seven bedroom home has 1500 square metres of living and entertaining space.
There are stunning 20 foot high gold leaf cathedral ceilings. There is a pool and putting green in the grounds.
The horse stables are used for garaging.
Lochiel, initially known as Balmoral House, then as Runnymede, sits close to rocks named Cameron Rocks after the next owners.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/19392069?searchTerm=S+Cameron" target="_blank">The Cameron's</a> were in residence for 100 years until 1999.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-hamilton-102839242" target="_blank">Adcock Prestige</a> sold to last in 2006.
In 2010 the vendors were fined $350,000 for 2007 works undertaken without Queensland Heritage Council approval.
The late Ray Catelan, who founded real estate information service RP Data, was fined $100,000 and his company fined $250,000 after pleading guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court to carrying out unauthorised building work.
Developers had tried to knock down the house in the late 1990s but this was opposed by neighbours, the Brisbane City Council and the National Trust.
Its western wing, gatehouse and museum were added in 1906 at a time when museums were a fad in so-called gentlemen's residences. It was filled with shells, birds eggs, native weapons, paintings, glass and china.
The museum wing held the personal and eclectic collection of John Samuel Cameron. It included Aboriginal artefacts, oriental furniture, porcelain painting and sculptures.
An upper storey was added in 1927. 
Lochiel was used as six flats from World War II to 1998.
Former owner Michelle Kleist restored the mansion in 2001 after a battle with the Heritage Council over several issues, including its colour.
She followed heritage directions and later said she was glad she did.
Lochiel is described by heritage architects as highly idiosyncratic.
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Lochiel, the 1858 Hamilton, Brisbane trophy home listed

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The former National Australia Bank executive Michael Ullmer and his wife, Jennifer secured $6.65 million for their Double Bay residence.
It was sold recently to academic, professor of sleep medicine Ron Grunstein, and his wife, Rose through<a href="https://doublebay.ljhooker.com.au/M15F93" target="_blank"> LJ Hooker Double Bay</a>.
The Ocean Street property, which had traces of being renovated by architect Professor Leslie Wilkinson in the 1950s, last traded in late 2002 for $5.82 million.
It was sold back then by the real estate chain chairman Brian White and his wife, Rosemary in 2002.
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Banker Michael Ullmer sells Double Bay abode

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Jon Aisbitt, the London-based former Goldman Sachs Australia boss, sits in equal last place on the latest Sunday Times Richest 1000 list. 
His net worth was down £40 million.
Aisbtt was in equal 989th place this year with an £85 million worth.
Aisbitt was in 631st place last year. The list, now in its 26th year, was released on Sunday.
Aisbitt, 57, made £50 million from Goldman Sachs' 1999 float, and £15 million from share sales until he left the merchant bank in 2002.
It was also 2002 when the London-bound departing Goldman Sachs co-chairman, Jon Aisbitt, and his wife, Julie, secured $13.5 million for their Wunulla Road house, Point Piper harbour front house.
It was renovated after its $9.6 million sale in 1999 by the architect Luigi Rosselli. The house was built for the Rose family in the early 1960s by architect Adrian Snodgrass, who was influenced by the Wrightian style of the Sydney School of Architecture.
Aisbitt, ranked 368 in The Sunday Times' 2002 Rich List with a £98 million net worth.
The Sunday Times doesn't explain the drop in his net worth, but says Aisbitt's investments in Ocean Rig, the deepwater drilling operator, and broker Redburn Partners netted him £55 million.
 He has a £1.8 million holding in the Man hedge fund business that he chairs. 
In this role, Aisbitt oversees the operation's own charitable arm, the Man Group plc Charitable Trust which supports disadvantaged children through community projects, literacy and numeracy support and university scholarships, as well as supporting causes tackling domestic violence, homelessness, mental health and the environment. 
Last year, it gave £1.85m and received another £1.115m in donations and other income for future spending. 
Back in 1999 I wrote the $10 billion Goldman Sachs employee goodwill bonus - given when the company listed on the New York stock exchange in April 1999 - had been a goldmine for Point Piperites, the Goldman co-chairman Jon Aisbitt having only recently arrived, temporarily drawing the drapes at his Wiversfield, Sussex, residence, Launces Hall Church.
Aisbitt bought in Point Piper right opposite his short-lived Goldman co-chairman Malcolm Turnbull, whose Australian outfit had then reported a 70% jump in its annual operating revenue to $15.2 million.
Title Tattle recalls proximity to Goldman co-chairman Malcolm Turnbull's mansion, Le Gai Soleil hadn't been a priority, given co-chairmanship inevitably is a role that can lead to the odd tension.
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Jon Aisbitt almost drops off latest Sunday Times Richest 1000 list

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Demolition has begun on the Wolseley Road, Point Piper mansion owned by the son of a former vice-president of China.
Craig-y-Mor, the Point Piper non-waterfront residence owned by Zeng Wei and his wife, Jiang Mei, no longer sits proudly intact, high on the hill overlooking Sydney Harbour with picture postcard-perfect views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
The grand 1920s house (pictured this morning) with renovations by Professor Leslie Wilkinson was initially bought just in his wife's name, as was an earlier acquisition - a $1 million apartment in the World Tower block in Liverpool Street in the CBD in 2005.
The house cost $32.4 million in 2008 making it Sydney's most expensive demolition. It will be replaced by a $5 million Gergely &amp; Pinter designed house.
The 2008 purchase, which ranked as the third highest in Sydney at the time and the priciest non-waterfront holder, was made just in the name of Jiang Mei. Quietly during 2009, the name of the Wei Zeng was subsequently added to the title. The knowledge of that coupling created subsequent intrigue and speculation, then confirmation of the unknown prominence back home of the owners.
<img src="/images/stories/wolesleyarchitect.jpg">
Architect's impression: Gergely &amp; Pinter Architects
It all came to the fore in late 2009 when the couple were seeking its demolition, to be replaced by a $5 million new home (architect's impression above), so they were both named for the first time in the then much anticipated end-of-year Sydney Morning Herald Title Deeds Christmas party column.
It quickly sparked speculation in Chinese internet chatrooms - despite their names being published in an incorrect order and the restrictions on Baidu, the Chinese internet search engine.
The web was soon alive with chatter linking Wei to his father, Zeng Qinghong, the former vice-president of the People's Republic of China between 2003 and 2008, and once one of the most powerful men in the Chinese Communist Party.
The elder Zeng, long the right-hand man to former President Jiang Zemin, was a member of China's peak political body, the Politburo Standing Committee, for five years and before that headed the powerful Organisation Department, which is responsible for deciding who gets which political posts.
The couple won planning approval on Christmas Eve 2010.
<img class="img-responsive" src="/images/stories/flexicontent/l_craigymor.jpg" alt="Point Piper on the Chinese tourist route for insight into the privileged lives of Communist Party princelings ">
<a href="/expert-insights/investing/point-piper-on-the-chinese-tourist-route-for-insight-into-the-privileged-lives-of-communist-party-princelings">Property Observer wrote in late 2011</a> there was a new addition for sightseeing Chinese tourists when they visit Sydney.
Not just cuddly koalas and the Opera House – they have added driving along Wolseley Road, Point Piper for a glimpse of the $32.4 million property owned by a son of a former vice-president of China, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
The Chinese couple bought the Point Piper non-waterfront residence for a then Australian record of $32.4 million from the businessman Ben Tilley, who bought the Wolseley Road house for $16.15 million in 2004 from the stockbroker Rene Rivkin and his wife, Gayle. 
The Chinese couple had been keen to buy Villa de Mare, also on the Point Piper hillside, but negotiations with the recruitment entrepreneur Julia Ross failed to proceed to exchange in 2007.
Craig-y-mor is on a 1,100-square-metre block.
The Rivkins bought Craig-y-mor from the former Patrick stevedores chief, Chris Corrigan, and his wife, Valerie, for $10.7 million in 2001.
The Corrigans bought it in 1991 for $7.14 million from the developer Gary Rothwell who had subdivided the then 2600-square-metre estate which had been the home of the mining tycoon Roy Hudson who left his estate to his stepson, the London-based venture capitalist David Archer and wife Vicki.
<div>Wilkinson was commissioned in 1962, to undertake additions and alterations costing 16,800 pounds for Roy Hudson who bought in 1960 from the Davies/Jackaman family who had it built in 1910.</div>
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