<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/skymark-group">Skymark</a>'s boutique Cronulla development Solis has secured a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy through Resilience Insurance, providing buyers of the 16-residence building on Ewos Parade with structural and waterproofing protection that extends a decade beyond the building's completion.

Currently under construction and due for completion in late 2027, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/solis-cronulla-8-ewos-parade-cronulla-nsw-2230">Solis</a> is one of a small number of new developments in the Sutherland Shire to carry Resilience LDI coverage, a distinction that carries increasing weight as buyer confidence in the off-the-plan sector continues to be shaped by how developers stand behind their product.

Latent Defects Insurance, which entered the Australian market in 2022 when Resilience Insurance was approved to offer the cover, protects buyers against major structural or waterproofing defects for ten years post-completion. Unlike traditional statutory warranties, it operates as a first-resort policy, if a covered defect arises, the insurer responds directly, without the buyer needing to pursue the builder or developer through a lengthy claims process.

Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent has noted that the product addresses something fundamental to the new apartment market.

"The overarching feedback from prospective buyers in the new development space is that they want more confidence and assurances around the quality of the build," Nugent says.

"Resilience Insurance Latent Defects Insurance not only gives them complete peace of mind for 10 years, but it shows the developer they are buying from is standing by their product."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370898]

For Solis, the Resilience LDI policy adds a meaningful layer of accountability to an already considered project. The development comprises nine two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom residences, including one dual-level three-bedroom apartment, across a five-storey building on Ewos Parade, positioned between Shelly Beach and South Cronulla.

Garden apartments connect directly to private landscaped courtyards, while upper-level homes capture beach views to the east from level four and above.&nbsp;

All 16 residences include at least one balcony or courtyard, and select apartments on the upper floors feature bar areas and secondary flexible living spaces.

Hiba Sander, Managing Director of Skymark, says Solis offers a rare balance, nestled between the quiet beauty of secluded beaches and the lively charm of South Cronulla's esplanade.

"It's a place to choose your pace and live gracefully, seaside'," Sander says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370900]

The architecture, designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ida-design-group">IDA Design Group</a>'s Michael Trinh, draws from the natural erosion patterns of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/cronulla-nsw-2230">Cronulla</a>'s sandstone headlands, translating the organic forms of the coastline into soft curves, pavilion-style massing, and a material palette chosen for longevity in a salt-tinged environment.&nbsp;

Textured natural stone, soft renders, and timber-look battens reference the tones of the surrounding cliffs, while the building has been oriented to maximise natural light and passive ventilation, with primary living spaces facing north and east to capture morning sun and sea breezes.

"At Solis, our aim was to create architecture that feels quietly confident, grounded in natural materials like stone and timber, and elevated by light and landscape," Trinh says.&nbsp;

"The buildings are designed to sit gently within their coastal surrounds, with expansive glazing and abundant greenery creating a seamless dialogue between inside and out."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370897]

Interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hot-black">Hot Black</a> carry the same material language through to every room. Kitchens feature integrated Gaggenau appliances, sculpted stone benchtops, and Lo &amp; Co joinery, while bathrooms feature natural stone, timber, and brushed metal finishes.&nbsp;

Hot Black Founder and Design Director Sophie Safrin describes the intent as one of considered restraint: "At Solis, every detail has been thoughtfully considered to create a timeless coastal retreat, calm, refined, and effortlessly liveable. From natural finishes to seamless indoor-outdoor flow, Solis offers a quiet elegance that's deeply connected to its surroundings.

The landscape, designed by Julian Brady of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/sitedesignstudios">Site Design Studios</a>, treats green space as an integral part of the resident experience rather than an afterthought.&nbsp;

"Gentle curves and layered native plantings mirror the ebb and flow of the ocean," Julian Brady says, "creating a serene connection between architecture and place."&nbsp;

Coco Republic has provided bespoke furniture packages tailored to the project's coastal palette.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370899]

Skymark has an established track record in the Sutherland Shire, with a portfolio spanning Cronulla, Woolooware and Burraneer that includes Isla, Sylva, Bask, Shells, Sula and Mist. Securing LDI on Solis reflects a broader shift in how the developer is positioning its buildings to buyers, at a time when Resilience Insurance expects the policy to become mandatory in New South Wales by 2028.

Sales at Solis are launching soon through Ray White Projects, with an official event scheduled for 11 June. Enquire for more information.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150499]

Joel Robinson

Skymark takes out 10-year Resilience Insurance LDI at Solis Cronulla

Investors may soon find themselves with fewer reasons to buy established property and more incentives to look towards the new apartment market.

Proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions would see new and off-the-plan apartments retain access to the tax benefits, while established properties would miss out, creating a clear advantage for buyers purchasing newly built housing.

The policy direction aligns with what many developers have been saying for several years. Australia needs more housing supply, and governments are increasingly looking for ways to encourage investment into new stock rather than existing homes.

The challenge for investors is that suitable product is becoming harder to find.

For much of the last decade, one-bedroom apartments were the cornerstone of investor demand. They offered a lower entry price, strong rental appeal, and were a common feature across most apartment developments.

Today, the development pipeline looks very different.

Across both New South Wales and South East Queensland, developers are increasingly targeting owner-occupiers and downsizers, delivering larger two, three and four-bedroom apartments in response to changing buyer preferences. While one-bedroom apartments still exist, they now form a much smaller portion of many new projects.

That shift has created a shortage of investor-friendly stock, particularly in well-located projects close to transport, employment hubs and lifestyle amenity.

At the same time, rising apartment prices have pushed many new developments beyond the reach of traditional investors. On the Gold Coast and across South East Queensland, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find new apartments priced around the $1 million mark, particularly those offering strong rental fundamentals and long-term growth prospects.

We've rounded up four new apartment developments where investors can still secure a foothold in the market for around $1 million or less.

<h2 data-end="1140" data-start="844">Flourish Soleira</h2>

<h2>Priced from: $1.07 million</h2>

Popular Palm Beach developer Sherpa is soon to officially launch its newest local apartment development, Flourish Soleira.

The one-bedroom apartments in the building were only offered to first home buyers rather than investors, and all of those have been snapped up. The two-bedroom apartments will start from $1.07 million, and the three-bedrooms, still a good investment given the popularity of Palm Beach for owner-occupiers, starting at $2,045,000.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370964]

Flourish Soliera will comprise 153 apartments across two buildings, connected by a skybridge, the first ever delivered in the suburb.

True to Sherpa's booming Flourish brand of apartment projects, Flourish Soleira will have extensive rooftop amenity across both buildings including a&nbsp;wellness centre with gym, work from home, yoga, pilates, a&nbsp;heated pool, private dining rooms, pizza oven and barbecues, basketball court, and golf simulator.

<h2>Corallo, Palm Beach</h2>

Priced from: $841,500

Nearby Flourish Soleira is Changfa Group's beachfront-inspired Corallo development. They still have some one-bedroom apartments remaining, priced from $841,500.

The 105-apartment project on Palm Beach Avenue is otherwise dominated by larger two and three-bedroom residences, many of which are aimed at owner-occupiers and downsizers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112194 project_image_fid=808]

For investors, the appeal lies in Palm Beach's continued transformation from a laid-back beachside suburb into one of the Gold Coast's most sought-after residential markets. Residents at Corallo will be within walking distance of Palm Beach's surf beaches, the recreational amenity of Tallebudgera Creek, and the increasingly popular collection of cafes, restaurants and boutique retailers along the suburb's central dining precinct.

<h2>Corner House, Stones Corner</h2>

<h2>Priced from: $880,000</h2>

One of only two Brisbane apartment developments to make the list with prices under $1 million is DeMartini Fletcher's Corner House development in Stones Corner.

One-bedroom apartments start from $880,000 within the 88-apartment development, providing investors with exposure to one of Brisbane's most established inner-south locations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149098 project_image_fid=330594]

Stones Corner has long been supported by strong tenant demand due to its proximity to major employment and education destinations. The suburb sits less than five kilometres from Brisbane's CBD and is within easy reach of the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Queensland Children's Hospital and several university campuses.

The project's location within a walkable urban village environment, surrounded by retail, dining and public transport infrastructure, continues to attract both professionals and healthcare workers seeking accommodation close to work.

Parkdrive Apartments, Chermside

Priced from: $749,000

The most affordable apartments across Brisbane's new and off the plan market are in Chermside where developer AusDev is selling one-bedroom apartments from $749,000, and two-beds from $929,000, at its recently launched Parkdrive development.

The development is strategically positioned in one of Brisbane's largest employment and retail precincts, placing residents within easy walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside and the suburb's major bus interchange.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Already under construction and scheduled for completion in early 2028, Parkdrive benefits from Chermside's ongoing evolution into Brisbane's northern metropolitan centre. The suburb continues to attract significant public and private investment, supporting population growth and underpinning long-term rental demand.

For investors focused on yield and tenant depth, the combination of healthcare, retail and transport infrastructure within close proximity provides a strong foundation for occupancy and rental performance.

Investors to turn to new apartments after Federal Government changes spark hunt for Queensland's best $1 million apartments

A mix of Gold Coast locals, fly-in, fly-out purchasers from Sydney and Melbourne, and Brisbane-based families has driven early sales success at Broadbeach's newest apartment tower, Lumara.

The 26-level project, a joint venture between builder-developer 5Point Projects and Bourke Projects, comprises just 37 luxury residences and is attracting a buyer profile that is looking for exclusivity, above the most amenity-rich suburb on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=364156]

Jamie Bourke, Director of Bourke Projects, says every buyer secured so far intends to use Lumara as a lock-up-and-leave residence, combining holiday use with the ability to work remotely when required.

“The size of the apartments, both half- and full-floor options, and the different zones within the floorplans, lends itself perfectly to dedicated home office setups and multi-generational family holidays,” Bourke says.

That flexibility has become a key drawcard for affluent buyers seeking a second residence on the Gold Coast without sacrificing the ability to conduct business away from their primary home base.

The absence of holiday letting within the building has also resonated strongly with purchasers.

“This type of buyer doesn't need to generate holiday rental income,” Bourke says. “They're paying for exclusivity, privacy and certainty around who their neighbours are.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366491]

The strong demand comes amid broader shifts in the high-end apartment market following the Federal Budget announcements in May.

“We were already seeing strong enquiry from high-net-worth buyers, but that has only accelerated since the policy changes,” Bourke says.

“A lot of those buyers are looking to place more capital into premium lifestyle assets rather than investment-grade stock that has been targeted by the Federal Government.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366486]

Designed by Cottee Parker, Lumara adopts a slender, sculpted form with an emphasis on natural materials suited to its beachfront setting. The architectural approach draws on coastal influences, with a palette of stone, timber and concrete selected for durability and the ability to weather over time.

Apartments are limited to three and four-bedroom configurations, with a maximum of two residences per floor through the mid-levels and a selection of full-floor and dual-level homes in the upper levels. All apartments are oriented to the north to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and views across the ocean, city skyline and hinterland.

A two-level amenity offering is positioned high within the building on levels 20 and 21, conceived as a sky wellness retreat. Facilities include a magnesium pool, spa, sauna and steam rooms, alongside more social spaces such as a private dining room, resident lounge, workspaces and outdoor barbecue areas integrated with landscaped greenery.

The uppermost levels are reserved for larger-format residences, including several full-floor homes and a dual-level penthouse with its own private wellness features and recreational spaces.

&nbsp;

To give buyers confidence, 5Point and Bourke commenced construction ahead of the apartments launching to the market, a sure-fire way to prove they mean business, and the building will be delivered. They are targeting a 2028 completion date.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150454]

Locals, interstate holiday makers, drive early sales at Lumara, Broadbeach's newest luxury apartment tower

Often when it comes to purchasing property, the biggest barrier to entry is the deposit. Buyers of established homes typically aim for a 20 per cent deposit to avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance, while most property transactions require around a 10 per cent deposit when contracts are exchanged.

The off-the-plan market works differently, with buyers typically paying a deposit during construction and settling the balance upon completion. As completion approaches at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/fabbrica-fitzroy-369-gore-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">Fabbrica Fitzroy</a>, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pace-development-group">Pace</a> is making it easier for buyers to secure a residence through a deposit-matching incentive. Purchasers need only contribute a five per cent deposit*, with Pace matching the remaining five per cent.

The offer comes as Pace unveils a completed display apartment and townhouse, now available for inspection by appointment ahead of the project's Spring completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371009]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/winwood-mckenzie-architecture">Winwood Mckenzie</a> and landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/acre">Acre</a>, Fabbrica draws on Fitzroy’s industrial and manufacturing history, incorporating references to the former Argyle Shirt Factory and Life Savers Confectionery Company that once occupied the site.

The development comprises 85 residences, spanning low-maintenance apartments through to larger-format townhouses with private street access and double lock-up garages, a relatively uncommon offering in Fitzroy’s higher-density apartment market.

Pace says the project has been designed to appeal to buyers seeking inner-city convenience without sacrificing space, flexibility, or amenity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371016]

Inside the residences, Winwood Mckenzie has focused on adaptable layouts and integrated detailing, with features including custom joinery, and concealed storage solutions. The material palette leans into warm, tactile finishes intended to complement the building’s industrial architectural language.

Fabbrica’s rooftop amenity is a key part of the project offering. Spanning around 800 sqm, the communal rooftop includes a private dining room, communal kitchen, lounge spaces, work-from-home zones, and outdoor dining areas overlooking the Melbourne CBD skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371017]

Landscape architecture studio Acre has introduced a layered rooftop garden designed to soften the urban setting while creating a more communal environment for residents.

The Fitzroy location also positions residents within walking distance of Brunswick Street, Smith Street, parks, cafés, galleries, and public transport, while remaining only minutes from Melbourne’s CBD. The project has an enviable Walk Score of 96.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139552 project_image_fid=371025]

Pace, which is also delivering the project as builder, has developed more than 100 projects across Melbourne over the past three decades. The vertically integrated approach has become increasingly common among developers seeking greater control over construction delivery amid broader market pressures affecting the apartment sector.

The strikingly contemporary Gore Street development is now around 70 per cent complete, with purchasers expected to move into their new homes in Spring 2026. A limited number of residences remain available under the current deposit match offer.

*Conditions apply in relation to the deposit match offer.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=139552]

Pace offers five per cent deposit match at Fabbrica Fitzroy ahead of Spring completion

Sydney developer Hyecorp's roots on the Lower North Shore stretch back three generations, and that deep understanding of the market continues to shape where and how it develops today.

From high-rise towers to boutique apartment projects, the family-run developer has built its reputation by focusing on a part of Sydney it knows intimately. Founded by Michael Abolakian in the early 1990s, Hyecorp is now led by his sons Stephen, Troy and Patrick.

Stephen Abolakian, joint managing director alongside Troy, has spent more than two decades in the business, overseeing development, planning, finance, marketing and sales.

Abolakian says the developer's disciplined focus on where it chooses to operate has been, and continues to be, one of Hyecorp's greatest strengths.

“We know the buyer profile exceptionally well,” Abolakian says.

“The demographics between places like Willoughby, Chatswood, St Leonards and Roseville are very similar. There are nuances between suburbs and projects, but culturally and from a buyer perspective, there’s a strong overlap.”

That buyer has historically been overwhelmingly owner-occupier driven.

Unlike many Sydney apartment developers that have traditionally relied heavily on investor demand, Hyecorp’s projects have typically attracted downsizers, upsizers, rightsizers and family owner-occupiers seeking long-term homes rather than short-term investments.

“Historically, investors have been a much smaller portion of our demand profile,” Abolakian says.

“We design for owner-occupiers. We don’t design for yield, we design for comfort, amenity, family living and long-term usability.”

That philosophy extends well beyond apartment layouts.

From landscaping and communal gardens to shared amenities and circulation spaces, Hyecorp’s developments are designed around how people actually live, something Abolakian believes has become increasingly important in Sydney’s apartment market.

“There was probably a period where having an approved project in market was enough,” he says.

“There wasn’t as much competition and if you built it, buyers would come. That’s no longer the case.”

“There’s more supply in the pipeline now, particularly with TOD precincts and low and mid-rise reforms opening up opportunities across Sydney. Buyers have more choice, so if you get the product wrong, they’ll simply go elsewhere.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110379 project_image_fid=311393]

The shift has forced developers to become more sophisticated in how they approach apartment design, particularly as owner-occupier expectations continue to rise.

For Hyecorp, that means thinking beyond who the buyer is today and designing for who they may become in five or 10 years' time.

“People buying now often aren’t moving in for several years,” Abolakian says.

“You might have a young couple buying today, but by the time they move in they may have children, older children, or changing lifestyle needs. You’ve got to think about how families evolve.”

That thinking also shapes Hyecorp’s approach to amenity, which positions wellness at the forefront.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362634]

While resort-style facilities have become increasingly common marketing tools across Sydney apartment developments, Abolakian says the challenge is ensuring amenities are genuinely usable and appropriate for the scale of the project.

“If amenities are done right, they can materially improve the living experience,” he says, adding however that if you&nbsp;overdo it or get it wrong, you can end up with facilities nobody uses that simply create ongoing strata costs.”

That balance is something Hyecorp is aiming to strike with projects like Roseville Avenue, one of the group's upcoming Lower North Shore developments, which Abolakian describes as bringing a resort-style living experience into a metropolitan setting.

“It’s about creating something that feels special without being excessive,” he says.

“Good gardens, quality apartments, thoughtful amenity. Creating that resort feeling in a metro location.”

<img alt="Hyecorp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="13c4c0f3-b1b7-44cf-9344-0b3d1d07797a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-02%20at%2012.14.57%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=9OLWjyj2bYkDV35F78WJnyMSPfc2bJ2z" />

The focus on owner-occupier product comes as Sydney’s apartment market continues to navigate a difficult development environment.&nbsp;For Hyecorp, maintaining an in-house operating model across construction, sales, marketing and development management has become increasingly important in navigating that environment.

“We’ve always believed in keeping a lot of the process in-house,” Abolakian says.

“It creates efficiencies, but it also creates quality control. You can make faster decisions and ensure the end product stays aligned with the original vision.”

Despite the challenges, Abolakian believes demand for quality owner-occupier apartments across Sydney remains strong beneath the surface, particularly across established Lower North Shore suburbs where downsizers continue to seek new housing options close to existing communities.

“There are definitely people waiting,” he says.

“Once some of the broader uncertainty settles, whether that’s the global environment or some of the local economic noise, I think the right projects will perform very strongly.”

Hyecorp currently has three residential developments on the market across Sydney’s Lower North Shore.&nbsp;Audrey, St Leonards, positioned opposite Newlands Park, is nearing completion and preparing to welcome its first residents, with the project now almost sold out.

Hyecorp has also recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/celine-chatswood-37-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">Celine Chatswood</a>, an architectural tower, while continuing to deliver&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/juliet-roseville-64-pacific-highway-roseville-nsw-2069">Juliet Roseville</a>, a more boutique scale of development with just 34 apartments.

Why Hyecorp continues to back Sydney's Lower North Shore apartment market

Rural

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Stannix Park, one of 20 colonial stone farmhouses in the Hawkesbury Valley, goes to auction tomorrow through Ray White Rural agent Greg Wall.
There are five issued contracts so a competitive auction is expected.
Selena Mazuran, from the FBI Fashion College, was seeking offers over $2.2 million for her colonial stone farmhouse at Wilberforce when it went to mid-2014 auction.
But there are now $1.5 million plus expectations.
The convict-era homestead dates back to the pioneer settler William Hall and his wife, Dinah, who got a 1839 land grant.
Selena Mazuran bought it in 2009 for $1.225 million, then adding 2,300 square metres of adjoining land in 2012.
The 20-hectare lot on plains between Currency and Howes creeks, near NSW's Windsor, now comes with pool, separate studio and stables, and chapel at 103 Stannix Park Lane.
Stannix Park had improvements done, overseen by Stonehill Restorations to plans prepared by Ian Stapleton and Clive Lucas. It has three attic-style bedrooms.
The steep 55-degree pitched roof is of jerkin head design. The coach-house has a keystone dated 1839 with the initials H.H., presumed to be Henry Hall, William Hall's son.
<a href="https://www.raywhite.com/nsw/wilberforce/1215131/" target="_blank">The convict-era homestead</a> dates back to the pioneer settler William Hall and his wife, Dinah, who got a 1839 land grant.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Colonial Stannix Park, Wilberforce for auction tomorrow

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Twin Pines Station, at Taralga 60 kilometres from Goulburn, sold under the hammer late last month for $605,000.
The 48-hectare property was sold by the restaurateur Peter Doyle and his wife, Fiona, given their move to Adelaide to be close to family. 
The Doyle's have been living at the cattle farm after selling their Watsons Bay home.
The farm was purchased in 2001 for $215,000.
It sold through <a href="https://www.eldersrealestate.com.au/rural/buy/property-grazing-nsw-taralga-597969" target="_blank">David Medina of Elders</a>.
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Two Pines Station, Taralga sold under the hammer

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The historic Berrima farm, Mereworth has been sold by the Oxley family, best known as being decendents of the Bushells tea founders.
Locals dread it has been bought by underground coal mining interests in the sensitive Southern Highlands farming country.
Land title searches suggest it may have been bought by interests associated with the encroaching coal mining industry, given the purchasing shelf company is directed by Guy Humble, a Brisbane based lawyer with a strong background in the mining and resources industry.
The purchasing company, set up mid-year, goes by the guiseful name, S.F. Pastoral Holdings.
Mereworth was listed <a href="/news/nsw/french-provincial-southern-highlands-landholding-on-the-market">with $12 million-plus hopes in 2011</a>, with its mid-2014 sale at $11.1 million only now beginning to be formally registered.
The reputed purchase would allow the purchaser to undertake mining related activities, in this case the mooted removal of any coal via conveyor belt to nearby possibly available train tracks.
Locals fear the purchaser is the Korean mining company, POSCO who have the coal exploration lease. Local Southern Highlands resident, the 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones says POSCO ought be regarded as "<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.2gb.com/audioplayer/66211" target="_blank">vandals</a>". 
The 500 hectare Mereworth property ranks among the most intact southern highlands farms, but having been split by the highway there was a restraint on the level of private purchasing interest.
<img class="fullcat" src="https://www.lawsons.com.au/full/772/31126772.jpg" alt="">
Property Observer is aware the same shelf company, S.F. Pastoral Pty Ltd has also purchased two other nearby Berrima properties on the eastern side of the highway, just outside of Berrima last month.
It paid $2,582,000 at the 3651 Old Hume Highway property, Stonington.
It paid $1,859,000 for the holding at 3711 Old Hume Highway.
In June at $12.6 million, Cavalaire Rural Pty Ltd directed by the Korean-born Joon Byun on behalf of POSCO, purchased Evandale, a 800 hectare property owned by the Reid family which abuts the Medway Reservoir that services 8200 residents of Berrima, Bowral and Mittagong and is the emergency water supply for the region. The two important feeder streams for the reservoir, Medway Rivulet and Wells Creek pass through Evandale. Locals say any coal mining in the district could have significant consequences for this water resource.
Solicitor Guy Humble’s known clients include Macarthur Coal, Peabody, QGC, CS Energy and AMCI.
He co-directs the purchasing company, S.F. Rural Holdings with another McCullough Robertson Brisbane lawyer, Peter Stewart.
The Korean steel-maker POSCO was formerly partners with Cockatoo Coal, which sold out of the controversial mining venture, known as Hume Coal in May last year.
The syndicate assumed the exploratory rights from Angelo Coal (Sutton Forrest) Pty Ltd, which had held the mostly dormant lease since 1985.
The coal exploration lease, allowing it to carry out exploration and possibly install a mine heads on properties, runs from the village of Exeter through Sutton Forest to the Belanglo State Forest.
The mining syndicate hit the headlines in 2011 when they emerged as the $8 million buyer of a 425 hectare beef cattle farm, Wongonbra, virtually on the doorstep of actor <a href="/expert-insights/investing/nicole-kidman-now-has-cockatoo-coal-as-her-near-neighbours-after-mining-giant-pays-record-price-for-sutton-forest">Nicole Kidman and singer Keith Urban’s peaceful Sutton Forest retreat, Bunya Hill</a>.
POSCO have supported more than 40 local charities and sporting clubs over the past three years to seek support among local landowners who have been been mostly hostile to their exploration attempts.
After almost 100 years of ownership by the Cowley family, Mereworth was bought by the pioneering tea-merchant family in 1963, nine years after the death at Carthona, Darling Point of Philip Howard Bushell - whose estate was valued for probate at £666,695 - and four years after the death of his widow, Myrtle, who left an estate of £2,558,921.
A vintage tea mixer (photographed above) was among the items sold at its recent Lawsons contents' sale. The antique sale buyers at Mereworth were greeted by greyhounds statues on stands at the front door. Out went the ornate chandeliers, clocks, tapestries and antique rugs, bronzes and garden architecture, important 19th century French Boulle furniture, early portraits dating to the 17th century, antique prints and maps, and French inspired outdoor furniture.  
Mereworth's occupancy dates back to John Atkinson's 1820 settlement. His brother, James, owned the trophy home, Oldbury at Sutton Forest.
The nine-bedroom 1964 sandstone house was designed by architect John Amory, with a French provincial feel.
Its formal lounge room comes with a baronial fireplace and raked ceilings.
Shuttered windows and french doors frame the views of the mature garden, once described by Elwyn Swane as one of the finest by landscaper Paul Sorenson.
The property, with two creeks, 12 dams and seven bores, suits grazing cattle, sheep and horses.
It was described as the best property listing since Reg and Joy Grundy paid $15 million for Comfort Hill, the 200-hectare Sutton Forest property from adman-turned-farmer Michael Ball and his wife, Daria, in 2007.
In late 2011 the secretive tactics by the POSCO Korean coal mining enterprise shocked Michael Ball, when he sold another Southern Highlands property to who he thought was an agricultural company.
Michael Ball found out the farm sold to shelf company Aurelius Rural Pty Ltd, which actually wanted to establish itself on the beef cattle farm for mining purposes. Wongonbra was marketed by estate agents as arguably the best available large rural landholding in the Southern Highlands.
"Well, clearly it's deceitful because they pretended all the way through the negotiations that they were solely interested in farming – cattle farming," Ball said after its sale.
In late 2011, Quentin Dempster on the ABC 7.30 Report noted the secretive practice had made the small community “more determined than ever to stop mining”.
The highlands coal sits underneath a water aquifer.
"No one has a clue of the geology of aquifers,” Ball, in 2011, told The Australian.
“Once fractured, there's no possibility for them to be fixed. You can't mine without fracturing the aquifer."
Peter Martin, the convener of the Southern Highland Coal Action Group, has previously suggested governments were allowing miners to come into some of the best parts of Australia and “ruin them".
The known purchases of the five properties total more than $35 million.
The Southern Highlands has always been closely associated with the English landscape. It was Governor Lachlan Macquarie who noted in 1820 that the district was particularly beautiful and rich, "resembling a fine extensive pleasure ground in England".
<img src="https://www.humecoal.com.au/hume/assets/Image/website-map-20022014.png" alt="" width="820" height="1150">
Elsewhere POSCO is in the Roy Hill joint venture between Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting and Japanese company Marubeni and Taiwan's China Steel Corporation.
They are also partners with Glencore Xstrata and Marubeni in the Ravensworth underground mine in the Hunter Valley which is in the process of being mothballed.
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Coal mining company seemingly snares historic Mereworth, Berrima farm

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The Bunda Station, of the Victoria River District, in the Northern Territory, is being sold for about $15 million through Ruralco Property.
The 178,800-hectare station owned by the Underwood family sits adjacent to the buyer, Consolidated Pastoral Company's Kirkimbie Station.
"We are in the final stages of due diligence and it is under contract," CPC chief executive Troy Setter confirmed to Fairfax Media.
CPC controls 19 properties across Australia's top end covering more than 5.6 million hectares.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-livestock-nt-lajamanu-7664139" target="_blank">Bunda Station</a> was passed in at 2012 Elders auction with just a $10 million vendor bid.
Bunda was offered with 13,500 Brahman and Charbray infused cattle. 
The herd includes 2,000 purebred Brahman bulls and breeders. 
Bunda has been developed with 22 bores.
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NT's Bunda Station sells to Consolidated Pastoral Company

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The London-based private equity investor Terra Firma is considering the partial sale of Australia’s largest privately owned beef producer, Consolidated Pastoral Company.
The decision by Terra Firma to introduce a part-owner for Consolidated Pastoral is thought to signal attempts to increase its capacity for a potential acquisition, possibly Macquarie Pastoral.
It has appointed investment bank Barclays Capital to field recent approaches from Chinese parties, the Australian Financial Review said.
Consolidated Pastoral was bought from the Packer family in 2009 for around $450 million.
It’s believed Terra Firm was considering a partial sale of as much as 40%.
Consolidated Pastoral has a book value of about $700 million.
Owning and operating 19 cattle stations, it has more than 360,000 head of cattle across 5.6 million hectares of land in Australia.
The CPC chief executive Troy Setter said the company had received interest from Indonesia and China.
 
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Chinese and Indonesians get chance to secure Terra Firma Australia pastoral offering

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A surge in tax depreciation schedules requested in a number of regional areas has been noted by tax depreciation company BMT’s managing director Brad Beer.
Beer said that rural and regional locations appear to have attracted strong investment activity over the past financial year.
But where have they been targeting?
<ul>
<li>Port Pirie<a href="/news"></a>, South Australia</li>
</ul>
Topping the list is Port Pirie, where a 169% increase in the number of tax depreciation scheduled was recorded.
<ul>
<li>Riverland, South Australia</li>
</ul>
The wine region recorded a 141% surge in requests for depreciation schedules.
<ul>
<li>New England, New South Wales</li>
</ul>
This area recorded an 89% uptick in schedules requested.
<ul>
<li>Logan City, Queensland</li>
</ul>
This city, a strong investor favourite, recorded a 66% increase, compared to greater Queensland’s 19% uptick.
<ul>
<li>Nowra, New South Wales</li>
</ul>
A 64% increases was achieved by this south coast area.
<ul>
<li>Oven region, Victoria</li>
</ul>
A 58% surge was noted for the Oven region.
<ul>
<li>North-east Tasmania</li>
</ul>
A 46% surge was seen in the north-east of Tasmania, despite greater Tasmania recording no increase.
Interestingly, these increases in individual regional ad rural areas strongly outpaced their respective state-wide averages. The activity growth in South Australia was at 20%, New South Wales saw a 23% surge and Victoria was up 19%.
Beer said that this may be due to the cheaper house prices and higher rental yields available in the rural and regional areas.
“With many capital cities experiencing considerable capital gains over the past few years, some investors appear to be seeking out alternate market segments in order to enter the market faster and at a lower price while still realising a solid return,” he said.
“These locations present a unique opportunity for investors willing to think outside the box and take advantage of regions able to still provide returns but at a much lower cost of entry.”
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The seven rural and regional areas on investors’ radars: BMT

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Equestrian pursuits are always costly affairs, be it thoroughbred racing, dressage, show jumping, eventing or polo. And pricey ponies were hot topics of conversation during Melbourne’s recent Spring Racing Carnival.
These expensive horse properties always sparked the interest of our property contrarians, Jonathan Chancellor and Margie Blok - particularly after Patinack Farm, the Gold Coast and Hunter Valley horse racing empire headquarters of embattled former mining magnate Nathan Tinkler, <a href="/news/nathan-tinklers-hunter-valley-horse-stud-auction-cancelled">failed to attract a buyer at auction last month</a>.
This week Jonathan and Margie look at two other impressive equine properties on the market.   
HE SAID:<img src="/images/2014/03/28/jc-silhouette-7.jpg" style="float: right;">
I still fancy Yallambee Stud, recognised in the thoroughbred industry as one of Victoria's oldest and most successful bloodstock operations. Set 50 kilometres from Melbourne CBD, the 243 hectare property has been breeding champion thoroughbreds for over five decades.
The vendors are the Woodard family, traditionally beef and sheep pastoralists from Skipton in the Western District of Victoria, who shifted their stud operation in 1986 to the Macedon Ranges region, drawn to its volcanic soils, high rainfall, water and proximity to Melbourne.
It was a sensible move with the equine operations designed to suit thoroughbred breeding, rearing youngsters and racehorse spelling. Yallambee Stud, jointly with neighboring Eliza Park Stud, stand two of Australia's most popular, commercial young stallions - God's Own and Magnus.
Expected to fetch about $7 million, Yallambee Stud (pictured below)<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-mixed+farming-vic-kerrie-7672235" target="_blank"> is listed for sale</a> through Sam Triggs and Jamie Inglis of Inglis Rural Property. 
<img src="/images/2014/11/14/kew%20nov%2014%20one.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/03/28/mb-silhouette-6.jpg" style="float: left;">SHE SAID:
Montana Park in Queensland caught my attention due to its huge homestead. Large enough for myself, Jonathan and a host of horsey hangers-on, it is set on 42-hectares of lush land at Maleny - just an hour from the Doomben race track.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-qld-maleny-105961322" target="_blank">Listed for sale by tender closing December 12</a>, Montan Park (pictured below) is described in its online marketing advertising as “the ultimate horse property without isolation or remoteness…a rare offering in one of Queensland’s most desirable locations”.
Rare indeed – few rural properties have a luxury homestead measuring 1,804 square metres. With views of the Glass House Mountains, this vast abode has umpteen bedrooms and bathrooms including an enormous parents’ retreat with separate his ‘n’ hers marble en suites, a steam room, massage room, opulent dressing rooms and a sitting area overlooks the green rolling hills.
While the Ray White Buderim selling agents, Lew Pottinger and Nathan Nicholl, rave about the “Versace-inspired” style of the main bedroom suite, I would redecorate it for my interior design taste is rather more simplistic. Thank goodness Melissa Penfold is offering e-décor on <a href="https://www.melissapenfold.com" target="_blank">her new website</a> - an online bible of Australia’s best shops and services, making good design accessible to everyone.
Also in the homestead are a feng shui-influenced office/media centre, a cinema room, state-of-the-art kitchen and enormous living, dining and entertainment areas flowing to the garden and resort-style swimming pool. 
But it is the Montana Park horses who are truly pampered in 45 post-and-rail paddocks perfectly positioned around two Olympic-size dressage arenas, a six-horse “ezywalker” and lavish stables.  Horses who prefer music can exercise at night in the covered all-weather arena with designer lighting and an integrated sound system. 
Ideal for dressage workshop clinics, this equine complex also features an amphitheatre and extensive accommodation for riders. Designed to impress international instructors, it has a purpose-built guests suite with a common room, commercial kitchen and large dining area.
Rivalling the homestead in its size and lavish appointments, the stable complex incorporates 10 double-sized broodmare boxes, two stallion boxes, wash bays, a vet room, horse scales, tack room, rug room, feed room (with 1,200 bale capacity and grain silo), plus accommodation and access for large floats and goose neck trailers.
I recall when the stable complex was the showpiece of the previous owners, show jumping couple, David and Pam Courtice, who developed the property from a run-down dairy farm with 100-year-old fencing, pig pens and barbed wire. 
The Courtices’ two-year transformation attracted intense local ‘sticky-beaking’ as mud turned into green paddocks, and impressive timber fencing was erected to define the perimeter of the picture postcard property, known then as Tengarra Park.
The Courtices’ daughter, Sam, was the only professional show jumper in the family. Although, another daughter Chrystal found the Maleny property on the internet after David had been looking for 12 months.
After the property sold to Dean Shannon, and his equine enthusiast wife, Kelly, its name was changed to Montana Park.
If I bought this property I would change the name back to Tengarra Park, and then set up a thoroughbred spelling business given the property has easy road access to racecourses at Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
 <img src="/images/2014/11/14/maleny%20nov%2014%20one.jpg" alt="">
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Equestrian rural property the envy of the nation: He Said/She Said

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Muntham Station, between Coleraine and Casterton, first settled by the Henty family, has been listed for sale by the Oldham family.
It is listed through <a href="https://www.eldersrealestate.com.au/rural/buy/property-grazing-vic-hamilton-595166" target="_blank">Elders</a> agent Shane McIntrye for November 14 expressions of interest.
<a href="https://www.munthamstation.com" target="_blank">The property</a> in the Western District of Victoria, was dubbed by NSW Surveyor General Major Thomas Mitchell as 'Australia Felix' in 1836.
In 1836 Mitchell recommended the Hentys travel inland from Portland to see for themselves and soon after they settled at Muntham and neighbouring Merino Downs and Sandford.
The Henty family had left England several years earlier given poor prospects after the Napoleonic wars persuaded Thomas Henty to sell his Sussex farm and begin a new life with his wife, daughter, seven sons and a flock of Spanish merino sheep.
The family was granted more than 80,000 acres (32,000 hectares) on the Swan River in Western Australia and James Henty, the eldest son, sailed with stock and laborers in 1829. He failed to find good land and sailed to Launceston in 1831 where his mother, sister and four of his brothers including Edward.
Settlement in the Port Phillip District then part of New South Wales was forbidden, but Edward Henty first saw Portland Bay in April 1833 when sailing on his brother's boat, the Thistle, en route to collect whaling oil at Spencer Gulf.
The unauthorised third and last Henty migration landed on 19 November 1834.
The original section of the 1836 homestead remains one of the earliest structures in Victoria, extended in the 1850-60s, and in 1907 a kitchen wing was added. Servants rooms were also built at the rear of the house and at the turn of the twentieth century, a charming schoolhouse was erected to the rear of the main building.
It is now a beautiful, completely charming 6BR home in extensive English style gardens on Muntham Hill overlooking the Wennicot Creek.
The colonial artist Sir Thomas Clark painted the homestead in 1874.
While the original woolshed burnt down in 1920, the red brick barn, thought to have been built in the 1840s, sits at the rear of the homestead. It is believed to be the oldest brick building still standing on a farm in Victoria and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Database and by the National Trust of Victoria, who consider it culturally and architecturally significant to Victoria’s heritage.
It was modelled on English farmhouse traditions of the early nineteenth century and is more Georgian in character, typical of Tasmanian buildings of the era. 
Successive owners, the Mackinnon, Ellis, Lobb, Dickinson, Hryckow and Oldham families – have all been worthy custodians.
It now harvests olive oil from its 350-tree grove, as well as produce an enviable Pinot Noir from its boutique vineyard. The farm is currently stocking 300 Angus breeders and calves, 60 retained heifers, 12 bulls, 300 ewes and lambs, and 160 hoggets.
<img src="/images/2014/11/10/muntham%20nov%2010%20one.jpg" alt="">
Picture: Edward HENTY 1809-1878 standing on wool bales at "Muntham" Woolshed, Carapook with some of his workers in the foreground with the original HENTY plough. Source: <a href="https://www.swvic.org/" target="_blank">Glenelg &amp; Wannon Settlers &amp; Settlement</a>.
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Muntham, the pioneering Henty family former Coleraine station listed

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Banoon, Nathan Tinkler's 385-hectare property near Woodend, an hour north-west of Melbourne, has been sold.
With a crowd of 45, four of the five auction bidders participated after it was called onto the market at $2.1 million.
It sold for $2.56 million. The listing agent had been always advising prospective buyers before today's scheduled 2.30pm auction that it was likely to sell for between $2.1 million and $2.3 million.
The 120 Joyces Road, Monegeeta property was marketed by Keatings Real Estate as an "excellent opportunity to secure a rarely available large inner country, very versatile lifestyle property."
At the end of its mature oak tree entrance driveway, there is a rambling five bedroom 1910 weatherboard homestead. The property has Deep Creek frontage.
Its farming Zone (FZ1) come with subdivision potential into minimum lot sizes of 40 hectares (100 acres) subject to council permit.
There were ambitious $5 million hopes for the property on its 2010 listing. Nathan Tinkler over paid when he spent $3.63 million for <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/120-joyces-road-monegeetta/Property-Details-buy-residential-7669580" target="_blank">Banoon</a> in 2008.
Estate agent John Keating told Property Observer he was pleased with the result after a competitive auction.
Banoon was the last of the scheduled offerings in the Tinkler property portfolio, although the only land sale to date.
The ATO <a href="/expert-insights/finance/nathan-tinkler-horse-stud-farm-sales-come-with-ato-mortgages">has an interest in the outcome</a>.
 
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Nathan Tinkler sells Banoon, his Victorian rural property 

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Today's auction of two Hunter Valley properties in the Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm racing empire, has been cancelled.
Richmond Grove in Sandy Hollow (pictured above) and Tremayne in Broke, NSW, <a href="https://www.meares.com.au/property/richmond-grove/gallery/richmond-grove.htm" target="_blank">will now be up for expressions of interest</a>.
“Both of the Thursday auctions have been cancelled, those interested parties will now be tendering for the assets,” an email from Meares and Associates to Fairfax Media advised.
The cancellation comes after Tinkler’s four Canungra properties on Queensland's Gold Coast hinterland were passed in last Thursday.
The stud farm offerings<a href="/expert-insights/finance/nathan-tinkler-horse-stud-farm-sales-come-with-ato-mortgages"> have been much anticipated</a>.
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