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>.

Joel Robinson

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

IN BRIEF

<ul>
	<li>
	Just three double-storey Sky Homes sit at the top of The Waterline, each with its own private marina berth and rooftop terrace.
	</li>
	<li>
	Construction on The Waterline is complete, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.
	</li>
	<li>
	Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and are priced from $3.65 million.
	</li>
</ul>

<hr />
Lewis Land has opened the first completed sky home for inspection at Harbour Shores, giving buyers their first opportunity to step inside one of just three double-storey residences crowning The Waterline.

Each sky home comes with its own private marina berth, rooftop terrace and Broadwater views, combining the scale of a larger home with direct access to the boating lifestyle that underpins the wider <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366708]

Lewis Land Head of Development Michael Long said the inclusion of a berth with every Sky Home had become increasingly valuable as marina access across the Gold Coast tightened.

“Marina berths are becoming increasingly difficult to secure across the Gold Coast, so including one with every Sky Home makes this a genuinely rare offering,” Long said.

“The private 70-berth marina will accommodate boats up to 12 metres in length and is positioned just 2.5 kilometres from the Broadwater, placing the open ocean only 15 minutes away.

“Being able to step out of your home onto your boat is a rare luxury, and it’s something residents here can look forward to when it opens later this year.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366709]

The display opening comes as construction completes on The Waterline, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.

The three Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and each feature three bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive kitchens with butler's pantries and large balconies taking in the Broadwater outlook.

Each residence also has three secure basement car spaces and additional storage.

“This is the first opportunity the Gold Coast has had to step into Harbour Shores and see, touch and feel what we’re bringing to life here,” Long said.

“There are only three Sky Homes within The Waterline, ranging in size from 282sqm to 367sqm, with each residence featuring three large bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive custom-built kitchens with butler’s pantry, and large balconies capturing Broadwater views.”

<img alt="Harbour Shores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bab65e10-4fab-45e1-92d8-fc56e2ab98ff" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%202.00.16%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=XT8q76LsPkw3cYTsvN3JfFDaPLud90PN" />

Residents of The Waterline will have access to a private pool, along with Harbour Shores' wider collection of amenity including a lagoon pool, social clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga facilities and sauna.

Lewis Land partnered with Studio Collective to furnish the completed display, with the interiors designed to demonstrate how the residences could function as permanent homes rather than simply as show apartments.

Studio Collective Director Melissa Park said the surrounding waterways informed the interiors, but in a more restrained way than a traditional coastal scheme.

“We drew inspiration from the canals and coastal surrounds, but our approach was to interpret that subtly through layered materials and a grounded palette of earthy tones, rather than literal coastal references,” Park said.

“We introduced hero moments of green and teal to reference the surrounding waterways, while mirrored elements help reflect natural light.

“The result is a residence that feels elevated yet comfortable, somewhere buyers can genuinely imagine themselves living, entertaining and unwinding.”

Sky Homes are priced from $3.65 million.

Lewis Land is also offering private marina berths with The Residences, its limited collection of three and four-bedroom villas positioned directly along the Harbour Shores waterfront boardwalk.

Three-bedroom villas are priced from $2.99 million, while four-bedroom residences start from $3.19 million.

Harbour Shores is being marketed by Colliers International.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land opens sky home display as The Waterline completes at Harbour Shores

St Vincent de Paul Society Housing Australia has filed plans for a major mixed-use housing precinct on the southern edge of the North Sydney CBD, adding another significant proposal to a pocket around North Sydn​ey Station that is quickly becoming one of the LGA's busiest development zones.

The State Significant Development Application covers a 5,990 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1-19-mackenzie-street-lavender-bay-nsw-2060">1-19 MacKenzie Street and 211 Blues Point Road in Lavender Bay</a>, immediately south of Nor​th Sydney Station and between the commercial core and the lower-rise Lavender Bay Heritage Conservation Area.

Designed by Wardle, the proposal would deliver a new residential tower comprising 88 build-to-sell apartments and 19 affordable apartments, alongside a separate co-living building with 57 rooms and a building manager's studio.

It would also see the significant restoration and upgrade of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, the adaptive reuse of the former school building, new parish facilities, retail, a new public square and around 1,000 sqm of publicly accessible open space.

<img alt="Vinnies North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d5dd7f87-a617-463e-b577-17541e01f0e9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.13%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4R8TsFN3P_LrrXO2HswTOIrx2blil8lh" />

The project is seeking a concurrent rezoning of the site to R4 High Density Residential and an increase in the maximum building height to allow a tower reaching RL120, or up to 20 storeys. The proposal was progressed through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The build-to-sell component will be weighted toward larger apartments, with just six one-bedroom apartments compared with 31 two-beds, 43 three-beds and eight four-bedroom residences.

The 19 affordable apartments will comprise two studios, 15 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments, taking the total apartment component to 107 residences before the 58 co-living rooms are included.

<img alt="Vnnies" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d568ca5-cb90-4e18-96c6-d9795dba0c56" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=GY2R5M9VtQh0EKy1vajaea19PSLOPuRD" />

Wardle's design for the Vinnies site has sought to negotiate that emerging high-rise context while retaining the lower-scale character of MacKenzie Street and the adjoining heritage conservation area.

The main building adopts a three-storey podium and tower arrangement, with the podium aligned to the ridgeline and front setback of St Francis Xavier Church.&nbsp;Wardle has designed the podium with colonnades, seating, recessed entries and active ground-floor frontages, with sandstone-toned precast concrete and face brick referencing the materiality of the existing church.

The tower then steps back eight metres to the south and six metres to the north before rising in a sculpted form comprising four interlocking quadrants. Wardle has also introduced rounded forms and chamfered corners to reduce the tower's perceived bulk and improve view sharing with neighbouring development sites.

Resident facilities and outdoor areas are planned at the separation between the podium and tower at Level 3, oriented toward Sydney Harbour and the CBD skyline.

The tower itself will feature a glass reinforced concrete facade, with recessed balconies and deep reveals used both to provide shading and privacy and frame views toward the harbour and city. The lower levels take a different architectural approach, using brick and sandstone-toned finishes intended to establish a stronger relationship with St Francis Xavier Church. The Church itself will be conserved and upgraded for its continued use, while the former school building will be adaptively reused as part of the co-living component.

<img alt="Lavendar Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d4418ad-90aa-4d49-af93-c80b140aea80" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.09.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Kv4gzbsACaGvZSRuaqcfGC54jEJRXIDJ" />

&nbsp;

The proposal adds to an increasingly concentrated pipeline of residential development around Blue Street, MacKenzie Street and Lavender Bay.

Just west of the site, Central Element lodged plans earlier this year for one of the most significant residential developments proposed in Lavender Bay in recent years.

Central Element's SJB-designed scheme at 64-66 Lavender Street and 3-7 Middlemiss Street would deliver 163 apartments across two towers rising 23 and 32 storeys, replacing five existing apartment buildings containing 32 homes. The project also forms part of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-central-element-reveals-lavender-bay-apartment-plans?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">First look: Central Element reveals Lavender Bay apartment plans</a>

Immediately around North Sy​dney Station, another two significant proposals have emerged at 5 and 15 Blue Street.

Zurich Australian Insurance Properties is seeking to adaptively reuse its longstanding commercial building at 5 Blue Street, directly above North Sydney Station, rather than demolishing the structure.

Its SSDA proposes converting the building into a 14-storey mixed-use development with 62 apartments and 86 co-living rooms, together with ground-floor retail and a major refurbishment of Blue Street Plaza. The application is currently at the Response to Submissions stage.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-zurich-targets-north-sydney-office-conversion-with-148-unit-proposal-above-metro-station">First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station</a>

&nbsp;

First look: Vinnies files for 20-storey Lavender Bay apartment tower as North Sydney housing pocket heats up

When the opportunity arose for South Australian developer Palumbo to return to Kent Town, where it had previously delivered East Park Apartments and the East 
Rundle Apartments, it wasn't one the longstanding developer-builder was going to pass up.

The decision was quickly vindicated, with more than 30 apartments sold within the first month of launching <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/royal-apartments-kent-town-2-8-north-terrace-kent-town-sa-5067">Royal Apartments</a> to the market.

The 206-apartment development, which will bring significant new supply to Adelaide's tightly held eastern city fringe, also gives <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/palumbo">Palumbo</a> the opportunity to bring new life to one of Kent Town's most recognisable watering holes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376073]

Royal Apartments incorporates the historic Royal Hotel, a venue Palumbo Managing Director Daniel Palumbo said has a longstanding connection with the local community.

"Everyone in the area has history with the Royal Hotel," Palumbo told Apartments.com.au.

"It was quite an active pub and social gathering place for locals. We want to bring it back to its former glory."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376072]

The wider development will comprise two residential towers alongside the restored hotel, sitting on North Terrace opposite the Adelaide Park Lands.

For Palumbo, the project also marks a return to familiar territory.

The developer completed East Park Apartments next door more than a decade ago and jumped at the opportunity to develop in Kent Town again when the Royal Hotel site became available.

"The opportunity emerged, and we moved to secure the site," Palumbo said.

"We were approached by the previous landowner, who said they had extensive commitments in Sydney and weren't in a position to deliver the project.

"We took over the site and within six months recut the design scheme to be more in keeping with the type of development we want to bring to Adelaide.

"Now we're on the market and those changes have really resonated with local buyers."

That has translated into a strong start to sales, with 33 apartments transacting in the project's first 35 days.

Palumbo said the early purchaser profile had been consistent with the group's traditional focus on owner-occupiers rather than investor-led apartment stock.

"Local owner-occupiers have always been our market," he said.

"There are always some investors, but we've never developed what would be called traditional development stock. Owner-occupiers are very much our market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376068]

The buyer mix has been diverse so far, with downsizers and younger professionals both accounting for a significant portion of early sales.

South Australia's current stamp duty settings, which allow&nbsp;eligible homeowners in South Australia aged 60 savings of up to $103,830 on stamp duty when they downsize to a new property valued at up to $2 million,&nbsp;have helped encourage downsizer activity, while younger buyers in their late 20s and early 30s have been attracted to the opportunity to live immediately outside the CBD while still being able to walk into the city.



Location has been a major part of the proposition for both buyer cohorts.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376075]

Royal Apartments sits on North Terrace directly opposite the Adelaide Park Lands, with residents able to walk through the parklands toward the East End, Rundle Street and Rundle Mall.

Apartments have been positioned to capture views across the parklands, Adelaide skyline, Botanic Gardens and Adelaide Hills.

Palumbo believes the scarcity of developable land along this section of the Park Lands makes the site particularly difficult to replicate.

"There's very few allotments on that side that can be developed," he said.

"If this location was in New York and you were sitting on Central Park, you'd be talking about a $60 million apartments."

Royal Apartments will offer a broad mix of residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to four-bedroom sub-penthouses and penthouses.

Current listings include one-bedroom apartments from $680,000, while larger three and four-bedroom residences are priced around $2.5 million.

Residents will have access to a swimming pool, gym, barbecue and recreation areas, residents' lounge and dining space, and a communal deck.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376067]

The apartments will feature generous balconies, while secure parking, bicycle storage and storage cages will also be provided.

A porte-cochère-style arrival and drop-off area has also resonated with buyers, particularly those attracted to being able to walk into the CBD during the day while retaining secure vehicle access at home.

Palumbo is acting as developer, architect and builder on Royal Apartments, continuing the vertically integrated model it has used across its South Australian portfolio.

The group was also behind the $150 million Sofitel Adelaide, the 251-room five-star hotel and residential tower which opened in 2021.

Palumbo said Royal's launch had come at an interesting time for the broader Adelaide apartment market.

Buyer confidence had initially been impacted by uncertainty surrounding the Federal Budget and broader economic conditions, but Palumbo believes sentiment is beginning to improve against a backdrop of significant investment flowing into South Australia.

He pointed to increased activity across defence and resources, including Olympic Dam, as potential long-term drivers of the state's economy and housing market.

"Money is starting to flow into Adeliade, significant amounts as Adelaide bucks the trend of the rest of the country.," Palumbo said.

"There's a lot of activity in the economy over the next decade. I think more investment will come into this market."

Early works on Royal Apartments are expected to commence this year, with major construction activity and cranes anticipated on site from early next year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6109]

Palumbo's return to Kent Town strikes early chord with buyers

Go-to builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/graya">GRAYA</a> is continuing to bulk out its already impressive and diverse apartment portfolio across South East Queensland. Their latest milestone is securing development approval for Silk, its boutique riverfront apartment development in St Lucia.

The approval clears&nbsp;the way for the team to begin construction planning for the 22-residence project.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/silk-st-lucia-16-18-sandford-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">Silk</a> will rise 15 levels from an 810 sqm site at 16-18 Sandford Street, occupying a prominent bend of the Brisbane River with a prized northern aspect across Orleigh Park toward the Brisbane CBD.

The approved scheme will comprise 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences, continuing GRAYA's move into larger-format apartment developments targeting Brisbane's prestige owner-occupier market.

The project has been designed around the site's broad river frontage and dual-direction views, with GRAYA prioritising larger residences, privacy and outlook over apartment yield.

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa5c2349-f96c-4914-a812-1f2cd6827af8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=WY0vEU_7vYjeRJKQHiCwFdMxu8PvFh52" />

GRAYA Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Rob Gray said the project had been shaped around local homeowners wanting to remain in St Lucia without maintaining a traditional family home.

"St Lucia is one of those suburbs people do not want to leave," Gray said.

"They know the river, the trees, UQ, the golf course, Toowong and Indooroopilly, and that familiarity is hard to replace.

"True riverfront opportunities here are exceptionally scarce. What we have designed at Silk is a way to stay in the suburb people love, with the scale and privacy of a private home and far less to maintain.

"This is not typical apartment product. It is a proper home on the river, and that is exactly what this market has been missing."

The approval comes as new apartment development continues to increase across the St Lucia and neighbouring Toowong corridor, although direct riverfront sites remain considerably more tightly held.

GRAYA Co-founder and Managing Director Andrew Gray said securing the approval had removed a significant element of development risk from Silk.

"Genuine riverfront sites of this quality in St Lucia are not something that comes up regularly," Gray said.

"The approval removes a substantial layer of execution risk, and the location underwrites demand in a way very few inner-city sites can.

"The fundamentals here are as strong as anything we have assessed in Brisbane."

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d0f3d734-65e1-48e8-8ed3-2e0715ffcdd9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sOLSs_jdHkXLWbBKzRyayf5BfTb2vPsD" />

Silk will see GRAYA return to a stretch of the Brisbane River where it already has recent construction experience. The vertically integrated group recently completed ARC in neighbouring Toowong as builder for developer Spyre, delivering the riverfront project on a constrained site.

GRAYA will take a different role at Silk, controlling the project from design and development through construction and aftercare under its vertically integrated model.

The development will include a gym and resident leisure areas at ground level, integrated with the river's edge.

Silk joins a growing pipeline for GRAYA across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, which includes Enclave, The Gallery, Coral and Ripple.

The developer-builder has also recently lodged plans for its largest project to date, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-silo-19-chester-street-newstead-qld-4006">The Silo</a>, a proposed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/graya-buys-frasers-newstead-site-plans-the-silo-between-james-street-and-gasworks-precincts">$700 million mixed-use development</a> in Brisbane's James Street precinct.

Silk is expected to predominantly target local owner-occupiers and prestige buyers seeking a permanent riverfront home in Brisbane's inner west.

Registrations of interest are now open, with further details on the project and construction program to be released as it progresses.

<hr />
<h2>SILK PROJECT FACTS</h2>

Developer-builder: GRAYA

Project: Silk

Location: 16-18 Sandford Street, St Lucia

Apartments: 22

Built form: 15 levels

Site: 810 sqm riverfront holding

Mix: 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences

Status: Development approved

Next step: Construction planning underway

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152168]

GRAYA greenlit for riverfront St Lucia apartment development, Silk

Auctions

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<div>There was a 79% success rate in the first big test of the strengthening Melbourne auction property market.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
Houses achieved a median price of $866,250 while apartments sat at a $590,000 median.
</div>
<div>
The REIV was expecting about 1,530 auctions in 288 suburbs this weekend, its chief Enzo Raimondo said.
The preliminary results of around 1240 auctions saw the top reported sale of $5.5 million in Middle Park, a four bedroom Edwardian home at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/136-page-street-middle-park/Property-Details-buy-residential-8244022" target="_blank">136 Park Street</a> (pictured above). It had been initially listed by Cayzer Real Estate with $4 million plus price guidance which was raised to $4.2 million plus hopes. It was announced on the market at $4.7 million.
There was a similar $1 million plus over achievement in the second top price set in a $5.085 million Hawthorn result. Marshall White auctioneer John Manton had <a href="https://marketnews.com.au/auction-reviews/38472/38-Kooyongkoot-Road-HAWTHORN/" target="_blank">four motivated bidders</a> with two after it went on the market at $4,100,000.
Property Observer is also aware of <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/11-maple-grove-toorak/Property-Details-buy-residential-8286286" target="_blank">a $7,625,000 Toorak auction sale</a>. There were three bidders for the renovated 1940s Maple Grove house last sold at $6.2 million in 2009. Some $7 million plus had been tipped for 11 Maple Grove by Jellis Craig.
The busiest auction locations were St Kilda (25 auctions), Kew (24 auctions) and Reservoir (23 auctions).
There was a $550,000 sale (below) at 89 Crookston Road, Reservoir.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/photogallery_new.ds?id=118980127&amp;theme=rea.sold" rel="photos" data-id="118980127"><img src="https://i1.au.reastatic.net/456x342/e2cc686241cb7b474082a33ada32bda56bac426005978491e3a45b3bc4b7446f/main.jpg" alt="89 Crookston Road, Reservoir" title="89 Crookston Road, Reservoir" data-index="0"></a> There were around 3,000 auctions held for the month of February, the highest number of auctions ever for the month of February.
The REIV noted the previous record being 2,574 in February 2014.
The top clearance rate suburbs in the year to date before today's results were Bentleigh East (91%), South Yarra (81%) and Brighton (74%), and after today's auctions the busiest auction suburbs this year have been South Yarra (43 auctions), Reservoir (42 auctions) and Bentleigh East (33 auctions). 
There will be fewer auctions next weekend with 317 scheduled.
This weekend’s Super Saturday of auctions reflected a decision by sellers to avoid a clash with next weekend’s Labour Day holiday.  
</div>
<div>Melbourne recorded a clearance rate of 75% last Saturday – and 73% recorded over the same weekend last year.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The weekend's sales included:</div>
<div>
<div class="wysiwyg">
TOP 5 HOUSES 1. 136 Page Street, Middle Park $5,500,000 2. 38 Kooyongkoot Road, Hawthorn $5,085,000 3. 266 Cotham Road, Kew $3,610,000 4. 146 Yarrbat Avenue, Balwyn $3,500,000 5. 29 Myers Avenue, Glen Waverley $3,308,800 
TOP 5 BARGAIN HOUSES 1. 1A Dartford Court, Craigieburn $277,500 2. 155 Morris Road, Hoppers Crossing $282,500 3. 32 Ovens Circuit, Whittlesea $290,000 4. 9 The Glen, Pakenham $301,000 5. 14 Kimberley Grove, Pakenham $315,000
TOP 5 APARTMENTS 1. 1/2A Ormsby Grove, Toorak $1,755,000 2. 20-22 Setani Crescent, Heidelberg West $1,640,000 3. 8.1/193 Domain Road, South Yarra $1,610,000 4. 3/5 Thomson Street, South Melbourne $1,531,000 5. 11/243 Beaconsfield Parade, Middle Park $1,485,000 
TOP 5 BARGAIN APARTMENTS 1. 3/39 Ovens Circuit, Whittlesea $180,000 2. 2/232 Nicholson Street, Footscray $200,000 3. 7/230 Ascot Vale Road, Ascot Vale $250,000 4. 5/24 Daly Street, Brunswick $260,000 5. 4/21 Nepean Avenue, Hampton East $267,000
</div>
</div>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

A 79% success rate for Melbourne's first 2015 Super Saturday

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An Ashfield, Sydney boarding house fetched $2,555,000 at auction, reflecting a 5.75% rental yield.
It sold through <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/real-estate-agent/Con-LaSpina-1082844">Con La Spina</a> at Elders Inner West-Ashfield.
It is currently a 10 room boarding house returning $146,000 per annum.
There are approvals to extend it to 19 rooms.
"And potentially more than double the return," Con La Spina said.
The Victorian era home sits on a 727 square metre block with train station and bus services nearby.  
"This grand Victorian money spinner offered high income, low vacancy and plenty of potential," the marketing said.
The 30 Chandos Street offering sold at $1.7 million in 2011.
It sold this time to an investor whose family owns another boarding house in the area.
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Ashfield boarding house sells for $2,555,000 at auction

<html><body>
Five years ago there were 3,335 homes sold for in excess of $1 million in Melbourne – not so surprising is that the top 10 sales were in the city’s most expensive addresses.
The top three, Brighton, Camberwell and Kew, saw 266, 162 and 157 houses sold for over a million dollars in 12 months. Remarkably, in the bayside suburb of Brighton, 109 of those were in excess of $2 million. Bay views command incredible sale prices due to their scarcity.
The remaining seven in the list are Toorak, Brighton East, Hawthorn, Malvern,Malvern East, Canterbury and Surry Hills.
Over the past year, the million-dollar list has changed and shows some interesting shifts in the market. Firstly, there are many more with 9,684 sales over a million. Secondly five of the top 10 are new.
Balwyn North, Glen Waverley, Glen Iris, Balwyn and Mount Waverley are newly into the list.
Balwyn and Balwyn North are not a surprise, along with neighbouring Mont Albert and Mont Albert North, they have seen the highest capital gains on an annualised basis over the past five years in Melbourne.
The most significant shift is found in Mount Waverley and Glen Waverley.  Between these, 442 houses sold for over a million dollars, 41 of those for over two million.
Both have seen increases in demand well in excess of the comparable suburbs to the north and south with buyers attracted by a range of factors from transport choices to schools.
<a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/melbourne-sales-million-dollar-table.jpg" rel="wp-prettyPhoto[g4285]"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4287" src="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/melbourne-sales-million-dollar-table.jpg" alt="Melbourne sales million dollar table" width="459" height="330"></a>
Key points
<ul>
<li>Over the past five years the number of million dollar homes sold has almost tripled;</li>
<li>Glen Waverley and Mount Waverley are in the top 10 and were not five years ago;</li>
<li>Nearly 10,000 homes have sold in the last year for more than $1 million.</li>
</ul>
There are 1,401 auctions scheduled this week in Melbourne compared to 1,334 for the same time last year.
This is the second week with over 1,000 auctions for the year and volumes at auctions have risen to a level that is similar to last year now. Once listings for private sale are taken into consideration there are fewer new homes on the market than a year ago. There were 1.8% fewer homes listed for sale in the past month than last year which suggests consumers are still approaching the market is caution.
In respect of the private sale market in the past week, on a citywide basis, the time on market results for houses sold at private sale fell to 60 days, down from 66 days in the previous week. Overall vendor discounting was up slightly to -5.4% from -5.1%.
Key data
<ul>
<li>Preliminary clearance rate week ending 22 February: 75.8%</li>
<li>Melbourne auctions expected week ending 1 March: 1,401</li>
<li>Melbourne private sales time on market week ending 22 February: 60 days (houses)</li>
<li>Melbourne vendor discounting market week ending 22 February: -5.4% (houses)</li>
<li>Listings being prepared for market are 0.7% higher in the month ending 22 February (seasonally adjusted)</li>
</ul>
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Where are most of Melbourne’s million dollar homes sold? Weekend auction preview

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A $3.35 million Vaucluse home was the most expensive sold last week, exceeding the sale of $3,225,000 Mosman house.
The house at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/property/sold/house/nsw/vaucluse/?adid=2011702484" target="_blank">9 The Crescent in Vaucluse</a> (pictured above) had remained in the same family for 53 years. It has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a powder room, with separate living and dining rooms.
The home also includes two sunrooms, with timber flooring and decorative ceilings. The house, sold through Richardson &amp; Wrench Double Bay, is located just across the road from waterfront parklands.
A renovated Federation home at <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-mosman-nsw-2088/225370" target="_blank">131 Middle Head Road, Mosman</a> was the second highest sale of the week. Sold through McGrath Estate Agents, the c1910 home with a rear north orientation has four bedrooms and rear access.
The top 10 sales of the week ending 22 February
<ol>
<li>9 The Crescent, Vaucluse, NSW, 2030, four-bedroom house, sold on February 17 by Richardson &amp; Wrench Double Bay for $3.35 million </li>
<li>131 Middle Head Road, Mosman, NSW, 2088, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on February 18 by McGrath Estate Agents for $3.225 million </li>
<li>6 Alton Avenue, Concord, NSW, 2137, five-bedroom house, sold at auction on February 17 by McGrath Estate Agents for $2.99 million </li>
<li>63 Wharf Road, Gladesville, NSW, 2111, five-bedroom house, sold on February 17 by McGrath Estate Agents for $2.9 million </li>
<li>4A Bellevue Garden, Bellevue Hill, NSW, 2023, three-bedroom house, sold prior to auction on February 18 by Phillips Pantzer Donnelley for $2.79 million </li>
<li>5 Linkmead Avenue, Clontarf, NSW, 2093, five-bedroom house, sold at auction on February 21 by Clarke &amp; Humel Property Manly for $2.715 million </li>
<li>37 Windsor Street, Paddington, NSW, 2021, three-bedroom house, sold prior to auction on February 21 by BresicWhitney Estate Agents Darlinghurst for $2.7 million </li>
<li>369 Esplanade, Mount Martha, VIC, 3934, five-bedroom house, sold on February 17 by Harcourts Mornington for $2.65 million </li>
<li>44 Nelson Road, Lindfield, NSW, 2070, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on February 21 by L J Hooker Concord for $2.643 million </li>
<li>36 Bourne Road, Glen Iris, VIC, 3146, four-bedroom house, sold at auction on February 21 by Marshall White Real Estate for $2.54 million</li>
</ol>
Source: CoreLogic RP Data 
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After 53 years of ownership, Vaucluse home pips Mosman: CoreLogic Top 10 sales

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Dogs don't typically feature in real estate marketing campaigns, or for that matter work when they do, but Title Tattle loved this one.
Adrian Oddi at BresicWhitney Balmain secured $2.75 million for the five bedroom, four bathroom house at weekend auction.
It was a 236 square metre offering at 8 Byrnes Street, Rozelle.
<a href="https://www.bresicwhitney.com.au/buy/8-byrnes-street-rozelle-10401" target="_blank">The price guide was over $2.5 million</a>, whippet not included. Title Tattle ascertained the dog's name is Jasper. He's apparently extremely timid but loved the camera at the photo-shoot!
However he wasn’t there at the not quite sultry weekend auction, apparently too nervous. 
"He went to the dog park instead," Adrian, the selling agent told Property Observer.
There was rental guidance for investors of potentially $1,800 to $2,000 per week.
The Tony McLain architect plans were approved by council in 2011 for the new home.
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No dog day as Rozelle offering fetches $2.75 million

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GUEST OBSERVATION
According to preliminary auction results, there were a reported 852 residential properties auctioned in Melbourne at the weekend, 76% or 494 of these selling.
Total auction volumes included 520 houses and 316 apartments, with clearance rates of 81% and 71% respectively. The balance of auctions consisted of vacant land sales.
The highly anticipated unofficial opening of Melbourne’s real estate auction calendar occurred at the weekend, and, as predicted by WBP’s property advisers, with as much ferocity as it closed in December last year.
The keen interest observed at open for inspections and the market’s handful of auctions in January and early February converted to participation at the weekend, with a multitude of bidders driving strong outcomes for many properties across Melbourne. And, the results are telling.
A clearance rate of 76% signifies over three quarters of vendors received an offer to purchase their property either equal to or exceeding their expectations. This demonstrates high confidence levels among both buyers and sellers – a factor that will continue to drive market performance until the Easter period, in the least, particularly following the RBA’s surprise cut to already record low interest rates earlier this month.
It’s interesting to note the consistency of performance across Melbourne’s metropolitan market. All residential markets, ranging from the city’s outer east to the west are clearing at rates higher than this same time last year. But still, Melbourne’s litmus suburbs experienced mixed results – Richmond showed a strong clearance rate, commanding strong prices for quality properties, while Reservoir cleared at lower rates with just half of auctioned properties transacting.
Other standout performer was St Kilda, due partly to a proportion of properties selling prior to auction. It’s not unusual for many properties to transact prior to auction in January and February amid concerns the market may not meet vendor price expectations prior to buyer interest peaking. This trend is likely to dissipate over coming weeks as markets heat up and vendors feel more at ease.
The Melbourne market has opened strongly overall, however, micro level analysis continues to demonstrate not all properties perform the same. Don’t rely heavily of macro property statistics when selecting a home or investment property. Instead, investigate the individual asset’s long-term performance as a gauge of future expectations.
Greville Pabst is CEO of <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CEAQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wbpproperty.com%2F&amp;ei=Jb4hUevODOyamQX6mIGYDQ&amp;usg=AFQjCNH0u8Ji9ymluq8AKARfB-KjHZ-aFA&amp;sig2=DNsIKQR7tQj4PtYuiJOHPA&amp;bvm=bv.42553238,d.dGY" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">WBP Property Group.</a>
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Melbourne's auction season swings back into action with ferocity: Greville Pabst

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An incredibly strong auction weekend set the scene for a remarkable auction in Sydney’s north at the weekend, when a house in the suburb of North Epping, 19 kilometres from Sydney’s CBD, sold for nearly $200,000 above reserve.
A combination of the <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/growth/economy/45528-what-does-the-rba-interest-rate-cut-mean-for-your-business" target="_blank">interest rate cut</a> and a greater volume of properties on offer saw the national clearance rate hit a high not seen since October 2009, according to RP Data Victorian housing market specialist Robert Larocca.
Twelve registered bidders pushed the price for the five-bedroom home at 9 Narelle Street, North Epping, to $1,616,000 – a whopping $191,000 above the reserve price, <a href="https://news.domain.com.au/domain/real-estate-news/epic-epping-auction-nets-seller-almost-200000-above-reserve-20150221-13l158">according to Domain</a>.  
A local couple made the winning bid after going head-to-head with a Chinese investor, according to the reports, who jumped the price by $1,000 increments over the phone.
Larocca said lower interest rates clearly had a connection to such outstanding results.
“That was the point [of lowering rates], in many respects. The Reserve Bank wanted people to open their wallets, or their bank loans, just a bit more,” says Larocca.
Larocca says if the market continues with such strength, we will likely see more exceptional results.
“But I think what’s more interesting is the overall national clearance. That speaks more about the market than those people who do get hundreds over their reserve,” he says.
The national clearance rate reached 77.7%, according to RP Data preliminary data, and Larocca says even if that is adjusted down, the result points to a very strong weekend.
“It was a remarkable outcome really,” says Larocca.
Sydney was again the country’s star performer, scoring an 87.8% clearance off 839 auctions.
It’s the third week in a row the Sydney market has delivered a result above 80%, but Larocca says this is not against the trend at this time last year.
Melbourne did not disappoint despite the higher volumes, logging a clearance rate of 74.9% off 1,049 homes sold under the hammer.
Even Brisbane delivered a stellar result of 68.9% off 113 auctions.
Larocca says the coming weekend will be “interesting” to watch, as the weekend before a long weekend brings even more properties on the market.
“It will be interesting now the momentum has built significantly. Seeing as it was admittedly a slow start to the year,” he says.
“Buyers are clearly back out,” Larocca adds.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/" target="_blank">SmartCompany</a>.
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North Sydney home sells for nearly $200,000 above reserve as interest rates push auctions to “remarkable” high

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A preliminary weighted average clearance rate of 77.7% was recorded this week across capital cities compared to 74% last week and 76.2% this time last year.
<a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/20150223-Capital-City.jpg" rel="wp-prettyPhoto[g4298]"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4299" src="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/20150223-Capital-City-580x437.jpg" alt="National auctions - Capital City" width="580" height="437"></a>
At this stage this is the highest clearance rate recorded on a national level since September 2009.
Last week’s momentum has been carried into this week with solid demand evident in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. The interest rate cut is clearly having a beneficial impact.
In Sydney a preliminary clearance rate of 87.8% was recorded and this is higher than any other week in the past year. This is compared to 83.3% last week and 84.2% last year. This result is the sign of a strong market but not against the trend at this time last year.
<a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/20150223-Sydney.jpg" rel="wp-prettyPhoto[g4298]"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4300" src="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/20150223-Sydney-580x397.jpg" alt="National auctions - Sydney" width="580" height="397"></a>
In Melbourne preliminary clearance rate was 74.9%, compared to 70.9% last week and 73.5% this time last year. The Melbourne auction market has lifted by around 15 points in the past two weeks.
<a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/20150223-Melbourne.jpg" rel="wp-prettyPhoto[g4298]"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4301" src="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/20150223-Melbourne-580x394.jpg" alt="National auctions - Melbourne" width="580" height="394"></a>
In Brisbane a preliminary clearance rate of 68.9% was recorded compared to 49.5% last week.
<a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/20150223-Brisbane.jpg" rel="wp-prettyPhoto[g4298]"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4302" src="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/20150223-Brisbane-580x373.jpg" alt="National auctions - Brisbane" width="580" height="373"></a>
In Adelaide a preliminary clearance rate of 55.2% compared to 69% last week.
<a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/20150223-Adelaide.jpg" rel="wp-prettyPhoto[g4298]"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4303" src="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/20150223-Adelaide-580x392.jpg" alt="National auctions - Adelaide" width="580" height="392"></a>
In Canberra a clearance rate of 72.9% was recorded compared to 72.3% last week. This is the third week with a clearance rate in excess of 70% and means the Canberra auction market has had a stronger start than last year.
In Perth a clearance rate of 53.8% was recorded.
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Interest rate cut is clearly having a beneficial impact to auction market: Robert Larocca

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It was yet another stunning result at weekend auctions when an initial 84.6% success rate was secured by Sydney vendors, according to Australian Property Monitors (APM).
The sizzling clearance rate was just below last year’s all-time record result of 86%, recorded coincidentally over the same weekend, said the senior economist at APM Andrew Wilson.
Some 636 homes were listed to go under the hammer on Saturday, which was well ahead of the previous Saturday’s 455 auctions, when the revised rate sat at 80.5%.
It was the third week above 80% on the weekend.    
Sydney’s inner city regions recorded a combined 90.6% clearance rate with almost half of all auction sales.
The city and east reported the highest regional clearance rate on Saturday with 92.5%.
The next best was the inner west with 91.2% with the highest sales reported at 93, followed by the lower north 85.7%, the upper north shore 84.2%, the northern beaches 82.5%, the south 81.8%, the west 80%, Canterbury Bankstown 76.7% and the north west 70.6%.
The central coast ranked weakest with a 54% clearance rate on Saturday.
The most expensive property reported sold was a five bedroom, tri-level home at <a href="https://www.clarkeandhumel.com.au/3032030/10-carrington-parade-freshwater" target="_blank">10 Carrington Parade, Freshwater </a>that sold for $3,750,000 through Clarke and Humel Property. There were seven registered bidders, four of whom got to lodge bids.
<img src="/images/2015/02/23/freshwater%20feb%2023%20one.jpg" alt="">
On its 2008 completion it was noted the architects, Gartner Trovato, maximised what one can do with the site. It last sold as is in 2012 at $3.01 million through Clarke.
The most affordable property reported sold at the weekend was a studio apartment at Coronation Inn, when 103/284 Pacific Highway, Greenwich sold for $308,000 by Urbane Inner West.
<img src="/images/2015/02/23/greenwich%20feb%2023%20one.jpg" alt="">
It was recently available at $320 a week, but the agency says <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-studio-nsw-greenwich-118887747" target="_blank">$350 a week was achievable</a>.
However CoreLogic RP Data records show $350 was unsuccessfully sought earlier this year for the 30 square metre studio plus 16 square metre car space. It's $308,000 sale price reflected a 5.4% yield.
The first Super Saturday of the year arrives with 800 homes scheduled to go under the hammer next weekend.
"Sydney’s feeding frenzy for home buyers shows no sign of diminishing," Wilson said.
Saturday's 636 offering was down 20% on the same time last year, with next weekend's 800 offerings 20% up, according to APM.
{mijopolls 91}
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Sydney auction success at fresh near-record high as Super Saturday looms

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An Australian online platform where buyers can bid on residential properties has sold its first house.
<a href="https://www.bresicwhitney.com.au/buy/77a-ryan-street-lilyfield-10366" target="_blank">It was a three bedroom Lilyfield listing</a> with $1.3 million plus hopes offered via <a href="https://exchangehouse.com.au/auction_details.php?name=&amp;auction_id=100579&amp;sesuburb=lilyfield" target="_blank">Exchangehouse.com.au</a>.
The three bedroom terrace in Lilyfield secured 22 bids over a three day period from three bidders.
The winning bidder secured the property for $1,618,000 - well above the reserve price. It last sold in 2005 at $790,000.
Click to open in new window: 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2015/02/23/bids-feb-23-one.jpg" target="_blank"><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/2015/02/23/bids-feb-23-one.jpg" alt=""></a>
Source: Exhangehouse.com.au
Given five registrations, the auction timetable was brought forward. The last bid was placed at 12.30am on Thursday morning and with 24 hours given the hammer came down at 12.30am on Friday as the reserve was exceeded.
Jonathan Elepano, a director at exchangehouse.com.au, was the vendor of 77a Ryan Street.
“We have been working on the technology behind the website for many years," Elepano said.
"I was pleased to use my property on our platform to see the results in real time with live bidders.  
"22 bids over a three day period was a phenomenal result and exceeded everyone’s expectations."
BresicWhitney pioneered the online auction in the onsite inner Sydney residential heartland.
Exchangehouse, an online platform for owners to list their properties via their agent, has been developed over the last three years by Mark Jamieson, a property executive with over 15 years industry experience, and Jonathan Elepano, an IT expert with over 20 years experience in the technology sector.
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