<p>Builder-developer Urban Property Group (UPG) is continuing to expand into new markets. UPG is heading to the Hills District, where it is planning a 40-storey mixed use building near Castle Hill Metro Station.</p>

<p>They've gone down the favoured developer route of a State Significant Development Application, which should see developments approved within the space of nine months.</p>

<p>The tower will comprise 371 apartments, 42 of which will be affordable housing, above a ground-floor retail precinct at 16-20 Old Castle Hill Road, on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and within walking distance of Castle Hill Metro Station, an area identified for higher density under both local and state strategic planning frameworks.</p>

<p>Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/studiosc">Studio SC</a>, the tower would rise from a brick podium base, accommodating one retail tenancy and communal open space, before transitioning to a slender glazed residential form above. Six basement levels are proposed beneath the building to house parking and services.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Urban Property unveils 40-storey mixed-use tower in Castle Hill with 371 homes and affordable housing component" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="08dc82f9-b826-4e18-8c60-4c90f7472317" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%20G%20%28b%29%20-%20Ground%20level%20render.jpg?VersionId=EOv1ly45k_Bc1F73C0hdwXSG4FVSTETt" /></p>

<p>“Castle Hill is undergoing a significant transformation, evolving from a traditionally low-rise suburban centre into a true metropolitan destination anchored by the Sydney Metro Northwest," the Architectural Design Report prepared by Studio SC noted.</p>

<p>The majority of apartments (194) will be two-bedrooms. 90 one-bedroom apartments are planned, 83 three-beds, and four four-bedroom apartments.</p>

<p>Studio SC’s design adopts a podium-and-tower composition, with warm-toned masonry at the lower levels intended to anchor the building within its streetscape context.</p>

<p>"At the podium, the architecture is anchored through solid brickwork in warm, earthy tones, reflecting the local sandstone formations and the natural colour palette of the surrounding hills," Studio SC added.</p>

<p>Above, the tower transitions to a lighter glass expression, articulated with fins and tonal variation to reduce visual bulk and respond to changing light conditions.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Urban Property unveils 40-storey mixed-use tower in Castle Hill with 371 homes and affordable housing component" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f13cb2ee-ebfc-4204-9aba-e2dbd9e5d4bd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%20G%20%28a%29%20-%20Pool%20view.jpg?VersionId=Dnpusa.b5d6Nkx2clPlzWosDdh_1QW2V" /></p>

<p>Urban Property Group is one of Sydney's most active developers. They have projects currently under construction in Little Bay, Penrith, and Macquarie Park, with future projects earmarked for Wollongong.</p>

<p>Castle Hill has been one of the most popular suburbs for development across Sydney in the last five years, as developers scramble for land around the newly extended Sydney Metro.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kassis Homes kicked it all off with Grand Reve, along with Deicorp who has delivered over 1,000 apartments in the area and continues to develop. The likes of Dubai-backed developer Arada will take to market their project in the coming months, while Masscon has just launched Avenue on Cadman Crescent.</p>


Joel Robinson

First Look: Urban Property Group unveils 40-storey mixed-use tower in Castle Hill

<p>One of the Gold Coast’s ‘bridesmaid suburbs’ is experiencing a wave of local suitors, with the latest sales figures from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> revealing over two thirds of buyers will be relocating from within a 5km average radius of the 16-hectare masterplan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lewis-land-group">Lewis Land</a> Head of Development Michael Long said the figures underlined a powerful shift for Biggera Waters that would reshape it into a thriving force behind the region’s growth corridor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We’ve seen a huge wave of interest from residents of Arundel, Paradise Point and Runaway Bay who recognise the urban transformation that is well underway here and want to be part of it,” Long said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Interestingly, 25 per cent of our Gold Coast buyers are also coming from the city’s southern hotspots, including Burleigh and Palm Beach.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/biggera-waters-qld-4216">Biggera Waters</a>, and Harbour Shores in particular, has all the advantages of waterfront living with the benefits of resort-style amenity, for greater value than the southern beachfront suburbs.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=290031]</p>

<p>Long said half of the purchasers at Harbour Shores were under the age of 55.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“When locals choose to stay local, it creates a genuine community, turning the most sustainable master planned community in the Gold Coast’s history into a diverse and vibrant ‘village of villages’.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=336743]</p>

<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a> Gold Coast Sales Director David Higgins said the hyper-local market demand was unique to Harbour Shores when compared to other projects in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We are seeing as much as 60 per cent of new apartment sales on other projects go to interstate or international buyers, but Harbour Shores is bucking this trend and attracting a larger proportion of the local market,” Higgins said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Only 13 per cent of Harbour Shores’ existing purchasers are interstate. There has been a resounding endorsement from local buyers and that validates the project’s vision and investment in design, lifestyle and liveability.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=4579]</p>

<p>Harbour Shores is 16ha visionary masterplan dedicated to wellness and an active, healthy lifestyle. Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, Harbour Shores embeds extensive green connections and more than 2.5km in pedestrian networks – including a 1.2km boardwalk along the water’s edge.</p>

<p>Harbour Shores was recently recognised by the BETTER FUTURE World Design Awards 2026 as a silver winner in the category of environmental sustainability. Boasting a 6 Star Green Star Communities V1.1 rating, Harbour Shores will deliver more than 2,000 homes over the next ten years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The first stage will deliver three residential collections including luxury three and four-bedroom waterfront villas at The Residences, as well as apartments in The Waterline and Palm House, surrounded by resort-style amenities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]</p>


Biggera Waters no longer a 'bridesmaid suburb' as Gold Coast locals jump to Harbour Shores

<p>Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ellipse-property-group">Ellipse Property</a> has officially launched Lily Lane, the second stage of its Carrington Place masterplan in Sydney’s North-West. The new stage will deliver over 200 apartments to the sought-after Hills District, supported by new retail and resident amenity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Located near the Hills Showground Metro Station at 32 Carrington Road, Castle Hill, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lily-lane-at-carrington-place-castle-hill-32-carrington-road-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Lily Lane</a> has launched with the release of 105 apartments.</p>

<p>Designed by award-winning architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ptw">PTW</a>, Lily Lane comprises a combined total of 213 units over two 12-storey towers anchored by a ground-floor retail offering. A range of floorplan configurations are available including 67 one-bedroom, 100 two-bedroom and 46 three-bedroom apartments.</p>

<p>One-bedroom apartments are sized from 50-72 sqm with prices starting at $720,000, while two-bedrooms are priced from $960,000 with sizes ranging from 75 to 132 sqm. The three-bedroom floorplans are sized between 97 and 182 sqm, with prices starting at $1,350,000.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Six exclusive penthouses crown the Lily Lane towers, offering opulent interiors of up to 285 sqm. They are priced from $2.9 million.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=360285]</p>

<p>Blake Schulze, National Director – Residential at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a>, says Lily Lane builds on the sell-out success of Carrington Place’s first stage, Atrium.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Lily Lane offers everything north-west buyers are seeking - including spacious, flexible floorplans with premium finishes and sweeping views of the Hills District to the north," Schulze said.</p>

<p>"Its central location brings residents even closer to Hills Showground Metro Station, with retail, dining, recreation and essential services at their fingertips.</p>

<p>Schulze says early enquiries reflect pent-up demand for Lily Lane’s three-bedroom and penthouse apartments, reinforcing the appetite for house-sized units in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a>,&nbsp;especially among downsizers.</p>

<p>Lily Lane has sought to incorporate features that are more&nbsp;traditional in freestanding homes. Over 75 per cent of residences include dedicated studies, multipurpose rooms or family rooms, with select layouts offering walk-in pantries and laundries.</p>

<p>Buyers have two interior colour schemes to choose from. ‘Breeze’ is a light-toned palette with warm timber accents, and ‘Dawn’ is a cooler mid-toned colourway.&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=360572]</p>

<p>Apartments also feature premium Miele appliances, including ovens, washing machines, dryers, gas cooktops and dishwashers. Larger homes offer integrated Miele microwaves, Fisher &amp; Paykel integrated refrigerators and five-burner Miele cooktops.</p>

<p>Lily Lane’s ‘village-style’ architectural design is designed to maximise walkability and access to green space. Its two elegant towers are separated by a central landscaped laneway lined with lily plants, giving the project its name.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The towers will be crowned by rooftop terraces with BBQ areas offering views of the Hills District. Residents can also access a shared community room, complete with a fully equipped kitchen.</p>

<p>“As the gateway to the wider Carrington Place masterplan, this new stage delivers a premium experience,"&nbsp;said Puja Khanna, Associate Director – Design, Marketing and Sales at Ellipse Property.</p>

<p>"It features beautifully curated landscaping, refined interiors and architecture designed to maximise space, light and views. With a supermarket and essential services just minutes away, the addition of Lily Lane’s ground-floor retail will elevate everyday convenience and deliver a vibrant precinct for residents.”</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=360286]</p>

<p>Lily Lane will be constructed by award-winning iCIRT-rated builder Decode Group, with construction to commence in mid-2026 and expected to complete early 2029.</p>

<p>Carrington Place comprises more than 800 apartments and is being delivered across multiple stages. Completion of the masterplan is expected in 2032. Integrated with neighbouring bushland, the project will feature over 20,000 square metres of outdoor recreational area, including a one-kilometre boardwalk to the nearby Fred Caterson Reserve.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Hills Showground Metro Station is just a two-minute walk away, offering fast connectivity to Sydney’s CBD, North Sydney, Chatswood, Macquarie Park and Norwest Business Park.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151821]</p>


Ellipse launches Lily Lane, stage two of Carrington Place

<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/one-global-capital">One Global Capital</a>, a Sydney-based global property development and investment firm, is set to transform a 1.4-hectare site in Five Dock into a $1.5 billion mixed-use precinct.</p>

<p>The integrated precinct is planned to include 750 apartments across five residential towers, a 150-key hotel, around 10,000 sqm of retail and lifestyle space, as well as health and wellness facilities, extensive landscaped open space, and community amenities.</p>

<p>Planning approval submission is targeted for June 2026.</p>

<p>One Global Capital Founder Iwan Sunito told Apartments.com.au that the Five Dock site, which he has owned for over two decades, is one of the best he's ever had.</p>

<p>"I probably hadn't appreciated the uniqueness of the site until more recently when putting together the concept plans," Sunito says.</p>

<p>"The proximity to the water, and the golf course opposite, is unlike any other part of Parramatta Road. We have a unique position and view corridors over the water that makes this one of the best sites I've worked on."</p>

<p><img alt="Urban renewal in Five Dock via mixed-use precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="76667592-c421-49f5-9ab8-45cfec815651" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Five%20Dock%201.png?VersionId=puhL_lSxd5IB5VA9fQKPsKHgmkinuwuI" /></p>

<p>Sunito said he wants to create a "city within a city", designing a multi-cultural precinct with the convenience of retail and public space at the forefront.</p>

<p>"We want to create a development that's not only to be seen, but to be experienced by the whole local community."</p>

<p>He adds that the Five Dock is emerging into a "really solid suburb", with the growth in&nbsp;the area continuing to be supported by rising residential values across the Canada Bay and Leichhardt local government areas, driven by major infrastructure investment and enhanced transport connectivity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The new precinct will benefit from close proximity to a key transport network, including the Five Dock Metro Station, located approximately 1.1 kilometres from the site. The new Burwood Metro stop will be just 800m.</p>

<p>The project marks a renewed collaboration between Sunito and internationally acclaimed architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/koichi-takada-architects">Koichi Takada</a>, the creative partnership behind some of Sydney’s most recognisable residential landmarks, &nbsp;including Infinity, Arc, and Skye North Sydney.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Urban renewal in Five Dock via mixed-use precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a9184a45-f429-4628-87ce-9bd6c70cb597" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Five%20Dock%202.png?VersionId=zJZRfLAZCkpww5VcmR_wgRXjoaSgPSyv" /></p>

<p>“The concept for this development is born from our design approach to naturalising architecture," Koichi Takada said.</p>

<p>"The public realm benefits from biophilic design that integrates generous landscaping, and the development is optimised &nbsp;for natural daylight, airflow and water views to foster wellbeing, sustainability and spaces that foster community interaction."</p>

<p>A key feature of the mixed-use development will be a lifestyle retail precinct, offering shopping and dining &nbsp;experiences - including a proposed state-of-the-art car showroom - as well as communal spaces for community &nbsp;use. Veteran retail and commercial property practitioner, Simon McTigue, has been engaged to consult on the &nbsp;delivery and leasing of the retail precinct, having previously worked on notable mixed-use projects such as East &nbsp;Village Shopping Centre in Zetland and South Village Shopping Centre Kirrawee, as well as other projects with &nbsp;Iwan Sunito in Green Square and Parramatta, to name a few.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The Five Dock site offers a unique opportunity for retailers, conveniently located within easy walking distance &nbsp;of the metro station. On completion, the integrated precinct will provide the community with a new Inner West &nbsp;town centre, offering daily convenience via a proposed large format supermarket and fresh food precinct, as well &nbsp;as a restaurant and café district situated alongside key services such as a medical and health centre. It will be a &nbsp;place to live, work and play,” said Simon McTigue, Director of Wallaringa Consulting.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Samuel Sunito, Director of Capital at One Global Capital, confirmed strong inbound interest from both domestic and global investors seeking co-investment opportunities in the project. “We are currently engaging with &nbsp;investors both locally but also globally from Indonesia, the United States, China, Singapore, Vietnam, and Dubai &nbsp;to ensure alignment of vision and long-term value creation,” he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Investment participation will remain open until approximately Q2 2026, with equity allocations managed selectively.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Equity available to the broader market will be limited, with priority given to long-standing capital partners. In terms of One Global Capital’s investment philosophy, we will continue to retain majority ownership, ensuring &nbsp;strong alignment of interests and preserving the long-term integrity of the project for all stakeholders,” Samuel &nbsp;said.</p>


"A city within a city": Iwan Sunito flags $1.5 billion mixed-use precinct in Five Dock

<p>Holiday home buyers who have long gravitated to Queenstown’s alpine setting are increasingly looking for low-maintenance apartments that allow them to lock up and leave, while still generating income when they’re away.</p>

<p>For Wendy, who had spent years visiting the Queenstown and Arrowtown region, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/safari-group">Safari Group</a>’s Mountain Oak Apartments provided the opportunity to formalise what had previously been a recurring holiday pattern.</p>

<p>“We always had Queenstown in the back of our minds to buy something there as a holiday home,” she says. “We love the Queenstown and Arrowtown area.”</p>

<p><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" /></p>

<p>Time spent visiting her sister-in-law, who owns in Arrowtown, along with regular stays at Millbrook Resort, had already shaped a strong personal connection to the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rather than approaching the purchase purely as an investment play, Wendy’s starting point was lifestyle.</p>

<p>“We were more thinking about ourselves and where we could stay, and then the rental aspect was second.”</p>

<p>Mountain Oak Apartments, located within the masterplanned Remarkables Park precinct in Frankton, aligned with that thinking. The ability to secure the apartment with a deposit and settle on completion made the timing work.</p>

<p>“The fact that we could put a deposit down with the balance on completion was a bonus for us,” she explains.</p>

<p><img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential 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://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/313_Livingv2_WEB.jpg?VersionId=nV229fM0ZeYpoxOrX372HyGjfwY_LR8c" /></p>

<p>Wendy selected a two-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse, a configuration that supports both private use and guest flexibility.</p>

<p>“The two-bedroom, two-bathroom configuration appealed from both a rental viewpoint and for the ability to have friends stay while we are there,” she says.</p>

<p>Across the development, two-bedroom apartments range from 64sqm to 78sqm, with two-bedroom plus flexi options from 71sqm to 75sqm, each with an allocated car park. The flexi layouts introduce an additional space suited to work or hobbies, reflecting demand from buyers who split their time between leisure and remote work.</p>

<p>Apartments include underfloor heating in bathrooms, heat pumps to living areas, and joinery positioned to maximise natural light and mountain outlooks. The Remarkables Park precinct is known for its extended winter sunshine hours, water frontage and open views toward The Remarkables.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Units come in light and dark interior colour schemes.</p>

<p><img alt="Mountain Oak Apartments draws holiday home buyers to Queenstown" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fd685a22-3b95-43a1-87cb-48fdd42bb4ba" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/658d4f_f9f89107c2704ebbbe5a6b36da508cb3~mv2.jpg?VersionId=MigFIEm6b.mrANANwxSmwHvC4RdJUuyR" /></p>

<p>While lifestyle was the primary driver, the fundamentals of the Queenstown market added reassurance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Proximity to the airport and tourism being the main attraction all year round,” Wendy says, when asked what stood out from an investment perspective.</p>

<p>Mountain Oak sits just eight kilometres from Queenstown’s CBD and around a two-minute drive from Queenstown Airport.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For Wendy, that airport proximity carries practical value.</p>

<p>“The airport proximity is a bonus, we think that being so close will be an attraction for the convenience side.”</p>

<p>Residents are also a short drive from Coronet Peak, Jack’s Point Golf Course, New World Supermarket, Five Mile Shopping Centre, and the dining, medical, gym, cinema and library amenities within the town centre, as well as the seasonal Remarkables Market.</p>

<p>Importantly, the purchase does not lock owners into a single use. Mountain Oak offers the flexibility to opt for short-term visitor accommodation or longer-term residential rental management, with 365-day visitor accommodation consent in place. Owners can utilise Safari Group’s 24/7 on-site management service or appoint their own provider, and do not need to decide on a strategy immediately.</p>

<p>“It was a bonus that we can rent it out as well as use it for ourselves,” she says.</p>

<p>Additional buying options, including furniture packages and storage units available for purchase within the building, further support a lock-and-leave model suited to interstate and overseas owners.</p>

<p><img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential 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://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Ext_Cam15_Sunny.jpg?VersionId=SJAROUM_1s.Tr5ciMk4EEj5oAt_Vewmv" /></p>

<p>Mountain Oak Apartments comprises 141 residences, ranging from one-bedroom configurations through to larger apartments and penthouses. One-bedroom apartments are currently priced from NZ$639,000, with three-bedroom options from NZ$1,299,000.</p>

<p>With 365-day visitor accommodation consent, the development is structured to respond to Queenstown’s established four-season tourism economy, spanning winter ski traffic and summer hiking, cycling, golf and lake-based activity.</p>

<p>Although Wendy acknowledges the strength of rental demand, her approach remains long term.</p>

<p>“We’re not planning to sell it anytime soon, so we are keen to hang on to it, but the passive income will be a bonus.”</p>

<p>Confidence in the developer also influenced her decision. Before proceeding, Wendy sought feedback within the local building community.</p>

<p>“We asked around and Safari Group had a good reputation,” she says.</p>

<p>Safari Group has delivered more than 2,000 hotel units and residential apartments across over 18 developments nationwide, with more than 25 years’ experience in the sector.</p>

<p>With completion anticipated by mid-2027, Mountain Oak is attracting a cross-section of buyers, from yield-focused investors to lifestyle purchasers seeking a foothold in one of New Zealand’s most tightly held alpine markets.</p>

<p>For Wendy, it represents both a future holiday base and a long-term asset within Queenstown’s year-round tourism economy.</p>


How Mountain Oak Apartments draws holiday home buyers to Queenstown

Our Beautiful Homes

<html><body>
<p>Redleaf, the grand 1899 Howard Joseland-designed residence at Wahroonga, proudly sitting on 5000 square metres, has been sold for $8 million plus.</p>
<div>It didn't get near its close to $10 million initial expectations through Christies International.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It was one of the earliest homes designed by the respected British-trained architect after he arrived in Australia.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Joseland installed a sweeping verandah around the two-storey brick-and-shingle structure to capture the cooling summer breezes.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Initially it was on a six hectare lot, when the solicitor Walter Parish of the Sydney legal firm Parish Patience and McIntyre, built on what was then known as Lane Cove Road.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div id="adspot-1x1-pos-5" data-google-query-id="COHwp4PyvugCFQ6JaAodx7MKRA">
<div>The showpiece Federation arts and craft style house has been listed with $10 million hopes by the Moran healthcare family.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Greta and Doug Moran paid $38,400 for the property in 1967 and then returned it to a single-family home with 10 bedrooms for their seven children Kerry, Linda, Peter, Shane, Barbara, Brendan (deceased) and Mark.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>In 1970 the couple reportedly added the cottage next door for $40,000, an adjoining block the following year for $35,000 and and vacant block in 1984 for $130,000 to create what the 5000-square-metre offering.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Doug and Greta Moran were driven by a desire to preserve Australia's heritage as well as look after the health of Sydneysiders.</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>It was the family’s first major home restoration in a portfolio that still includes Darling Point’s Swifts, Camden’s Study Park, Darling House at Millers Point and Paddington’s Juniper Hall.</p>
<p>Greta, who was credited as being the administrative powerhouse of the family operation, is now based in the luxury Moran retirement living community at Vaucluse.</p>
<p>She is a direct descendent of one of colonial Sydney's most colourful early settlers, Robert Cooper who was transported after being caught smuggling fine French silks, cognac and ostrich feathers during the Napoleonic wars. Later pardoned, Cooper built Juniper Hall, a fine early Sydney building on Oxford Street.</p>
<div>Redleaf's 1899 design was considered avant-garde in its time.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>William and Rose Parish sold it to the Crane family in 1916 for 600 pounds. Arthur Crane died in the 1930s at Pevensey on nearby Ada Avenue.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>After many changes in ownership it was left to the Sisters of Mercy in 1948 by Violet Yuille, widow of the Dr Alan Yuille.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It was in 1999 when the heritage architect Clive Lucas from architects Lucas Stapleton &amp; Partners undertook its award-winning restoration, the trades being careful not to trample the hundreds of camellias planted in the grounds.</div>
<div> </div>
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<div>Over the decades, bits had been added on especially in the years it been used as a home for elderly nuns. </div>
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<div>The home had also escaped extensive modernisation which transformed many other old homes in the area after World War II.</div>
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<div>The panama-hat wearing Lucas removed the four bedrooms that had been built on to the verandah, blocking off the breeze and light.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Underneath, Lucas discovered the old footings, which had been quarried from sandstone on the site.</div>
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<div>The billiard room saw Lucas remove a false ceiling, the behind it covered by seven coats of paint, was the original cedar ceiling. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Greta shared with Lucas a passion for William Morris designs so they used his wallpapers, designs and fabrics and restored the original colour schemes.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Simple headlight with flowers such as hollyhocks and sunflowers survived. Cosy inglenooks around the fireplaces and seats in the big bay window were given new life.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The Wahroonga house won the Greenway Award for Conservation from the NSW Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, </div>
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<div>At the time Greta said it had been like re-discovering the house and on its completion Mrs Moran was asked how does it feel to live in a period piece?</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"It seems normal to us. I grew up living in my grandmother's house. Maybe I haven't progressed with the times. In a plain white box I would never feel comfortable, I like colour." </div>
</div>
<p>Tim Smith, director of heritage operations at Heritage NSW, says recent studies of community attitudes to Federation homes confirm not only do the homes retain their value over time, but investing in their restoration only increases their market appeal.</p>
<p>The photo (above) is from the book, Our Beautiful Homes N.S.W., edited and introduced by Michael Cannon.</p>
<p>As said in the book "Barristers and solicitors were well represented as owners of houses in the new architectural styles." </p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
<p class="p1"> </p>
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Moran family's Redleaf, Wahroonga sold for $8 million plus

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<p>Walsholme, one of the current crop of Centennial Park parkside listings, has been sold.</p>
<p>It is the Addams Family styled home with ornate flagstaff tower, one of the only to be built in the early 1900s housing estate.</p>
<p>The 1908 Federation Romanesque styled Lang Road home with 12-foot pressed metal ceilings had initially been listed through Ballard Property with $12 million hopes, but recently by Ben Collier at The Agency with a $9.5 million price guide.</p>
<p>Designed by Archibald Fenton Spencer, the home has been bought by Penny Kyros who lives in Paddington.</p>
<p>It’s been owned by the Donnan family since 2003 when they paid $3.9 million.</p>
<p>Walsholme was the Centennial Park residence of Fred Walsh.</p>
<p>"An especially appropriate house for a patent agent was the garish high Victorian," Michael Cannon noted in his book, (pictured below) Our Beautiful Homes N.S.W.</p>
<p>The fiercely-mustachioed Walsh also acted as consul-general for the Honduras.</p>
<p>For some years he donated the Fred Walsh Special Prize for Invention at the Sydney Royal Show to encourage technical education.</p>
<p>This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.</p>
<p>.</p>
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Walsholme, Centennial Park sells

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<p>Redleaf, the Wahroonga residence built for W. G. Parish, is set to be listed this autumn with $10 million hopes by the Moran heathcare family matriarch Greta.</p>
<p>It was the family’s first major home restoration in a portfolio that includes Darling Point’s Swifts, Camden’s Studley Park and Paddington’s Juniper Hall.</p>
<div class="in-content-ad">The grand 1899 Howard Joseland-designed residence is set on close to 5000 square metres in the Federation arts and crafts style.</div>
<p><br><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/2018/6/15/Redleaf%202.jpg" alt=""><br><br></p>
<div class="in-content-ad">It was built for solicitor Walter Parish<span> of the Sydney legal firm Parish Patience and McIntyre on what was known as Lane Cover Road.</span>
</div>
<div class="in-content-ad"> </div>
<div class="in-content-ad">It was left to the Sisters of Mercy in 1948 by Violet Yuille, widow of the Dr Alan Yuille.</div>
<div class="in-content-ad"> </div>
<p><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/2018/6/15/Redleaf%203.jpg" alt=""><br><br></p>
<div class="in-content-ad">Greta and Doug Moran paid the church $38,400 for the property in 1967.</div>
<div class="in-content-ad"> </div>
<div class="in-content-ad">They returned it to a single-family home with 10 bedrooms for their seven children Kerry, Linda, Peter, Shane, Barbara, Brendan (deceased) and Mark.</div>
<div class="in-content-ad">
<br>Heritage architect Clive Lucas undertook its 1999 award-winning restoration.</div>
<p><br><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/2018/6/15/Redleaf%204.jpg" alt=""><br><br><span>The 1899 design was avant-garde in its time.</span></p>
<p><span>The house is now rare for the high integrity of its interiors, particularly the living area and the kitchen wing, prominent flying gables with half-timbered effects, over projecting bay windows with leadlight casements and arched porch with stone trim.</span><br><br><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/2018/6/15/Redleaf%205.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p class="p1">The photos located above are from the book, Our Beautiful Homes N.S.W., edited and introduced by Michael Cannon.</p>
<p class="p1">As said in the book "Barristers and solicitors were well represented as owners of houses in the new architectural styles." </p>
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