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 veteran ABC sports commentator Peter Wilkins, best known as "Wilko" has listed his two storey five bedroom Elanora Heights home.
It has been his Sydney home since paying $835,000 in 2003 with wife, Susie. They have two children.
Some $1.3 million plus is being sought for the 1975-built Kalang Road house that sits on a 703 square metre property.
It goes to 1 May auction <a href="https://www.ljhooker.com.au/HCSF6Q/5-bedroom-house-for-sale-elanora-heights" target="_blank">through LJ Hooker Collaroy agent Gordon Spring</a>.
Apparently the couple are seeking a sea-change after its sale. He loves golf, the guitar and surfing.
Currently presenting Grandstand on ABC TV News24, he ranks the radio broadcast of the Socceroos qualification for the 2006 World Cup as a career highlight of the past 32 years.
RP Data puts the median house price at <a href="/news">Elanora Heights</a> at $975,000.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Peter "Wilko" Wilkins, ABC sports veteran, lists Elanora Heights home

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Finally the sales marketing, including video, has appeared on Belle Property websites for 18 Molong Street, Curl Curl North.
Of course it's the redundant home of the Sydney glamour couple Jennifer Hawkins and builder model husband Jake Wall.
Last week the estate agents posted a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhPFKHOoc5I" target="_blank">1.40 minute You Tube drone video</a> on the "sublime sanctuary" where Jen and Jake have watched whales cruising across the horizon.
{qtube vid:=RhPFKHOoc5I}
Gotta love the curtains fluttering in the breeze!
There had been just the 179 video views in its first four days.
The house is also featured with <a href="https://www.belleproperty.com/buying/NSW/Northern-Beaches/North-Curl-Curl/House/12P4639-18-molong-street-north-curl-curl-nsw-2099" target="_blank">photos on the Belle website</a>. 
The whisper marketing campaign began early April with the local paper Manly Daily exclusive.
There's still no official price guidance from agent, Steve Thomas at Belle Property who has had a hand in two prior sales in the Windy Drop Down gated community.
Property Observer noted sales have ranged from $2.7 million to $6.7 million over the past four years.
Another non-cliff front designer property fetched $3.15 million two doors away in late 2012 when Thomas sold the 2007 built four bedroom house.
The couple have lived in the Molong Street home for the past three years since they built on a former tennis court block that cost $1.375 million in 2010.
It comes with <a href="https://www.darrenpalmer.com/north-curl-curl.php" target="_blank">Darren Palmer interiors</a>.
<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/2014/04/11/curl%20curl%20april%2011%20one.jpg" alt="">
They are soon off to their next nearby Koichi Takada-designed (below) home.
<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/2014/04/11/hawkins%20instagram.jpg" alt="">
Source: Instagram
Before Hawkins made the move to the northern beaches, The BRW rich lister who ranks number 22 on the Top 50 Entertainers list owned a townhouse in Coogee, which cost $2.27 million in 2009 for $2.27 million and was sold for $2.3 million in 2012.
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Inside Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall's North Curl Curl, Sydney listed home

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Motorcycle legend Wayne Gardner and his wife, Toni, have sold their oceanfront home at Fairy Bower, Manly for slightly less than its initial $8 million hopes held on its February listing.
Title Tattle gleans the price was at least $7.25 million.
Wayne Gardner paid $2.05 million in 1999.
The three storey home comes with 17-year leasehold title up for renewal in October with the Catholic Church. 
Leases were first offered for around 150 blocks along Bower Street, Fairy Bower Road and College Street in 1915 for a few thousand pounds.
The former grand prix motorcycle racer and family moved to Barcelona, Spain in 2012 to pursue the racing ambitions of their sons Remy and Luca.
The five-bedroom sold through McGrath agent Jake Rowe. It comes with three indoor living areas, along with pool, poolside family room and pool bar at the 68 Bower Street, Manly holding. 
For many years Manly's record price was the Belle Epoque-style mansion, Fairy Bower, which fetched about $9.5 million when sold by the Potts Point-bound former car dealer Terry Mullens and his wife, Wendy in 2009.
Les Flots Bleus, the clifftop Shelley Beach, Manly, property, held the suburb's residential record when $6.75 million was paid by Jane Fitton-Williams, a professional cookery expert, through Jake Rowe from McGrath in 2007.
Manly's house sale record earlier stood at $6.5 million when Terry Agnew and his wife Kyril sold their 1920s mansion, Fairy Bower, in 2004.
Prior sales on the dress circle have included $6.75 million for 62 Bower Street in 2007.
There was the $4.3 million sale of 81 Bower Street in 2008.
The Mediterranean-style villa Beach Haven was among the earliest prestige sales, fetching $3.1 million in 2000 through Bergelin Real Estate's Bernie Bergelin, the former Manly Rugby Union captain, when bought by the family of surgeon Michael Christie from transport magnate and former Manly sporting identity John McPhee and wife Laura. It had been virtually rebuilt since bought by the McPhees for $465,000 in 1984, from the estate of Lady (Mollie) Askin, widow of the late premier Sir Robert Askin.
The Gardner couple have leased their 57 hectare hobby farm near Berry.
The Meroo Meadow farm on the NSW south coast had been previously listed with $2 million-plus expectations.
It's a picturesque grazing and lifestyle property that cost $1.8 million in 2003. 
It comes with some rainforest with private waterfalls. The four-bedroom farmhouse  comes with substantial garaging and farm outbuildings.
With well-planned fencing and paddock layout, it has a carrying capacity of 50 breeders. "The owner has enjoyed the farm lifestyle, however business and family interest have moved offshore," the marketing noted.
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Motorcycle legend Wayne Gardner sells Bower Street, Fairy Bower, Manly leasehold home

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Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury has yet to sell his former Albert Park abode (pictured above), after it was passed in at weekend auction on a $1.5 million vendor bid.
<a href="https://www.greghockingrealestate.com.au/real-estate/property/717835/for-sale/house/vic/albert-park-3206/23-boyd-street/" target="_blank">The unfurnished three bedroom house </a>was among the 330 auctions across 158 suburbs on the Anzac Day weekend where the highest sale was 14 Hannaslea Street, Box Hill (pictured below) at $1.36 million.
<img src="/images/2014/04/28/BOX%20HILLE%20APRIL%2028%20ONE.jpg" alt="">
Pendlebury purchased the double-fronted Victorian house at 23 Boyd Street in late 2011 for $1.3 million, as he moved from <a href="/news/vic/scott-pendlebury-secures-newport-cottage-offer">Newport</a>.
On initial results, the REIV reported a clearance rate of 69%, the same rate as this weekend last year. It was 70% on the pre-Easter Saturday this year.
There were 242 auctions reported to the REIV taking the total this year to nearly 7,500 homes sold by auction with an average clearance rate of 71%. 
Next weekend the REIV expects about 830 auctions, Enzo Raimondo the REIV chief said. Then 10/11 May with 670 auctions and 17/18 May with 650 auctions.
The busiest auction locations were Epping (eight auctions), Carnegie (five auctions), and Rye (five auctions).
The number of auctions this week was lower than the 10-year average of 517 auctions per week in April due to the timing of Anzac Day. 
The REIV has noted clearance rates have trended lower since the beginning of the year although the number of transactions so far this year is about four percent higher than his time last year.
With his fiancee Alex Davis, Scott Pendlebury is now looking to buy something larger, possibly in much the same neighbourhood.
Pendlebury attended the recent no-bid auction on Nelson Road, South Melbourne (pictured below), a double-fronted five bedroom, three level Edwardian that was renovated a couple of years ago by architect Dean Lewis with interiors designed by Kerry Phelan. It has been listed with as yet unrealised $4.5 million hopes.
<img src="/images/2014/04/15/south%20melbourne%20april%2015.jpg" alt="">
Pendlebury's current three bedroom home has another bedroom in a self-contained studio at the rear.
John Holdsworth, of Greg Hocking Holdsworth, was quoting $1.5 million plus in the auction guidance on the prize corner holding with central living/dining space featuring dado panelling. 
In the meantime the narrower two bedroom cottage diagonally opposite <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-albert+park-116700439" target="_blank">has popped for May 10 auction</a>.
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Scott Pendlebury's off field Albert Park Anzac Day weekend offering passed in

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The professional matchmaker Yvonne Allen has sold her three-level inner city Melbourne pad for $1.3 million.
Allen, founder of Yvonne Allen &amp; Associates, and her partner Stephen Hopley, a former director of Macquarie who is now on the board of oil company MEO Australia, bought the three-level apartment at 10/130 Flinders Street in 2007 for $695,000.
The couple then commissioned architect Victoria Hamer to renovate <a href="https://www.melbourneboutiqueproperty.com/index.cfm?pagecall=property&amp;propertyID=2624823" target="_blank">the four bedroom apartment in the 1885 building</a>.
The Italian High Renaissance revival warehouse stood as the tallest in Flinders Street after being designed by W.H.Ellerker.
The converted warehouse has had nine residential apartments since 1993.
It sold through Gina Donazzan, of Melbourne Boutique Property, who was quoting $1.1 million-plus.
It features a private rooftop terrace with views towards Government House. Its open-plan living area comes with seven metre ceilings, exposed red brick walls, parquetry floors and original french doors.
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Matchmaker Yvonne Allen sells Melbourne warehouse penthouse

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An unidentified cashed up Europe-based buyer - thwarting the nascent trend of Asian buyer interest in the Southern Highlands - has secured Chain of Ponds before this weekend's scheduled auction.
The property is the matrimonial farm of Sydney businessman farmer Peter Holmes à Court and his former wife, Divonne, who now lives in Saanen, Switzerland where the children are schooled.
It had been set for 26 April auction with $6.3 million plus hopes through <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/acreage-rural-mittagong-nsw-2575/194333/?searchID=38671885" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">McGrath Bowral agent Anne Stone</a> and <a href="https://www.mcmillanrealestate.com.au/property-details/property-details?id=2237" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Howard McMillan from McMillan Real Estate Bowral</a>.
The sale price has not been revealed but Title Tattle is aware of $6 million plus offers.
APM reported Sydney vendors notched up a 78% Anzac Day weekend clearance rate, up on the 73% rate on the same weekend last year, with the highest recorded sale being 229 Prices Circuit, Woronora at $1,610,500.
With the wonderful autumn rains, Chain of Ponds presented picture perfect in the auction marketing, <a href="/news/gardens-mudrooms-grand-gates-private-lakes-and-fire-places-southern-highlands-trophy-home-requisites">as Property Observer columnist Margie Blok recently noted</a>.
The property is currently run as a beef breeding and fattening property on a large scale for the Southern Highlands but could easily be transformed into a high class horse stud. 
Occupying 145 hectares on Old South Road, the property has a six-bedroom residence renovated by Luigi Rosselli Architects.
It is set in extensive gardens designed by landscape luminary William Dangar.
At the western edge of the house paddock, Dangar planted acacias, hakeas and eucalypts all species endemic to the local area to form a screen for privacy and wind relief.
With potential for subdivision into three separate lots, Chain of Ponds is six kilometres from Mittagong and 11 kilometres from Bowral.
The Holmes à Courts oversaw the planting of 5,000 native trees linking the property with surrounding national parks. The property is well irrigated with 12 dams and the Chain of Ponds creek.
Title Tattle is aware of several trophy home sales over recent months, the most noteworthy being The Chase, on Oldbury Road at Sutton Forest through Bill Carpenter from W. McI Carpenter &amp; Associates at Bowral. The Chase, the historic trophy property, <a href="/news/malaysian-tycoon-teo-ah-khing-from-china-horse-club-snaps-up-historic-the-chase-at-sutton-forest">was bought for $5.8 million by the Malaysian horse racing tycoon Teo Ah Khing</a>.
It had been put to December 2013 auction through Bill Carpenter inconjunction with Campbell-Jones Property agent Angus Campbell-Jones. Last traded at $5.2 million in 2011, the 40 hectare property was offloaded by John Starr, a real estate franchise tsar of Sydney’s western suburbs.
Patchway on Ranelagh Road, Burradoo also sold in January to locals for about $4.2 million. It was the home of Lyn Wilson and her engineer husband Ken who Title Tattle recalls supplied steel fabrication for the Olympic Stadium at Homebush.
Still no settlement details on <a href="/news/gai-and-robbie-waterhouse-tipped-as-dunsinea-mittagong-cattle-farm-buyers">Dunsinea, the 40 hectare Mittagong, Southern Highlands NSW trophy property that has been sold for about $4.95 million</a>.
All the locals reckon that champion horse trainer Gai Waterhouse is their new neighbour, along with her extended family. Apparently the Waterhouses are thinking of selling their Clifton Gardens home and buying a Sydney apartment.
Dunsinea has views over the bushland of the Nepean State Conservation Forest. 
It was sold by Mark and Rosie Mitchell who developed the holding from the ground up after returning from the UK in 2002. They first tried to sell in late 2008 with $7 million plus hopes, then more recently with a $5.25 million asking price through Sam Triggs from Meares and Associates and Michael Maloney from Richardson and Wrench Bowral.
Set on the northern fringes of the Southern Highlands, Dunsinea comes with modern ‘rammed earth’ five bedroom sandstone home.
<a href="https://www.randw.com.au/1066175/" target="_blank">Dunsinea</a> is surrounded by 100 acres of rolling grazing land, some 15 kilometres from Bowral.
The house is srrounded by its green and white garden, complete with 10 metre heated pool and all weather tennis court. There is also a guest cottage.
The main residence boasts 300mm - 450mm thick walls and 10 foot high ceilings.
Title Tattle recalls Margie Blok, after inspecting the home in 2008, noted it had been meticulously built with classic architecture.
"The house has superb proportions, solid sandstone walls, stone verandas and custom-made Georgian-style windows with double glazing. Inside, the rooms have 3.6-metre-high ceilings and polished stone floors, which are heated for winter warmth," she wrote.
"The front door opens to a wide central hallway with two guest bedrooms, a bathroom, a guest toilet and a study on the left. Opposite are the formal sitting and dining rooms.
"At the end of the hall is a central pavilion with a television room and a large family living-dining area with an open-plan kitchen. Off this is another kitchen (for caterers or food preparation) with a coolroom and cellar," Margie Blok told her readers.
Its formal dining room was subsequently included in the ‘Best 50 Rooms’ by House and Garden magazine.
The pasture was marketed as ideal for cattle grazing with the property fattening 40 to 50 steers year round. Title Tattle gathers that would translate accomodating around 20 horses, as is.
It had been for sale on and off for several years, even attracting the fleeting attention of the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his wife, Therese. 
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Peter and Divonne Holmes à Court sell Chain of Ponds, Mittagong for bullish $6 million plus

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A striking Alex Popov-designed Hunters Hill riverfront house last traded in 2007 for $3.55 million has been listed for sale.
The split-level home was built for then Vogue chief financial officer Aye-Ling Koh set on its 1,114 square metre holding.
There is floor-to-ceiling glass and wrap-around decking.
It was built in 2000 after the block was bought in 1995 for $550,000 with the home designed based around a central pavilion with a wing on each side.
Popov had the main pavilion with the kitchen and a dining area overlooking the living room.
In the eastern wing Popov placed the main bedroom with ensuite, walk-in dressing room and northerly views across the river. The level below had another bedroom with an ensuite.
The western wing had two bedrooms, a bathroom, laundry and sauna.
With expansive Lane Cove River views, the contemporary, three-level Bonnefin Road residence comes with plunge pool and sauna.
The five-bedroom, four-bathroom property, to be auctioned 31 May through <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-hunters+hill-116789471" target="_blank">Savills agents Adam Ross and Shayne Harris </a>in conjunction with BresicWhitney, sits in landscaped native gardens.
The last known Alex Popov-designed waterfront house sale was last August when $3.75 million was secured in North Sydney, having passed in at its March auction.
It originally had price hopes of $4.5 million.
Located at 6 Adderstone Avenue, the property is a sequence of inter-connected pavilions down to the water.
The home features three bedrooms, three bathrooms and an internal courtyard and pond.
The home boasts French limestone floors throughout and a separate guest pavilion with a wet bar.
<a href="https://www.raywhite.com/nsw/north-sydney/1058724/" target="_blank">The property also includes a jetty, deepwater moorning and it’s own private beach</a>.
The Sydney Morning Herald once featured it as one of Sydney’s top 100 houses.
It last traded for $950,000 in 1995 before the house was built.
Megan Thomas and Kingsley Yates of Ray White Lower North Shore had the listing.
Popov is a Wilkinson and Robin Boyd awards winner for the early 1990s Griffin house at Castlecrag.
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Alex Popov-designed Hunters Hill house listing

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It's something of musical chairs amid the mansions of East Melbourne, though they allow in outsiders from Mont Albert. Pollster Gary Morgan's East Melbourne mansion, Sunnyside, has been sold through Jock Langley, of Abercromby's Real Estate, but the details remain sketchy.
It is likely to sold for close to $7 million. Title Tattle gleans it has been bought by Sheree Robinson from Mont Albert who lodged a caveat over the property title sat month pursuant to its upcoming settlement.
The 1864 property on George Street, had been listed for sale by international tender in March last year with expectations of more than $10 million.
The Victorian residence, designed by Charles Webb with its striking façade, has eighteen principle rooms. 
It includes large, north facing reception rooms, a romantic drawing room, library and study, inviting informal living areas and a well equipped kitchen.
There is a private lawn, swimming pool and stables that offer pavilion entertaining and a self-contained apartment.
Last September the London style Georgian mansion Amberley, set just across the road, was sold for $10.2 million. Set on 902 square metres, it was built in 1886 offering a lifestyle reminiscent of inner London.
The George Street six bedroom offering was marketed as arguably "the finest home, in the finest street, in the most sought after suburb in Melbourne."
The technology millionaires Evan Thornley and Tracey Ellery sold Amberley through Kay &amp; Burton for the $10.2 million to the McKeon family who are longtime locals.
It last traded at $7.1 million in 2002 when sold by Krystyna Campbell-Pretty and her husband, Harold, chairman of market research group, Amberley Corporation after their 20 year ownership.
Peter and Maureen McKeon's prior nearby house was designed by the architect Leonard Terry, responsible other fine buildings such as the Melbourne Club. It sold for $6.35 million last year. Braemar, the 1865 grand Victorian mansion, with hints of Georgian influence, was marketed an imposing bluestone home built for William Bowen on 1,018 square metres. It was bought by Wayne Sidwell.
The Morgan's aren't going far either having bullishly purchased Claverings, the $5,155,000 Victorian villa in March last year.
Meanwhile another house with the same name, Sunnyside, one of the grandest homes to line Sydney Harbour, Sunnyside remains listed for sale. The 1857 sandstone home is set on 1,250 square metres of gardens.
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Pollster Gary Morgan sells Sunnyside in East Melbourne

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Styled akin to villas on the French Riveria or the Amalfi Coast, a 1,150 square metre oceanfront offering at Whale Beach is sure to attract keen interest. If not just because of its striking terracotta colour!
It has been listed with offers due by May 21 through LJ Hooker agents David Edwards and Amethyst McKee who are quoting $6.5 million plus.
This coastal <a href="https://palmbeach.ljhooker.com.au/2W3F6Z" target="_blank">residence</a> (pictured above), now painted in almost an Uluru ochre, holds a significant place in Northern Beaches folklore.
With prized views down over the beach, out across the ocean, and north to Cape Three Points, this was Lady (Susan) Renouf's pink palace with full length terraces framed in bougainvillea.
Of course it is just along from where the late Dame Joan Sutherland spent her time when not in Switzerland or Potts Point. It had been in the 1970s that Dame Joan Sutherland bought her occasional retreat for just $167,000.
But it was Susan Renouf who brought Rayner Road its prominence from the late 1980s given her many guests at Villa Balena included Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York who came to stay accompanied by Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. The society hostess bought the property in 1989 for $1.9 million when it was already known for its cement-rendered pink exterior.
Title Tattle recalls her purchase followed the 1988 sale of her Point Piper matrimonial home, Toison d'Or (also called Paradis sur Mer) for $19.2 million after her estrangement from her husband, New Zealand businessman Sir Frank Renouf. She also sold her Mittagong retreat, Kennerton Green that year to Marilyn Zweck-Abbott.
"I always wanted a house by the beach," Lady Renouf once told me, recalling her holidays at Whale Beach during the 1960s.
But following her London mews purchase in 1991, Susan signalled her desire to sell the home with it ending up in 1993 selling to adman Greg Daniel and Louise McBride, then a tax partner with the law firm Clayton Utz.
They purchased it for $1.85 million in December 1993, selling for $7 million in 2006 to the Allan family, reportedly expats then living in London, who are now the vendors. It seems Donald Allen, a former director of Equigroup, and wife, Margaret are downsizing closer to the city.
 
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" alt="flagtitletat" width="25" height="34" style="font-size: 14px; margin: 5px; float: left;">
It has taken four year but art dealer Roger McIlroy, the former head of Christie's in Australia, has finally sold his <a href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:BcVhkvC0y2wJ:palmbeach.ljhooker.com.au/23YF6Z+&amp;cd=3&amp;hl=en&amp;ct=clnk&amp;gl=au" target="_blank">Palm Beach retreat, Jeeda</a>.
It was initially listed with $5 million hopes, selling at an undisclosed price presumably at around its revised asking indication of $4.5 million. It had been listed through LJ Hooker Palm Beach agents David Edwards and Peter Robinson in conjunction with Christie's agent Ken Jacobs.
The 1,534 square metre Sunrise Road holding with sandstone cottage (pictured below) has been in the family since 1922, when wool broker Eldred Moser bought it for £1,025 from pioneer doctor Lucy Gullett, who had paid £100 to the Barrenjoey Company in 1917.
<img src="/images/2014/04/24/palm%20beach%20apirl%2024.jpg" alt="">
Gullett had just returned from World War I, where she served in a French Red Cross military hospital in Lyon.
Its 2010 listing followed an unsuccessful land tax challenge, which determined Melbourne-based McIlroy lived at Palm Beach only 10 percent of the time and it was therefore not his principal place of residence. 
His family happy snaps, clothes and personal possessions were there, with the Administrative Decisions Tribunal member Robin Handley ruling the evidence established that McIlroy's connection to the Palm Beach property was an enduring, long-term one, rooted in his family and personal history. But the NSW Office of State Revenue fought back hard and won a reversal. He and his sister, Jane Strang, had inherited it in 1972. 
McIlroy, who bought his first surfboard at the age of seven, was billed $161,930 for the period from 2002 until 2006. The 2009 land valuation was at $3.87 million, down on its $3.91 million valuation in 2008.
The former Shore boy McIlroy lived in Melbourne for decades while working for Christie's and was its managing director until the upmarket art auction house closed its doors in Australia in 2006.
McIlroy then went into business in Mayfair with one of the most influential figures in the London art world, the dealer Lady Angela Nevill. 
 
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" alt="flagtitletat" width="25" height="34">Lawyer Derek Heath and his wife Elizabeth have sold their five-bedroom Palm Beach home, which Christie's Ken Jacobs was seeking a $7.65 million asking price.
Designed by architect Simon Parsons in the mid-1990s, <a href="https://www.kenjacobs.com.au/1098244/" target="_blank">the still contemporary beachhouse</a> (pictured below) sits on the dress circle hilltop strip on a 1,000 square metre block.
They bought the Sunrise Road block in 1994 for $830,000, and it became the couple's permanent home in 2007 after they sold their 1969 Peter Hirst-designed home in Pymble for $2.8 million. It was the modernist house designed by architect Peter Hirst of Harry Seidler &amp; Associates at Pymble on Sydney's upper north shore.
It was built for the Blunt family set on a 2384-square-metre block with a heated swimming pool, level lawns and established gardens. The Pymble Avenue property was renovated in 2006 undertaken for the Heath's by Lesiuk Architects. 
<img src="/images/2014/04/24/palm%20beach%20apirl%2024%20two.jpg" alt="">
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Former Lady (Susan) Renouf's pink palace home listed at Whale Beach

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No need for the daily surf report. Looking out the window will do.
Australian pro surfer Taj Burrow has spent $2.3 million on a Tamarama investment apartment, which he will move into in a few years.
<a href="https://house.ksou.cn/house_img.php?t=0&amp;sta=nsw&amp;id=60178&amp;seq=0&amp;price=&amp;addr=2%2F22+Gaerloch+Avenue&amp;region=Tamarama&amp;img=7" target="_blank">The three-bedroom 126 square metre Gaerloch Avenue </a>top floor duplex apartment was bought from investment banker David Sutherland.
It sold through McGrath agent Damian Steele.
The Margaret River, West Australia based Burrow, who won the 2007 Rip Curl Pro at Bells, was runner up this week to Mick Fanning.
His acquisition occupies the entire top floor of the 1950s Wairakei duplex overlooking one of the world's most famous coastlines.
The three bedroom, one bathroom flat with garage last traded at $493,000 in 1988 and at $185,000 in early 1986, which Title Tattle suggests graphically highlights the amazing wave of price rises in the property boom of the time. It's a 66 square metre tandem lock up garage.
Sutherland thought about selling it in 2010 but a desired $2.5 million sale didn't eventuate. 
Sharon Marsh at Ray White Randwick and Monica Touma at Mint360 have been seeking $1,500 a week tenants.
Its past known asking rent was $1,250 a week in 2011.
The lower level of the duplex also sold last month. It also sold at $2.3 million when snapped up before its scheduled auction through Belle Bondi Junction agents Matt Douglas and Daniel Gillespie. But Taj didn't buy it, as the locals say it was sold to Midnight Juggernauts band member Daniel Stricker.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-tamarama-116178135" target="_blank">It had last sold at $198,000</a> in 1986.
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