One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

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fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

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FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

First look: Inca eyes Mona Vale with State Significant DA for Dawn apartments

Pokolbin

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The whisper is that international model Miranda Kerr liked Loggerheads, the trophy Hunter Valley vineyard, so much she has now bought it for about $7.5 million.
The Pokolbin estate includes a 36-year-old vineyard, plus the Michael Suttor-refurbished home­stead amid Paul Bangay landscaping. There’s a summerhouse, pool, orchard, vegetable garden and shiraz and gamay vines.
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It had been sold mid-June by Alan Rydge’s QT Hotels, who paid $6 million in 2016 when it was bought from the late Macquarie Bank co-founder Robin Crawford and his wife Judy. Crawford had purchased it from Trish Evans, the widow of winemaker Len Evans, for $5.15 million in 2008. It was owned by Tyrrell’s Wines before that.
Kerr (inset), now married to the Malibu-based billionaire Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel, rented the estate at Christmas 2015 when she spent time with her Gunnedah-based family, including restaurateur brother Matty, who at the time was running Nanna Kerr’s Kitchen, just down the road, with his then-fiance James Wright.
Sunflower Fun Pty Ltd, an Arnold Bloch Leibler law firm nominee ­company, is its mystery buyer.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph. 
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Miranda Kerr linked with Hunter Valley vineyard purchase

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Racecourse Lane Vineyard, a boutique vineyard property set on 29 acres in Pokolbin of Hunter Valley, has hit the market with $1.75 million hopes. 
It has been listed by Cain Beckett and Alan Jurd of Jurd's Real Estate Cessnock. 
Surrounded by shade trees, the property at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-viticulture-nsw-pokolbin-700047218" target="_blank"> 28 Racecourse Lane, Pokolbin</a> offers views across the neighbouring vineyards to the Brokenback Range. 
Racecourse Lane Vineyard also offers water from three dams and PID irrigation from the Hunter River. 
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The homestead has been recently renovated with travertine floors.
It comprises three bedrooms, two new bathrooms, new kitchen with stone tops and wrap around verandahs with opening roof. 
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Other features of the home include water-garden, machinery shedding, and insulated wine storage facility. 
Race Lane Vineyard is two hours from Sydney and surrounded by restaurants, vineyards and concert venues. 
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Pokolbin vineyard with renovated home listed for $1.75 million

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Kevin Sobels, the legendary Australian winemaker, and wife, Margaret have their Hunter Valley winery, as they look towards delaying their retirement.
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The developer Romeciti has acquired the family-run winery in Pokolbin for $7.3 million, with plans to upgrade and convert the property into a luxury resort.
The winery, which has a vineyard and a wine making facility, will continue to operate as normal, led by Kevin, Margaret and son Jason Sobels.  
This year marks the 170th unbroken run of Australian vintages by Sobels, with their son, Jason continuing the traditional family craft.
Sobels is a fifth generation descendant of German immigrant winemaker, Carl August Sobels.
The family name has been connected to Australian winemaking since the 1840s, beginning in South Australia’s Barossa and Clare Valley.
Kevin Sobels arrived in the Hunter in 1972 from the Barossa. 
The 22ha Halls Road, Pokolbin offering, Kevin Sobels Wines, was started in the early 1990s by Kevin and Margaret on acreage offered to them by the Ross Jones family.
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They formed a company with the help of a few friends with their sales door opening in 1994.
By 1996 the winemaking facility was complete so that wines could be made and bottled on-site. 
The long established brand has around 5ha of planted vines.
<a href="/news/kevin-sobels-lists-hunter-valley-winery">Its March marketing</a> suggested the property would suit the establishment of a five-star country lodge with restaurant and function space, with Fairfax Media suggesting it will soon be a key venue for the Romeciti's "Green Life" community hub, bringing together landscaped gardens, eateries and more.
The accommodation set to open to Romeciti customers in late 2019. 
Sobels was installed as the 2014 Hunter Valley Living Legend of Wine, joining other Hunter notables as Brian and Fay McGuigan, Bruce Tyrrell and  Don McWilliam.
The Sobels’ wine journey began with Carl August, who in 1847 quit his home in the Saxony-Anhalt town of Quedlinburg and migrated with his family to Australia. He had been trained in winemaking in Germany and in France’s Champagne region.
He made his first Australian wines for William Jacob, the government surveyor who mapped the Barossa.
 
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Kevin Sobels sells Hunter Valley winery to Romeciti, but will stay on

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After 150 plus years of ownership by the same family, the Deasy family have sold their 322-hectare Hunter Valley property.
Rockview has been run by five generations of the Deasy family.
It’s now <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-other-nsw-pokolbin-7709215" target="_blank">the largest grazing property</a> in the Pokolbin area.
It’s the first time the Deasys Road land has been marketed since Jeremiah Deasy hopped off a boat from Ireland and took ownership of the property in the days of selection in the 1860s.
In subsequent years the property was used as a fruit bottling company called Lighting, which was run from the back sheds of the property by indentured, orphaned labourers. The remnants of this bottling plant still remain.
At one point a school was built on the property.
The bodies of children who died at the property over the years are buried in the property in an area called The Cultivation.
The property is a cattle grazing property but given its location in the Hunter Valley it does come with a vineyard.
In a grove of fig trees sits the original timber homestead, which is currently used as a weekend getaway for the Malouf and Quinn families – descendants of the Deasy family.
The well-grassed rolling hills of Rockview are only interrupted by a patch of eucalyptus trees.
The farm is equipped with cattle yards and water from a number of dams. An allocation is available from the Lower Hunter Wine Country Private Irrigation district.
The property was being marketed to developers. There is a current development approval from Cessnock City Council for an eight lot (40 hectare) rural subdivision.
The property’s zoning allows for resorts, wineries and restaurants.
Jurd's Real Estate Cessnock had initial hopes of more than $5 million, with its 2012 expressions of interest campaign.
 
 
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Rockview, Pokolbin sold by Deasy family after 150 years

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The property long known as Vinden Estate, a 10 hectare Pokolbin holding in the heart of Hunter Valley wine country, has been listed with a price guide of $5.5 million.
It is being marketed by Cain Beckett of Jurds Real Estate, though without reference to its official vineyard name.
The property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-nsw-pokolbin-7938122" target="_blank">138 Gillards Road</a> features a luxurious homestead with mountain views.
It has a pool, tennis court, cellar door, restaurant, winery, additional cottage and a boutique vineyard. The bistro recently closed after seven years trading.
The Vindin Brand and business is not being sold as Angus Vinden will retain this and either offer the new owners a leaseback or relocate it
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It was 1990 when his parents Guy and Sandra Vinden purchased the 25 acres of land.
Their first harvest was in 1998.
The range of wines includes the Hunter Valley’s only Alicante Bouschet (a light dry rosé), sparkling Alicante Bouschet, Semillon, SSB, Verdelho, Chardonnay, Merlot, Basket Press Shiraz and Late Harvest Semillon.
It was recently recognised as "dark horse winery to watch" by James Halliday. It was given 5 Star Winery status by James Halliday in his 2018 Wine Companion.
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$5.5 million hopes for Pokolbin estate listed by Vinden family

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The boutique winery Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard in the Hunter Valley has been listed for sale by the Windrim family.
They've farmed the Broke Fordwich area for 20 years.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-viticulture-nsw-broke-7939662" target="_blank">59 hectare property near Pokolbin</a> includes a three bedroom colonial homestead and a 19 hectare vineyard. It is expected to fetch around $10 million.
The cellar door and winery is set among Provencal gardens, urns, fountains and is surrounded by animal life, olive trees and the Brokenback ranges.
The property also includes a tennis court, saltwater pool, a stone pool cabana, vegetable garden and small orchard.
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There are three fulltime employees, as well as six cellar door staff. 
Rod Windrim came to the Hunter Valley in 1977 and planted his first vineyard in Pokolbin four years later. 
After years of research and a growing passion for high quality wines, he bought the current property in 1989 focussing on classic Hunter Valley varietals.
The vineyard was planted in 1998, and in 2002 Krinklewood started implementing biodynamic practices, soon becoming fully certified organic and biodynamic.
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Over the past 10 years Rod, and more recently his son Pete, have been frequent educators within Australia in biodynamic viticulture and winemaking. 
“Our family is unified and excited that the time has come to pass on our passion of biodynamic viticulture and love for our beautiful patch of earth at Krinklewood,” Rod said. 
“One of the guiding biodynamic principles is to leave something greater than how you found it, as a legacy and gift to the next generation. With the growth of our brand we believe now is the time to hand over the custodianship to someone who will take it to the next level.”
The southern end of the Broke Fordwich valley has a slightly cooler climate than most Hunter Valley wineries, which allows the vineyard to explore less Hunter specific varietals. 
The white vines are on a flat bed of free-draining loam organic soil which is ideal for producing classic Hunter Valley Semillon, Verdelho and Chardonnay. In more recent years they have added small plantings of Gewürztraminer and Viognier.
A gentle slope of clay-loam organic soil is well suited to classic Hunter Shiraz. Later, the family planted Mourvedre to make Francesca Rosé and introduced a small planting of the Spanish variety Tempranillo.
The new winery, completed prior to the 2017 vintage, includes fully automated brine refrigeration and comes complete with state of the art laboratory, steel tanks, French barrels and automated press. With an annual turnover of $1.4 million, the property has the capacity to produce over 10,000 cases per year.
The Krinklewood Wine Club has been going for 16 years, boasts more than 1800 members, and is responsible for 58% of the vineyard’s sales. The rest is made up of NSW &amp; VIC distribution (15%); cellar door and online (20%) and direct wholesale (7%).
The sale of the property will be managed by Alan Jurd and Cain Beckett at Jurd’s Real Estate, Cessnock.
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Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard to be sold

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Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard, a boutique winery in the Hunter Valley, has sold for $4.85 million having been listed almost three years ago.
It sold with stock for $5.5 million to a city-based buyer.
It was offered for sale by winemaker Rod Windrim and his family. 
The 57-hectare property near Pokolbin sold for significantly less than its 2017 asking price of $10 million. 
The property included a three-bedroom colonial homestead and a 19 hectare vineyard, and was listed by the Windrim family who have farmed the Broke Fordwich area for 20 years.
For over ten years, the vineyard has been certified biodynamic organic, following the family’s implementation of biodynamic practices since 2002.
Set on the banks of the Wollombi Brook, the French inspired boutique offers a tennis court, pool, pizza cabana and parterre garden.
The cellar door and winery is set among Provencal gardens, urns, fountains and is surrounded by animal life, olive trees and the Brokenback ranges.
The property included Chateau Tracteur, the managers accommodation, and temporary workers accommodation.  
Over the past 10 years Rod, and more recently his son Pete, have been frequent educators within Australia in biodynamic viticulture and winemaking. 
The Krinklewood Wine Club has been going for 16 years, boasts more than 1800 members, and is responsible for 58 percent of the vineyard’s sales.
The rest is made up of NSW &amp; VIC distribution (15%); cellar door and online (20%) and direct wholesale (7%).
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Krinklewood Biodynamic Vineyard finally sold

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A 795 acre lot at Pokolbin has been relisted for sale through Jurd’s Real Estate agent Cain Beckett.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-livestock-nsw-pokolbin-7883906" target="_blank">Lot 7 Deasys Road</a> is located in the heart of the Hunter Valley, the largest remaining private holding in Wine Country.
The iconic property has been owned by five generations of the Deasy Family and descendants since the 1860’s.
Its original weatherboard sits among old fig trees in the middle of the property.
"At a time when they had the opportunity to choose the finest land available, the Deasy family chose Rockview and have continued to farm it with cattle, sheep and crops over 140 years," listing agent Cain Beckett said.
"It is home to some spectacular views in the district and is an ideal resort site or commercial development opportunity as it has development approval for an 8 lot rural subdivision," he said.
The zoning of the property allows integrated tourism such as accommodation, a resort, restaurants, a hotel, vineyards or a winery in addition to grazing and other agricultural activities.
It is also suitable for mixed grazing and agriculture use, including establishment of a large vineyard.
Featuring cattle yards, dams and access to the Wine Country Private Irrigation Scheme.
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140 year old Hunter Valley acreage listed for sale

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The 40 hectare family-owned Marsh Estate has been listed for sale at Pokolbin.
The market expectations are around $13 million for the Marsh Estate, which was established in 1971 as one of the original wine estates in Pokolbin.
It includes over 20 hectares planted with red and white variety vines.
There is a 200-tonne winery and a country homestead and adjacent cellar door set against the backdrop of the Brokenback Range.
The property <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-viticulture-nsw-pokolbin-7871082" target="_blank">is listed</a> through Alan Jurd of Jurd's Real Estate.
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Marsh Estate at Pokolbin listed for sale

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The latest trophy Pokolbin vineyard to hit the market is the Iron Gate Estate being sold by winemaker Roger Lilliott.
Market expectations are around $7 million.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-nsw-pokolbin-7874166" target="_blank">Iron Gate Estate</a> includes a Spanish Hacienda-style 200-tonne winery and cellar door.
It has 10 hectares of vineyards.
Lilliot acquired the property as an undeveloped land parcel 21 year ago, establishing its reputation as a producer of aged semillon.
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