<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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The Merricks North estate, Ambleside, on the Mornington Peninsula remains listed for sale.
Set on 85 hectares overlooking Western Port Bay, the inland holding has been marketed as one of the region's finest properties.
Kay &amp; Burton's David Heathcote had been quoting more than $12 million for the Ambleside estate with <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/for-sale/merricks-north-vic-3926-2011914965" target="_blank">expressions of interest</a><a href="https://www.domain.com.au/for-sale/merricks-north-vic-3926-2011914965" target="_blank"> </a>closing May 18.
The seven bedroom, five bathroom homestead was designed by Stephen Akehurst in the late 1990s.
A guest cottage also designed by Stephen Akehurst. 
The grounds comes with a croquet lawn, golf driving range and a tennis court.
The farm is divided into 17 paddocks with stock troughs and connected by laneways.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Ambleside, Merricks North estate with $12 million hopes

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Barnaby Joyce, the Federal Agriculture Minister, has backed calls for a veto on foreign governments being allowed to buy Australian farmland.
Mr Joyce said he had no issue with private foreign companies buying farms, agribusinesses or food processing assets because they “come and go” depending on the financial returns they earn.
“I just don’t want to see agricultural land owned by foreign governments,” Mr Joyce was reported as saying to The Australian.
“The land we stand on is intrinsic to our values and identity as a nation. I wouldn’t want to see Australian farmland become under the control of the government of another nation.”
The comments come as the Kidman cattle empire is for sale with $350 million hopes.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in Canberra this morning that the government had "always taken a special interest in foreign governments buying anything in Australia, including land.
"Any foreign government investment in Australia is subject from the first dollar to Foreign Investment Review Board scrutiny and that’s the way it should be.
“(Mr Joyce) was simply making the point that when it comes to foreign governments as opposed to private businesses from overseas different rules apply. 
"They always have and, as far as I’m concerned, they always will.”
 
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Barnaby Joyce doesn't want S Kidman farms to fall into sovereign wealth government hands

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Bhima at Scone has been sold. And Goanna Downs too.
<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/property/for-sale/rural/nsw/scone/?adid=2010096652&amp;sp=6" target="_blank">Bhima</a> has had a prominent history within the breeding and racing industry, and within the township itself. 
The baton has been handed on to Mike and Kate Fleming of Broadwater Thoroughbreds, Aberdeen. 
Bhima Stud, at Scone in the Upper Hunter Valley, was for sale at $5.8 million through Michael Burke of MacCallum Inglis - a prominent thoroughbred breeding farm, Bhima was developed into a renowned horse property after World War II by Vivian Bath. 
On the town’s outskirts, Bhima occupies 160 hectares.
Its showpiece is an<a href="/news/giddyup-thoroughbred-stud-farm-sales-and-listings-in-the-equine-world"> historic circa 1910 homestead</a> with 4.8 metre high pressed metal ceilings.
Meanwhile the Hutchins family, a well-known family within the racing industry from Queensland looking to set up a broodmare base in the Upper Hunter, has recently snapped up Goanna Downs from the Dillon family post auction.
The two property sales in as many months has reinforced the status of Scone, and the Upper Hunter Valley as the premier location in NSW for thoroughbred properties, according to MacCallum Inglis property agent Michael Burke.
Michael Burke handled the sale of Bhima and introduced the purchasers to the sale of Goanna Downs.
“The strength of the Scone broodmare property market is underpinned by the ever growing numbers of stallions standing in the Upper Hunter Valley.  
"Our proximity to the stallion stations is our competitive advantage - less transport risk, less cost and a central location to the selling centres. 
"In addition, the Upper Hunter Shire is coal mine free, with no operating mines in our district”.
 “Our agency has seen a rise in the enquiry, and activity rates of interstate, and international buyers looking at the Upper Hunter district and Scone particularly.
"The Australian thoroughbred industry is in such a position of strength and the majority of its’ best stallions stand in this district.
"The local stud property market is well and truly back on its feet post GFC, and these sales are testament of this." 
Michael Burke said an exciting new chapter will now open in the rich history of Bhima. 
"Steeped in success, the property has been under the stewardship of the White family over the last 21 years and boasts an extensive honours list that would make any breeder proud," he said.   
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Upper Hunter Valley's Bhima, Scone proves its thoroughbred property status

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The $300 million plus marketing of Australia’s biggest landowner and historic cattle producer, S. Kidman and Co Ltd, is well underway.
Ernst &amp; Young Adelaide managing partner Don Manifold said EY had been flooded with "significant" interest in the prospect. The Australian Financial Review says there have already been 200 inquiries.
"It's gained a lot of attention from domestic and international bidders," Mr Manifold said, stressing it will be sold in one line.
Australia's biggest private rural landholding, which includes the world's largest cattle station, is up for sale by the pioneering company. 
Eleven cattle stations covering more than 100,000 square kilometres are set to be offered next month with documentation through Ernst and Young Adelaide.
S. Kidman and Co. is 98% owned by members of the Kidman family, represented by 58 shareholdings.
Not all wanted to sell, The Land reported, adding last financial year the company reported a net operating cashflow of $9.3 million and paid dividends of 20 cents a share. 
But it recorded a net after tax loss of $1.4m as herd numbers declined 15 per cent because of tough seasonal conditions to 182,350 head, and their livestock market value fell about $10 million to $97.4 million.
The cattle king Sir Sidney Kidman's first purchase was in 1886: Owen Springs south-west of Alice Springs.
The business still has cattle stations across Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. 
Anna Creek Station in South Australia's outback is the largest at 23,000 square kilometres. 
"This is a world class asset of international significance," said Alex Thamm a rural valuer with Colliers International.
The Kidman family has $364 million net worth, as ranked 37th on the BRW Rich Family List, spread across family groups based in Australia, the United Kingdom and United States.
 
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200 inquiries as Sidney Kidman cattle farms offered in one line

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Farmer David Fleming is listing Ulah at Walgett, in northern NSW. 
David Fleming says he's made the difficult decision to put his farm on the market - pushed into a corner by poor government policies.
"We're going to test the market…which may not even be there," <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-03/rural-nsw-fleming-0306/6516964" target="_blank">he told ABC Rural Radio</a>.
The farm is currently deep in drought; and he can not plant an irrigation crop because authorities had put an embargo on pumping from the Barwon Darling River system to ensure that there was sufficient water stored in the Menindee Lakes to meet Broken Hill's town water requirements.
Ulah has a diminished combination of cattle production, dryland farming and a relatively small irrigation operation. 
Earlier this year he wrote an open letter to the NSW Department of Primary Industries deputy director general water stating his case to grow 900 acres of chickpeas - which could generate $700,000 of potential income.
"My livelihood is at stake; I require five days pumping to plant chickpeas.
"If I don't receive permission to do so, then I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"What would you suggest I do? Lose the farm? Or start the pump?"
He said his bank had been extremely supportive, but the embargo imperilled the next 12 months.
He pointed the finger at bad bureaucratic interference on water policy and ministers who are puppets of the bureaucracy.
The Fleming family has been grazing cattle and growing crops for over 130 years at Ulah through drought and <a href="https://www.walgett.org.au/walgett-heritage-properties/ulah-station/" target="_blank">flood</a>.
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The NSW Minister for Primary Industries and Water Niall Blair says they could only lift the embargo when they were sure that the water was available to provide human need in Broken Hill.
 
 
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Water embargo prompts Ulah, Walgett listing by farmer David Fleming

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There is now a $1,999,000 asking price after the scheduled weekend auction of a Port Douglas holding failed to secure a sale.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-qld-port+douglas-119202107" target="_blank">6173R Captain Cook Highway</a> holding is a 37 hectare holding with homestead and cottage.
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<div class="thumb activeThumb">It was listed through Callum Jones and Tony McGrath at Tony McGrath Real Estate Port Douglas.
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It was marketed as suitable for up to 100 head of cattle, a registered primary producing property - therefore no land tax. 
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Port Douglas farm with $1.99 million asking price

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Glenray Park, the historic Yetholme homestead, has been sold by Mary Moody, one of Australia's leading horticulturalists and gardening authors.
Lovingly restored and cared for over her 20 year tenure, the home was built near Bathurst by Mabel Walshaw in 1908.
It sold at $746,000
It has been marketed as having stunning mature ornamental park-like garden surrounding the homestead which boasts the grandeur of historical homesteads with a surge of new age sustainable living. The five bedroom, two bathroom triple brick homestead has 14 foot ceilings, five fire places, and Oregon doors and trims.
Within the 20 acre property, there is a permanent mountain spring and Frying Pan creek water. There have been cattle run on the farm on the western slopes of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.
The grounds have two irrigated propagation/shade houses for the professional market gardener and chook house and home vegetable garden. 
There's a 1920s dance hall once used for community dances and meetings could be transformed into a functions room or artists studio. 
<a href="https://raywhiteruralemmsmooney.com.au/nsw/yetholme/1276127/" target="_blank">Glenray Park</a>, at 61 Porters Lane, Yetholme, sold through Ray White Emms Mooney agents Patrick Bird and Sam D'Arcy. There were $700,000 plus expectations.
Yetholme is 20 minutes east of Bathurst and two hours drive from Sydney's CBD. 
<a href="https://www.marymoody.com.au" target="_blank">The gardening author</a> who trained as a journalist in the late 1960s at the Australian Women's Weekly was a long time presenter on Gardening Australia from her then Leura, Blue Mountains home. Her memoirs included Au Revoir, Last Tango in Toulouse, The Long Hot Summer and Sweet Surrender.
She has lead tours in France and the Himalayas and has written a book and made a film on a local rural French restaurant, Lunch with Madame Murat, for the SBS Network.
Glenray Park has been listed following the death of her partner, the film maker David Hannay in March 2014. It was 2001 when the couple relocated permanently to the Bathurst district after selling Villa Florence, their Katoomba cottage.
Moody is moving back to the mountains to be closer to family, but intends keeping a small block of land with an eco-cottage.
The Yetholme property was sold to buyers from the Blue Mountains.
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Gardening storyteller Mary Moody sells Yetholme, Bahurst district farm

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The South Gippsland property looks like a car yard, but the Poowong property is a 767 acre dairy farm milking 550 cows.
It has been sold at $8.1 million through Harcourts Warragul agent John Rowe. It was listed initially in March last year, and has mostly had price indications around $8.5 million.
The property is located in the Victoria district with what is considered some of the most highly reliable natural rainfall regions in Australia, 110 kms East of Melbourne .
It was marketed as having close access to many major milk processers , including United Dairy Power, Burra Foods, Longwarry Milk Park, Murray Goulburn and Fronterra all within 50km. 
There was a 40 Stand rotary with automatic cup removers, automated milk meters and automatic teat spray and 29,000 litre milk vat capacity with access for B-double tankers at <a href="https://www.ruralview.com.au/Real-Estate/185-o-gilvys-road-poowong/Property-Details-buy-rural-7148617">the 185 Ogilvys Lane farm</a>.
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South Gippsland dairy sold at $8.1 million

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Fossil Downs Station, the jewel of WA's pastoral industry, has been listed for sale by the Henwood family.
Covering almost 400,000 hectares where the Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers meet, the legend of <a href="https://regionalwa.eldersrealestate.com.au/rural/buy/property-cropping-wa-derby-617707">Fossil Downs</a> started when Donald MacDonald rode from Derby in the tracks of Alexander Forrest to inspect the land and negotiated its lease in 1882.
His brothers William and Charles then set off on possibly the longest cattle drive in history - about 5600 kilometres from near Goulburn, NSW, through the outback and across the Top End to the Kimberley.
They left with 670 head of cattle, arriving 42 months later with 327 cattle. 
A waterbag the MacDonald brothers carried on their epic cattle drive hangs above the hallway in the heritage-listed homestead, dubbed the "Taj Mahal of the Kimberley".
It is true Australiana as its billiard table was bought for 28 pounds after dragged from the remains of a direct hit on Broome's billiard hall by Japanese bombers in World War II.
The MacDonald's granddaughter is Annette Henwood who runs the farm with husband John whose family ties to the Kimberley stretch back longer than hers.
John Henwood's grandfather George Rose was a horse carer on the Forrest expedition of 1879 that triggered excitement about grazing in the Ord and Fitzroy valleys.
They have been herding mainly Droughtmaster cattle, sometimes mustering in his Cessna 182. It is located 430 kms to the live cattle export port of Broome and 30 kms to Fitzroy Crossing township. 
Offers close July 2 for the property has potential to carry more cattle and for tourism, including parts of the King Leopold Ranges and Leopold River, spectacular gorges, billabongs and vast plains.
Veteran real estate executive Malcolm French told the West Australian newspaper he had seen nothing that compared to Fossil Downs in 50 years with Elders.
He declined to speculate on the price but industry sources put it close to $30 million.
"I feel an absolute traitor," <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bushtelegraph/annette-mcdonald/5895778" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Annette Henwood</a>, who was featured on the farm in a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/4389335?zoomLevel=1" style="line-height: 1.3em;">1952 Australian Women's Weekly article</a>, said.
"I never wanted to be the MacDonald who quit," she said.
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Fossil Downs, the Taj Mahal of the Kimberley's listed 

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The Australian-listed Ruralco Holdings has lost its chief executive John Maher.
Maher has stepped down after nine years at the helm of the rural services group. 
Its chief financial officer Ruth Martin has also resigned.
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