The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

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The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

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Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

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Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

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Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 41-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

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Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 41-storey tower, which has 229 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

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A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

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"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

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The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

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The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Clearance Rate

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There was a red hot competition when a towering Stawell landmark went to weekend auction. 
The Victorian Wimmera town's<a id="LPlnk815811" class="OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.monaghansrealestate.com/property/1954/vic" target="_blank"> historic fire station</a> (above and below) fetched $360,000, well above its envisaged $200,000 sale price. 
Monaghan estate agent Terry Monaghan said the converted Victorian Romanesque-style building ignited interest from buyers across Victoria. 
But it sold to a local chiropractor who needed more space.
There were seven disappointed buyers.
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"Anything with a tower or steeple, people go crazy," said Monaghan said.
The heritage-protected station and adjoining bell tower date back to the 1880s when designed by architect George Inskip for the volunteer fire brigade.
It was sold by the Country Fire Authority in 1991 for $48,000 before being bought by the current vendors in 2008 at $151,000 who then converted the first floor into an open-style apartment.
The station was one of the first buildings in Stawell, set 230 kms from the Melbourne CBD.
Set in an elevated position, the tower offers views over the town and towards the Grampians National Park.
Heritage Victoria list it as one of the few intact 19th century fire stations with a bell tower remaining in Victoria.
Another historic property for sale in Stawell is at <a id="LPlnk697424" class="OWAAutoLink" href="http://www.araratballaratrealestate.com.au/?/property/3340334/17-leslie-street-stawell-vic-3380" target="_blank">17 Leslie Street</a> (below) which was built as the home for Stawell's first police superintendent in 1869. 
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Agent Ross Matthews has it listed at $465,000.
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There were 1,472 homes taken to auction across the combined capital cities this week, increasing from 1,026 over the prior week, although still much lower than the 2300 this week last year.
CoreLogic's preliminary results put the national clearance rate at 58.8 per cent, up from last week’s final clearance rate of 50.4 per cent.
The same time last year saw the clearance rate at 62.1 per cent. 
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"Once final results are collected, the final clearance rate will most likely revise down to the low 50 per cent range," auction analyst Kevin Brogan said.
In Melbourne, 678 homes were taken to auction, up from 498 over the previous week. The same week last year saw 1,144 homes taken to auction across the city. Melbourne's preliminary auction clearance rate came in at 60 per cent, up from 53 per cent over the previous week, although lower than this time last year (63 per cent).
A South Yarra apartment sold for $1.58 million, as 180,000 over reserve, when offered for the first time since it was built in 1935.
The <a id="LPlnk55244" class="OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.bigginscott.com.au/property/PRHSBJ_1_7828" target="_blank">3/7 Alexandra Avenue offering</a> (below), with Yarra River views, sold through Biggin &amp; Scott agent Tom McCarthy who had five bidders.
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The Herald Sun reported the successful buyers were from the country who will use it as a bolt hole.
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Sydney was host to 535 auctions this week with preliminary results returning a 66.6 per cent clearance rate across the initial 326 results. 
Over the previous week, 332 auctions were held across the city and a final clearance rate of 52 per cent was recorded. 
This time last year, 63 per cent of the 797 Sydney homes auctioned were successful.
The highest residential sale in Sydney from yesterday was <a id="LPlnk953062" class="OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://strathfield.randw.com.au/property/0000405247" target="_blank">27A Kingsland Road, Strathfield</a> (below) for $2,780,000 though Richardson and Wrench Strathfield.
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It last sold at $1.4 million in 2005.
Domain noted the house attracted 12 registered bidders, with eight active when the home sold for more than $200,000 over reserve.
Across the smaller auction markets, Brisbane was the only city to see a fall in both auction volumes and the clearance rate week-on-week, while year-on-year, all capital cities saw a fall in auction volumes.
Brisbane's priciest sale was a five bedroom 2006-built Queenslander at <a id="LPlnk505732" class="OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.eplace.com.au/property/QLD-MORNINGSIDE-R2-1834985" target="_blank">102 Belgrave Street, Morningside</a> which had sold in 2013 at $900,000.
The nation's cheapest result was a pre-auction sale in St Kilda at $198,500.
Hockingstuart advertised the Cosmos studio at <a id="LPlnk455753" class="OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.hockingstuart.com.au/property/4-42-waterloo-crescent-st-kilda-vic-3182-87837" target="_blank">4/42 Waterloo Crescent</a> as affordable. At less than 30 sqm, it last sold at $131,000 in 2007.
The late 1950s unit was marketed with a price guide of $190,000 to $209,000.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Red hot competition when a towering Stawell fire station landmark 

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There were big losers and big winners at weekend auctions as the volume picked up after the Easter break.
Listings are still lower than a normal autumn given the virtual long weekend, lingering school holidays and encroaching Federal election nervousness.
The markets remain weak with volumes well down from a year ago, Shane Oliver, the AMP Capital chief economist noted.
Queensland mortgagees accepted $120,000 in the nation's cheapest weekend auction sale.
It was on Russell Island, off the Queensland coast in Redland City near North Stradbroke Island, where a two bedroom 2007-built house (to) was sold for the bargain price.
The $120,000 sale price was lower than its prior two sales, according to CoreLogic.
It fetched $159,000 in May last year, and $180,000 in 2009.
The island's median house price sits at $199,000, having peaked at $233,000 in 2010, and dipping to $170,000 in 2015.
The 2007-built home also went under contract late last year when there was a $155,000 asking price, but the sale did not proceed.
LJ Hooker Bay Islands secured the sale of vacated <a id="LPlnk602187" class="OWAAutoLink" href="https://bayislands.ljhooker.com.au/house-in-russell-island-qld-4184-au-g3dgwy#.XMUuDC1L1QI" target="_blank">74 Falconhurst Road</a> offering on the biggest of the Southern Moreton Bay islands.
There have been 30 sales on Russell Island this year, ranging from $475,000 for a waterfront house which had been on and off the market for six years to $24,500 for a vacant block of land, at half its prior sale price.
Melbourne's priciest sale, a $3 million Blackburn development site which was snapped up pre-auction, also reflected a price drop result.
The <a class="OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.raywhite.com/vic/blackburn/2087589/?lang=en" target="_blank">61-63 Whitehorse Rd, Blackburn</a> offering (below) came with approved plans for 12 residences on the 1470sqm residential growth zone development site.
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But the large weatherboard house with another residence last sold at $3.64 million in 2016, according to CoreLogic.
The top house sale was $1.85 million in Caroline Springs, 25 km west of Melbourne's Central Business District, within the City of Melton. 
The <a id="LPlnk571792" class="OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.firstnational.com.au/buy/real-estate/1281938/15-lauriston-quay-caroline-springs-vic-3023" target="_blank">15 Lauriston Quay</a> offering had price guidance of $1.1 million to $1.2 million through First National.
The luxury 2005-built home, on a 976 sqm block directly opposite the lake in the prestigious The Bridges Estate boasts six bedrooms, three of which are grand masters. 
It last sold in 2013 at $937,000, the first time it sold as a home with 650 sqm of floor space.
One on Brighton’s iconic bathing boxes failed to sell at weekend auction when offered by a family that had owned the box for three generations..
<a id="LPlnk873996" class="OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.hockingstuart.com.au/property/bathing-box-34-esplanade-brighton-vic-3186-167341" target="_blank">Bathing Box 34, just off The Esplanade</a> (below) was passed in on a $280,000 vendor bid.
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It now has a $310,000 asking price for the box which has a sea life mural on the front.
Hocking Stuart agent Rowan Thompson told the Herald Sun his two potential buyers hadn’t shown at the auction. 
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The last bathing box sale, No. 89, sold for more than $330,000 a few weeks ago.
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Across Australia’s two largest cities, there were 497 Melbourne homes taken to auction, increasing on the 50 homes auctioned last week, however the clearance rate dropped to 55.7 per cent, after last week’s 63.2 per cent final clearance rate.
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In Sydney, 329 auctions were held returning a 57.1 per cent preliminary clearance rate, improving on the 46.3 per cent final auction clearance rate last week when a lower 221 auctions were held across the city.
It was the weekend's strongest auction market, a position it has held since mid February when Adelaide ranked as the strongest auction market.
A newly built French Provincial style home in Strathfield (below) was Sydney's top result in a pre-auction sale.
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Set on a 731sqm block the five bedroom full brick/concrete home with formal lounge room plus a dedicated home cinema room fetched $3.5 million.
There had been a buyers guide of $3.3 million from its selling agent David Pisano for <a id="LPlnk810060" class="OWAAutoLink" href="https://strathfield.ljhooker.com.au/house-in-strathfield-nsw-2135-au-jk7fax#.XMUvfC1L1QI" target="_blank">9 Hedges Avenue</a>.
Neighbouring the golf course, the 730 sqm block was bought in 2017 at $2.055 million. 
The second highest residential sale in Sydney was <a id="LPlnk532869" class="OWAAutoLink" href="https://chadwickrealestate.com.au/property/house-nsw-turramurra-1p21238/" target="_blank">33 Boomerang Street, Turramurra</a> which sold for $2,575,000 through Chadwick Real Estate.
Designed by architect Lazlo Ernst, the four bedroom two storey 1970-built, Eagleholme sits on a 942 sqm block.
It last sold in 2002 at $1.35 million.
The national preliminary clearance rate rose across the capital cities accompanied by a slightly higher volume of auctions.
Around 1,019 homes were taken to market returning a 54.6 per cent success rate, according to CoreLogic.
The higher activity this week comes off the back of the Easter slowdown which saw only 394 auctions held across the capitals and a 43.9 per cent final auction clearance rate, which was the second lowest clearance rate over the year to date.
All of the capital city auction markets saw an increase in auction activity with the exception of Canberra.
The performance however was varied, with Adelaide recording the highest success rate of 54 percent, while only 20 percent of auctions cleared in Perth.
Canberra had a 43 percent success rate with the top notified sale coming in Curtin at $1.2 million.
The recently renovated four bedroom at <a id="LPlnk772698" class="OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://blackshaw.com.au/residential-for-sale/0000405732" target="_blank">20 Willcock Place</a> had last sold in 2011 at $880,000. Declined on the market at $1.17 million, it sold through Mario Sanfrancesco at Peter Blackshaw Real Estate with three bidders, Domain reported.
Thee were only 18 auctions scheduled in the nation’s capital.
CoreLogic calculate around 56 percent of houses sold at capital city auctions this week, which was higher than units which returned a 49 percent clearance rate.
</div>
</div>
<div class="column">
 
 
<table style="width: 605px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"><tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
Most expensive
</td>
<td colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_0">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_0" align="left">Sydney</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_0" colspan="2">9 Hedges Av, Strathfield NSW 2135, 5 br House, LJH Strathfield</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_0">$3,500,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_1">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_1" align="left">Melbourne</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_1" colspan="2">61-63 Whitehorse Rd, Blackburn VIC 3130, 6 br House, RW Forest Hill</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_1">$3,000,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_2">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_2" align="left">Adelaide</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_2" colspan="2">18 Frome Cr, Mawson Lakes SA 5095, 4 br House, C21 Golden Estates Mawson Lakes</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_2">$901,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_3">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_3" align="left">Brisbane</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_3" colspan="2">23 Wren St, Ascot QLD 4007, 5 br House, RW Albion</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_3">$1,715,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_4">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_4" align="left">Canberra</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_4" colspan="2">20 Willcock Pl, Curtin ACT 2605, 4 br House, Peter Blackshaw Real Estate Manuka</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_4">$1,200,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
Most affordable
</td>
<td colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_0">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_0" align="left">Sydney</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_0" colspan="2">10 Kobada Av, Buff Point NSW 2262, 2 br House, LJH Toukley</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_0">$310,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_1">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_1" align="left">Melbourne</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_1" colspan="2">14/2A Bates St, Malvern East VIC 3145, 1 br Unit, Ray White Carnegie</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_1">$272,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_2">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_2" align="left">Adelaide</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_2" colspan="2">52 Swan Tce, Ethelton SA 5015, 4 br House, Ouwens Casserly</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_2">$570,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_3">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_3" align="left">Brisbane</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_3" colspan="2">74 Falconhurst Rd, Russell Island QLD 4184, 2 br House, LJH Bay Islands</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_3">$120,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_4">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_4" align="left">Canberra</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_4" colspan="2">95 Fullagar Cr, Higgins ACT 2615, 3 br House, LJH Kippax</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_4">$510,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

Russell Island mortgagee sale ranked as cheapest weekend auction sale

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Richmond ranked as the busiest suburb for weekend auctions with the Melbourne suburb having 21 homes offered under the hammer.
Richmond's weekend sales included the three bedroom cottage of former Melbourne Victory captain Adrian Leijer (above and below).
His property, which passed in at auction at $1.505 million, sold post auction for an undisclosed price.
The three-bedroom home, renovated by the star centre back and his architect wife Ashlee, had pre-auction $1.4 million to $1.54 million price guidance through Jellis Craig agent Trent Stewart.
The Herald Sun reported a Mornington Peninsula based family will use it as a city pad, the keenest of around 80 groups who had gone through the property at <a id="LPlnk120665" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.jelliscraig.com.au/property-details-118-Richmond-Terrace-Richmond-3121/772918" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">118 Richmond Terrace, Richmond</a> which was bought in 2011 for $615,000.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/15/Rich2.jpg" alt="">
The preliminary Real Estate Insititute of Victoria results for Richmond had 10 homes sold with seven passed in, with four yet to be reported.
According to CoreLogic, the next busiest suburbs were Sydney’s Leichhardt, which had 16 auctions scheduled, followed by Maroubra (15) and Mosman (14), also in Sydney.
But auction listings are low across the capital cities.
And the auction volumes are set to be interrupted over coming weeks the school holidays, the Easter break, then Anzac Day, and the May 18 Federal election.
The REIV calculated 970 Melbourne auctions, then next weekend (20/21 April) there will be just 60 auctions given the Easter slowdown.
Auctions will rise on the 27/28 April weekend to around 410 Melbourne auctions and then in early May to 550 auctions.
There were 2,268 homes taken to auction across the combined capital cities, up from 1,976 over the previous week.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/15/CL-Apr15.jpg" alt="">
But there was not the traditional huge pre-Easter weekend surge. 
CoreLogic noted auction volumes were significantly lower than the week prior to Easter 2018 when some 3,990 homes were taken to auction.
"Although the number of auctions remain well below the week prior to Easter last year, the number of auctions held was the second highest so far this year," Kevin Brogan, the CoreLogic auction analyst noted.
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Preliminary results show an auction clearance rate of 58.2 per cent across the capitals, although Brogan added: "keep in mind that this will revise lower as the remaining results are collected."
The previous week saw the final clearance rate dip from the 57.2 percent preliminary figure, but hold above 50 per cent for the fourth consecutive week at 52.6 per cent.
<div class="x_column">
Across the smaller auction markets, Perth saw a fall in auction volumes week-on-week.
The nation's cheapest weekend auction result was just $212,000 in Brisbane.
</div>
The three bedroom 1970s two storey house sat on an 800 sam holding at <a id="LPlnk643334" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://raywhitelogancity.com.au/properties/residential-for-sale/qld/kingston-4114/house/2079786" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">116 Bardon Rd, Kingston</a> (below), just outside of Brisbane.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/15/Kingston1.jpg" alt="">
It last sold at $55,000 in 2000.
"As you enter you will see this home could do with a little TLC, a coat of paint certainly wouldn't hurt however you will be impressed with this solid home offering a large fantastic layout both upstairs and downstairs," the selling agent's marketing suggested.
The accomodation downstairs could be used by "the savvy investor looking to maximise rental returns," Sam Fuller, the Ray White Logan City agent said.
Adelaide had the next cheapest when $257,000 secured another three bedroom home.
It was <a id="LPlnk411532" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://raywhiteparahills.com.au/properties/residential-for-sale/sa/para-hills-5096/house/2077263" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">10 Warrigal St, Para Hills</a> which sold pre-auction, marketed as offering "an excellent subdivision opportunity for the savvy investor."
</div>
<div class="x_column">
In Melbourne, the 970 homes taken to auction was up on the 900 in the prior week.
But the week prior to Easter last year saw a surge with some 2,070 homes taken to auction across Melbourrne.
Melbourne's preliminary weekend auction clearance rate came in at 54.9 per cent.
Melbourne's most expensive weekend sale was at <a id="LPlnk765143" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.rtedgar.com.au/property/732026/9-mernda-road-kooyong/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">9 Mernda Road, Kooyong </a>(below) for $4.72 million after being passed in.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/15/Kooy1.jpg" alt="">
When listed last June it had a guide of between $5.5 million and $6 million.
Sydney was host to 927 auctions with preliminary results returning a 62.9 per cent clearance rate across 577 results.
The week prior to Easter 2018 saw 1,383 Sydney homes taken to auction across the city.
</div>
Sydney has the priciest sale when $6.22 million was paid for <a id="LPlnk980275" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house/nsw/eastern-suburbs/south-coogee/402455" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">15 Cairo Street, South Coogee</a> (below).
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/15/South-C.jpg" alt="">
The four bedroom house was a contemporary design by MKD Architects.
The resort-style three-level residence came with 10-metre pool.
It had ocean views over Wedding Cake Island, its McGrath selling agent Marnie Senior said.
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No traditional huge pre-Easter surge in auction offerings

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<div class="x__2vba1">
It was dentist Nasser El Hage and his cosmetic surgeon wife Dr Alia Nasser who secured the top weekend sale across the nation.
Their Paddington property at <a id="LPlnk98114" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://theagency.com.au/17824/60-62-caledonia-street-paddington" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Caledonia Street, Paddington</a> (above) was sold soon after being passed in at its onsite auction.
The Agency’s Ben Collier secured only the one bid of $7.625 million for the 450sqm five bedroom property. 
It was sold at an undisclosed price, reportedly $7.7 million.
The Caledonia Street holding cost $4,779,000 in 2013, along with a further outlay for a one bedroom with car spot across the street.
The highest declared sale price was at <a id="LPlnk723397" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://theagency.com.au/17828/67-wallaroy-road-woollahra" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">67 Wallaroy Road Woollahra</a> (below) where $5.65 million was secured.
The 1930s home had solid 2010 at $4.95 million.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/8/Woollahra1.jpg" alt="">
There was an $8.6 million bid on an unsuccessful Woollahra offering.
Melbourne's top notified price was when Vadlure, at <a id="LPlnk507365" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/9-kintore-street-camberwell-vic/property-details-sold-residential-12472562/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">9 Kintore Street, Camberwell</a> (below) fetched $3.05 million, just above its $3 million price guidance.
The home sits in gardens designed by landscape architect Anthony Scott on the 693sqm block.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/8/Camb1.jpg" alt="">
Vadlure has high period ceilings, marble open fireplaces, bright Baltic pine floors and stained-glass windows reflecting the Federation-era elegance.
One buyers agent described it as "a ‘B’ grader in signature street with great potential to become an ‘A’ grader."
Another buyers agent, Tim Picken, suggested it was in a great position and with potential "but will require approx $1.5+ to do a good renovation and difficult to do so in the Tara Estate with heritage restrictions, although the building itself has good bones to work with provided it meets regulations."
Last sold at $2.25 million in 2014, Vadlure likely takes its name from a village in the Shetland Islands, famous for craft, fishing, gossamer-fine knitwear and its Nordic-Celtic heritage.
A two-storey brick Toorak was passed in at $4.9 million before selling at an undisclosed higher sale price. 
Melbourne recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 55 percent over the weekend from 775 scheduled auctions just shy of the 57 percent success rate in Sydney from 621 scheduled auctions, according to Domain Group.
The revised clearance rate is expected to fall, according to AMP Capital's chief economist Shane Oliver.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/8/CL-Apr8.jpg" alt=""> CoreLogic's preliminary weekend clearance rate.
Sydney's median house price was $1.26 million and an $825,000 median unit price.
Melbourne had a $940,000 median house price and a $623,000 median unit price, according to Domain.
There were very high numbers of properties being pulled from auction in Sydney.
In Sydney over 110 properties were pulled from auction across Sydney as homeowners are increasingly withdrawing their properties from auction due to lack of competitive buying interest.
</div>
<div class="x_ztzrw">
<div class="x__3t7hh">
<div class="x__1kIOl">
The weekend data put the withdrawn prior to auction property numbers at about 18 percent of auction listings, up from the decade average of about one in 10 homes.
"The rise in sellers willing to pull their home from auction has risen at a greater pace compared to other downturns, indicating the market is under stress," the Domain data analyst Nicola Powell told Domain.
"It suggests particular homes have insufficient bidders to create a competitive auction, rather than an auction not hitting the vendor’s reserve."
A six bedroom Avalon beach home at <a id="LPlnk964902" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house/nsw/northern-beaches/avalon-beach/402122" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">94 Whale Beach Road, Avalon Beach</a> (below) was among the listings pulled from weekend auction by the ASX listed McGrath Estate Agents.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/8/Avalon1.jpg" alt="">
McGrath agents pulled 12 listings, or 14 percent of their reported weekend offerings.
The Avalon Beach house now has a $3.5 million asking price having last sold at $2,925,000 in 2017.
There had been a $3.5 million price guide.
<div class="x__2vba1">
There was no trouble selling a freestanding home in Petersham that attracted 22 registered bidders. 
</div>
<div class="x_ztzrw">
<div class="x__3t7hh">
<div class="x__1kIOl">
The four-bedroom freestanding 1900 home at <a id="LPlnk633677" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.ch.com.au/107-brighton-street-petersham-nsw-4797970/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">107 Brighton Street Petersham</a> in the inner west Sydney suburb sold for $350,000 above its reserve for $2.25 million through Julie Hatch at Cobden &amp; Hayson.
It last sold in 2001 at $875,000.
Getting 22 bidders at an auction in the current market was "unheard of" in the current market, the auctioneer Damien Cooley said.
However properties with just one or two things wrong with them weren't attracting interest at all, Cooley added.
Adelaide has the nation's cheapest result. 
The three bedroom house at <a id="LPlnk67767" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://harcourts.com.au/Property/783188/STG6003/26-Panorama-Crescent" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">26 Panorama Crescent, Reynella</a> fetched $253,000.
"This once loved family home could do with a little TLC but roll up your sleeves and put in a little effort and you are sure to reap the rewards," the Harcourts selling agent Kelly Eustice said.
The brick house sat on an 860 sqm lot in the Onkaparinga municipality.
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Sydney auctions being pulled at elevated rate as buyers get picky

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There was no game, set and match when a Brighton tennis court failed to find a buyer at weekend auction, after attracting just the one bid of $3.75 million.
The vendors at <a id="m_1632196101188182388LPlnk173799" class="m_1632196101188182388OWAAutoLink" href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/tucWCmO5OnH1wWoOiGsxWv?domain=marshallwhite.com.au" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/tucWCmO5OnH1wWoOiGsxWv?domain%3Dmarshallwhite.com.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1554153686165000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFdfXvzXpBMTEtqfYK6m_HzxGdf8Q">58 Were Street</a> had $3.8 million to $4.1 million pre-auction price hopes, and will now take $3.95 million.
Their neighbouring house at <a id="m_1632196101188182388LPlnk64277" class="m_1632196101188182388OWAAutoLink" href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/jqFBCnx1xocl0mZ8tJb4La?domain=marshallwhite.com.au" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/jqFBCnx1xocl0mZ8tJb4La?domain%3Dmarshallwhite.com.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1554153686165000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGr-SNOj-SnNcfmEcJDXA24CH8Usg">60 Were Street</a>, which had $3.5 million to $3.8 million hopes, was also passed in with one bid at $3.55 million.
The home with tennis court has only had two owners since its 1919 construction with the current vendors buying it in 1982 for $285,000, The Herald Sun reported.
The tennis court is a 892-square-metre block of land (top) , while the five-bedroom house with garden (below) covered by a heritage overlay is on 1070 sqm.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/1/Were1.jpg" alt="">
It's a periodic occurrance as earlier this month a Hunters Hill, Sydney tennis court offering fetched $3.55 million, some $250,000 above reserve.
<a id="m_1632196101188182388LPlnk449287" class="m_1632196101188182388OWAAutoLink" href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/BIe2CoV1V0hlNvVOtVXeJ3?domain=thenewdaily.com.au" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/BIe2CoV1V0hlNvVOtVXeJ3?domain%3Dthenewdaily.com.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1554153686165000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEqulnKGlPV5H63j7dbgn2QGjlMlw">The 900-square-metre grass tennis court holding</a> was once part of the 1893 house next door.
In 2017 a tennis court at <a id="m_1632196101188182388LPlnk651901" class="m_1632196101188182388OWAAutoLink" href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/OEDuCp818qhQrA0YtGBQWi?domain=thenewdaily.com.au" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/OEDuCp818qhQrA0YtGBQWi?domain%3Dthenewdaily.com.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1554153686165000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHpzW3jOsD8qG0zp3G_ojkBDvBWiA">16 Stradbroke Avenue, Toorak</a> fetched $7.805 million at an auction that resembled a five-set tennis match.
Melbourne's top weekend sale was at Albert Park where <a id="m_1632196101188182388LPlnk567997" class="m_1632196101188182388OWAAutoLink" href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/dGsgCq717rSLAXyqsNNNS8?domain=cayzer.com.au" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/dGsgCq717rSLAXyqsNNNS8?domain%3Dcayzer.com.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1554153686165000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGBRS2-wtUAZBG1MM-PtmfZW-xp7g">7 O'Grady Street</a> (below) sold through Cayzer Real Estate for $3.14 million after it had been totally transformed behind its classic Victorian facade.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/1/Albert.jpg" alt="">
Set on 272 sqm with double garage, the four bedroom, two bathroom home last traded at $492,500 in 2000. 
There had been $2.75 million to $3 million price guidance.
Melbourne had the <a id="m_1632196101188182388LPlnk572311" class="m_1632196101188182388OWAAutoLink" href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/OaT7Cr818vhwK2RgCN-NPS?domain=harcourts.com.au" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/OaT7Cr818vhwK2RgCN-NPS?domain%3Dharcourts.com.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1554153686165000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGzRHzcKl0ZmlxjFt9qYC8WU_IbAA">cheapest weekend result across the capital cities when a Malvern East</a> studio apartment sold at $103,000.
The price guidance had been $130,000 to $143,000 for the student accomodation at 203/60 Waverley Road, set close to Monash University Caulfield Campus.
It was last advertised as a $275 a week rental.
CoreLogic reported the highest residential sale under the hammer in Sydney was <a id="m_1632196101188182388LPlnk118333" class="m_1632196101188182388OWAAutoLink" href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/8-_-Cvl1lzIOmAnQHyb2Ln?domain=georgesellis.com.au" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/8-_-Cvl1lzIOmAnQHyb2Ln?domain%3Dgeorgesellis.com.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1554153686165000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFvazU6Wkg5Onyd_O8iSaVAZ-vyPA">7 Wallis Avenue, Strathfield</a> (below) for $4,250,000 through George Ellis and Co. It was a three bedroom home marketed as set to be extended or rebuilt on its 689 sqm block.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/4/1/Strath.jpg" alt="">
There was a pre-auction $5,375,000 sale at <a id="m_1632196101188182388LPlnk7499" class="m_1632196101188182388OWAAutoLink" href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/XuqKCwV1VAh0MyEBSQAJyc?domain=ppdre.com.au" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/XuqKCwV1VAh0MyEBSQAJyc?domain%3Dppdre.com.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1554153686165000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHb61nGq2NKP-b4GEkWSanBCGC-oQ">436 Bronte Road, Bronte</a>, continuing the Sydney trend where more offerings sold pre-auction than under the hammer for the third consecutive week.
But the Sunday Telegraph reported the vendors of a unit in Cremorne Point were rewarded for sticking with their auction when it sold for $2.11 million, some $110,000 higher than a pre-auction offer for the three-bedroom <a id="m_1632196101188182388LPlnk733547" class="m_1632196101188182388OWAAutoLink" href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/P3okCxngnBIm6x5YfA3Kms?domain=belleproperty.com" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/P3okCxngnBIm6x5YfA3Kms?domain%3Dbelleproperty.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1554153686165000&amp;usg=AFQjCNF8MR5LlP4A-LzxUIebNVgDTxLcZg">14/14 Kareela Road offering</a>.
It last sold at $1,411,001 in 2014.
There were 2,155 homes taken to auction across the capital cities this week, with preliminary results showing a 56.8 percent success rate. 
"It is likely that we will see revision down to the low 50’s as final results are collected," CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan said.
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Through March the largest auction markets have seen the clearance rate holding around the mid-to-low 50 percent range which is lower than the same time last year, but a substantial improvement relative to late 2018, he noted.
"The number of auctions is likely to rise further in the lead up to Easter; if we see the clearance rate continuing to hold, it will be a strong sign that the fit between buyer and seller pricing expectations is becoming more balanced," he added. 
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In Melbourne, a preliminary auction clearance rate of 53.4 per cent was recorded across 991 auctions this week, down slightly from 55.1 per cent across 814 auctions over the previous week. 
Last week’s clearance rate was the highest Melbourne had seen since September 2018.
Sydney was host to 789 auctions this week, with preliminary results showing a 65.9 per cent success rate, compared to 52.1 per cent across 506 auctions last week. This time last year, the clearance rate was a stronger 67.9 per cent across 394 auctions.
Across the smaller auction markets, Brisbane was the only city to see an increase in the number of homes taken to auction this week, while all other cities saw lower volumes week-on-week.
In Brisbane a waterfront apartment in East Brisbane sold at auction for $1.91 million. There were three registered bidders for the Riyala complex offering, a three-bedroom, plus study and two-bathroom apartment at <a id="m_1632196101188182388LPlnk694141" class="m_1632196101188182388OWAAutoLink" href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/5LDwCyojoDh6vLPxhk-RDV?domain=raywhitepaddington.com.au" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/5LDwCyojoDh6vLPxhk-RDV?domain%3Draywhitepaddington.com.au&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1554153686165000&amp;usg=AFQjCNH6tsvQAaR-fdyS9Ak71jQjZb_qEg">241 Wellington Road, East Brisbane</a>. 
Bidding opened at $1.7 million through agent Phil Waight of Ray White Paddington.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Brighton tennis court fails to sell in final set of March weekend auctions 

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Many Sydney vendors avoided weekend auctions given the clash with the NSW state election.
There were just the 355 auctions across Sydney, substantially lower than the prior weekend's 513 listings.
The listings pattern that had been impacted by the election, would now likely revert to the big run up to the pre-Easter weekend, Kevin Brogan, the auction analysts at CoreLogic noted.
CoreLogic also noted that trend of more houses and apartments being sold pre-auction than under the hammer continued to occur with regularity.
Sydney's top sale in Mosman was pre-auction.
The four bedroom <a id="LPlnk53359" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.belleproperty.com/listings/761100/57-shadforth-street-mosman-nsw-2088/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">57 Shadforth Street, Mosman</a> (below) offering fetched $3.47 million through Belle Property which was slightly at below its mooted expectations.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/3/25/Mosman1.jpg" alt="">
The price guide had been $3.5 million for the house last sold in 1993 at $770,000.
Another property sold ahead of scheduled auction included a spacious warehouse-style property at <a id="LPlnk581726" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="http://www.ppdre.com.au/1P4600" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">31 Blenheim Street, Queens Park</a> (below) at $4 million.
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Agent Alexander Phillips had 98 groups though the property which sold within two weeks of marketing.
The five-bedroom house last changed hands four years ago for $3,335,000.
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There were 1,669 homes taken to auction across the combined eight capital cities, down from 1,875 over the previous week. 
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/3/25/CL-Mar25.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge</a>.
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Brogan noted the same time last year, volumes were significantly higher with 3,990 homes taken to auction over what was the pre-Easter weekend, traditionally one of the busiest weeks for auctions each year.
Preliminary results show a national clearance rate of 56 percent, up from last week’s revised 51.4 percent clearance rate.
"Although this will revise lower as the remaining results are collected," Brogan said.
CoreLogic calculated the finalised clearance rates has sat above 49 percent for five of the last six weeks.
"And it’s likely that this week will be no different," Brogan said.
Over the same week last year the final clearance rate was recorded at 62.7 percent.
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The dearest reported result in Melbourne was a four bedroom house in Glen Iris that sold under the hammer at $3,642,500 with three bidders.
The four bedroom home at <a href="https://www.marshallwhite.com.au/property/17-vincent-street-glen-iris-765096/" target="_blank">17 Vincent Street, Glen Iris</a> sold through Marshall White whose price guidance had been $3.5 million to $3.75 million.
It was announced on the market at $3,575,000 having last sold in 2009 at $2.25 million.
A contemporary four-bedroom home at <a id="LPlnk763124" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.hodges.com.au/property/762437/7-campbell-street-brighton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">7 Campbell Street, Brighton</a> (below) was passed in at $4.11 million with just the one bid.
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The custom built Atkinson Pontifex home had a $4.2 million to $4.62 million price guidance.
A home used as a location in the 2004 film The Brush-Off sold in Melbourne’s north post auction, the Herald Sun reported.
The Moonee Ponds period home at <a id="LPlnk940323" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.nelsonalexander.com.au/property/763598/22-bloom-street/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">22 Bloom Street</a> sold for an undisclosed sum but within the home’s $1.5 million to $1.6 million advertised range through Nelson Alexander Real Estate.
A Brighton beach box has likely matched the record price for the limited offerings along the iconic stretch of sand.
The quaint <a id="LPlnk328791" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/bathing-box-89-brighton-vic/property-details-sold-residential-12434419/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">bathing Box 89 </a>sold pre-auction for an undisclosed figure, but reportedly matching the record price of $337,000 set at an April 2018 auction for bathing box 76B.
Marshall White agent Matthew Pillios confirmed to the Herald Sun that No. 89 sold above its price range of $300,000 to $330,000.
The beach box has a mural of a koala enjoying a relaxing day at the beach painted by the artist Daniel Worth.
It was once awarded by the City of Bayside as the best exterior mural along the beach.
The beach box had been owned for three decades by the vendors who sold to a local middle-aged couple with children.
Domain had Sydney's weekend clearance rate at 61 percent, with Adelaide the second best at 55 percent.
Melbourne was at 54 percent; Canberra at 47 percent and Brisbane at 34 percent. 
An $188,000 sale outside Brisbane was the nation's cheapest result, Domain advised.
It was a three bedroom house on 420 sqm at <a id="LPlnk195454" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://raywhitecaboolture.com.au/properties/residential-for-sale/qld/caboolture-south-4510/house/2059757" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">91 Rosemary Street, Caboolture South</a> (main picture), north of Brisbane inland from Bribie Island.
Agent Peter Wright at Ray White marketed it as an opportunity for investors, families and first home buyers.
It had last sold when offered as a $250 a week rental proposition for $205,000 in 2014, reflecting a $17,000 price dip over the five years. 
Auction highlights this week.
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Nation's cheapest weekend auction result, a Caboolture South offering sells at a loss 

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There was keen bidding when a $4.18 million warehouse conversion sale was secured in Sydney's inner west at weekend auction.
The former automative workshop at Annandale (above and below) attracted five bidders, narrowly falling short of the suburb record. 
Bidding on the 274-square-metre property at <a id="LPlnk130493" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.bresicwhitney.com.au/buy/22-nelson-street-annandale-20956" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">22 Nelson Street</a> started at $3.7 million.
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It sold to a young couple from Glebe who paid $80,000 above reserve through Chris Nunn and Nick Playfair from BresicWhitney.
They had shown about 250 groups through the property during the marketing campaign.
The Sam Crawford Architects-designed conversion won the 2016 MBA NSW winner for adaptive reuse.
"A remarkable change from an empty warehouse to a great living environment with lots of natural light throughout," the judging panel noted.
"Lowering the floor to obtain two storeys and including garages made the whole project come together.
"The mixture of recycled materials and new works well."
Filtered sunlight comes in from all angles of the home which offers 420 sqm of indoor and outdoor living space, including an open air courtyard with sawtooth beams above.
There's a second breakout living area on the mezzanine level, where there's also a king corner master suite with walk in wardrobe and dual ensuite.
The ground level features a home office with full bar and a wine cellar.
The last warehouse sale in the Sydney suburb was when The Block executive producer Julian Cress secured a record $4,275,000 through McGrath agent Damien West. Cress inherited the Johnstone Lane warehouse from his late father, the Archibald award-winning artist Fred Cress.
The four-bedroom weekend offering home came after the warehouse space was bought in 2013 by builder Joe Sidoti, director of developers SQ Projects, and wife Natalie for $1,525,000.
Sydney's top reported sale was at Woolwich.
The four bedroom house at <a id="LPlnk809740" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.bresicwhitney.com.au/buy/5-margaret-street-hunters-hill-20425" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">5 Margaret Street</a> (below) fetched $4.3 million through BresicWhitney who had suggested a $4 million buyers' guide.
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It had last sold at $1.85 million in 2003.
A blank space offering was on offer nearby at Hunters Hill when a lawn tennis court (below) sold at weekend auction for $3.55 million, some $250,000 above reserve.
It fetched well above the $2.8 million it sold for in 2016.
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The 900 sqm holding came with plans approved for a five-bedroom house.
The bidding started at $2.9 million with two young families seeking the building opportunity at <a id="LPlnk490482" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.wardpartners.com.au/selling/NSW/North-Shore-Lower/Hunters-Hill/House/1P1584" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">31 Woolwich Road, Hunters Hill.</a>
The grass tennis court was once part of the 1893 house next door.
Sydney’s weekend auction clearance rate rose to 56.7 per cent from 294 reported results of 540 scheduled auctions.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/3/18/CL-March18.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge</a>.
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The result was up on the 54.6 per cent preliminary clearance rate reported last weekend, which was after late results revised down to 48.2 per cent by Domain.
Melbourne's top result was <a id="LPlnk58530" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.nelsonalexander.com.au/property/762779/22-gore-street/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">22 Gore Street, Fitzroy</a> (below) which fetched $2.7 million after auction where it was passed in at $2.62 million.
The corner terrace had been listed with $2.5 million to $2.75 million price hopes through Nelson Alexander.
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The two bedroom 1860s terrace, on the corner of Little Victoria Street, had last traded in 2013 at $1,476,000.
The Domain Group reported an auction clearance rate of 54.8 per cent from 526 reported auctions of 744 scheduled auctions.
Former North Melbourne footballer Lindsay Thomas and wife Hannah didn't sell their Gowanbrae house which The Herald Sun reported passed in on a single $680,000 vendor bid. 
It now has <a id="LPlnk357820" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.alexkarbon.com.au/buying/VIC/North/Gowanbrae/House/1P2051" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">a $735,000 asking price</a> through AlexKarbon agent Charles Bongiovanni.
The three-bedroom house, about 16kms north of the Kangaroo's training base, was bought in 2009 for $455,000 by the couple who have moved back to Adelaide after Thomas signed with Port Adelaide. 
Melbourne was the weekend's busiest capital, and had the second best clearance rate behind Sydney.
The REIV reported several Victorian suburbs and towns have recorded 100 per cent clearance rates so far in 2019 with six sales under the hammer in Warrnambool, three in Williams Landing and two in Clyde North.
The cheapest sale across the capital cities was in Melbourne at $270,000, but the price had fallen slightly since its last sale.
The <a id="LPlnk132829" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.garypeer.com.au/search/view/1+16-newlyn-street-caulfield/6761#.XI3q2S0ZPs0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">1/16 Newlyn Street, Caulfield</a> offering sold through Gary Peer who'd had a $250,000 to $275,000 price guidance.
The ground floor one bedroom unit had last sold at $271,000 in 2012.
There was a 36 percent sales success at Brisbane auctions from its 75 listings.
Canberra saw a 46 percent success rate from 64 listings.
There was a 50 percent success rate of the 70 listings in Adelaide.
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Sam Crawford-designed Annandale warehouse conversion attracts big weekend auction crowd

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EXPERT OBSERVATION 
Weekly auction results are by far the most timely gauge of conditions across Australia’s housing markets.
For observers of the Sydney and Melbourne markets, a Sunday isn’t complete without checking the weekend clearance rate. That said, to get the right take from these figures it’s increasingly important to apply a few adjustments first. This note gives some quick tips on how to do this and how to judge whether a result really is strong, weak or indifferent.
In interpreting weekly clearance rates, there are two main effects we need to adjust for – ‘early result’ bias and seasonality – and a third aspect that, once incorporated, gives a clearer guide to price conditions. 
Early results skew high 
Unsurprisingly, successful auctions tend to get reported earlier. Patterns depend according to data provider but for CoreLogic, preliminary results are published on the Sunday then a final estimate on the following Thursday. The difference in terms of clearance rates is on average 3pts for Sydney and 1pt for Melbourne. However, the weaker market over the last 18 months has seen more slippage than usual, averaging closer to 5.5pts for Sydney and 1.5pts for Melbourne.
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<li>So, step one, for preliminary clearance rates, deduct 5.5pts for Sydney and 1.5pts for Melbourne.</li>
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Seasonality positive heading into Autumn and Spring, negative around Christmas
The time of year also matters. Buyers and sellers come and go from the market at slightly different times, producing a regular ebb and flow to clearance rates as the balance of power shifts. For March this effect is worth about 2pts in Sydney, slightly more in Melbourne. Seasonality diminishes gradually heading into Winter, re-emerges in Spring and then turns sharply negative as buyers disappear over the Summer holiday period.
<ul>
<li>So, step two, take another 2pts off for seasonality (tweaking this as the year progresses). </li>
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Pre-auction withdrawals an important clue to size of price declines
One of the appeals of tracking auction clearance rates has been the relatively tight relationship with price growth. Generally speaking, clearance rates above 65% were typically associated with solid gains, and over 75% with outright strength, while rates below the 50-55% range were associated with price declines. 
That broad relationship still holds. However, clearance rates do not seem to be capturing the full extent of price weakness during the current correction. The lows seen late last year, in the 45-50% range, are comparable to those in 2011-12 and previous cycles, yet the pace of price declines has been somewhat faster. 
<img src="https://westpaciq.westpac.com.au/wibiqauthoring/_uploads/image/Housing_Pulse/Housing_Pulse_Bites/2019-02/Auctions-1.jpg" alt=""> 
Another aspect of the auction results – pre-auction withdrawals – may shed more light on this and provide a way of refining the measure to give a better gauge of price conditions. Historically, around one in eight properties heading to auction in Sydney has been withdrawn prior, with a much lower share – one in thirty – in Melbourne. Both have risen materially over the last year, and much more sharply than during previous downturns. In Sydney, it has been more than one in five and in Melbourne it has been about one in every fifteen.
Pre-auction withdrawals are part of the ‘uncleared’ portion of the clearance rate. However, they are likely a good indicator of a more stressed market. Whereas a passed in result may be due to bidders not taking the price above reserve, a withdrawal points to sellers assessing that there will be insufficient bidders to even justify an auction.
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How do we allow for us in our quick assessments? One relatively simple way is to calculate the ‘withdrawal rate’ – the proportion of auctions being withdrawn – and adjust the clearance rate by how this is varying to long run averages. For Sydney that adjustment is the clearance rate plus 14pts minus the withdrawal rate. For Melbourne, it is the clearance rate plus 3pts minus the withdrawal rate (the 14 and 3 in these calculations reflect the long run average withdrawal rate in each market).
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<li>So, step three, adjust both for the withdrawal rate gap to average</li>
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Conclusion
In summary, three relatively simple tweaks to the Sunday auction clearance rate give us a clearer idea of how they stack up:
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<li>A mark down for early result bias: currently –5.5pts for Sydney, –1.5pts for Melbourne; 
</li>
<li>An adjustment for seasonality: currently –2pts for both markets; 
</li>
<li>Incorporating pre-auction withdrawals: deducting the ‘withdrawal rate’ gap, the difference between the withdrawal rate and long run averages – for Sydney this is currently –8pts (22% withdrawal rate vs long run average of 14%); for Melbourne it  is –3.5pts (6.5% vs 3%). </li>
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The resulting ‘adjusted’ clearance rate can be compared against the usual benchmarks (&gt;65% associated with solid price gains, &lt;50-55% associated with price corrections) but gives a better idea of the extent of weakness. 
By way of example, Sydney’s preliminary clearance rate in the last week of February was 58.6% – knocking 5.5pts off for early result bias, 2pts of for seasonality, and a further 0.5pt for the withdrawal gap (14.5% vs avg 14%) gives an adjusted estimate of 50.6%, still a soft result but somewhat improved on the very weak reads late last year. The same adjustment for Melbourne takes a preliminary 53.1% clearance rate down to 50.1%. 
Interestingly, in both cases the main shift in early 2019 looks to be coming from a reduced rate of withdrawals rather than a lift in clearances. That may be an early sign that the pace of price declines is moderating. However, both shifts will need to be sustained and extended before auction market results are consistent with price stabilisation. 
Matthew Hassan<a href="https://westpaciq.westpac.com.au/Article/37494/14186/" target="_blank"></a> is Senior Economist at Westpac.
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Matthew_Hassan-HHWHptmrw4

Matthew Hassan's ‘how to’ guide to reading auction clearance results

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The Rose Bay harbourfront trophy home of property developer Stephen Burcher was passed in at weekend auction on a bid of $23.25 million.
It ranked as the highest bid ever made at a home auction, but it fell short of the $25 million being sought by its <a id="LPlnk574384" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://theagency.com.au/17211/20b-tivoli-avenue-rose-bay" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">listing agent Ben Collier, of The Agency</a>.
Sydney’s previous auction record of $23 million was set by the sale under the hammer of the Le Manoir estate in Bellevue Hill in 2009.
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<div id="x_google_ads_iframe_/31694718/domain.com.au/news/prestige_3__container__">The Rose Bay auction reportedly had just the one bidder, a local Chinese family.</div>
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<div class="x_in-content-ad">There were four or so other interested buyers for the three-level residence redesigned by architect Bruce Stafford, amid landscaped gardens by Anthony Wyer.</div>
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<div class="x_in-content-ad"><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" 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/2019/2/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a></div>
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The five-bedroom, five-bathroom battle-axe residence is set on a waterfront block with a boat shed and pool.
The highest residential sale in Sydney was <a id="LPlnk229640" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="http://www.ppdre.com.au/buying/NSW/Eastern-Suburbs/Waverley/House/1P4472" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">10 Seaview Street, Waverley</a> (below) which sold for $4.3 million through Phillips Pantzer Donnelly inconjunction with Richardson &amp; Wrench. </div>
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<div class="x_in-content-ad"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/2/25/Waverley.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div class="x_in-content-ad"> </div>
<div class="x_in-content-ad">The four bedroom property last sold at $470,000 in 1994.</div>
<div class="x_in-content-ad"> </div>
<div class="x_in-content-ad">There had been $4 million price guidance with the $4.3 million reserve paid by its only registered bidder.</div>
<div class="x_in-content-ad"> </div>
<div class="x_in-content-ad">Sydney was again the stronger of the two major auction capitals, hosting 795 auctions with preliminary results showing a 58.6 per cent clearance rate, up from 54.6 per cent across 523 auctions last week. </div>
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Over the same week last year 1,259 homes were taken to auction across the city returning a clearance rate of 65.1 per cent.
There were 1,144 auctions held in Melbourne this week with preliminary results showing a clearance rate of 53.1 per cent, increasing from last week when the final clearance rate was recorded at 52.5 per cent across 657 auctions. 
Over the same week last year, the auction clearance rate was significantly higher with 70.6 per cent of the 1,606 auctions returning a successful result.
Melbourne's top revealed price was in Middle Park at $3,645,000 (below).
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/2/25/Middle.jpg" alt="">
The price guidance had been $3 million to $3.3 million for <a id="LPlnk906991" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.marshallwhite.com.au/property/144-canterbury-road-middle-park-756132/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">144 Canterbury Road</a>. There were four bidders.
The four bedroom brick Edwardian home last sold at $400,000 in 1992. 
A Toorak home was passed in at $3.66 million, and sold after auction at undisclosed price.
Melbourne has the nation's cheapest advised sale when <a id="LPlnk36591" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-vic-moonee+ponds-129899770" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">904/19 Hall Street, Moonee Ponds</a> sold for $300,000.
The one bedroom unit was sold pre-auction through Frank Dowling Real Estate who had $300,000 to $320,000 price guidance.
It last sold at $400,000 in 2014, according to CoreLogic. 
It is located on the ninth floor of the One9 apartment complex.
Across the smaller auction markets, Brisbane and Canberra were the only cities to see a rise in clearance rates week-on-week, while auction volumes increased everywhere except Perth and Tasmania over the week.
There was a $2.39 million sale in Adelaide, which had the strongest clearance sitting in the 60s. 
The $2.39 million sale was three bedroom house at <a id="LPlnk398154" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-glenelg+north-130005010" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">21 North Esplanade, Glenelg North</a> (below).
It was a <a href="/news/mortgagee-secures-2-39-million-glenelg-north-trophy-home-sale">mortgagee offering</a> through Jamie Brown at Bernard Booth.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/2/25/GLenelg%202.JPG" alt="">
The new beachfront residence came with some 600sqm of living space with views of Gulf St Vincent across three levels.
Auction clearance rates, albeit preliminary with many results yet to be advised, remained resilient despite the jump in auction stock.
</div>
The national auction volumes across the combined capital cities rose above 2,000 for the first time this year, according to CoreLogic.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/2/25/CL-Feb25.jpg" alt="">
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There were 2,303 homes taken to auction across the combined capital cities returning a preliminary auction clearance rate of 54.1 per cent, while the prior week saw auction volumes at 1,450 auctions held and a 51.2 per cent clearance rate. 
Over the same week last year, 3,313 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 66.8 per cent was recorded.
Last week’s final clearance rate marked the second week in a row where the final clearance rate held above 50 per cent, an improvement given the weekly auction clearance rate sat at or below 42 per cent for 5 consecutive weeks in November/December 2018, Kevin Brogan, the CoreLogic auction analyst noted.
"It will be interesting to see how clearance rates hold up now that auction volumes have started to pick up.
"The seasonal pattern over previous years has seen a similar bounce back in the auction clearance rate in February through to mid-to-late March before trending lower into autumn and winter.
There is a later Easter this year which will see a clear run through to late April.
"Considering advertised stock levels remain high and most other indicators are soft, it’s possible a similar weakening trend in auction markets will become evident next month," Brogan  tipped.
The number of properties pulled from auction remains high with CoreLogic calculating 67 were withdrawn from weekend Sydney auction.
There had been progressively more withdrawals every Saturday so far this year with 12 on February 2; 26 pulled on February 9 and 42 on February 16.
The redundant Malabar home of My Kitchen Rules judge Pete Evans and wife Nicola Robinson was among from <a href="/news/mkrs-pete-evans-withdraws-his-malabar-from-weekend-auction">withdrawn from weekend auction</a>. 
<a id="LPlnk629852" class="x_OWAAutoLink" href="http://www.ngfarah.com.au/20363275/97-austral-street-malabar" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">The five-bedroom house</a> is still up for sale through Peter Goulding and Nick Ujvary of NG Farah Little Bay.
The couple have built a new home nearby.
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Weekend auction success rates remain resilient, but no record auction sale on Rose Bay

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Melbourne was the busiest weekend auction market with 560 auctions, up from 352 auctions, returning a preliminary clearance rate of 53.5 percent.
There were 430 Sydney homes auctioned, returning a preliminary auction clearance rate of 56.1 percent, according to Domain.
The highest priced sale was in Sydney when <a href="http://www.ppdre.com.au/1P4416" target="_blank">2 Gipps Street, Bronte</a> (above) sold for $3,180,000 through Phillips Pantzer Donnelly.
The buyers guide had been $2.95 million.
There had been a nearby pre-auction Bronte sale of $5.5 million at 21 Yanko Avenue.
Domain reported the cheapest notified auction sale was in Melbourne's Melton South.
The three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.prdmelton.com.au/20170062/9-macquarie-street-melton-south" target="_blank">9 Macquarie Street</a> (below) sold through PRDNationwide Melton for $308,000.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/2/18/Melton1.jpg" alt="">
The price guidance had been $275,000 to $295,000.
Positioned on a 580 sqm lot, the home was marketed as offering "fantastic potential to someone who is a professional renovator or the handyman."
"Bring your toolbox, hammer, and paintbrush and get stuck into this great opportunity," agent Cory Cassar said.
Louis Christopher at SQM said next Saturday would see about 780 auctions for Sydney and over 1000 auctions for Melbourne.
"It will be a very large test for the market as we return to normal volume levels," he said.
Canberra returned a preliminary clearance rate of 46 percent, while Brisbane’s preliminary result came in at 38 percent, both down in clearance rates on the prior weekend.
Adelaide was the top performing market with a 69 percent success rate, with 60 scheduled auctions.
It included a renovated 1880s St Peters home which fetched $1.285 million after being listed with $1.1 million to $1.2 million hopes.
<a href="https://foxrealestate.com.au/property/2-st-peters-street-st-peters-sa-5069" target="_blank">The 2 St Peters Street home</a> (below) , listed through Kirsty Davies at Fox Real Estate, had previously traded at $470,000 in 2005.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/2/18/St%20Peters.jpg" alt="">
Corelogic noted national auction activity remains quieter year-on-year with 1,444 homes taken to auction across the combined capitals.
While increasing from the previous week when 928 auctions were held, it was lower than the same week last year when 1,992 auctions were held.
Preliminary results show a clearance rate of 55.2 percent.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/2/18/Capitals-Feb18.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge</a>.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/2/18/Capitals-Feb18.jpg" alt="">
Last week’s final clearance rate came in at 51.1 cent across the combined capitals, which CoreLogic's auction analyst Kevin Brogan noted was the first time the final clearance rate sat  above 50 percent since September 2018. 
CoreLogic put Sydney's auction clearance rate at a nine-month high.
One year ago, the national clearance rate was 66.1 percent.
Melbourne's top sale was a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-surrey+hills-130274414" target="_blank">1902 Surrey Hill charmer, Devon</a> (below) which fetched $2.84 million, followed by a 172sq m property with potential in Albert Park sold for $2.605 million.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/2/18/Devon.jpg" alt=""> 
The prime corner Beaconsfield Parade offering, called on the market at $2.555 million, had no heritage overlay 
<table style="height: 24px; width: 602px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"><tbody><tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_0">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_0" colspan="2">Most expensive</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_0"> </td>
</tr></tbody></table>
<table style="width: 605px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"><tbody>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_0">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_0" align="left">Sydney</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_0" colspan="2">21 Yanko Av, Bronte NSW 2024, 4 br House, PhillipsPantzer Donnelley</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_0">$5,500,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_1">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_1" align="left">Melbourne</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_1" colspan="2">17 Tyrone St, Camberwell VIC 3124, 3 br House, Marshall White Boroondara</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_1">$2,305,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_2">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_2" align="left">Adelaide</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_2" colspan="2">2 St Peters St, St Peters SA 5069, 3 br House, Fox Real Estate</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_2">$1,285,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_3">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_3" align="left">Brisbane</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_3" colspan="2">380 London Rd, Belmont QLD 4153, 5 br House, HAR Green Living</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_3">$1,850,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_4">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_4" align="left">Canberra</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_4" colspan="2">48 Drooka Cr, Crace ACT 2911, 4 br House, LJH Weston Creek</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_4">$1,461,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
Most affordable
</td>
<td colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_0">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_0" align="left">Sydney</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_0" colspan="2">2 St Lawrence Av, Blue Haven NSW 2262, 3 br House, Capital One Real Estate - Central Coast</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_0">$390,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_1">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_1" align="left">Melbourne</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_1" colspan="2">9 Macquarie St, Melton South VIC 3338, 3 br House, PRDNationwide Melton</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_1">$308,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_2">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_2" align="left">Adelaide</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_2" colspan="2">8/7A East Pallant St, North Adelaide SA 5006, 2 br Unit, C21 The Bay</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_2">$335,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_3">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_3" align="left">Brisbane</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_3" colspan="2">256 Wellington St, Ormiston QLD 4160, 3 br House, Whicher Pty Ltd</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_3">$500,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_4">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_4" align="left">Canberra</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_4" colspan="2">22 Langdon Av, Wanniassa ACT 2903, 3 br House, RW Canberra</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_4">$460,000</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</body></html>

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