Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

Joel Robinson

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

Victoria

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The Victorian Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, has made a move to ensure that private land owners on beaches covered by Public Conservation and Resource zones will only be able to go ahead with the agreement of the state government.
Before this, there was apparently a loophole allowing private land owners the ability to build permanent structures ‘as of right’. This could be anything from a deck, verandah or shade structure to a fence, sign or significant outdoor furniture.
Now, however, these zones will be kept from private development under amendment VC115.
“The Victorian Coalition government will not allow public accessed beaches to be built  on, where the land is technically held in private ownership,” Guy said in a recent statement.
They are currently further looking at legislative options regarding clarifying title boundaries around Port Phillip Bay.
No use or development will be able to go ahead on the land without a planning permit from now on. To obtain this, an owner must put in an application, which will then look to seek consent from the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Primary Industries. A local planning authority will assess the applications. This is likely to be the local council for many.
“With this change, any permit application to use or develop land within this zone will require consent. This is wide-ranging and includes fences, signs, outdoor furniture, shade sails, flag-poles, sheds, pergolas, verandahs and decks. Until today’s reforms, building these structures on private land in this zone did not require a planning permit.”
Guy expressed his belief that this was an appropriate response, with the government currently working on the process of defining boundaries in areas with a high water mark.
“This change to the PCR zone will ensure proper management of beaches. It will prevent inappropriate development and construction from occurring. Beaches will remain accessible for everyone in this state – as they should be.”
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Private land owners near Victoria’s beaches to lose ability to develop 'as of right'

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The building that housed the seventh season of The Block has won the Jury and Peer Voted awards in the Residential Mid Rise category of the Architizer A+ awards.
Designed by Australian architecture firm Brenchley Architects, the building at 142 Park Street in South Melbourne is a conversion from a 1960s motel building. Brenchley Architects pursued a high level of environmental sustainability, with a “second skin” of black aluminium and batten and vertical gardens buffering the existing walls from fluctuating environmental conditions and stabilising the building’s internal temperature.
The building also features a communal rooftop terrace area and solar energy panelling.
The five apartments sold on The Block: Sky High gathered $7.603 million on auction day collectively, with Adelaide sisters and The Block: Fans v Faves team Alisa and Lysandra selling the winning apartment.
Architizer described the building as a “prime example of the ‘adaptive re-use’ of existing, low grade building stock into high-end environmentally sustainable development.”
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The Block: Sky High building wins international architecture awards

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There are twice as many auctions this week as there was this time last year. This week RP Data is expecting 1,120 auctions in Melbourne compared to only 554 this time last year.
Last weeks result showed that increased stock numbers at auction and in the market generally are having an impact with a comparatively low clearance rate recorded.
The increased stock numbers should be welcomed by buyers as it acts to moderate price growth in what is an otherwise tight market.
Key data
<ul>
<li>Preliminary clearance rate week ending 30 March: 66.9%</li>
<li>Melbourne auctions expected week ending 6 April: 1,120</li>
<li>Melbourne private sales time on market week ending 30 March: 35 days (houses)</li>
<li>Melbourne vendor discounting market week ending 30 March: -5.5% (houses)</li>
</ul>
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Another 1,000 plus auctions this weekend: RP Data's Melbourne auction preview

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There’s less than a week until the four apartments of The Block: Fans v Faves go up for auction, and fan team Kyal and Kara are in great shape to take out the big prize. With experience and some serious dollars on their side, the so-called Super Ks have carried out a veritable blitzkrieg on their Block competitors.
This week, the couple added their rooftop terrace to their room win list, which stretches longer than that of any other team this season. Their huge terrace not only boasted the best fittings, including a mirrored splashback and granite benchtops in their outdoor kitchen, but also city views. 
According to carpenter Kyal, the terrace is the highlight of their apartment.
“We’re probably the most proud of our rooftop terrace,” said Kyal. “That’s part of the reason we picked that apartment, just because it had that aspect and that view. We worked really hard on it and have done something really amazing, and hopefully that’s reflected on the auction day.”
With a slightly smaller downstairs living area than the other teams, the Ks have thrown all they have into the upstairs terrace space, and it shows. <a href="/expert-insights/the-block-on-show-at-this-weekends-open-for-inspection">On open for inspection day</a>, it was the only terrace that didn’t feel crowded despite the masses of spectators, with ample cooking, dining and living space.
Kyal says that if the couple had their time again, they wouldn’t change any of their decisions.
“We often ask ourselves what we would do if we had the opportunity to pick another apartment,” he said. “But we keep coming back to that aspect and that view. The downstairs terrace has really amazing arched windows at the front – we’re so glad we picked that apartment.”
Thanks to a killer run throughout the competition, the Ks have managed to collect a tidy sum of prize money which was poured back into their property.
“We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved, and received a lot of good feedback, especially with the finishes. We’ve obviously pumped an extra $50,000 into our apartment, so we’ve been able to get high quality furnishings, high quality appliances,” said Kyal.
But it wasn’t just the extra money that put Kyal and Kara ahead of the pack. As a carpenter, Kyal brought his construction experience to the competition which, along with Kara’s formidable design chops, gave the team an edge.
“Being a carpenter helped us out a lot, especially with time. The other teams would have to stop when their builders went home, but we could keep going round the clock if we needed to,” said Kyal.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t all easy for the team, who struggled along with all the other contestants with The Block’s punishing schedule.
“The toughest week was the week we did the loungeroom/dining room hallway and virtually completed the entire downstairs, and then did the upstairs. That was back to back. So finishing off the interiors was the toughest thing. Especially with the stairwell - we had all the timber work going up the stairwell, going 10 metres high.”
As for life after Tuesday’s auction, the couple are planning to launch a boutique renovations company called Diverse Design and Construct. Kyal says that the couple are considering a move from their home by Tuggerah Lakes on New South Wale’s central coast.
“We haven’t thought about it too seriously, but our long term goal is to get ourselves as close to the coast as possible. So we’re thinking about selling, maybe in the next 12 months.
“Obviously we’ve put so much work into renovating our own home though, so it might be tough to see that go.”
Kyal and Kara’s apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-albert+park-116390163" target="_blank">2/47 O’Grady Street, Albert Park </a>will be selling at auction on Tuesday April 8.
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Kyal Demmrich on the trials and triumphs of The Block

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New development Vivre, a one- and two bedroom apartment complex in Essendon, has seen significant investor attention and expects owner occupiers to follow suit.
<a href="https://www.vivreessendon.com/" target="_blank">Essendon’s Vivre</a>, at 64-66 Keilor Road, from Monson Property Group, has the unusual twist of seeing 90% of the 67 apartments with something called ‘flexible’ floor plans.
Essentially, this means that buyers can re-position a moveable wall to change the size or shape of their living areas – to make a second bedroom, a study or a larger living area, for example.
Architect ClarkeHopkinsClarke has become the mastermind by the flexi-apartment concept that has seen 40% of apartments securing registrations of interest, with 25 apartments reserved, after an expressions of interest campaign was launched on Thursday.
One-bedroom properties range from $375,000 upwards, for 50 square metres. Flexi-one bedroom apartments from 50 to 55 square metres command prices from $399,000 upwards. Meanwhile, two-bedroom apartments from 57 to 72 square metres start from $480,000. Two-bedroom apartments with a study are sized from 74 square metres, at $550,000 plus. The most expensive apartment is a two-bedroom apartment with a study for $575,000.
Each includes access to a lift, and a basement car park.
Currently, <a href="/news">Essendon</a> is commanding a median unit price of $435,000, with median weekly advertised rent at $310 per week, according to RP Data.
Riveren’s Sophon En, the marketing agent for the development, said that this is a leg-up for first home buyers as the flexible floorplans allow investors to buy a one-bedroom and turn it into a two-bedroom for a greater return.
“Essendon as a suburb has strong growth potential, with recent figures showing an average median price growth of 24% for houses and apartments over the last five years.  It is a desirable place to live and ticks the boxes for infrastructure and great access to local facilities, restaurants and other amenities,” said En.
En expects that Essendon will take off with the government’s focus on the area as a growth zone.
Meanwhile, Monson Property Group’s director, Simon Mehegan, said that the name Vivre, French for ‘live’, was in reference to the flexible floor plan concept of the apartments; being somewhere to live, have living space and the capability of adapting the property to suit your lifestyle.
“It’s become common for people to buy two apartments and merge them into one for more space but this is expensive. We’re turning this concept on its head and making added space affordable,” he said.
Apartments include stone bench tops, chrome fittings, timber floorboards, stainless steel appliances and mirrored splashbacks, with similar chrome features in the tiled bathrooms.
The display suite is set to open in early May 2014, with construction to start in September 2014. March 2016 is the current date set for completion.
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Investor interest surges for new Essendon apartment development, Vivre

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Ballarat's Lal Lal Estate, a 2,000-hectare merino wool property owned by the Fisken family for six generations, is being sold to the Chinese wool buying company, Tianyu.
The 168-year-old property, east of Ballarat, comes with 100 year old Edwardian homestead and granite stables built in 1858.
Tianyu was credited in 2009 as having the largest plant in China with annual wool scouring capacity of 27,000 tons and annual production of 12,000 tons of Australian wool tops. 
It's been sold by Geoff Fisken, the Wool Producers Australia (WPA) president.
Six generations ago Archibald Fisken was eleven when he arrived in Victoria from Scotland with his parents and uncle and aunt in the 1830s. Young Archibald’s father, also Archibald, brought a prefabricated iron house and 40 casks of oatmeal with him. He built the house at the top of Lonsdale Street. Archibald’s uncle, Peter Inglis, didn’t stay in Melbourne instead choosing to settle on a property he called Ingliston at Ballan on the Werribee River.
 Young Archibald went to live with his uncle and aunt and was tutored on the property. At the age of 19 Archibald was put in charge of the property which stretched all the way to Ballarat with what would become the Lal Lal property forming part of it. Archibald was thirty before he married, a sixteen year old named Charlotte McNamara from Sydney. A competent farmer by now his uncle gave him Lal Lal providing he never put his name on a promissory note. They lived in a small stone house on a lower section of the property.  Archibald and Charlotte had a son they called Archibald James who also worked on the property. 
<a href="https://www.ballarat.com/lal-lal-estate/index.htm" target="_blank">The family website</a> shows he married May Wanliss and it was Archibald James and May who built the present homestead in 1911.
Lal Lal is an Aboriginal name for water.
They had one child who was called Archibald Clyde Wanliss Fisken. He married Elspeth Cameron from Tasmania and they had four children, the first being name Archibald John. Archibald Clyde was educated at Geelong Grammar, then went to England and joined the Royal Artillery in World War I and awarded a Military Cross for bravery in France. He became the federal member for Ballarat and served one term. He was chairman of the Australian Meat Board for 10 years, served on Buninyong Shire Council and died in 1970 Archibald John met Patricia Falkiner and married in Melbourne in 1951 and lived at Lal Lal, they had four children David, Rena, Geoff and Anita. John managed the property until his death in 1989.  John and Patricia’s son Geoff now runs the Yendon property. He has been the Wool Producers Australia (WPA) president. The property runs cattle and 13,000 merino sheep and grows cereal and oilseed crops. Lal Lal Estate was also available for functions, conferences,media advertising, location photographic shoots and car rallies.
Tianyu’s Australian head of operations Peter Carey confirmed the company’s purchase to the local paper this week.
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Ballarat's Lal Lal Edwardian homestead estate sold to Chinese wool buyers, Tianyu

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GUEST OBSERVATION
If you’ve been following the news this week, you would have seen all the commotion about the latest housing price data to hit the market. Speculation of a housing bubble reached new heights with RP Data’s March figures revealing the <a href="/expert-insights/investing/melbourne-tops-the-list-of-best-performing-capital-cities-in-march-quarter-rp-data-rismark">biggest monthly gain in 18 years</a>.
Melbourne led the surge, recording the strongest growth out of all the capital cities (5.4% for the first quarter of this year). As a buyer, it can be easy to get swept up in the media headlines. Naturally, concerns about housing affordability and whether buying now is a good idea come to the forefront. But before we hit the panic button, let’s take a closer look at what this really means for buyers.
Let’s put things in perspective
Just like any situation, it’s all about putting things into perspective.
Yes, March saw some significant gains – but let’s not forget the gains are off the back of a lull in 2011 and 2012 when we saw the first major correction to the market since the ’90s. 2013 was a year of consolidation, so the latest data actually represents a recovery or upswing from lower than normal levels of activity.
We need to tune out the white noise and fears of a property bubble and keep in mind that the long-term fundamentals of the market are still strong. Our population is booming (expected to reach 40 million by 2060), interest rates are at a record low and with the mining boom over, the construction industry is tipped to be the next economic driver – spurred by an undersupply of new housing nationwide.
Adjust your expectations
If you’re a first home buyer, this piece of advice will be most relevant for you as affordability is likely to be your biggest barrier. Remember that property is a cyclical asset and should be always viewed as a long term investment.
The first home you buy is not going to be the house you live in for the rest of your life. Buy in an area where you can afford to get your foot in the door. Once you’ve done this, you can put plans in place to reap a return on your investment and use it as a stepping stone for your next purchase. 
Buying where you can afford will allow you to pay down your debt and when you’re ready, sell that first home and use the tax free profit to buy your next home. If necessary, repeat this process until you are in a position to purchase the home that you want to live in for the next 20 years. 
The other option to consider is buying an investment property that’s likely to reap strong capital growth and renting in an area you want to live in, and using the rental income from your investment property to help pay down the mortgage.
The housing market is made up of several sub-markets
This is probably one of the most important things to remember about the housing market. To an extent, we need to take the March data for what it really is; a short-term growth spurt. Don’t get caught up in the media hype.
While the data is good for providing a pulse on the market as a whole, it doesn’t provide a more holistic perspective on the various sub-markets that exist within the entire real estate market.
Each suburb is unique and has its own laws of supply and demand at play. For example, there’s still a lot of opportunity to purchase affordable housing in suburbs within 8 kilometres from the capital cities, or areas that have not yet seen huge price spikes.
In Melbourne, there are suburbs such as <a href="/news">Footscray</a> where the median unit price is $385,000 (nearly $100,000 less than the statewide median of $481,000) and <a href="/news">Essendon</a> where a number of new housing developments are driving the area’s growth potential and offering first home buyers affordable homes. 
As a buyer, you need to ensure you do your research on the area you’re looking to buy in before taking the plunge – there’s a wealth of resources online such as RP Data and propertyDATA.com.au.
Speak to the experts
Finally, if you really are serious about getting into the property market and want to do it right from the get-go, then getting advice from the people who do it on a daily basis is a great start.
Property advisory firms are a great source of advice for the housing market - similar to a financial planner for the share market. Property advisors can talk through the nuances of the sub-markets and help you understand the micro and macro trends influencing house prices and their direction. They can also take the emotion out of buying and save the time you would have had to otherwise invest into researching your purchase.
Most of all, they can save you money by presenting the best valued properties - whether you’re an investor looking to enhance returns on your property portfolio or a first home buyer trying to get a foot on the property ladder.
Sophorn En is managing director of <a href="https://www.riveren.com.au/" target="_blank">Riveren Property</a>, a specialist investment group offering a broad range of property investment and advisory services to assist clients build their long-term wealth through astute property investment.
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House prices surge, but buyers don’t panic: There’s a light at the end of the tunnel

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2014 is still motoring along very strongly. The lull we reported of the last few weeks seems to have been nothing more than another stair landing in the continuously rising price-staircase which began in October 2012.
This weekend was another Super Saturday, with over 150 auctions in Melbourne’s inner east and Bayside. It was a very solid test, in that bidders were spread out over a large number of auctions – i.e. there was significant choice. The bidder depth held up, in fact it increased marginally with over two bidders per auction on average – this is strong.
If you look at the roughly 200 $1 million plus auctions that took place across all of Melbourne, an average of two bidders means that not only were there 200 buyers, there were also 200 bidders who missed out. Most of those “wounded” bidders are not discretionary buyers – they have to buy and next time they will be more aggressive on price, even if only a tad.
<blockquote>
For a number of our Chinese clients, one of the reasons we are engaged is that they are concerned what other Chinese buyers may do and they don’t want to miss out.
</blockquote>
However, after next week it gets very tight for new stock going into the school holidays and Easter. So the pool of choice will diminish. That means many of those 200 “wounded underbidders” may well be competing against you over Easter but on lower stock levels. That means we’re likely to see 200 underbidders competing not on 200 homes, but on, say, 100 good homes which would double the bidders. If that number is spread out over 50 good homes, that will be four times the bidder strength we saw this weekend.
So what to do as a buyer? Maybe it’s time to wait until the steam goes out of the market?
For those buyers still waiting on the edge for a downturn – good luck. I’m not sure that is a proven good strategy.
But surely it can’t last forever!
Why has our market been so good for so long and will it last?
The Chinese community – simple demand and supply
The reason our market has been so good for so long is very simple – the overseas Chinese community.
Here are the top 10 reported sales on Saturday.
The Top 10 reported on Saturday
<ul>
<li>14 Selwyn Av, ELWOOD – Above $3,600,000</li>
<li>
21 Monash Av, BALWYN – $3,520,000</li>
<li>17 Rolls Ct, GLEN WAVERLEY – $3,416,000</li>
<li>
65 Metung St, BALWYN Above $3,200,000</li>
<li>30 Wills St, KEW Above $3,000,000</li>
<li>4 Mt Ida Av, HAWTHORN EAST  $3,235,500</li>
<li>69 Alfred Cr, FITZROY NORTH  $3,140,000</li>
<li>
2 Barnsbury Rd, BALWYN Above $3,000,000</li>
<li>9 Fairfield Av, CAMBERWELL  $2,888,000</li>
<li>
65 Yarrbat Av, BALWYN $2,850,000</li>
</ul>
40% of those sales were in <a href="/news">Balwyn</a> for new homes or land blocks to build new homes. Where is <a href="/news">Brighton</a>, where is <a href="/news">Toorak</a>? <a href="/news">North Balwyn</a> and Balwyn reported 13 bought from a reported 15 auctions. Brighton had 9 bought from 16 and Toorak and <a href="/news">South Yarra</a> just 7 from 12.
So how long will it last?
This is my potted history of Chinese involvement in Melbourne’s property market.
1973: I went to Camberwell Grammar in the early 1970s (I’m not sure they want me to advertise that fact – it could be bad for new enrolments). Camberwell Grammar is in Balwyn and a number of my classmates at that time were Chinese.
1983: Chinese start buying into Doncaster and Box Hill, which were then more affordable suburbs. I grew up in Doncaster.
1993: After economic reforms start having an impact in China, wealthy overseas Chinese start buying into premium Melbourne suburbs such as Balwyn and <a href="/news">Canterbury</a>. Why? Private schools. Chinese people want to give their children the best education (see 1973) and now a few could also afford to buy a home near the schools of their choice such as Carey, MLC, Scotch and Camberwell Grammar. But it was still difficult under Australian buying laws for overseas people.
2000: With restrictions on what Chinese people could buy and Chinese wealth increasing, off the plan properties became popular for many Chinese buyers. There were very few restrictions on Chinese people buying new properties and Chinese people were used to buying new apartments. High rises went up left, right and centre in Melbourne, many on the back of Chinese money.
2005: Chinese wealth had increased dramatically over the last two decades and as Chinese buyers became wealthier they also became more sophisticated in their knowledge about Melbourne properties and Toorak became a place where land banking became popular. It still is today.
2009: Australian government changes the laws making buying “second-hand” family homes in Australia a lot easier for Chinese people. This one decision really brought the inner Melbourne property market out of the GFC a lot quicker than other countries.
2013: By this time, every one of the bigger buying or selling real estate agencies, ourselves included, has at least one Mandarin-speaking staff member.
2014 : At this weekend’s Super Saturday, 40% of our Top 10 $3m+ sales were in Balwyn, rather than Toorak or Brighton.
So in my 55 year history I have seen this equation of simple demand (increasing Chinese buyers) versus supply (no new land in inner Melbourne) push prices up and up and up. I cannot see anything changing anytime soon. So waiting for the market to turn in 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 hasn’t in my mind proven to be a winning strategy. If you see the right home for you (emotionally, physically and financially) then you should buy it now.
You may be interested to know that for a number of our Chinese clients, one of the reasons we are engaged is that they are concerned what other Chinese buyers may do and they don’t want to miss out.
Auctions in Bayside see around half  the number of people attending as in Boroondara. A good auction in Brighton has 40 people while in Kew it would be 80. The Chinese community is nowhere near as well established in Bayside as it is in Boroondara.
Why not? There are some great private schools in Bayside! St Leonards, Haileybury, Caulfield Grammar.
Its a historical thing. But you can see more and more Chinese people considering say other areas such as Brighton when:
<ul>
<li>Chinese people become more comfortable with Bayside as a place to live, and</li>
<li>Demand in Boroondara and then Stonnington forces some Chinese people to consider other options.</li>
</ul>
Over time the Chinese community demand and supply equation will have the same effect in Bayside as it has had in Boroondara, unless China’s wealth begins to diminish.
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Chinese buyers in Melbourne: A simple case of supply and demand

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One of Ballarat's most prominent buildings - the Masonic Hall - is being offered for sale, with price expectations of $675,000 plus. 
Formerly known as Electra Hall, the 14 Camp Street property is today being run as an art gallery. 
The 340 square metre site sits in the heart of the Ballarat CBD and features 187 square metres of mostly open plan ground floor. The lower level is 170 square metres and is also mostly open plan. 
The two-storey, solid brick building is on a bluestone foundation with iron roof and timber floors.
Colliers International’s Charles Kennedy is marketing the property on behalf of the gallery owners.
"The building was constructed during the gold rush era in the 1870s as a Masonic Temple and was used as such until 1927, when it was sold to the State Electricity Commission for use as social club rooms", he said.
"It has only had three owners since then as far as we are aware.”
Mr Kennedy said it was a unique opportunity to buy a piece of Ballarat period history, a solid building with immediate leasing potential. 
The Masonic Hall will be offered with vacant possession and is offered for sale at $675,000 plus GST.
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Ballarat's iconic Masonic Hall offered for sale

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Strong competition for a commercial freehold building located within the Footscray Activity Centre has sold for $800,000 above the reserve price.
Four bidders chased the property, at 202-208 Nicholson Street and 37 Albert Street, before it fell under the auctioneers hammer for $5.8 million.
The property encompasses a large land site of about 2,639 square metres with dual 24 metre- plus frontages to Nicholson and Albert Streets.
It features a two-storey commercial office freehold of about 2,706 square metres which includes four ground floor retail showrooms and first floor commercial office accommodation. The property is leased to established tenants with an estimated net rental of $490,000 per annum, which reflected an initial yield of 8.5% to the purchaser.
Among the tenants are Parliament of Victoria (Marsha Thompson MP), Carers Association of Victoria Incorporated, Choice Family Day Car Services, and Haange Family Day Care.
Fitzroys agents James Gregson and David Bourke handled the campaign. Mr Gregson said the property’s location within the Footscray Activity Centre, close to Victoria University, Grocon’s McNabb development and Footscray Railway Station, which was undergoing development, was a major factor in the successful outcome. “We are witnessing greater interest across these inner western markets from investors and developers seeking to get in early and seize these unique opportunities,” he said.
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