The final apartments in the most recently completed new development in Balwyn present some of the largest and most exclusive ever delivered in one of Melbourne’s most established and character-rich neighbourhoods.

Boutique developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/wulff-projects">Wulff Projects</a>,&nbsp;alongside partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pga-group">PGA Group</a>, has just finished <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/threadneedle-balwyn-1-5-threadneedle-street-balwyn-vic-3103">Threadneedle</a>, 17 home-sized residences designed completely for the owner-occupier.

Named after its location on Threadneedle Street, the new project has been shaped by the heritage fabric of Balwyn. It offers two low-rise buildings of eight and nine apartments respectively, designed to emulate traditional standalone homes.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355582]

John Scaramuzzino, Director at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, explains the design intention.

“Given the quiet residential character of the street with many homes dating back to the 1930s and 1940s, we approached Threadneedle wanting to appear less as a collection of apartments and more as a traditional residence. This led to creating not one but two buildings that could “breathe” with larger garden-based apartments functioning more like small homes.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355605]

The north-facing residences are nestled among extensive landscaped gardens by Ben Scott Garden Design, with over one-third of the site dedicated to greenery. The resulting setting is one of calm seclusion, where architecture and landscape work in tandem to offer immediate liveability.

With construction now complete, the final apartments include a top-floor, single-level penthouse residence priced from $2.8 million. This home offers three bedrooms, a dedicated study, two bathrooms plus powder room, and three car spaces with an oversized storage room.&nbsp;

Interiors prioritise spatial comfort and natural light, with three-metre-high ceilings, oversized internal doors and a full-width terrace oriented to the north, east and west.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355604]

Floor-to-ceiling double-glazed windows ensure thermal performance across seasons, supported by automated external blinds, zoned heating and cooling, and a fireplace for added ambiance.

Each apartment has been individually designed to maximise privacy and garden outlooks. Kitchens combine refined finishes with practical considerations: stone benchtops, butler’s pantry, full-height joinery and concealed rangehoods.&nbsp;

The inclusion of dedicated home offices responds to contemporary living patterns, while bathrooms feature sculptural bathtubs and brushed nickel fixtures.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355590]

Threadneedle also integrates best-practice sustainability measures, achieving a 7 Star average NatHERS rating. Initiatives include solar PV systems, rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing and irrigation, and high-performing building insulation. These elements enhance daily comfort while reducing ongoing maintenance and energy demand.

"We believe Threadneedle sets a new standard of design excellence and building quality for Balwyn,"&nbsp;Scaramuzzino added.

"It’s an architectural response we’re particularly proud of, and one we’re sure residents will be equally proud to call home."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=27816]

Staff Writer

Final homes remaining as Threadneedle, Balwyn completes construction

Joel Robinson

Sydney's top 15 new apartments developments set to launch in 2026

Developer-builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/dasco-australia">DASCO</a> has pushed beyond the now-standard inclusions of rooftop pools and landscaped podiums at its recently launched new Epping project, Senso.

It has laid out over 4,000 sqm of resident-only amenity in a move designed to compete directly with low-density housing on livability, not just density. The result is a development that supports genuine daily use through purposeful spaces distributed across its five-building, 479-apartment precinct.

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Two rooftop pools form the anchor of Senso. One is a 27-metre lap pool adjoining a heated spa, designed for everyday fitness rather than just summer leisure. The second sits on a lower podium, allowing different buildings to share in vertical access and reducing crowding during peak times.

It is the secondary spaces that start to distinguish Senso from other large-scale suburban projects. A rooftop cinema is integrated into a landscaped terrace, offering open-air screenings with natural ventilation and passive cooling.&nbsp;

The inclusion of a “sensory walk”, an elevated boardwalk that threads through the site, suggests a rare investment in non-commercial, non-essential amenity: space for quiet movement that doesn’t double as access or traffic circulation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4402]

The gym and wellness centre, often relegated to a small ground-floor room in many builds, takes on more substance here. Residents have access to a fully equipped gym, as well as outdoor yoga areas and meditative zones that integrate greenery and natural light.&nbsp;

The Club Lounge is similarly designed to support multiple use cases, with a private dining terrace, kitchenette, workspace, and lockable wine storage. These aren’t superficial additions; their scale and spatial allocation indicate serious intent for frequent resident use.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4391]

Importantly, Senso’s amenities are embedded within a site that spans more than 10,000 sqm, allowing for better separation between spaces and reduced noise spillover, a critical but often overlooked factor in high-density developments. This spatial generosity also enables multiple alfresco kitchens and communal terraces without compromising individual privacy or usable space.

While many developments make claims about lifestyle, few back it with this level of built infrastructure. Senso’s mix of dedicated fitness, wellness, social and passive green spaces suggests a conscious response to the post-pandemic shift in housing expectations, especially among owner-occupiers.&nbsp;

DASCO is one of several leading developers who have taken out Resilience Insurance's Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing buyers with a 10-year structural and waterproofing warranty, and giving them the ultimate peace of mind.

Senso is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134954]

The outdoor amenities elevating life at Senso, Epping

Following the proposal by the Minns Labor Government to rezone Parramatta Road to create up to 8,000 new homes, prominent developer Ceerose has gone to the NSW Gov to increase the density of its new mixed-use residential building in Leichhardt.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/ceerose">Ceerose</a>, founded by Edward Doueihi nearly three decades ago, has filed plans for 154 apartments above ground-floor retail at 307-315 Parramatta Road, a key corner site near Norton Street, the main high street strip in Leichhardt.

It's an upsize from the previously approved scheme of 63 apartments across a seven-storey building.

<img alt="Ceerose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ba1ae75b-5f08-43fb-b8d5-3de6d9f6ef71" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-04%20at%2010.31.39%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yA3hBBLPH4ev7MsAE0_hieXeqiFqBUb7" />

The project is being advanced through the State Significant Development (SSD) pathway, with concurrent rezoning sought to facilitate the proposal. The 10-storey development would rise over a four-level basement and deliver two retail tenancies, one a larger-format offering and the other a smaller “hole in the wall” space, addressing the Parramatta Road frontage. 21 of the apartments are dedicated as affordable housing.

According to the Urban Design Report by Architecture AND, the scheme includes a podium and tower configuration, with a fine-grain, two-storey parapet street wall that references the traditional shopfront rhythm along the corridor. “An elegant tower form is proposed, combined with a characterful two storey frontage... articulating it as two related buildings, providing consistency with the rhythm and grain of Parramatta Road,” the report notes.

The residential component is split across two slender towers set back from the street edge, a design move aimed at preserving solar access and reducing perceived bulk. This massing strategy also seeks to improve residential amenity by focusing scale toward the quieter northern interface, away from Parramatta Road’s noise and pollution.

<img alt="Ceerose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="347f2f8f-5d36-4388-b40a-2e77380b9c19" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-04%20at%2010.31.02%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=xvyUE2ujT1lzivXTo.mHBJFF4SmfgLtz" />

Architecture AND has worked with Ceerose on previous Inner West projects, and cites a deep familiarity with the local character. Their design draws heavily on context, heritage, and sunlight access considerations, and engages with the Inner West Council’s “Our Fairer Future” strategic planning framework.

The site spans 2,712 sqm and is located near key intersections with Catherine Street, Hay Street, and Redmond Street. It adjoins a public carpark to the north and is within walking distance of Stanmore and Petersham stations. It is also flagged in state and local planning strategies, including the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy, as a suitable candidate for increased density.

Ceerose recently completed The Alex Collective on McEvoy Street in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay.

The Parramatta Road corridor is coming to life with the proposed rezoning which is serviced by a significant number of bus, light rail and train routes.

Deicorp is progressing with its $1.8 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kings-bay-village-five-dock-53-75-queens-road-five-dock-nsw-2046">Kings Bay Village</a> precinct on Parramatta Road in Five Dock, as is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/toga-to-push-on-with-five-dock-mixed-use-masterplan">TOGA further down the street</a>. Those two projects alone will bring nearly 2,000 new homes to Parramatta Road.

First look: Ceerose plots mixed-use Leichhardt development on Parramatta Road

North Sydney's landmark 'SBS Building' on Alfred Street is set to be demolished to make way for a new mixed-use residential tower in the booming North Sydney.

Commercial property group FiveX is behind the plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/275-alfred-street-north-north-sydney-nsw-2060">39-storey tower</a>, the latest project to advance under the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

They are proposing 184 apartments above retail spaces, which will replace the existing 20-storey commercial building. FiveX was set up more than five decades ago by Joshua and Marko Berger. It is currently led by Joshua's son Lesli.&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower at 275 Alfred Street, North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2efa0980-53fa-4cca-9f9e-9c3c845d4746" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29%20%281%29_0.png?VersionId=y_YyPMq3NQLfYRs84pP4os9UgWiMLp75" />

According to the Architectural Design Report by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fjc-studio">FJC Studio</a>, the slender tower form has been deliberately designed to respect the site's transitional setting at the southern gateway to the North Sydney CBD, where high-rise towers give way to lower-scale residential precincts.

"The slender tower form and articulated podium establish a respectful relationship with nearby heritage and low rise buildings, including the Whaling Road Heritage Conservation Area,” the architecture firm noted, adding that the tower “completes a missing link in the urban fabric” while enhancing the Alfred Street streetscape.

The proposed building will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with 15 percent of the gross residential floor area allocated as affordable housing. There is an agreement already in place that those apartments will be managed by Evolve Housing.

The project aligns with broader state housing objectives, including the National Housing Accord target of delivering 1.2 million new homes by 2029. The Scoping Report filed with the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) suggests the site "presents no impediments to rapid delivery,” with construction able to commence within 12 months of receiving consent.

North Sydney has been one of the most popular suburbs in Sydney for new and off the plan apartment development, but hasn't had the supply to keep up with demand, until recently.

AURA by Aqualand was, for a long time, the only off the plan apartment building on the market. That completed last year, and has sold the majority of its 386 luxury apartments. Recently ALAND launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-173-179-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> on the same street, selling over $100 million within just a few hours of its launch, while developer CASA also launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-mclaren-north-sydney-45-mclaren-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The McLaren</a>&nbsp;in the same precinct.

First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower in booming North Sydney

Liquidation

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There was movement on the title of the eastern suburbs trophy home of Tom Haikin and his wife, Lilly, as the Max Brenner’s Australian franchisee went into voluntary liquidation last week.
It’s been reputedly sold for more than $30 million, although the two caveats lodged on title involved unregistered loans, and were not from a mystery buyer.
The title had four formal mortgages, with the NAB as first mortgagee on the 3000 square metre holding which last traded in 2010 for $23 million.
Wentworth Capital is the second mortgagee, then Citadel Group, then Glenn Wein’s Zajasam Pty Ltd.
Last week, Yael and Amnon Weiler placed a caveat on the title pursuant to a late 2016 loan agreement. Prospa Advance also placed a caveat last week over a late 2017 loan.
The property was being offered to buyers for $33 million earlier this year.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

Eastern suburbs home of Max Brenner franchisees in the spotlight

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The registration of Justin James Cadman as a registered liquidator was cancelled on 13 June 2018 following orders made in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, which resulted in Mr Cadman being declared bankrupt.
On 19 June 2018, ASIC appointed replacement liquidators to the fifteen (15) vacant external administrations previously administered by Mr Cadman.
ASIC Commissioner John Price said, ‘ASIC has moved quickly to exercise the new powers under the insolvency regime to appoint a replacement liquidator and appreciates the assistance of the replacement liquidators Ms Moira Carter of BRI Ferrier NQ and Mr Todd Kelly of BDO (Nth QLD).’
Below is a list of the external administrations and replacement liquidator’s contact details should creditors have any concerns.
Ms Moira Carter of BRI Ferrier NQ Phone (07) 4037 7000
<ul>
<li>Australian Vocational Learning Institute Pty Ltd ACN 097 453 828</li>
<li>Cairns Accident Repair Centre Pty Ltd ACN 077 729 367</li>
<li>Medisurg Pty Ltd ACN 113 077 982</li>
<li>MOJB Pty Ltd ACN 128 137 806</li>
<li>Phone Hospital Pty Limited ACN 112 320 386</li>
<li>Sinopoli Holdings Pty Limited ACN 107 341 499</li>
</ul>
Zanzoo Tiles Pty Ltd ACN 142 521 695
Mr Todd Kelly of BDO (Nth QLD) Phone (02) 4046 0000
<ul>
<li>Aborigines and Islanders Alcohol Relief Service Ltd ACN 010 064 374</li>
<li>Margach Builders Pty Ltd ACN 078 363 729</li>
<li>Barrier Leasing Pty Ltd ACN 104 014 002</li>
<li>Barrier Air Charter Pty Ltd ACN 108 788 147</li>
<li>Barrier Air Services Pty Ltd ACN 104 014 011</li>
<li>Barrier Aviation Pty Ltd ACN 056 643 531</li>
<li>Davryl Holdings Pty Ltd ACN 108 502 165</li>
<li>Lip-Air Pty Limited ACN 068 117 537</li>
</ul>
Background
Cairns-based Mr Cadman operated an insolvency and accounting practice firstly through a company called Mclaren Knight Pty Ltd (in liquidation), then later through another company called Mclaren Knight International Pty Ltd.
Mr Cadman had been a registered liquidator since August 2005.
Under section 40-20(1) of Schedule 2 (Schedule 2) of the Corporations Act 2001, a liquidator’s registration as a registered liquidator is automatically cancelled if a person becomes an insolvent under administration. Under section 40-111 of Schedule 2, ASIC may appoint another liquidator if a liquidator’s registration is suspended or cancelled. These new laws came into effect on 1 March 2017.
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Cairns liquidator Justin Cadman loses registration

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The ATO is the biggest creditor after the collapse of the leading Australian boutique estate agency Unique Estates.
The agency ceased trading earlier this year with PPB recently appointed liquidator. 
BMW Leasing is the second highest of the known creditors, owed $351,000.
Express Commission Australia was owed $180,000, among the 27 creditors owned a $1.6 million total.
It was February when McGrath Nicol had been initially appointed joint managers by the NSW Department of Fair Trading with staff getting an email from its founder informing them of the agency collapse.
"It is with great sadness that I inform you that Unique Estates is going into liquidation today and you are to stop work straight away," founder, Nicolette van Wijngaarden emailed staff.
"Wages can not be paid tomorrow," she told the staff.
"I am very sorry it has come to this," she wrote.
<div class="page" title="Page 4">
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<div class="column">
It had operations in Sydney, Melbourne and Byron Bay with 32 employees, whose creditor details are yet to emerge.
There is some concern on the quorum at the meeting of shareholders appointing PPB, so in order to resolve the matter, PPB have instructed solicitors to make an application to the NSW Supreme Court confirming their appointment as liquidators.
Creditors have been advised in early June the director is in the process of preparing a Report as to Affairs (RATA).
"The books and records of the Company are held by the Joint Managers and we are in discussion with them to obtain the books and records for our investigations.
"The director has co-operated with our enquiries into the company’s affairs," PPB noted. 
</div>
</div>
</div>
<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/2018/2/15/nic_new.jpg" alt="">
The website listings extended from Hamilton Island to Cressy in Tasmania, all disappearing many now at other agencies.
The estate agency was founded in Byron Bay. Unique Estates operated seven offices including Albert Park, Double Bay, the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Hong Kong.
Unique Estates was founded in 2009 as a specialized company for dealing with VIP clients and luxury properties.
Van Wijngaarden also ran rentals and had recently launched a yacht and jet charter division.
The agency published the glossy Unique Luxury Magazine, distributed to Qantas Airways Chairman's, First Class &amp; Business Class Lounges both nationally and internationally. Ads cost $4500 per page.
Its founder Nicolette van Wijngaarden only entered the real estate game to help her partner, who had spent some frustrating time with established estate agents trying to sell his own Byron Bay hinterland property.
"Thankyou all so much for your tireless efforts to build our brand," she told the team.
"Please know that I did everything I could to prevent it," she concluded her email.
<div>The agency won a string of awards over the years including the Best Real Estate Agency Website for Asia Pacific 2017-2018 at the International Property Awards Grand Final Ceremony held in London recently. It had previously won awards in the categories of Best Real Estate Agency Website, Best Real Estate Agency Marketing and Real Estate Agency in the International Property Awards.</div>
No reason was given for the collapse, but the sale of trophy home properties have slowed to a crawl across Australia, amid low vendor listings.
The Domain website indicated the team at Unique Estates had sold 19 properties in the last 12 months, with an average sale price of $2.6 million. 
The team sold 17 houses and 2 blocks of land and rural properties by private treaty.
These properties were on the market for an average of 341 days.
Last September van Wijngaarden noted the biggest challenge facing her market was government restrictions on foreign buyers.
The highest recorded sale price was $4.3 million for 12 Brownell Drive, Byron Bay, a 2-bedroom house which sold by private treaty on last November having been on the market for 230 days.
Their longest and dearest offering was the <a href="https://uniqueestates.com.au/listings/residential_sale-276324-nanarup/" target="_blank">south WA coast property</a>, Maitraya set on the picturesque coastline of Nanarup, near Albany.
It is on 263 hectares fronting three ocean beaches.
The farmland property comfortably sleeps 30 people across an eight-bedroom sandstone manor, five-bedroom fisherman’s lodge and two-bedroom pilot cottage.
<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/2018/1/8/nand2.jpg" alt="">
 
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ATO owed $933,000 after Unique Estates Australia collapse 

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Auction houses are understandably fielding inquiries as to whether they keep client money in an audited trust account ever since the collapse last December of Mossgreen.
Sotheby’s, Bonhams, Menzies and Deutscher and Hackett say they do – although there is no industry standard.
“Trust accounts should absolutely be a requirement,” Chris Deutscher of Deutscher and Hackett has told The Australian Financial Review.
“The law should be changed, we’ve just seen the reason why.”
The Australian Financial Review Magazine has revealed that Paul Sumner's Mossgreen lost money for five years before it went under last December.
Its client account, where funds from auctions were held before being disbursed to vendors, had a shortfall back to December 2013, it reported this week, having previously reported, in a 2016 Australian Financial Review profile, that Mossgreen's turnover had impressively grown from about $10 million in 2013 to $39.6 million in 2015. 
But the paper now reports Mossgreen’s competitors – Sotheby’s, Deutscher and Hackett, Menzies, Bonhams – had for years "wondered how the company was staying afloat and keeping on the lights in its sumptuous Melbourne and Sydney showrooms."
At its peak in early 2017, Mossgreen had 55 staff, almost double Sotheby’s which auctioned three times as much.
The paper suggested Mossgreen had some blockbuster auctions, that "raised only a few hundred thousand dollars, well below the $1 million that industry veterans say is needed for an auction to make money."
“It can cost you as much to auction off a $600 piece of Royal Doulton as it does to sell a $10,000 painting,” noted Mark Fraser, who suggested Mossgreen had spent too much on its premises.
“If you’ve got good stuff to sell, you can sell it in a tin shed, you don’t need fabulous auction rooms,” the former chairman of auction house Bonhams, Fraser, and now an independent art consultant said.
Sumner started Mossgreen in 2004 by briefly selling artworks from the walls of his rented Macleay Regis, Potts Point apartment, the same building as the Sydney society family, the Copplesons’ who were among his final auction content vendors.
Mossgreen contractually paid clients after 60 days, double the standard 30 days.
It used money in its client account as a spare line of credit with the shortfall, according to two of the AFR sources, growing.
An ownership change inside Mossgreen’s business in July meant the shortfall became a big problem, it noted.
It was when Jack Gringlas sought to stop funding its losses. By 2017 he had lent $6 million to Mossgreen.
In 2013 he invested $1.6 million into Mossgreen in return for 40 per cent equity. Charles Leski bought 20 per cent, leaving Sumner with the rest.
Last July Gringlas and Leski sold their combined 60 per cent to Sumner for $2.4 million, the same price they had paid.
Gringlas agreed he could pay in four years’ time and reportedly also gave Sumner two years to find new backers so Mossgreen could pay back the $6 million.
Documents obtained by Property Observer indicated Paul Sumner's auction house owes its auction vendors $6.8 million, which is $1 million more than administrators calculated ahead of the first creditors' meeting last month.
Toorak businessman Jack Gringlas​ remains the biggest secured creditor, being owed $6 million. 
The administration came December 21 following failed fundraising attempts.
<div title="Page 5">
Sumner, who did not attend the first meeting, blamed the current circumstance on growing "a little bit fast."
There were 330 creditors initially identified at the meeting who were told no law required trust accounts for the auction proceeds.
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The names of the creditors are a who's who from across Australia, ranging from passionate collectors, socialites, low key business tycoons to deceased estates.
</div>
The biggest unsecured creditor stemmed from the auction of a book collection.
Some $1.75 million is owed to the family of <a href="http://www.mossgreen.com.au/content/event/the-collection-of-martin-copley-am/" target="_blank">the late wealthy insurance underwriter Martin Copley</a> who auctioned off the books in October.
His auction items included John Gould's monumental The Birds of Australia, a large folio in eight volumes with 681 hand-coloured lithographed plates, bound in dark green morocco by Riviere, an original subscriber's set, which sold at $446,400 including premium.
The second biggest client was another deceased estate, that of the late South Australian building industry icon Alan Hickinbotham and his late wife Margaret. 
It was billed as the highest value collection ever to be sold in Adelaide when auctioned in May by Mossgreen's chief, Paul Sumner.
Sydney's society Coppleson family were listed as owed $465,000, the third highest-owed creditor.
It followed the sale of the contents of the Macleay Regis penthouse, home of the late esteemed gynaecologist Professor Malcolm Coppleson and his late wife, Patricia, who was Vogue Living’s editor-at-large.
The 172 <a href="http://www.mossgreen.com.au/content/event/the-malcolm-and-patricia-coppleson-collection/" target="_blank">lots included </a>the sale of a $192,200 Ian Fairweather work which had an $80,000 to $120,000 price guidance. A Tim Maguire fetched $117,800.
Mossgreen's last auction on December 7 last year was the contents of the Sheehy family with just 274 of the 438 lots being sold. The family, who are owed $45,000, inquired at the meeting whether Sumner's passport would be surrendered.
</div>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Mossgreen was losing money for five years before collapse

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"Bank accounts are frozen and there are no funds," was the blunt message to staff at a leading Australian estate agency today.
McGrath Nicol has been appointed joint managers by the NSW Department of Fair Trading over the national boutique estate agency, Unique Estates. 
Staff got an email from its founder informing them of the agency collapse.
"It is with great sadness that I inform you that Unique Estates is going into liquidation today and you are to stop work straight away," founder, Nicolette van Wijngaarden emailed staff.
"Wages can not be paid tomorrow," she told the staff, telling them to contact McGrath Nicol senior accountant Jordan Trovato, who has yet to confirm the official status of the estate agency.
"I am very sorry it has come to this," she wrote.
<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/2018/2/15/nic_new.jpg" alt="">
The website ceased operating today, with listings from Hamilton Island to Cressy in Tasmania disappearing.
Staff, its 32 vendors, recent sellers and their solicitors were dismayed at the move, although had fears of its deteriorating situation for some time. The agency was showing signs of eratic decision making along with heightened staff departures.
The estate agency was founded in Byron Bay. Unique Estates operated seven offices including Albert Park, Double Bay, the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Hong Kong.
Unique Estates was founded in 2009 as a specialized company for dealing with VIP clients and luxury properties.
Van Wijngaarden also ran rentals ranging a night to $NZ20,000 a night for one property in New Zealand’s Queenstown.
She recently launched a yacht and jet charter division.
The agency published the glossy Unique Luxury Magazine, <a href="https://issuu.com/nickyvw/docs/ul17_-_issuu_final" target="_blank">a quarterly property and lifestyle publication</a> distributed to Qantas Airways Chairman's, First Class &amp; Business Class Lounges both nationally and internationally. Ads cost $4500 per page.
Its previously indefatigable founder Nicolette van Wijngaarden only entered the real estate game to help her partner, who had spent some frustrating time with established estate agents trying to sell his own Byron Bay hinterland property.
"Thankyou all so much for your tireless efforts to build our brand," she told the team of up to 42 staff today.
"Please know that I did everything I could to prevent it," she concluded her email.
<div>The agency won a string of awards over the years including the Best Real Estate Agency Website for Asia Pacific 2017-2018 at the International Property Awards Grand Final Ceremony held in London recently. It had previously won awards in the categories of Best Real Estate Agency Website, Best Real Estate Agency Marketing and Real Estate Agency in the International Property Awards.</div>
No reason was given for the collapse, but the sale of trophy home properties have slowed to a crawl across Australia, amid low vendor listings.
The Domain website indicated the team at Unique Estates had sold 19 properties in the last 12 months, with an average sale price of $2.6 million. 
The team sold 17 houses and 2 blocks of land and rural properties by private treaty.
These properties were on the market for an average of 341 days.
Last September van Wijngaarden noted the biggest challenge facing her market was government restrictions on foreign buyers.
The highest recorded sale price was $4.3 million for 12 Brownell Drive, Byron Bay, a 2-bedroom house which sold by private treaty on last November having been on the market for 230 days.
Their longest and dearest offering was the <a href="https://uniqueestates.com.au/listings/residential_sale-276324-nanarup/" target="_blank">south WA coast property</a>, Maitraya set on the picturesque coastline of Nanarup, near Albany.
It is on 263 hectares fronting three ocean beaches.
The farmland property comfortably sleeps 30 people across an eight-bedroom sandstone manor, five-bedroom fisherman’s lodge and two-bedroom pilot cottage.
<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/2018/1/8/nand2.jpg" alt="">
Rick Fenny, the Perth businessman, had been seeking to sell his holiday retreat for $25 million. It had been listed since May 2015 with agent Nicolette van Wijngaarden, from Unique Estates.
Van Wijngaarden splits her time between a home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs near the harbour, a city apartment on the Yarra River in Melbourne and an apartment on the Gold Coast beach.
 
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Nicolette van Wijngaarden "very sorry" Unique Estates placed into liquidation

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The car racing property developer, Ash Samadi allegedly owes 19 tradies and businesses more than $900,000 from work on his Surry Hills residential/hotel project, Botanik.

Samadi, who races a $680,000 Audi, <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/01/23/18/32/high-flying-developer-owes-nearly-one-million-dollars-tradies-claim" target="_blank">was exposed on last night's A Current Affair</a>, who spotted him coming out of Bunnings Clovelly wheeling a wheel barrow needed for one of his latest projects.

Builders, carpenters, electricians, and pavers are among those who say Samadi owes them collectively a $911,200 at Surry Hills.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89193]

The liquidator's report advises that the company advised there were cost overruns on the project, "with a former director making unauthorised approval of a number of contract variations who had ignored the protocol of pre-seeking the consent to cover overruns from the Samadi Immobilier Trust."

Ash Samadi was described by the liquidator as a "shadow or de facto director."

<img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/1/24/sam0.jpg">

Confronted by A Current Affair, Samadi said the alleged complaints would have to be settled in court.

Rather than head off in his Mecedes Jeep, he alighted a bus towards the Junction, albeit without an Opal card.

One business did take on the Samadi Trust in court and won a judgement for $29,000, however, the Immobillier company where Samadi was a former director has been placed into liquidation and the money owed never paid.  

<img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/1/24/wheel.jpg">

The Samadi Group have four projects in Surry Hills, three next door to each other on Elizabeth Street, and the other nearby on Foveaux Street.

Samadi lives in a $16.5 million home in Sydney's Point Piper, which was briefly listed for sale last year. It was passed in at $16.5 million. It was bought in his mother's name.

The Samadi Immobilier company has made loans to Samadi, with a loan from his mother totalling just over $5.55 million. 

There is accordingly $5.95 million owing to creditors arising from the liquidation of the Samadi group.

<img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/1/24/bus%20samadi.jpg">

The liquidator noted the complex arrangements, suggesting that as far as he was aware, there is no formal contract between the company and the owners of the Surry Hill development properties.

"Despite this the company may have a 'quantum meruit' claim against those entities. Quantum meruit is an action for payment of the reasonable value of services performed where there is no formal contract," liquidator Gavin Morton at Morton's Solvency Accountants told creditors.

Established in 1988, the Samadi group was formed as a small family business. 

Designed by Brenchley Architects and Quattro Interiors, the Botanik building was listed last year for sale through Miron Solomons, Gus Moors and Matt Pontey of Colliers International with a price guide of over $25 million.

Last year the SMH reported Apartment Hotels had signed a 10-year lease in the new development at 533-535 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills.

<img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/1/24/sam2.jpg">

It comprised 22 high-end apartments comprising a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and two ground-floor retail tenancies and a rooftop terrace area with 15-metre pool and other facilities.

The operators have also committed to spending a further $1.7 million on furniture and fit out in the newly developed building, the newspaper reported.

It is next to the apartment block where the Samadi Trust cancelled its off the plan sales to prior buyers. 

Some of the apartments are currently <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-surry+hills-126103530" target="_blank">for sale through BresicWhitney.</a>

 
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ACA exposes Ash Samadi allegedly owing nearly $1 million on Surry Hills project

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Revalu8, a Queensland startup that calls itself the “Uber of real estate”, has sunk into liquidation less than a year after launch.
Creditors decided to wind up the Queensland startup and appoint a liquidator at a meeting last week, with a software company that was developing its online platform owed more than $486,000 out of total debts of $687,938, according to the Business Insider.
The company also owes $13,000 to Broadband Solutions and $11,000 to the Australian Taxation Office. In addition,  OLJ Capital was listed in the creditors meeting as being $120,000 out of pocket
Revalu8 was launched last June with $1.5 million in seed funding.
Its mission was to connect buyers and vendors of residential real estate and bring transparency to the industry. The site contained comparison tools for potential buyers, as well as promising complete transparency on transactions and negotiations between the buyer and the vendor.
“The accepted practices of advertising and selling real estate in Australia favour the advertiser, agent and then the seller, while the buyer is almost forgotten – despite it being the buyer’s money,” founder and chief executive Chris Bilborough said at the time. 
“ReValu8 will bring a new level of transparency to the industry to empower purchasers – in particular first-home buyers and investors – to be able to make an informed decision… ReValu8 also gives buyers a fair share of fees that would otherwise go towards advertising costs and agent commissions.”
While the Revalu8 website is currently still running, filling in a contact form to “join the revolution” results in an error, according to the Business Insider. The company Twitter account has not been active since August.
The company’s website still says, ‘The Uber of real estate has arrived’ and says the company shares the sales commission when a property is sold.
The notice to place the company in liquidation was resolved on March 20.
There was no comment from liquidator Worrells and Revalu8.
According to CRN, a dispute between the startup’s directors and the software development firm Agile Software Services saw the developer withdraw Revalu8’s access to the programming code.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Disruptor property startup in liquidation, owes $688,000

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The Pumpkin Patch receivers have begun closing the company's stores, with seven in New Zealand first to go.
The collapsed children's clothing retailer was placed in voluntary administration having debts of $NZ46 million ($43 million).
Pumpkin Patch was operating 43 stores in New Zealand before the closures in Posonby, Takapuna, Henderson, Te Rapa, Wanganui, Coastlands (branded as Charlie &amp; Me), and Hornby.
The 57 employees who lost their jobs will receive entitlements to the gross value of $NZ22,160. The stores will wind up trading by November 8.
Pumpkin Patch operates 117 stores in Australia, which are all continuing to trade on a business as usual basis.
Receiver Brendon Gibson said on Friday no stores closures in Australia have been confirmed.
Gibson previously suggested to SmartCompany the receivers will “be looking at accelerating” stores closures.
The receivers are seeking expressions of interest in the Pumpkin Patch business and its assets by November 8.
Included in the sale are the business’s trading activities, inventory, customer list, websites and intellectual property.
 
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Pumpkin Patch stores closing in New Zealand

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Bob Day, the Family First senator, has tendered his resignation effective immediately.
Day tendered his resignation to Senate President Stephen Parry this morning after his home building company went into liquidation.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as a Senator for South Australia and I am sorry it has ended this way,” he said.
“I will now devote my time and energy to assisting those who have been affected by the company’s closure.”
In a statement, he said that potential investors would not be financing his Home Australia company.
"While a number of offers for various parts of the Home Australia business have been received, the major investor who has been examining the group's portfolio of assets over the past fortnight, has decided not to proceed," he said.
"Accordingly, I have today tendered my resignation to the president of the Senate effective immediately. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as a senator for South Australia and I am sorry it has ended this way."
Day's company, Home Australia, was put into liquidation owing about $38 million to creditors. It also left around 200 homes unfurnished.
He said will now work to assist those affected by the closure of the company.
Day's former chief of staff Rikki Lambert has confirmed he will put his hand up for the vacant position.
 
 
 
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Home builder Senator Bob Day tenders his resignation effective immediately

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Liquidators have been appointed to Home Australia, with customers whose homes are under construction by any builders in the group urged to contact the insurer per the Insurance Certificate issued with their home building contract.
Construction on 207 properties around the country has been put on hold.
Home Australia is owned by Family First senator Bob Day, who has announced his resignation from Federal Parliament.
Home Australia operates in five Australian States under the brands:
<ul>
<li>Homestead Homes in South Australia (new homes presently under construction – 48); 
</li>
<li>Collier Homes in Western Australia (new homes presently under construction – 29); 
</li>
<li>Newstart Homes in Queensland (new homes presently under construction – 17); 
</li>
<li>Ashford Homes in Victoria (new homes presently under construction – 57); and 
</li>
<li>Huxley Homes in New South Wales (new homes presently under construction – 56).</li>
</ul>
Liquidators McGrathNicol said in cases where no Insurance Certificate has been issued, customers may have a claim against the relevant Home Australia entity which they contracted with.
"The Liquidators’ immediate objective is to work constructively with relevant insurers and customers in an effort to facilitate the orderly recommencement of construction of uncompleted homes by alternative builders. We will communicate with customers in writing in the coming days," McGrathNicol said.
"In accordance with the Liquidators’ duties, the financial affairs of Home Australia will also be investigated so that the Liquidators may report to creditors and to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
"The Liquidators’ invite parties interested in acquiring the businesses and/or assets of Home Australia in whole or in part to contact McGrathNicol on (03) 9038 3100.
"Meetings of creditors for each entity must be held within 18 days of the appointment of liquidators. The meetings of creditors will be convened for 4 November 2016 or earlier. Meeting notices setting out times and locations will be distributed to Home Australia’s creditors and customers at least seven days in advance of the meetings."
<a href="/images/2016/10/17/Annexure%20A.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/17/Annexure%20A.jpg" alt="">
Information for customers and creditors will be uploaded to the McGrathNicol website <a href="https://www.mcgrathnicol.com" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
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