Design-led developer-builder Lowe Living has unveiled its latest residential development, Jardin House, marking its first foray into Melbourne's blue-chip City of Boroondara.

Located a short walk from Camberwell Junction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House</a> has been designed to appeal to affluent local downsizers and established families seeking a low-maintenance alternative to the large homes that have long defined Camberwell and surrounding suburbs.

The project will comprise a collection of two and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 92 sqm to 280 sqm, alongside a limited number of penthouse residences featuring rooftop terraces spanning more than 100 sqm, with optional private pools.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372212]

Lowe Living Co-Founder and Managing Director Tim Lowe said Camberwell represented a natural next step for the developer as it expands into some of Melbourne's most tightly held residential markets.

"Jardin House is an important project for our team as it marks the next evolution of our portfolio into different well-established blue-chip pockets of Melbourne," Lowe said.

"Camberwell, with its incredible walkability, family-led neighbourhood feel and superb access to education and transport, makes it a natural choice for us."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372227]

Designed by Tristan Wong Architects, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie and landscaping by Acre, the development takes inspiration from the Art Deco architecture that remains a defining feature of many of Camberwell's established streets.

A curved facade, arched openings, textured brickwork and sculpted forms reference the suburb's architectural heritage, while extensive landscaping softens the building's presence and creates a strong connection to the surrounding tree-lined streetscape.

The project will be set behind a secure gated entrance, with residents arriving through landscaped gardens designed to create a transition between the public realm and private residences.

Inside, the residences feature natural stone and timber finishes, full-height glazing, Miele appliances and generous open-plan living areas designed for long-term owner occupation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]

While the apartments themselves have been designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers, it is the amenity offering that sets Jardin House apart from many other boutique projects currently launching across Melbourne.

The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.

The wellness precinct includes mineral pools, hydrotherapy experiences, a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and dedicated relaxation spaces, creating what Lowe Living describes as a private wellness retreat exclusively for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]

The collaboration follows Lowe Living's recent partnership with Aurora at Maison Savoy in Brighton, although Jardin House is the first project to incorporate both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.

Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.

"Collaborating with Lyndall Mitchell from Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse for a second time is an intentional nod to creating residences that are more than just homes, but a way to enrich the lives of our residents through wellness and longevity," Lowe said.

The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.

The launch comes as developers increasingly target Melbourne's established eastern suburbs, where rising land values, ageing housing stock and growing downsizer demand are creating opportunities for boutique apartment projects.

Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.

"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.

"The generational change of wealth in these locations expected in the coming years is significant, so we see an opportunity to create exclusive residences that appeal to older families and downsizers in order to meet this demand."

Apartments at Jardin house start from $1,195,000. The project forms part of Lowe Living's near-$1 billion portfolio of new developments across Melbourne.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]

Joel Robinson

Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

As <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> continues its transition from a commercial centre into a more layered residential and lifestyle precinct, a new generation of apartment developments is reshaping expectations around scale, amenity, and long-term liveability.

Improved transport connections through the Victoria Cross Metro, continued investment in dining and public spaces, and a constrained supply of new luxury apartments have sharpened demand for homes that combine proximity to the CBD with the privacy and outlook traditionally associated with harbourside houses.

At 177 Walker Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a>’s new apartment development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> enters the market with a distinctly residential approach to high-rise living. The 30-level tower will deliver 161 residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to sub-penthouses and a full-floor penthouse, all oriented to capture uninterrupted views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and out toward the Pacific Ocean.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project takes advantage of the site’s natural topography and elevated position above the harbour. Rather than relying on density alone, the architecture focuses on outlook, orientation, and spatial flow, with every apartment occupying a corner position to maximise natural light and cross ventilation.

Rothelowman says the site itself shaped much of the architectural response.

“The site has a long history in terms of its inevitable transformation and when we came in, we took inspiration from the idea of reestablishing a sense of the site’s natural terrain and fall. Our scheme aims to integrate with the terrain and the landscape, using the undulating site to slowly reveal glimpses and views of the harbour. The rotation of the tower off grid means every apartment has a view and is naturally cross ventilated. The building's colour palette is quintessentially Sydney, with bronze and sandstone and a luminescent green colour in the glass, making it very earthy and grounded in its location.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]

Inside the residences, the emphasis moves toward larger-format living typically associated with standalone homes. Kitchens sit at the centre of the apartments, connecting directly to open-plan dining and living areas before extending outward into expansive winter gardens and balconies. Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, integrated appliances, and custom metal detailing are used throughout, while three distinct interior palettes, Terrace, Opera, and Harbour, allow buyers to personalise the spaces without compromising the architectural consistency of the project.

The larger residences place particular attention on separation between entertaining and private zones. In many apartments, master suites occupy the outer corners of the floorplates, allowing bedrooms to benefit from floor-to-ceiling glazing and harbour outlooks independent of the living spaces. Dressing rooms and ensuites continue the material palette through fluted detailing, freestanding baths, and layered stone finishes.

Rothelowman says the design intent centred on creating homes that feel enduring rather than transient.

“Our philosophy is all about the way people live in these spaces, and we wanted to create homes that reflect the quality of life in this unique Sydney location. The apartments showcase expansive living spaces that are generous, sophisticated, and bold, with the ability to connect with views throughout each apartment.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=353235]

A separate four-storey amenity building known as The Pavilion expands the residential offering beyond the apartments themselves. Positioned alongside the tower, the building consolidates wellness, recreation, and social spaces into a dedicated resident retreat. Facilities include a 20-metre rooftop pool and sundeck, sauna, spa, ice bath, wellness studio, gymnasium, concierge service, wine cellar, residents’ lounge, private dining spaces, and dedicated co-working areas with meeting rooms and boardroom facilities.

The amenity mix reflects the buyer profile emerging in North Sydney, where owner-occupiers and downsizers are increasingly prioritising convenience, apartment scale, and long-term usability over purely investment-driven decisions.

The Walden also represents a significant milestone for ALAND, marking the company’s first major move into Sydney’s inner-city luxury apartment market after more than two decades delivering large-scale residential communities across Greater Sydney. Founder Andrew Hrsto says the Walker Street site stood apart because of both its positioning and its rarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]

“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic.”

At launch, The Walden recorded more than $103 million in sales, with buyers drawn to the project’s harbour positioning, apartment scale, and proximity to the Metro, which now connects North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes and Martin Place in five.

ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

The Walden pairs house-scale living with North Sydney connectivity

The ACT will become the first jurisdiction in Australia to abolish stamp duty for all first home buyers, with no income caps and no property price thresholds from 1 July.

The move, announced as part of the ACT Budget, completes a key election commitment from the Barr Government and removes what Chief Minister Andrew Barr described as one of the biggest barriers to entering the housing market. The reform forms part of the ACT's long-running transition away from transaction taxes and towards a broader-based property tax system.

"This budget marks a major milestone in our long-term tax reform program," Barr said, adding that the government had maintained a sustained focus on removing barriers to home ownership. He said stamp duty had long been one of the largest upfront hurdles facing buyers and that from July, "that barrier is gone" for first home buyers in the Territory.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=350986]

The changes come alongside a range of measures designed to encourage new housing supply, including support for the delivery of so-called "missing middle" housing such as terraces, townhouses and low-rise multi-unit developments.

The announcement has renewed debate around whether the ACT's approach could provide a blueprint for improving housing affordability nationally.

New research from OurTop10.com.au, conducted by Primara Research, suggests the Territory's decade-long reform agenda has produced outcomes unmatched elsewhere in Australia.

While stamp duty costs have increased by an average 67 per cent nationally over the past decade, the ACT has recorded growth of just 15 per cent, the lowest increase of any jurisdiction.

The Territory has also emerged as one of the strongest performers on housing delivery. Based on population-weighted housing targets, the ACT is sitting less than one per cent behind its target. Victoria is the next closest at seven per cent behind, while the national average sits 25 per cent below target. New South Wales is tracking 39 per cent behind.

The latest reform removes one of the final barriers facing first home buyers in Canberra.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=359152]

The average Australian home buyer currently pays $61,714 in stamp duty. In the ACT, that figure is $38,399 despite the Territory having the third-highest median house price in the country.

Until now, the ACT's first home buyer concession scheme only applied to purchases up to $1.02 million, around $51,000 below Canberra's median house price of $1.071 million. In practical terms, many first home buyers were unable to access the median-priced home without losing the concession.

From July, those restrictions disappear.

Every first home buyer in the ACT will pay no stamp duty, regardless of income or purchase price.

Canberra remains one of Australia's most expensive housing markets, with dwelling values increasing 82 per cent over the past decade. However, that growth ranks only 11th among Australia's 15 major housing markets, suggesting affordability pressures have been less severe than in many other parts of the country.

Simon Ma, CEO of OurTop10.com.au, said the latest reforms recognise that many first home buyers have simply outgrown thresholds set years ago.

"Many first home buyers aren't just looking for a way onto the ladder, they want a home their family can actually live in," Ma said.

"In a market where the median house price is over a million dollars, a concession scheme that cuts out at $1.02 million was never going to get them there.

"Removing the ceiling entirely means ACT first home buyers can now pursue the home they actually want, rather than limiting themselves to a price point designed for a very different market."

Whether other states follow remains to be seen. But at a time when most jurisdictions are struggling to improve affordability while also increasing housing supply, the ACT has quietly become the national test case for both.

15% stamp duty growth. Just 1% off the national housing target. Zero stamp duty for FHBs. Is the ACT the blueprint for the great Australian dream?

ACT abolishes stamp duty for first home buyers

A rooftop pool and spa overlooking the Brisbane CBD, private dining spaces, expansive landscaped gardens and a residents' lounge are set to crown <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/callista-on-park-west-end-49-mollison-street-west-end-qld-4101">Callista on Park</a>, the final residential building within Brisbane's West Village precinct.

The rooftop amenity collection has been designed as an extension of the lifestyle already established throughout West Village, providing residents with a series of indoor and outdoor spaces that capitalise on the building's elevated position above West End.

A swimming pool and heated spa form the centrepiece of the rooftop offering, surrounded by landscaped gardens developed through a collaboration between developer Sekisui House and ASPECT Studios. The design incorporates expansive lawn areas surrounded by English garden-inspired planting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=370648]

Residents will also have access to two barbecue and outdoor dining areas positioned to take advantage of views across Brisbane's skyline, neighbouring Mollison Park, and the surrounding inner-city landscape.

For larger gatherings, the rooftop includes a private dining room centred around a substantial stone island bench, complete with a full kitchen and a 10-seat dining table set beneath four-metre-high ceilings. The space has been designed to overlook both the rooftop gardens and the Brisbane CBD skyline.

A separate residents' lounge provides an additional indoor retreat connected to the broader rooftop amenity offering, creating another space for residents to work, relax or entertain guests.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=370647]

The attention to detail extends beyond the rooftop.

Upon arrival, residents will enter through a lobby featuring a bespoke ceiling light installation developed in collaboration between Sekisui House and Alcorn Middleton Architecture. The arrival experience is complemented by private resident mailboxes and carefully considered interior finishes designed to reflect the premium positioning of the building.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=372541]

The amenity offering forms part of Callista on Park, the final residential release within the decade-long transformation of the former Peters Ice Cream Factory site into West Village, one of Brisbane's most established mixed-use communities.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hutchinson-builders">Hutchinson Builders</a>, Callista represents the most premium residential offering within the masterplanned precinct.

Construction is now entering its final stages, with scaffolding beginning to come down and completion expected in the first quarter of 2027.

Prices for the three-bedroom plus MPR apartments start from just over $2.6 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134800 project_image_fid=351535]

Callista will mark the final opportunity to purchase within West Village, where residents have direct access to more than 35 retail, dining, wellness and medical operators including Harris Farm Markets, Woolworths, Function Well and Goodlife Health Clubs, Metro Arts, and a growing collection of restaurants and cafés.

Located just 800 metres from the Brisbane CBD, the precinct also places residents within walking distance of South Bank, West End's dining scene, riverfront parklands and major public transport connections.

For Sekisui House, which has delivered more than two million homes globally, Callista serves as the concluding piece of the West Village masterplan, bringing together the precinct's heritage character, parkland setting and emphasis on walkability in a final collection of larger-format residences.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134800]

Rooftop pool, private dining and skyline gardens to crown West Village's final apartment release, Callista on Park

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/wahroonga-nsw-2076">Wahroonga</a>’s enduring appeal has long been tied to its balance of bushland, established amenity, and access to some of Sydney’s most respected education and healthcare institutions.

Along Fox Valley Road, that combination is becoming increasingly sought after by buyers looking to remain connected to the Upper North Shore lifestyle while prioritising walkability, wellbeing, and convenience.

Developer Capital Corporation's initial vision of a 62-hectare site on Fox Valley Road was that they could create their own walkable community, bordered by&nbsp;more than 25 hectares of bushland and adjoining Coups Creek.

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b84917a1-0d75-49b9-888c-ddf7ebfd6692" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/NEW2026_Wahroonga_Walkway.gif?VersionId=Gk3_xi5ssYfalmwuQQ5umQakddceC31j" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-residences-at-wahroonga-estate-169-fox-valley-road-wahroonga-nsw-2076">The Residences at Wahroonga Estate</a> draws directly on the area’s natural landscape, with walking trails and green corridors linking into sections of Lane Cove National Park. The surrounding network of bushwalks, cycling tracks, and reserves reinforces the suburb’s long-standing reputation as one of Sydney’s most nature-oriented residential pockets, while still maintaining close ties to village retail and transport infrastructure.

The address places residents within minutes of Wahroonga and Turramurra villages, where cafés, local grocers, boutiques, and everyday services support a highly localised lifestyle. Popular nearby venues including The Fox Café and Breeze Valley Café provide easy options for morning coffee or casual dining, while longstanding retailers such as IGA Wahroonga Fresh and Novella Fine Books continue to anchor the area’s village character.

&nbsp;

<img alt="Wahroonga" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c4a950f7-4f05-4370-b360-b106359788e5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/2026_Wahroonga_Entry_Gates.gif?VersionId=7n5kh9ymu.azYEYDemJkPgiIAfSw44oj" />

Healthcare access remains one of the defining locational advantages of the estate. Sydney Adventist Hospital, known locally as The San, sits directly adjacent and is one of the largest and most respected private hospitals in New South Wales. The hospital precinct incorporates specialist medical services, radiology, physiotherapy, and outpatient care, contributing to growing buyer demand from downsizers and owner-occupiers seeking long-term convenience and peace of mind.

Research commissioned by Capital Corporation found that health and wellbeing considerations are increasingly influencing downsizing decisions, particularly among buyers wanting to remain within familiar neighbourhoods while accessing medical infrastructure more easily.

Education has also historically underpinned demand across Wahroonga and the broader Upper North Shore. The estate sits close to several of Sydney’s leading private and independent schools, including Knox Grammar, Abbotsleigh, Barker College, Pymble Ladies’ College, Ravenswood School for Girls, and Loreto Normanhurst. Co-educational options including Wahroonga Adventist School and Sydney Adventist School further strengthen the area’s appeal to established families looking for long-term schooling pathways within a tightly held catchment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=262183]

Transport connectivity supports the suburb’s liveability without compromising its quieter residential character. Wahroonga and Turramurra train stations provide direct rail access into the Sydney CBD, while the nearby Pacific Highway and M1 motorway strengthen links across the North Shore and broader metropolitan area. At the same time, the heavily treed streetscape and low-density character continue to distinguish the precinct from more urbanised parts of Sydney.

The Residences at Wahroonga Estate forms the first stage of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/capital-corporation">Capital Corporation</a>’s broader masterplanned vision for the precinct, delivered alongside the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=364995]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/group-gsa">GroupGSA</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/coco-republic-interior-design">Coco Republic</a>, the development integrates landscaped communal spaces including a pet-friendly Green Spine, resident lounge, BBQ pavilion, and direct bushland access, reinforcing the project’s focus on outdoor connection and community-based living.

Now under construction by Gold Star iCIRT-rated builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/dasco-australia">DASCO</a>, The Residences at Wahroonga Estate will deliver a collection of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments priced from $990,000, with completion anticipated in 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135247]

Capital Corporation to cater to Upper North Shore downsizers by creating walkable community at The Residences at Wahroonga Estate

Expensive Housing

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Australia has a new richest postcode, Palm Beach the pricey peninsula playground.
It the first time in seven years that the Sydney Northern Beaches location has dethroned the Point Piper, Edgecliff, Darling Point postcode, according to Australian Taxation Office statistics released late on Thursday.
The 1,279 tax filers in Palm Beach's 2108 postcode reported an average income of $230,330 for 2016/17, while the 6,089 tax filers in Edgecliff's 2027 postcode made an average of $187,769.
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<div class="advert" data-module="article.ad" data-ad-type="MEDIUM" data-loc="MOBILE" data-max-width="727" data-sticky-class="" data-sticky-offset="0">Postcode 2027 had ranked as Sydney's highest earning postcode since 2009/10.</div>
<div class="advert" data-module="article.ad" data-ad-type="MEDIUM" data-loc="MOBILE" data-max-width="727" data-sticky-class="" data-sticky-offset="0"> </div>
<div class="advert" data-module="article.ad" data-ad-type="MEDIUM" data-loc="MOBILE" data-max-width="727" data-sticky-class="" data-sticky-offset="0">Although in 2016/17 it also ranked behind Melbourne's 3142, where the 10,044 filers in Toorak made an average of $193,904.</div>
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Palm Beach's 2108 postcode also includes Scotland Island, Coasters Retreat, Great Mackerel Beach and Currawong Beach.
The rankings reflects the trend in the past few years of owners turning Palm Beach holiday homes into principal residences.
It is not the first time a beach retreat location has ranked at the top of the ATO list as in 2008/09 the postcode 3944 - the Mornington Peninsula suburb of Portsea - was the top-earning postcode, with an average income of $197,987.
WA's 6011 was the richest postcode in Western Australia, with the 6,431 tax filers living in Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove on Perth's western suburbs made an average of $155,264.
In ACT, the 2603 was richest, with 6,650 tax-filers in Forrest, Griffith, Manuka and Red Hill earned an average of $110,394.
In Queensland, 4007 took the top spot, with 9,278 residents of Ascot, Hamilton and Hamilton Central in northeast Brisbane earning an average of $107,478.
South Australia's top postcode was 5061, where 6,587 residents of Hyde Park, Malvern and Unley in inner-southern Adelaide made an average of $93,871.
In the Northern Territory, 885 residents in the mining town of Alyangula - postcode 885 - made an average of $83,343.
Tasmania's top postcode was 7258, where the 571 residents of the Launceston suburbs of Breadalbane, Relbia and White Hills made an average of $68,621.
The lowest-earning postcode was 2308, covering Newcastle University and Callaghan, with an average taxable income of $20,589.
The second-lowest was 4611 in Queensland, where Marshlands and Mondure residents earned an average of $23,225.
Queensland had five of the bottom 10 postcodes, with 4611 recording the second lowest average income nationally of $23,225.
The report also showed that surgeons were once again the top-earning profession, making an average of $394,866.
Anaesthetists came second, earning $367,343 on average.
Out of 1,100 occupations recorded, there were 72 where women made more than men, including authors, future traders, magistrates, pro surfers and illustrators, the ATO statistics showed in 2016/17.
The Herald Sun reported female futures traders in Australia earn nearly 4 per cent more than their male counterparts, with an average income of $315,197.
This year’s stats present an overview of 16.5 million 2017 income tax returns for 13.9 million individuals, 970,000 companies, as well as super funds, partnerships and trusts. 
Australians reported donating $3.5 billion in charitable donations with an average gift size for those who did donate of $770.
The most generous state was Western Australia, with 30 per cent of residents claiming an average deduction of $1190. 
Northern Territory residents recorded the lowest charitable donations, with 34 per cent of residents claiming an average deduction of $405.
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Shift to residency sees Sydney's Palm Beach top ATO tax payers list

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The top sale of 2017 was the Double Bay harbourfront mansion Elaine (above), sold by the Fairfax family for $71 million through Ken Jacobs at Christies International.
It sold to the billionaire Rich Lister Scott Farquhar and his wife Kim Jackson, who'd been previously content in a Pyrmont apartment.
Farquhar, co-founder of software company Atlassian topped the BRW Young Rich List again this year, along with business partner Mike Cannon-Brookes. Their combined wealth was tallied at just over $6 billion.
The top echelon of Australia's prestige property this year has seen a national price record and three state records. But nothing seemed overly easy.
The cut off for inclusion in the Property Observer national top 25 list was $18 million, based on registered sales, plus those that have sold at undisclosed prices awaiting settlements.
There are sales across four capital cities, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.
Jacobs suggested that the recently introduced government regulations alienating overseas investment in Australia, meant the trophy home market was needing to be supported by the domestic market.
Elaine had been in the Fairfax family dynasty for 120 years before its sale which took almost three years to secure.
It's initial press commentary - by the Fairfax press - damaged the initial campaign when a silly $100 million prospect price estimate was published based on calculating the foreshore price per square metre capability to the entire 7000 sqm parcel that runs between the premium Seven Shillings Beach and the so-so New South Head Road position.
The unrenovated home had previously traded when bought by Geoffrey Evan Fairfax in the 1890s.
Next door to Elaine is Fairwater, the other Fairfax family home, which is likely to come to market next year following the death of Lady Mary Fairfax.
Mike Cannon-Brookes would rank as a serious a prospect to secure the prized offering.
Elaine's sale topped the previous $70 million house record set in 2015 when Ken Jacobs sold the Vaucluse mansion, La Mer, (below) on behalf of James and Erica Packer to Chinese-Australian businessman Chau Chak Wing. It sold off market.
<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/2017/12/22/700_la_mer.jpg" alt="">
A mid-December sale saw the Singaporean businessman CK Ow's luxury Vaucluse mansion sell at a reputed $67 million (below).
It had been listed with hopes of bettering Sydney's $71 million record price by the chairman of the hotel owner and developer Stamford Land Corporation.
Phoenix Acres, a 3731sq m site with six-bedroom, six-bathroom home, was last traded 22 years ago for $7,001,000 from the Braham family. Craig Pontey of Ray White sold it to Ow.
Despite the hoopla of attracting interest from potential buyers from as far away as New York, India and Beijing, the deal was struck with a local buyer on Sunday some eight weeks after it quietly hit the market.
<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/2017/12/22/VAUCLUSE.jpg" alt="">
The price gain, before costs, reflected 10 percent annual price growth at around $18,000 per sqm.
Agents were hoping to better tycoon James Packer's 3300 sqm non-harbourfront mansion, also in Vaucluse which sold in 2015 for $70 million, and in April this year John B Fairfax family's Elaine estate on 7000 sqm in Double Bay that sold for its still standing $71 million record.
Had Phoenix Acres sold to a foreign buyer it would have incurred around a $700,000 fee to FIRB, plus an extra $10 million in purchase duty and premium property duty payable on foreign buyers, along with a likely annual land tax of around $2 million.
The Phoenix Acres site was originally a public park with a wharf ferry service to Circular Quay before the legendary publisher Ezra Norton built his mansion, then known as Albemere, in the mid-1960s.
It set a record $370,000 price when first sold in 1968, having also been the highest then build costing an estimated 250,000 pounds
The Melbourne and Brisbane markets have been equally buoyant record prices during 2017.The first was in Brisbane when a clifftop Kangaroo Point home sold for $18.48 million, easily eclipsing the prior $14 million record set in late 2014 when mining and farming magnate Gina Rinehart bought a Brisbane riverfront home.
The record-breaker (below), sold by City Motor Auctions Group boss Angelo Russo and wife Sandra, was a three-level Leopard Street home, the work of renowned designer Greg Harris, who created the vast 1445 sqm split level residence.
The home came with five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a home office with adjoining boardroom, a fully equipped gym and steam room, sound proof cinema and a wine cellar.
A heated infinity lap pool and spa spans the width of the 1,184 sqm parcel and runs along the cliffs edge, with gun barrel views of the Brisbane River.
<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/2017/12/22/leopard.jpg" alt="">
The marketing through Ray White New Farm agent Matt Lancashire suggested no expense had been spared by the owners, including heated Saint Lorraine marble flooring from Greece used across the living and entertaining area.
Then mid-year came Melbourne's record breaking sale in Toorak.
Reports emerged in July of a new $40 million record house price set by 18 St Georges Rd, Toorak.
The grand 1920s home, known as Mowbray, was bought off-market, with its selling agent yet to claim credit with settlement still to come. 
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Mowbray was sold by former Mirvac director Marina Darling and husband Anthony who acquired it from venture capitalist Roger Allen and his wife Dianne for $4.9 million in 1995, the highest sale in Melbourne of that year. It sold again in 1987 at $3.95 million.
The five-bedroom two-storey residence stretches across around 5000 square metres was built by noted architect Christoper Cowper, though not protected by heritage overlay.
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The sale of the Mowbray estate exceeded the prior record of $26.25 million paid by Netflow managing director Phil Dreaver last year for the modern 9 Towers Road mansion owned by the Besen family.
Mowbray's buyer will be hit with a $5 million stamp duty bill, including a 7 per cent surcharge for foreign buyers in Victoria, which came into effect in July last year.
The mooted FIRB application fee of $412,000 applies for a $40 million home. The buyer also faces the prospect of an annual land tax bill of about $370,000 if the Toorak mansion is not their principle place of residence and another $300,000 in annual taxes from January 1 next year should it remain empty for more than six months in any calendar year.
But Marcus Chiminello says "Melbourne has never experienced such demand in the $10 million to $40 million bracket."
Indeed Chiminello recently advertised his desire for a $50 million home for a local client who has yet to secure their dream home.
The agency launched an advertising campaign this month to find potential sellers. Chiminello estimated there were 50 properties in the leafy inner east that were worth more than $35 million, but all were tightly held.
There was a $19 million Myvore Court, Toorak auction sale, which would've warranted inclusion in the Property Observer top 25 list, but the deal fell over with the resale coming in at $16 million.
Perth secured its highest residential sale in six years with $21.5 million paid in Mosman Park during 2017. It was sold by the Creasy mining family to Alan Tribe.
The Chidley Way home on a 4045 sqm site was designed by architect Robert Cann.
Creasy’s former husband Mark, a mining prospector, had paid the highest price for a WA property when he bought the mansion for $8 million from the late Multiplex Construction boss John Roberts in 1995.
There's already been a good offer on the former Bond home in Dalkeith. 
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-dalkeith-127215174" target="_blank">It is being marketed</a> as among Perth's most expensive houses with $50 million plus hopes.
The Watkins Road mansion sits on the Swan River.
Real estate agent Willie Porteous suggests the four-storey home (below) has gained millions in value since it was bought in 2011 following its extensive renovations, including a complete make-over of the outdoor area.
It has been listed by mining entrepreneur Steve Wyatt and his wife, Sue.
<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/2017/12/21/bond2.jpg" alt="">
The property last traded for $39 million sale in 2011 when sold by businessman Barry Patterson, who was Sonic Healthcare chairman from 1999 to 2010 and previously held gold mining interests.
It last traded in 1999 for $9.5 million, which was to stand as Perth’s record until 2006.
The seven-bedroom riverfront mansion is set across six titles totalling 6,400 square metres.
Gold mining magnate Ross Atkins bought the property in 1993 from the Bond family trust company, Armoy Pty Ltd, for $7.3 million, selling it six years later to Patterson after extensive renovation.
Wyatt’s business associate Chris Ellison set the WA real estate record when he paid $57.5 million for iron ore heiress Angela Bennett's riverfront compound in Mosman Park in 2009.
In Canberra a Deakin home, with views of Parliament House, sold for $5.75 million recently through Luton Properties, the third highest sale in the nation's capital.
The house's 2010 construction to its designed by local architect Terry Ring on its 1710 sqm grounds saw extensive use of dry stack stone walls, marble, natural timber and sandstone.
In Tasmania's Hobart the Sandy Bay mansion Sentosa sold for a $6.5 million record.
The 100 year old home, which was bought by Sydney property developer Piers Dawson Damer and wife Kim, was designed by Marco Linardi. It sits in 2310 sqm of Paul Bangay-designed gardens on Blinking Billy Point.
Knight Frank selling agent Matthew Chugg described Sentosa as one of Tasmania's finest homes.
Sentosa topped the previous $6.06 million record set in 2011 when Waimea House, a Federation Arts and Crafts style on hillside Sandy Bay sold.
Adelaide's record price hasn't budged since 2015 when Ivanhoe, the Gilberton home built in 1889, sold quietly for $7 million, with the top sale so far this year being $4 million.
Ken Jacobs has an unsold Rose Bay estate listed with record setting 2018 aspirations for the Sydney and Australian markets.
Straddling five land titles with a frontage to Rose Bay beach, the 4000 square metre property belongs to Adrienne Dan, the wife of eminent Sydney neurosurgeon Professor Noel Dan.
It comes with two houses, pool and a tennis court.
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The top 25 sales of 2017
1. $71 million: Elaine at Double Bay when local tech billionaire Scott Farquhar bought the prized beachfront from John B Fairfax.
2. $67 million*: Phoenix Acres at Vaucluse where CK Ow fell disappointingly short of taking the mantle as most expensive home ever sold.
3. $45 million*: Deauville, Longworth Avenue, Point Piper when car importer Neville Crichton secured a beachfront home subject to its construction completion.
4. $40 million*: Mowbray, 18 St Georges Road, Toorak when the grand 1920s home was bought off-market by Chinese buyers, with its selling agent yet to claim credit with settlement still to come.
5. $36 million: 110 Wolseley Road, Point Piper when Neville Crichton onsold to property investor Andrew Potter.
6. $33 million: 110 Wolseley Road, Point Piper when Neville Crichton bought from the Zamel family.
7. $30,263,400: Yarranabbe Road, Darling Point when John Roth and wife Jillian Segal bought.
8. $30 million*: Bayview Hill Road, Rose Bay when the home of the late Sonja Lyneham was bought by Samira Jeihooni, wife of property developer Arash Tavakoli.
9. $29 million*: The Boatshed, Wunulla Road, Point Piper which after three years on the market was offloaded by the O’Neil family.
11. $28 million: New Beach Road, Darling Point when the digital entrerepnuer Patrick Grove bought from the Meagher family.
12. $26.5 million: Vaucluse Road, Vaucluse when the media scion Alexander Ma bought the residence of businessman Yaron Remen and his wife Shauna.
13. $22.45 million: Bay Street, Mosman/Beauty Point when the property developer Bryan Rose bought the Pick a Box house.
14. $22.1 million: Vailele, The Point Road, Woolwich when the Salter family sold to the Wang family.
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15. $21.5 million: Chidley Way, Mosman Park. Perth saw its highest sale for six years. 
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16. $21 million+*: Belhaven, Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill when the Brambles chairman Stephen Johns sold Belhaven to Dominic Stevens.
17. $21 million: Coolawin Road, Northbridge when Primo Smallgoods heiress Kristie Ward bought the 3434sqm holding from the Salteri family.
18. $20 million+*: Bonnington, Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill when sold by the executors of the late businessman Neville Christie.
19. $20 million*: Wyuna Road, Point Piper when the LA entrepreneur Andrew Banks made a return to Point Piper.
20. $20 million*: Ashton, Elizabeth Bay Road, Elizabeth Bay when the travel industry entrerepenuer Ray Harris sold the historic Ashton on the loop
21. $20 million: Wunulla Road, Point Piper when the property investor Andrew Potter sold his waterfront to Sarah Mayo.
22. $19.18 million: Fernleigh Gardens, Rose Bay when the Horizon Media owners Semyon and Dina Pinchuk sold to Xia Danrui.
23. $18.48 million: Kangaroo Point, Brisbane. A new home sale set an all-time Brisbane report price through Ray White.
24. $18 million+*: Sundorne, Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill when Cranbrook School sold to the property developer Eduard Litver.
25. $18 million: Bulwarra, Hunters Hill when Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton sold after an earlier 2016 sale to Chinese buyers fell over.
25. $18 million: Nee Morna, Sorrento when one of Victoria's most historic coastal estates was bought by BRW Rich Lister and property developer Andrew Buxton. Not to far away on the peninsula, and just off the top 25 list was the Good Guys whitegoods boss Andrew Muir purchase of Miramar, the stunning Flinders home built by entrepreneur Daniel Besen and wife Danielle. It just fell shy of inclusion. Settlement records show Muir paid $17 million for the Wood Marsh-designed home that was described as 'land art by the sea' by its selling agent, Peninsula Sotheby's International Realty agent Rob Curtain.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

The 25 most expensive house sales of 2017 across Australia

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A six bedroom, four bathroom home in Bellevue Hill topped this weeks most expensive sales with $7.25 million, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
Sold through Ballard Properties Clint Ballard and James Ball, the home features a swimming pool, a home cinema and a wine cellar.
The second most expensive house was in Collaroy where Brendan Pomponio and Kirsten Bertram of Belle Property sold a five bedroom, four bathroom home for $5.65 million.
The designer sandstone and timber designer home belonged to Fairfax CFO David Housego and features an open fire place beside the swimming pool.
 
Top ten sales of the week
25 Suttie Road, Bellevue Hill, NSW: 6 bed, 4 bath, 4 car house - $7.25 million - Ballard Property Group Woollahra
14 Seaview Parade, Collaroy, NSW: 5 bed, 4 bath, 2 car house - $5.65 million - Belle Property Dee Why
7 Cheyne Walk, Castlecrag, NSW: 5 bed, 4 bath, 3 car house - $4.72 million - McGrath Estate Agents
1/6 Wulworra Avenue, Cremorne Point, NSW: 3 bed, 2 bath, 3 car unit - $4.06 million - McGrath Estate Agents
25a/171 Gloucester Street, The Rocks, NSW: 3 bed, 2 bath, 3 car unit - $3.75 million - Colliers International Sydney
32 Lower Almora Street, Mosman, NSW: 2 bed, 2 bath, 1 car house - $3.7 million - Belle Property Mosman
9 Oxley Avenue, St Ives, NSW: 5 bed, 4 bath, 2 car house - $3.37 million - Savills Cordeau Marshall St Ives
59 Station Street, Pymble, NSW: 5 bed, 3 bath, 2 car house - $3.2 million - LJ Hooker Wahroonga
27 Ruskin Rowe, Avalon Beach, NSW: 4 bed, 4 bath, 5 car house - $3.15 million - LJ Hooker Avalon Beach
8e/171 Gloucester Street, The Rocks, NSW: 3 bed, 3 bath, 2 car unit - $3.12 million - McGrath Estate Agents.
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Fairfax CFO David Housego misses out on the most expensive sale of the week

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Sydney has unsurprisingly dominated the latest most expensive housing suburbs.
The figures, correct as of December, show Centennial Park topping the list with a median value of $6.29 million per house.
Point Piper edges Darling Point after it's $39 million sale of Villa del Mare, $39.9 million of Mandalay and two more on Wunulla Road which sold for $28 million and $18 million.
Peppermint Grove in Perth is the only non-New South Wales suburb.
Vaucluse's surprisingly misses out on the top three despite Jamie Packers $70 million sale of La Mer in August. 
Whale Beach comes in at 10th place. It's latest sales see Google Australia boss Maile Carnegie and her executive consultant husband Charles outlay $3.52 million <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/7-malo-road-whale-beach-nsw-2107-2012010652" target="_blank">on a Whale Beach weekender. </a>
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Maile Carnegie was appointed to head Google in mid-2013, moving across from her role as managing director at Procter &amp; Gamble.
Charles Carnegie heads The Waypoint Group corporate advisory firm. The Malo Road property last traded when bought by the Hatty family for $180,000 around 36 years ago. It was listed through LJ Hooker Palm Beach’s David Edwards.
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<a href="/images/2016/02/04/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-04%20at%2010.49.53%20am.png" target="_blank">Click here to enlarge</a>
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