Longstanding Gold Coast developer Raptis has acquired a prime development site on Surf Parade for its next Broadbeach apartment project.

Progressing towards completion of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-sterling-broadbeach-6-8-george-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Sterling Broadbeach</a>, 90 apartments on nearby George Avenue, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/raptis">Raptis</a>, led by second-generation family man Evan Raptis, has picked up a block on the corner of Surf Parade and First Avenue.

The site had been earmarked for a luxury apartment project with 33 full-floor apartments across a 37-storey tower. Raptis will go back to the drawing board and create a building more appropriate for the site. The development application will be lodged later this month.

Evan Raptis told Apartments.com.au the site ticks all the boxes.

"Broadbeach is a suburb we've developed several buildings over the years. Surf Parade ticks all the boxes for the type of apartment development we want to deliver."

Raptis had several pre-lodgement meetings with council to ensure they are aligned in the development.

<img alt="Raptis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f0d58573-07a4-47a8-9f5e-fbf35fb03dc3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-03-05%20at%204.58.23%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=iczZEd_4_o4UL0PHMPJGfy_q3tv96J5i" />

Surf Parade has emerged in recent years as one of the most popular streets in Broadbeach for development.

South East Queensland developer Mosaic Property Group kicked it off with Marella by Mosaic. Bassar Group sold out Infinity on the street, while for its&nbsp;first Gold Coast development, Polycell grabbed a Surf Parade site for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-rochester-broadbeach-143-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Rochester</a>, which is nearly sold out.

Melbourne-based developer Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched its fourth Gold Coast project on the exclusive strip. The Eveleigh Broadbeach will have 100 apartments across a 31-storey building designed by Rothelowman.

GV Property Group site development specialists Antonio Mercuri and Luke Reaby, who both amalgamate sites and sell shovel-ready sites to developers up and down the Gold Coast, sold Surf Parade to Raptis.

Joel Robinson

Raptis secures prime Surf Parade site for next Broadbeach apartment development

Less than two years after breaking ground, Gardner Vaughan Group is celebrating the topping out of Bask, its second development in the exclusive coastal enclave of Bokarina on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.&nbsp;

Located only minutes from the beachfront, the two seven-storey luxury apartment towers, known individually as Mydas and Caretta, offer a selection of one-to-four-bedroom residences with views of Lake Kawana, the Glasshouse Mountains, and Bokarina Beach.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=333359]

Gardner Vaughan Group Commercial Director Sam Gardner said the milestone marks the home stretch for construction, with first residents expected to be able to move in from Spring 2026.&nbsp;

“This is a significant milestone in bringing this development to life and represents our confidence in this region’s long-term growth and appeal,” Gardner said.&nbsp;

“With 85 per cent of apartments already sold, buyers are joining an established, coastal village that offers the very best of the Sunshine Coast – seasonally patrolled surf beaches, renowned restaurants, and links to established health and retail.&nbsp;

“The final collection of three- and four- bedroom apartments range in size from 127sqm to 300sqm, each with two or three secure car parks and storage, and with construction fast approaching completion we don’t expect the last few apartments to remain on the market for long.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=333362]

Local restaurateur Luke Stringer, who co-owns and manages the award-winning Bocca Italian and Playa Mexican restaurants in Bokarina, has lived in the beachside suburb for 18 months and worked there for more than three years, and said the beachside suburb was thriving.&nbsp;

“It’s fair to say Bokarina is finally stepping into the sun and there’s a lot to love about the place,"&nbsp;Stringer said.

"It’s such a great community, where you see the same smiling faces every morning and everything’s within easy reach – it’s the perfect hub in the middle of the Sunshine Coast.

“When we first opened Bocca Italian, we were the lone restaurant, but it’s been amazing to see how the area has grown. The more venues that open, the busier it gets for everyone. When Playa Mexican opened its first Saturday night, Bocca had a record night and Playa was packed too, which blew us away how everyone is thriving.&nbsp;

“There’s a great energy around the place now, and people are really embracing Bokarina as a food and lifestyle destination.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=363368]

Stringer joined other buyers at Bask Bokarina and the Gardner Vaughan Group team to celebrate the topping out at a special event in February.&nbsp;

Located in Kawana Waters, midway between Caloundra and Maroochydore, Bokarina locals enjoy scenic walking paths around Lake Kawana, playgrounds, beachfront boardwalk and parklands, alongside all the convenience of a masterplanned beachside community.&nbsp;

“You see people jogging or swimming in the morning, then grabbing coffee at the cafes, people are really embracing the area and all this growth is bringing more people to Bokarina,” Stringer added.&nbsp;

To take advantage of the vistas, each of the 135 apartments at Bask is designed with full size windows and high ceilings that provide an abundance of natural light.&nbsp;

Prices for the remaining three-bedroom apartments start at $1,599,000 and four-bedroom apartments start at $3,149,000.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=363369]

The mixed-use development also features ground-level retail space for cafés, dining options and boutiques, including the soon-to-be-opened ‘Corner Shop’, by the team behind Noosa’s well known ‘Organika’.

Sam Gardner said Gardner Vaughan Group’s 37-year history building and developing across South East Queensland has contributed to the success of its second development in Bokarina, which follows the recently completed Zinc Apartments.&nbsp;

“We care how people live and this is reflected in the way we approach the design and delivery of every development,” he said. “Furthermore, as a builder-developer we have full control over the construction program and our 100 per cent completion rate is something people can draw confidence from.”&nbsp;

Founded by civil engineers Guy Gardner and Darryl Vaughan in 1989, the family-owned business has evolved from a consultancy firm to an award-winning builder-developer, with projects across the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=141609]

Gardner Vaughan Group tops out Bask Bokarina apartments

Prolific Melbourne developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> has launched its fourth new Gold Coast development in as many years.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a>, led by Daniel Faigen and backed by Eddie Hirsch, co-founder of United Petroleum, has unveiled The Eveleigh, on a prime 1,100 sqm site at 7-9 Surf Parade in the heart of Broadbeach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a> will deliver 100 apartments across 31 levels, making it the company’s largest Gold Coast project to date. It builds on the success of its three earlier developments, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/hemingway-1267-1273-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach">The Hemingway in Palm Beach</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/emerson-kirra-100-musgrave-street-coolangatta">The Emerson at Kirra</a>, both completed, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yves-mermaid-beach-7-9-mermaid-avenue-mermaid-beach">Yves Mermaid Beach</a>, which is nearing completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

The announcement of The Eveleigh affirms the company’s sustained confidence in the Gold Coast market which continues to remain undersupplied. It also increases the value of Hirsch &amp; Fa​igen’s Gold Coast development portfolio to more than $700 million since the company first entered the market in 2021 with Hemingway.

The company has enlisted its preferred architecture firm Rothelowman to design The Eveleigh, which will offer a thoughtfully curated lifestyle, including a substantial wellness precinct, communal recreation areas, children’s play spaces, work-from-home facilities, and shared lounge and dining areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

Designed for the prime market demographic of downsizers and interstate lifestyle investors in mind, The Eveleigh has been crafted to offer an increasingly rare blend of affordable luxury in a tightly held market. Uniquely positioned in the heart of the Gold Coast’s most sought-after lifestyle suburb of Broadbeach, the project will also boast uninterrupted beach and hinterland views.

The Surf Parade site is just a short walk to the bustling Broadbeach dining and retail precinct, Pacific Fair, The Star Gold Coast and convention centre, and an easy stroll to Kurrawa Beach and the recreational amenity of Pratten Park on the Broadbeach foreshore.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]

“We’re excited to be proceeding with our fourth project on the Gold Coast in what is certain to become the new luxury precinct in Broadbeach,” says Anthony Bueti, the CFO of Hirsch &amp;a​mp; Faigen and a shareholder of the group.

“With the likes of Mosa​ic and Abedian &amp;a​mp; Co also launching quality projects in the area, the transformation will cement Broadbeach as the premier lifestyle and amenity suburb on the Gold Coast.

"After four years in the Gold Coast market, and with three successful projects completed, The Eveleigh is the product of everything we have learned to love about the Gold Coast and it will be an incredible addition to our growing portfolio in one of the most vibrant property markets in the country. We continue to remain very confident in the high-end Gold Coast property market.”

Urban Activation Director Matt George is handling sales for The Eveleigh, having sold out The Emerson, The Hemingway, and Yves, all before construction was completed.

Melbourne builder MAXCON has already commenced construction on The Eveleigh. They are forecasting a mid-2028 completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Hirsch & Faigen unveils The Eveleigh in Broadbeach

Two years after securing development approval for the final stage of its award-winning Thornton Precinct on the doorstep of Penrith Station, Urban Property Group is set to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/mayfair-on-penrith-172-lord-sheffield-circuit-penrith-nsw-2750">Mayfair on Penrith</a>, around 400 apartments designed to reflect two of Sydney’s most iconic structures.

The builder-developer has continued refining the design plans for the two-building development on a significant 8,280 sqm site on Sheffield Circuit, recognising the importance of the prime parcel as one of the closest developable sites to the station.

UPG enlisted architecture firm SJB to design the project. The team said they drew inspiration from both the General Post Office in Martin Place and East Circular Quay to help shape the design. The two-level colonnade, in particular, reflects the famous GPO building, which dates back to the 1860s.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136726 project_image_fid=362014]

There will be one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments on offer, with interiors by Cox Architecture. Residences will sit above a retail podium featuring hospitality and lifestyle operators such as One Playground and Volcano’s Steakhouse, contributing to an activated ground plane within the broader Thornton precinct.

A communal rooftop with a pool and views towards the Blue Mountains will provide shared open space for residents. The development is positioned between Ron Mulock Oval and Westfield Penrith, with the Nepean River and Great River Walk also nearby, placing daily amenity and green space within walking distance.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136726 project_image_fid=362015]

Mayfair is being delivered by Urban Property Group, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly 40 years’ experience across Sydney. The project will be the first in Penrith to be offered with Resilience Insurance’s 10-year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) policy, which Urban Property Group has adopted across a number of its recent developments. The developer also has a 4.5-star iCIRT rating, one of the best ratings in market providing further confidence to buyers.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said providing additional assurance to off-the-plan buyers has become increasingly important.

“Anything we can do to give confidence in our product is a plus,” Elias told Apartments.com.au.

“Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. They’re making their single large investment, which is their home, and providing confidence is something that we feel is paramount.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136726 project_image_fid=362020]

The LDI policy provides a 10-year warranty covering structural defects, with independent inspections carried out during construction and protection for owners if defects arise post-completion.

Mayfair represents Urban Property Group’s sixth and final development within Thornton, consolidating the masterplanned precinct immediately east of the station.

The developer, which builds its own projects, has already commenced construction. SRM Residential is handling the sales campaign.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=136726]

Urban Property Group to close the curtain on award-winning Thornton precinct with Mayfair on Penrith release

Investor appetite for Queenstown apartments is strengthening as supply constraints and four-season tourism continue to underpin demand across the alpine region.

In Frankton’s masterplanned Remarkables Park precinct,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/safari-group">Safari Group</a>’s 141-apartment Mountain Oak development is attracting repeat and yield-focused buyers seeking exposure to that market dynamic.

Brandon, who specifically targeted Queenstown as an investment location, said the combination of price point and limited new supply made Mountain Oak stand out.

“It is a quality product in a location that struggles to densify,” he said, referencing Queenstown’s land-locked geography and development limitations.

<img alt="From slopes to markets: Mountain Oak connects residents to the best of Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/658d4f_48c3ec1ae5df4a2cab7d23c07c7f51b3~mv2.jpg?VersionId=27K8oQ4ExDN8Yu70VHDa9Olq59XU36m3" />

Having spent significant time in the region, Brandon pointed to its global reputation and consistent visitation as key fundamentals.

“Queenstown is a known destination from people all over the world. The place is land locked and there are issues building there. It’s also busy all year round.”

That four-season economy, driven by skiing and snowboarding in winter and hiking, cycling and water-based tourism in summer, was also central to Sherry’s decision to invest.

“I believe the four-season tourism has major appeal as it would ensure that the property will not remain empty, unlike other areas in NZ,” she said.

<img alt="From slopes to markets: Mountain Oak connects residents to the best of Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/313_Living_WEB.jpg?VersionId=3LglY20Jp_MAzQYdvwODRWvtjL.cZcqI" />

Mountain Oak has been structured to respond to that sustained demand, with 365-day visitor accommodation consent underpinning a mix of one-bedroom, flexi, two-bedroom and dual-key configurations that can operate as either short-term visitor accommodation or long-term rental housing. Dual-key apartments comprise two self-contained residences on one title, allowing owners to generate dual income streams or occupy one side while leasing the other.&nbsp;

Under Safari Group’s optional visitor accommodation management model, owners receive 60 per cent of the annual income generated by their apartment, with 24/7 on-site management, guest services and listing exposure included. Independent appraisal modelling suggests gross yields of up to 15 per cent for certain two-bedroom configurations, based on estimated nightly rates and occupancy assumptions.

For Brandon, that flexibility aligned with his broader investment strategy.

“It helps to know that I can have it managed either way,” he said. “My focus is on purchasing high yield cashflow properties.”

<img alt="Investors back Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments as Queenstown’s four-season economy drives demand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c786ba7f-f974-4ce3-9833-1bcd9f2938d6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/658d4f_ae3c049f388f4c13bf801649d91cbb4a~mv2%20%281%29.jpg?VersionId=J25uvzGdvtFaXGzuwz28ewJ9wWzbtvur" />

He selected a one-bedroom flexi configuration, citing both yield and adaptability.

“I work remotely and can travel to most places and work. I enjoy making spaces that work for the lifestyle that I live and it seems that others also enjoy it.”

Ranging from 54 to 57 square metres, the one-bedroom flexi incorporates a separate multipurpose room suited to a home office, additional storage, or accommodation for ski gear and seasonal equipment, an increasingly relevant inclusion for buyers balancing remote work and alpine travel.

Interiors feature underfloor heating in bathrooms and a heat pump in the main living area, supporting year-round comfort. Upper-level apartments are positioned to maximise natural light, with sliding windows and balustrades in select residences enhancing outlook and ventilation. Units are available in both light and dark interior schemes.

<img alt="Investors back Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments as Queenstown’s four-season economy drives demand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8f9492e9-8ee0-4aae-856c-8996ed9d9a06" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/658d4f_7d066f5200024c1aa472d01e2dc776ed~mv2.jpg?VersionId=MLR5xn6fLqPdBi7vxyRT.1zhQX3Ln0Ev" />

Sherry, a repeat Safari Group buyer, said her previous experience with the developer provided confidence to secure another apartment.

“Their developments have always finished on time, the quality has been high, and I didn't feel that my investment may be at risk,” she said. “Knowledge of the developer and our two existing Safari apartments gave us the confidence to proceed with this one.”

Safari Group has delivered more than 2,000 hotel units and residential apartments nationally and is now undertaking its fifth Queenstown development, reinforcing buyer confidence in delivery capability.

Although Sherry was not initially targeting Queenstown due to its price profile, prior visits reshaped her view of the market.

“I absolutely love this region and believe it is a major tourist attraction, which led me to the decision to invest.”

<img alt="How Mountain Oak Apartments draws holiday home buyers to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Ext_Cam15_Sunny.jpg?VersionId=SJAROUM_1s.Tr5ciMk4EEj5oAt_Vewmv" />

Construction commenced in June 2025, with completion anticipated by mid-2027. Apartments are priced from NZ$639,000, and the development carries Overseas Investment Office exemption approval, allowing non-residents to purchase.

For both investors, the purchase represents a balance of income generation and long-term portfolio positioning in a tightly held alpine market.

“I firmly believe my investments in Safari developments are a combination of all these elements,” Sherry said. “The location of this project enabled me to diversify.”

As Queenstown continues to attract year-round visitation alongside constrained housing supply, Mountain Oak’s dual-key flexibility, optional on-site management structure and established developer track record are resonating with investors seeking exposure to the region’s resilient tourism economy.

Investors back Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments as Queenstown’s four-season economy drives demand

Mid Century Modern

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An updated mid century modern home in Novar Gardens has sold for $573,000.
Inside the four-bedroom, two-bathroom home, parquetry floors flow underfoot in the combined living, dining and kitchen area where a vertical feature room divider defines the space.
The kitchen is charming with timber bench tops, a feature tile breakfast bar and a dishwasher, plus plenty of storage in the white cabinetry. There is a second living room with a study nook and easy access to two bedrooms with built-in robes.
Outside, a single carport and a garden shed are on offer, as well as gardens and a sunny patio.
Nestled next to The Glenelg Golf Club, Immanuel College and with cosmopolitan Jetty Road a short walk it is situated at 54 St Andrews Crescent.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/Screen%20Shot%202020-08-28%20at%204.51.14%20pm.png" alt="">
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Mid century modern trophy home in Novar Gardens sold

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A newly renovated, single level mid-century Beaumaris trophy home has sold for $1.65 million.
Situated on 696 sqm, this open plan home features 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and separate laundry.
Plus new carpets and restored Tasmanian oak flooring throughout; Ducted heating and AC are also key features.
This property is describe as a slice of the fab 1960's, updated for modern living.
It is located metres from the zoned Beaumaris Secondary college, Beaumaris Primary, Stella Maris; bayside beaches; iconic golf courses; local parklands and Concourse shopping village.
Situated at 145 Dalgetty Road, the home sold in late July. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/Screen%20Shot%202020-08-28%20at%204.41.40%20pm.png" alt="">
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Mid century modern Beaumaris trophy home sold

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A mid century modern home in Anglesea has successfully sold for its asking price of $1.425 million.
The four bedroom, two bathroom home is a blend of existing 1950s property designed by Jane Millar architects.
This modernist style home at 27 Holmwood Avenue is known as "Holmwood".
With direct outdoor access to an impressive generous north facing rear deck which is ideal for soaking up the sun, it's described as a private oasis. A double carport, laundry and storage are located under the living and dining addition.
The fully landscaped garden featuring stonework attracts visiting wildlife and native birds.
This coastal home is set in a highly sought after location within walking distance of the surf beach, river, golf course, cafes and Anglesea's shopping village.
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Mid century modern Holmwood in Anglesea sold

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Sky News presenter Jacinta Tynan saw just the one bid for her mid-century modern-style Mosman home at its weekend auction. The home was passed in at $2.9 million.
Just the two registered bidders were spoken to at the onsite auction.
Buyers had been quoted a guide of $3 million to $3.3 million through the marketing campaign. Tynan, who has been at Sky since 2004, bought the home for $1.8 million in 2011 with her then-partner, funds manager Liam Timms.
There were Corben Architect plans for buyer perusal commissioned by the listing agency Di Jones.
The classic 1960s home sits on what was an unnamed bushland dirt track until a mid-1950s housing boom.
Set on an 820sqm block, the home with no heritage protection has four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Tynan joined Sky having previously been at the ABC.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

Just one bidder sees Jacinta Tynan's Mosman home passed in

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GUEST OBSERVATION 
Of all the mantras for modernism, the one I think most befitting for Australian mid-century modern houses is <a href="http://arti.sba.uniroma3.it/esprit/" target="_blank">L'esprit Nouveau</a> – The New Spirit. These houses represented more than style; they reflected a new Australian spirit that emerged in the postwar era.
Modernism was established in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. An intentional shift away from classical tradition, it was informed by new technology and mass production. While early modernism was weighed down by the avant garde and elitism, mid-century modernism - which includes architecture from the 1950s to the late 1970s - became accessible and was embraced internationally.
The current resurgence in popularity of mid-century modern houses in Australia has been spurred by websites such as <a href="https://modernistaustralia.com" target="_blank">Modernist Australia</a>, social media groups for “MCM” enthusiasts, <a href="https://www.heide.com.au/exhibitions/design-life-grant-and-mary-featherston" target="_blank">public exhibitions</a>, and even real estate agents dedicated to selling the <a href="http://www.modernhouse.co/" target="_blank">Modern House</a>.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/283628/original/file-20190711-173325-1ewrzm7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/283628/original/file-20190711-173325-1ewrzm7.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a> 
Boyd House, Walsh Street, South Yarra 1958. Architect: Robin Boyd. Photograph: Mark Strizic, c.1965 Mark Strizic Collection State Library Victoria Melbourne © Estate of Mark Strizic
 
A fascination with mid-century modernism has also been explored in the two-part documentary <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/streets-of-your-town/" target="_blank">Streets of Your Town</a>, hosted by comedian and self-proclaimed “architecture tragic” <a href="https://www.timross.com.au" target="_blank">Tim Ross</a>. He describes how the popularity of these houses was underpinned by purpose as much as style:
<blockquote>
Modernism may have had its birth in Europe and its glamour in America but I think it found its egalitarian purpose, unrivalled anywhere else in the world, in Australia’s suburbs.
</blockquote>
Some enthusiasts point to the television series <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/11/22/16690454/midcentury-modern-design-mad-men-eames" target="_blank">Mad Men</a> as the catalyst for international mid-century modern revivalism. But visual culture has also been central to its popularity in Australia. As these homes emerged, so too did the suburbs, which became the setting for much of Australian television and theatre.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/283813/original/file-20190712-173329-9h3dfz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/283813/original/file-20190712-173329-9h3dfz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
The hit TV series Mad Men is closely associated with the global revival of mid-century modern style. IMDB
I think this is central to the popularity of these houses. Even if you didn’t grow up in one, you probably watched a family who did on television.
I grew up in a late 70s, mid-century modern home. It was designed by a draftsperson, not an architect, but featured many of the design elements commonly associated with the style. Just like the Kerrigan family in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf8AjYvQZmE" target="_blank">The Castle</a> we had a pool room, complete with a purpose-built bar.
Mid-century modern in pop culture
Early 20th century Australian architecture, especially during the interwar period, had been burdened with the nationalistic desire to create a distinctly Australian house.
In the postwar era, however, the cultural landscape shifted from the wide brown land to the interior of our suburbs, and especially our homes. Australian culture was motivated by the kind of self-consciousness often associated with modernism. This was reflected in mid-century modern houses, with their humble facades and efficient planning.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/265717/original/file-20190325-36273-1dwpj9n.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/265717/original/file-20190325-36273-1dwpj9n.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Image of interior of a Royal Victorian Institute of Architects Small Home Services House, designed in conjuction with the Age newspaper, 1955. <a class="source" href="http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/permalink/f/1cl35st/SLV_VOYAGER1758927" target="_blank">Photo: Wolfgang Sievers. Pictures Collection, State Library Victoria</a>
Ray Lawler’s 1955 play <a href="https://australianplays.org/script/CP-2584" target="_blank">Summer of the 17th Doll</a> exemplifies this shift and is considered to be the first Australian play to be set inside a house. Around the same time, in 1956, Melbourne was hosting the Olympic Games, and with a shortage of hotel accommodation, families were asked to billet athletes. This placed Australian homes, in a very real sense, on an international stage.
It was this event that inspired the character <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/dame-edna-60-years-of-megastardom-20151211-glliea" target="_blank">Mrs Norman Everage</a> (later Dame Edna Everage) of Moonee Ponds. The first Edna Everage show revolved around her domestic preparations for international guests in the lead up the 1956 Games. Barry Humphries then took a satirical view of Australian domesticity to an international audience.
Humphries’ critical view on Australian life, alongside books such as David Horne’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3305564-the-lucky-country?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Lucky Country</a> (1964) and architect Robin Boyd’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2479687.The_Australian_Ugliness?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Australian Ugliness</a> (1960), represented a <a href="https://www.themonthly.com.au/books-peter-conrad-coming-age-peter-conrad-robin-boyd-s-australian-ugliness-fifty-years-2175" target="_blank">maturing</a> of Australian culture, which emerged from critical reflections on our position in the world through art, architecture, literature and film.
Boyd and Humphries shared an enduring friendship, and there are many <a href="https://griffithreview.com/articles/a-preposterous-life/" target="_blank">overlaps</a> in their critique of Australian domesticity. Boyd’s work has undoubtedly been at the centre of the current mid-century modern revival. The attention it attracts is not just about his architecture, <a href="https://placesjournal.org/article/revisiting-robin-boyds-anti-architecture/?cn-reloaded=1" target="_blank">but also the sentiments that informed it</a>. For Boyd, architecture was not an isolated discipline, rather it possessed the capacity to shape, and be shaped by, broader social, political, economic and cultural ideas.
Boyd was instrumental in setting up the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-14/treasure-trove-small-homes-helped-deliver-great-australian-dream/9861204" target="_blank">Small Home Service in 1947</a>, which delivered designs for modern, small, flexible, and affordable homes in response to postwar housing shortages. It is probably this aspect of his work that resonates the most – a solution to housing inefficiencies led by professionals for the greater good, not financial greed.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264275/original/file-20190318-28483-1izrisg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264275/original/file-20190318-28483-1izrisg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Brochure of Royal New South Wales Institute of Architects Small Homes Services Catalogue. <a class="source" href="http://collection.hht.net.au/firsthht/fullRecord.jsp?recnoListAttr=recnoList&amp;recno=7433" target="_blank">Caroline Simpson Library &amp; Research Collection, Sydney Living Museums</a>
Great Australian party houses
Of course, there is much to admire about Boyd’s designs, and those of the other architects working for the Small Home Service. Externally, the designs were refined and simple. Australian mid-century modern houses are unique with their pitched roofs in contrast to the flat roofs found in America and Europe. They introduced open plan living areas, a move away from a series of rooms connected by hallways.
This openness brought more light into living spaces, as did bigger windows and glass sliding doors that connected inside and outside. And, as Ross’ book <a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-rumpus-room-tim-ross/prod9780646969886" target="_blank">The Rumpus Room, And other stories from the suburbs</a> (2017) describes, this openness made them great Australian party houses.
Made of prefabricated elements, these houses were a builders’ delight - and affordable. By the 1960s, most large building companies, including AV Jennings offered a range of such houses for sale.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264274/original/file-20190318-28471-1g8ml61.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/264274/original/file-20190318-28471-1g8ml61.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
AV Jenning Homes Brochure 1960s. AV Jennings
This year marks <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-18/1969-federal-election-was-comedy-of-errors-in-tally-room/11124594" target="_blank">50 years since the election party</a> that inspired David Williamson’s play <a href="https://australianplays.org/script/CP-187" target="_blank">Don’s Party</a> (1971). Williamson drew inspiration from his AV Jennings Type 15 home, built in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora in the 1960s.
In 2011, I asked him how his home had influenced the writing of Don’s Party. He told me:
<blockquote>
a feature of these houses was the openness and connectedness of the living, dining and kitchen areas with the bedrooms down a corridor at the back. This openness allowed one to think of a set design. It was good for the dramatic structure. I drew a floor plan and had the characters’ names on slips of paper which I slid around the floor plan so I knew who was where at any particular time.
</blockquote>
Williamson’s reflections show how these houses were a literal backdrop to writers and performers at the time.
The 1976 film Don’s Party was shot in a house built by Australian company Pettit and Sevitt, founded in 1961. Its design, known as the “Lowline”, was created by architects Ken Woolley and Michael Dysart.
Like the Small Homes Service, Pettit and Sevitt aimed to build good quality, affordable, architect-designed homes. Forty years after closing their business, they have <a href="https://www.pettitandsevitt.com.au" target="_blank">recently re-opened it</a>, such is the current enthusiasm for mid-century modernism.
It seems obvious that the combination of affordability and well designed homes is an irresistible quality. However, the popularity of mid-century homes, - both then and now - runs much deeper. I would argue that they are also a reflection of a nation quietly contemplating its place in the world.
The problem child of heritage
The rise of the mid-century modern house unfortunately coincided with the modernist urban planning principles that resulted in car dependent, low density suburbs on the outskirts of cities. The sprawling nature of these suburbs has contributed to the housing stress many Australians currently experience.
The location of these houses, along with their larger lot sizes, means many have now been demolished and replaced with higher density developments. There is now a sense of urgency about their protection and conservation.
Professor Philip Goad from the University of Melbourne describes modernism as the “<a href="https://australia.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/Unloved-over-loved-or-just-misunderstood-Modern-architecture-%E2%80%93-the-problem-child-of-heritage-vol-25-no-1.pdf" target="_blank">problem child of heritage</a>”. By this he means, it belongs to an era that has surely passed by, but is too young to be broadly admired as built heritage.
Publications such as <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.bookdepository.com/Designer-Suburbs-Judith-OCallaghan/9781742233468" target="_blank">Designer Suburbs</a>, <a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/hot-modernism-macarthur-john/prod9781908967589" target="_blank">Hot Modernism</a>, <a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-modern-hannah-lewi/prod9781760760151?source=pla&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzNaBppK44wIVkoRwCh0QAwnYEAQYASABEgJUDfD_BwE">Australia Modern</a>, <a href="https://uwap.uwa.edu.au/products/an-unfinished-experiment-in-living-australian-houses-1950-65" target="_blank">An Unfinished Experiment in Living</a>, and <a href="https://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/books/other-moderns/" target="_blank">The Other Moderns</a> have highlighted the broader cultural value of these houses. This has also been part of the mission of the <a href="https://robinboyd.org.au" target="_blank">Robin Boyd Foundation</a>, which has conserved Boyd’s iconic Walsh Street House.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/283627/original/file-20190711-173338-ix2qqj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/283627/original/file-20190711-173338-ix2qqj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a> B
oyd House, Walsh Street, South Yarra 1958. Architect: Robin Boyd. Photograph: John Gollings, 2012 © John Gollings
This year marks 100 years since Boyd’s birth. In August, an exhibition at Melbourne’s <a href="https://www.heide.com.au/exhibitions/robin-boyd-design-legend-0" target="_blank">Heide Museum of Modern Art</a> will celebrate ten of his most iconic houses. The exhibition aims to share Boyd’s “<a href="https://www.heide.com.au/exhibitions/robin-boyd-design-legend-0" target="_blank">humanist belief that good design can improve people’s lives and the world we live in</a>”, capturing both the ethos of mid-century modern and the sense of nostalgia that now surrounds it.
Very few surveys of mid-century modern houses in Australian suburbs exist. In 2018, Bayside Council in Melbourne started a heritage survey of them in the suburbs of <a href="https://architectureau.com/articles/melbourne-council-begins-survey-of-one-of-australias-densest-concentrations-of-mid-century-modernist-homes/" target="_blank">Beaumaris and Black Rock</a>. Unfortunately, less than a year later, council had <a href="https://architectureau.com/articles/melbourne-council-dumps-survey-of-one-of-australias-densest-concentrations-of-mid-century-modernist-architecture/" target="_blank">abandoned the project</a>.
The connection between Australia’s mid-century modern houses and popular culture demonstrates their cultural and heritage value. However, heritage is not simply determined by perceived aesthetic merit – it also needs to address <a href="https://www.icomos.org/risk/2002/20th2002.htm" target="_blank">practical issues</a> such as the maintenance of building materials, as well as good planning principles.
The efforts of mid-century modern enthusiasts have produced greater awareness of the cultural significance of these buildings. In time, they should secure the same heritage protection afforded to other architectural styles.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/113363/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;">
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kirsty-volz-384905" target="_blank">Kirsty Volz</a>, PhD Candidate, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805" target="_blank">The University of Queensland</a>
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-why-old-is-new-again-the-mid-century-homes-made-famous-by-dons-party-and-dame-edna-113363" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Why old is new again - the mid-century homes made famous by Don’s Party and Dame Edna: Kirsty Volz

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The Summerhouse, an original 1960s Currumbin Beach house, is under contract, selling for just the second time in 50 years.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-currumbin-129878806" target="_blank">32 Panorama Drive, Currumbin</a>, the home came with a price guide of $1.85 million.
Set on a 607 square metre block adjoining reserve (never to be build out) the north facing home enjoys views of the golden arc of Palm Beach, Burleigh Headland, Surfers Paradise skyline, and Stradbroke Island.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/1/29/Currumbin%202.JPG" alt="">
Built in 1950, the five bedroom four bathroom residence has been renovated and extended, drawing on "elements of the family holiday home in the South of France".
Featuring a covered deck, sandstone entertaining terrace, garden and an integrated sparkling blue pool the home has it's original brushbox hardwood flooring
The three car garage has bespoke double gates.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/1/29/Currumbin%203.JPG" alt="">
Located a 10 minute walk from Currumbin Beach, and within easy access of schools, shops, John Flynn Hospital  and the Gold Coast Airport the home is a 45 minute drive from Byron Bay.
It last sold at auction in 2010 for $664,000
The median price for a home in <a href="/developments/currumbin-qld-4223">Currumbin</a> is $823,043, according to CoreLogic.
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1950s Currumbin Beach house under contract

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Lara, a mid-century modern Walkerville homestead set on 56 acres, has been listed with a price guide of $975,000.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-vic-walkerville-7995606" target="_blank">365 McBurnie and Boags Road</a> the property has a number of farm assets accompanying.
These include stock yards, four bay machinery shed, five paddocks and five acres of bush with 10 Mile Creek. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/2/12/Walkerville%202.JPG" alt="">
The five bedroom three bathroom residence, constructed of brick, is set along a ti-tree tunnel driveway (pictured above).
Featuring floor to ceiling windows throughout the home overlooks open gardens and private rural vistas.
With and open plan kitchen/family room, the holding includes an office plus semi attached work room that could be a granny flat/studio.
It has a tennis court. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/2/12/Walkerville%203.JPG" alt="">
The home last traded for $692,000 in 2005.
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Walkerville home on 56 acres listed for $975,000

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The Four Winds, a 1950s modernist Blairgowrie beach house, has been sold for $1.47 million.
Located at 57 Hughes Road, it is right in the middle of the narrowest arm of the Mornington Peninsula.
The three bedroom two bathroom home comprises four living areas including an open plan kitchen dining room.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/2/12/4%20Winds%202.JPG" alt="">
Four Winds is described in the listing as "Oozing 50s/60s designer flair".
Set on 1,100 square metres the residence is located 800 metres from the ocean and minutes from Koonya Back Beach, Koonya General Store plus the bay beach.
It features a newly renovated kitchen but retains original features such as the gold-trimmed master bedroom cabinetry, pink bath and shower, tiling and more.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/2/12/4%20Winds%203.JPG" alt="">
Last sold in 2015 it traded at $930,000.
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