Melbourne developer Spacious Group has completed Voyage Altona, one of the closest new apartment developments to Altona Beach.

Off the plan purchasers have started moving into the 49-apartment project on Pier Street, with the remaining move-in-ready one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments starting from just over $500,000.

Display apartments have now been fitted out, allowing prospective buyers to inspect the completed residences by appointment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112195 project_image_fid=372638]

The completed apartments feature open-plan living and dining areas which extend onto private balconies and terraces, while full-height glazing maximises natural light throughout the interiors.&nbsp;

Hybrid timber-look flooring, stone benchtops, Miele appliances, porcelain-tiled bathrooms and generous storage feature throughout the building which also features landscaped communal areas, expansive shared terraces, lift access and secure on-grade parking.

Drawing inspiration from its bayside setting, Voyage adopts a restrained palette of warm neutral tones and textured finishes. Many of the apartments take advantage of views across Port Phillip Bay, while the indoor-outdoor living spaces have been designed to make the most of the coastal outlook.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112195 project_image_fid=3286]

Voyage was developed to address what Spacious Group identified as an undersupply of higher-quality apartment product in Altona, with a focus on owner-occupiers looking to remain within the bayside community.

"Voyage responds to very strong local buyer demand for quality, owner-occupier-focused product," says Barry Plant Projects Director Jarrod Farey, who has handled sales since the project's launch.

"The project delivers an elevated lifestyle proposition, with its design and quality of finish far exceeding anything previously produced in the area, as well as its proximity to Pier Street Village and the beach."

The majority of purchasers have been local downsizers and owner-occupiers looking to stay within the Altona community but who previously had limited opportunities to buy a brand-new apartment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112195]

Joel Robinson

Spacious Group completes Voyage Altona in Altona's beachside precinct

Homecorp has secured approval for a $360 million apartment development at Budds Beach, paving the way for one of the Gold Coast's most amenity-rich residential projects to launch later this year.

Gold Coast City Council has approved Lýon Residences, a 32-level tower that will deliver 178 two and three-bedroom apartments across a prominent corner site at 8-10 Acacia Avenue and 25-27 Oak Avenue.

The approval comes as developers continue to invest in premium lifestyle-driven apartment projects on the Gold Coast, where owner occupiers are increasingly prioritising amenity as much as apartment size and location.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/l-on-residences-25-27-oak-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Lýon Residences</a> has been designed around a resort-style wellness offering, headlined by a Moroccan-inspired spa precinct featuring treatment rooms, a Nordic sauna and steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, a soaking pool and a residents-only juice bar.

The rooftop will include a heated infinity pool and spa, residents' lounge with private kitchen and bar, gymnasium, yoga and Pilates studio, outdoor entertaining areas and barbecue facilities overlooking the Surfers Paradise skyline.

<img alt="Lyon" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d3e29af-8793-486e-a684-52cef862241f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-15%20at%204.32.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ayG2zpLf3SS6Zy8XmKDcQods4kVWb0gm" />

Homecorp Founder and CEO Ron Bakir said Budds Beach provided the ideal location for the company's latest luxury apartment project.

"Budds Beach represents one of the most unique and sought-after pockets of the Gold Coast, and Lýon Residences has been designed to reflect that sense of rarity and refinement," Bakir said.

The project arrives as wellness continues to become a defining feature of new residential developments both in Australia and internationally.

The latest Global Wellness Institute figures show wellness real estate remains the fastest-growing segment of the global wellness economy and is forecast to exceed $1.8 trillion by 2030. Australia continues to rank among the world's 15 largest wellness real estate markets, with developers increasingly integrating health, recreation and community facilities into apartment projects.

Queensland is also experiencing strong population growth, with the Gold Coast continuing to outperform many other Australian cities as demand for new housing remains elevated ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Bakir said the project had been designed to respond to that shift in buyer expectations.

"Strong population growth and sustained demand across the Gold Coast continue to highlight the need for well-designed new housing supply. Lýon Residences responds directly to this demand while setting a new benchmark for residential living," he said.

Each apartment has been designed to maximise views across the coastline, the Nerang River and the Gold Coast hinterland.

Located just minutes from Surfers Paradise beach and the Broadwater, the development also offers easy access to the light rail network, Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads.

Early site works are underway, with construction expected to commence later this year.

Homecorp approved for Budds Beach apartment tower, Lýon Residences

New apartment developments with uninterrupted, north-facing views over Perth's Swan River are exceptionally rare.

Recognising just how limited those opportunities are, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/edge-visionary-living">Edge Visionary Living</a>, one of Perth's most respected builder-developers, targeted <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/applecross-wa-6153">Applecross</a>, assembling an unrepeatable 6,342 sqm riverfront site on the corner of Moreau Mews and Canning Beach Road to create one of Perth's only new north-facing apartment developments directly overlooking the Swan River.

Today, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/riviere-residences-applecross-59-canning-beach-road-applecross-wa-6153">Rivière Residences</a> offers buyers a unique opportunity to choose between completed residences ready to move into now and off-the-plan homes in the final stage, Rivière West.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28384 project_image_fid=3823]

Across the completed East and Central buildings, residents are already enjoying the development's luxury amenity, while two of the precinct's hospitality venues are now open.

The completed component of the development gives buyers the advantage of experiencing the finished product firsthand, including its uninterrupted river views, while still having the opportunity to secure a residence in the final stage.

"People are wowed by the view and the quality of the apartments,"&nbsp;Edge Visionary Living Sales Executive, Holly McSweeney, says.

"They're looking for the convenience of lock-and-leave living, but they're not looking to downsize on quality."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28384 project_image_fid=3826]

The rarity of the development hasn't been lost on prospective buyers, McSweeney says.

For McSweeney, it all comes back to a location that is becoming increasingly difficult to replicate.

"Location, location, location," she says. "We are nestled right on the front of the Swan River. You can never get built out, so wherever you are in Rivière Residences, you've got views of the river forever."

The unique waterfront position has resonated particularly strongly with local downsizers. McSweeney says many buyers are long-time Applecross residents looking to transition from large family homes into a luxury apartment without sacrificing space, quality or the lifestyle they've enjoyed for decades.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N_FowNW0wu8?si=vb25XFq1wZ-iufAW" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

A major focus for Edge in recent years has been resident amenity. Across its apartment portfolio, from beachfront developments in Scarborough to luxury towers in South Perth, the developer has increasingly invested in the spaces beyond the apartment itself.

The strategy has largely been shaped by downsizer demand. Many buyers are moving from large family homes with swimming pools and established gardens. While they're looking to leave the maintenance behind, they don't want to compromise on lifestyle.

At Rivière, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hillam-architects">Hillam Architects</a> designed the resident facilities as an extension of each apartment. A 25-metre heated swimming pool takes advantage of the north-facing river outlook, complemented by a large gym, sauna and steam rooms, private dining spaces, residents' lounges, a cinema, games room, and dedicated wine and whisky rooms.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28384 project_image_fid=372542]

The waterfront location has also proved to be a major drawcard. Residents are within walking distance of the Raffles Hotel, South of Perth Yacht Club, the Heathcote Cultural Precinct and the cafés, restaurants and boutiques along Ardross Street.

Beyond the location and amenity, McSweeney says many buyers take confidence from Edge's fully integrated development model.

Having delivered apartments across Perth for decades, Edge now designs, develops and constructs its projects in-house, giving the company greater control over quality, delivery and the finished product.

"What I love is when people walk through their apartment for the first time and say, 'This is better than what we imagined,'" McSweeney says. "We hear that all the time."

Completed apartments in the East and Central buildings are now available to inspect by appointment, while Rivière West, the final stage of the precinct, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=28384]

North-facing Swan River views drive demand at Rivière Residences in Applecross

Nearly 60 per cent of apartments at McNab Group's $220 million The Tannery development in Brisbane's West End have sold ahead of the project's public launch, including a suburb-record $2.57 million sale for a two-bedroom apartment.

The early sales campaign has secured buyers for 50 of the project's 87 apartments, highlighting continued demand for larger owner-occupier apartments that combine generous floorplans with premium lifestyle amenities in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374768]

McNab Group Executive Chairman Michael McNab said selling more than half the project before launch reflected changing buyer expectations.

"Selling more than half the project before public sales open tells us buyers are actively seeking apartments that offer something genuinely different," McNab said.

"Today's buyers are looking beyond four walls. They want homes that genuinely enhance the way they live, with spaces that support health, connection and everyday wellbeing."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374767]

A key point of difference for the project is the adaptive reuse of the heritage-listed Dixon's Tannery building, which will become The Retreat, a residents-only wellness precinct rather than being redeveloped into additional apartments.

The Retreat will feature a sauna and steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, a commercial-grade gym, Pilates studio, cinema, library, co-working spaces and private dining room. Rooftop amenities will include a swimming pool, landscaped gardens, outdoor entertaining areas and dog-friendly spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374760]

Designed by Cottee Parker Architects with interiors by Tom Mark Henry and landscape architecture by Aspect Studios, The Tannery comprises 87 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across 11 levels overlooking the Brisbane River.

Cottee Parker principal Dee Passenger said preserving the original tannery building had been central to the project's design.

"The easy option would have been to maximise the site's development potential with additional apartments. Instead, McNab has chosen to preserve the original tannery as a shared wellness retreat, ensuring this important piece of Brisbane's history remains at the heart of the community."

Passenger said sustainability also played a key role in the design, with materials from the original industrial site salvaged and repurposed throughout the development.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143337 project_image_fid=374761]

Motiv CEO Carly Cottam said buyers had responded strongly to the combination of larger apartments, wellness facilities and the West End lifestyle.

"We are seeing more buyers looking for homes in the sky that provide the space and functionality of a traditional home, while benefiting from the convenience and lifestyle that apartment living brings," Cottam said.

She said purchasers included both owner occupiers and investors, with demand coming from local buyers as well as interstate purchasers.

Coinciding with the public launch, McNab also announced a partnership with Queensland Ballet, whose neighbouring Thomas Dixon Centre shares historical ties with the original Dixon family.

Located on a 4,465 sqm site at 439 Montague Road, The Tannery overlooks the Brisbane River and is around 10 minutes from the CBD.

Construction is underway, with completion expected in the second half of 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=143337]

More than half of residences sold before public sales as McNab announces significant partnership with Queensland Ballet

McNab's The Tannery nears 60 per cent sold before public release, sets two-bedroom West End record

Iwan Sunito's vision for a landmark mixed-use precinct in Sydney's Inner West has taken a major step forward, with approval granted for the $1.9 billion Five Dock development first unveiled earlier this year.

The approved scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/one-global-capital">One Global Capital</a> will deliver an 80,500 sqm mixed-use precinct comprising 840 apartments, integrated hotel accommodation, commercial and retail space, alongside publicly accessible open space designed to create a new destination for the growing suburb.

"This is a significant milestone for One Global Capital and for the future of housing delivery in Sydney," Sunito said.

"The Housing Delivery Authority was established to identify major housing projects capable of delivering meaningful supply more efficiently, and we are delighted that Spencer Street has been recognised as one of those projects.”

He said the declaration reflected the rapid progress achieved since acquiring control of the site.

"In less than seven months we have progressed from taking control of the site to securing entry into one of the NSW Government's most important planning pathways. It reflects the experience of our team, the strength of our consultant group led by Urbis, and our long-term commitment to delivering transformational projects that contribute to Sydney's future."

When the project was revealed earlier this year, Sunito described the opportunity as one of the strongest development sites he had worked on.

"I probably hadn't appreciated the uniqueness of the site until more recently when putting together the concept plans," Sunito said.

"The proximity to the water, and the golf course opposite, is unlike any other part of Parramatta Road. We have a unique position and view corridors over the water that makes this one of the best sites I've worked on."

The development has evolved since its initial announcement, with the approved plans increasing the residential component from the originally proposed 750 apartments to 840 homes while retaining the project's focus on creating an integrated neighbourhood rather than a standalone residential development.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/a-city-within-a-city-iwan-sunito-flags-1-5-billion-mixed-use-precinct-in-five-dock">"A city within a city": Iwan Sunito flags $1.5 billion mixed-use precinct in Five Dock</a>

The precinct will combine apartments with hotel accommodation, commercial workplaces, retail offerings and public spaces, creating a mixed-use environment intended to serve both residents and the broader Five Dock community. The proposal also continues the collaboration between One Global Capital and internationally recognised architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/koichi-takada-architects">Koichi Takada</a>, whose previous work with Sunito includes Infinity, Arc and Skye North Sydney.

Takada previously said the design was driven by a philosophy of integrating nature into the built environment.

"The concept for this development is born from our design approach to naturalising architecture," Takada said.

"The public realm benefits from biophilic design that integrates generous landscaping, and the development is optimised for natural daylight, airflow and water views to foster wellbeing, sustainability and spaces that foster community interaction."

Sunito has consistently described the project as a "city within a city", with a strong emphasis on creating a destination that extends beyond housing.

"We want to create a development that's not only to be seen, but to be experienced by the whole local community," he said.

The approval comes as Five Dock continues its transformation ahead of the opening of the Sydney Metro West line, with the new Five Dock station set to significantly improve connections between the Inner West, Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.&nbsp;

The precinct will also benefit from its proximity to the Parramatta Road corridor, nearby waterfront parklands and established retail and dining offerings that have made Five Dock one of Sydney's most tightly held Inner West suburbs.

Iwan Sunito secures approval for $1.9 billion Five Dock mixed-use precinct

Sydney Harbour

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Residential developer Sekisui House Australia has won the tender to acquire a 9.4 hectare site on Sydney's harbourside suburb of Wentworth Point for $360 million.
The Sydney Harbour site has views across the Parramatta River, the Sydney CBD and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The proposal includes a mixed-use master-planned community of around 2,000 one, two and three bedroom apartments with multiple towers up to 25 stories in height.
Sekisui House Australia chief executive officer said Toru Abe said Sekisui House was pleased to receive the advice that they had been successful in the tender process.
“We have already contributed to the area by delivering 2,000 apartments at Wentworth Point as well as jointly investing in the recently opened A$63 million Bennelong Bridge, which is one of the largest private and public partnership infrastructure projects in Australia," he said.
“We will maximise the enormous potential of this landmark site by delivering a unique and vibrant master-planned community with pocket parks and plenty of other amenity for residents to enjoy.   
"Another major advantage to residents is the excellent transport links the location provides with a new re-developed ferry terminal with increased services, Rhodes Railway Station – now within walking distance – as well as multiple bus services linking to all major centres from Rhodes Shopping Centre.”
The master plan design proposal includes a collaboration between Japanese architecture practice, Kengo Kuma and Associates, as the lead architect, and a local firm to finalise the design. 
Construction for the project has been scheduled to commence in 2018 with anticipated delivery by 2020.
For more information, <a href="https://www.sekisuihouse.com.au/">click here</a>. 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Sekisui House Australia wins Roads and Maritime Services’ tender at Wentworth Point

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The NSW Government has listed a prime piece of freehold land on Sydney's harbourside at Walsh Bay.
Located at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-nsw-walsh+bay-502065494" target="_blank">14 Hickson Road</a>, the vacant 718 sqm parcel has two street frontages and is prime for a premium boutique mixed-use retail/residential development. 
Marketed by Savills agents Stuart Cox, Robert Lowe and Neil Cooke, the agents see the land as a unique opportunity to acquire a rare, freehold parcel of level land with excellent development upside.
“Surrounded by some of Sydney’s most expensive real estate, 14 Hickson Road is located within one of Sydney’s most prestigious locations," Stuart said.
"Moreover, as Sydney’s prime residential market continues to remain buoyant, coupled with the lack of ultra-prime sites for luxury residences, we expect strong competition for this site, both local and international."
Any development will need to adhere to existing planning controls within the Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No.16, including consideration of the heritage significance of the precinct.
Kann Finch, the highly regarded international architectural firm has prepared a design for a single mixed-use development of 8 levels, comprising 19 lavish apartments above a small ground floor retail area space of circa 192 sqm.
The retail space benefits from two additional 70sq m terrace areas located on levels 2 and 3 providing panoramic northerly views out over Sydney Harbour.
In the neighbouring Millers Point, RP Data recorded 48 sales in excess of $2 million in 2015.
Buyers who had purchased apartments within Barangaroo have reported price increases of circa 24% for a one-bed and 35% for a two-bed since 2013.
The expressions of interest for the campaign will close on September 7.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

NSW Government offers rare freehold Sydney harbourside parcel of land

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Fishing guru Rex Hunt has snappily sold his Quay Grand apartment on Macquarie Street for $2.05 million.
It was back in 1999 when Hunt paid $690,000 to buy into<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/1003-61-macquarie-street-sydney-nsw-2000-2012921911" target="_blank"> the Mirvac developed complex</a>.
Hunt has had a career in many different pursuits.
He was a police officer in Victoria while playing in the forward line for the Richmond VFL team. He became a radio football commentator, known for his habit of making up quirky nicknames for players.
However, he is probably most famous around the world for his fishing programs.
Ettiene West at Morton Sydney secured the off market sale of the 75 sqm one bedroom.
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firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

Rex Hunt sells Quay Grand, Macquarie Street apartment

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Two iconic Sydney trophy homes have been listed for sale that now go head to head in a battle for upmarket buyers.
Altona, the oft-called eight bedroom home of conspicuous consumption in Point Piper, has hit the market, along with the seven bedroom Elizabeth Bay harbourside home, Boomerang.
Both were prior record setting homes, but not this time around as James Packer's $70 million contemporary Vaucluse sale, after some serious site amalgamations, seems unbreakable for the time being.
The low-key Wang family have listed Altona, their prized Point Piper harbourfront home last sold at $52 million in 2013 on 2400 sq m.
But it won't be setting any price records given its listing follows the sale earlier this week of their adjacent 1000 sqm garden block, reputedly for around $18 million to Chinese buyers.
The iconic Victorian Italianate home was last sold by Deke Miskin, a former teenage magazine publishing industry entreprenuer, and his wife Eve who hosted many social events.
Its been a little quiet since being sold to the Melbourne-linked Chinese property developer Wang Zhijun.
The recently sold garden block had been added to Australia’s most famous trophy home by publisher Matt Handbury and his then wife, former model Fiona in the mid 1990s. 
The Handburys sold their merged 2400 sqm holding - envisaged as a tennis court - to publisher Deke Miskin and his wife, another former model Eve in 2002 for $28 million.
Rosaline Ho of Goldfield &amp; Co has been appointed to sell the home, with Alison Coopes. The Lowy family and actor Russell Crowe rank among a who's who having previously toyed with buying Altona.
Property observers suggest it might sell at $45 million plus this time given the reduced land size.
Boomerang, which doesn't come with Harbour Bridge and Opera House views, quietly hit the market earlier this month with ambitious $60 million hopes through Ray White Double Bay.
Sydney's finest Spanish mission-style trophy home, is being off-loaded by Lindsay Fox, the Melbourne-based billionaire trucking magnate who has hosted many charity fund raisers in the 4100 sqm grounds.
The Elizabeth Bay landmark harbourfront home was bought for $20 million in 2005.
The Hollywood-style mansion has often been ranked as the most expensive house in the country as it was the first property to crack the $20 million level.
It was also the first Sydney home to fetch more than $1 million when sold by the original owners in the 1970s.
It was built at a cost of 60,000 pounds for music book publisher (Sir) Alexis Albert, who lived there until he died in 1962 with it then being vacant for more than a decade. 
Perth-based developer Warren Anderson owned it from the mid 1980s until 1993, when he was evicted by the Bank of New York and it was sold by the mortgagee to the now jailed fraudster Nati Stoliar for $6.6 million.
Then merchant banker Malcolm Turnbull was interested at the time, underbidding at its 1993 auction, for the home with its majestic Moorish porte cochère, arcaded loggias, oak panelled library with Tudor-style fireplace and its so-called peacock room conservatory.
Australia’s record house price was set last August at $70 million when James and Erica Packer sold their Vaucluse mansion, La Mer to Chinese-Australian businessman Dr Chau Chak Wing.
The historic Double Bay estate Elaine remains the most expensive property for sale in Sydney after agents set an official price tag of $80 million.
The trophy home, which sits over 6900 sqm on the harbour, has been on the market for two years through Ken Jacob’s of Christie’s International Real Estate. 
“It is one of the world’s most exciting opportunities,” he said. 
For more than 125 years it has been in the hands of the Fairfax family.
The Wang's concealed ownership of the property behind a complex shelf company structure, with Chaimovitch Investments Pty Ltd fronted by an elderly relative in Melbourne. 
It's purchase attracted the interest of the Foreign Investment Review Board at the height of Treasurer Joe Hockey's crackdown on illegal Chinese property purchases last year.
But Wang and his wife Guan Hongyan are now permanent residents, and deciding on downsizing, looking at what next to buy in either Sydney or Melbourne.
A spokesman said the sale was voluntary, not a forced divestiture.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Altona versus Boomerang - battle of the Sydney trophy homes

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Two iconic Sydney trophy homes have been listed for sale that now go head to head in a battle for upmarket buyers.
Altona (above), the oft-called eight bedroom home of conspicuous consumption in Point Piper, has hit the market, along with the seven bedroom Elizabeth Bay harbourside home, Boomerang.
Both were prior record setting homes, but not this time around as James Packer's $70 million contemporary Vaucluse sale, after some serious site amalgamations, seems unbreakable for the time being.
The low-key Wang family have listed Altona, their prized Point Piper harbourfront home last sold at $52 million in 2013 on 2400 sq m.
But it won't be setting any price records given its listing follows the sale earlier this week of their adjacent 1000 sqm garden block, reputedly for around $18 million to Chinese buyers.
The iconic Victorian Italianate home was last sold by Deke Miskin, a former teenage magazine publishing industry entreprenuer, and his wife Eve who hosted many social events.
Its been a little quiet since being sold to the Melbourne-linked Chinese property developer Wang Zhijun.
The recently sold garden block had been added to Australia’s most famous trophy home by publisher Matt Handbury and his then wife, former model Fiona in the mid 1990s. 
The Handburys sold their merged 2400 sqm holding - envisaged as a tennis court - to publisher Deke Miskin and his wife, another former model Eve in 2002 for $28 million.
Rosaline Ho of Goldfield &amp; Co has been appointed to sell the home, with Alison Coopes. The Lowy family and actor Russell Crowe rank among a who's who having previously toyed with buying Altona.
Property observers suggest it might sell at around $45 million this time given the reduced land size.
Boomerang, which doesn't come with Harbour Bridge and Opera House views, quietly hit the market earlier this month with ambitious $60 million hopes through Ray White Double Bay.
Sydney's finest Spanish mission-style trophy home, is being off-loaded by Lindsay Fox, the Melbourne-based billionaire trucking magnate who has hosted many charity fund raisers in the 4100 sqm grounds.
The Elizabeth Bay landmark harbourfront home was bought for $20 million in 2005.
The Hollywood-style mansion has often been ranked as the most expensive house in the country as it was the first property to crack the $20 million level.
It was also the first Sydney home to fetch more than $1 million when sold by the original owners in the 1970s.
It was built at a cost of 60,000 pounds for music book publisher (Sir) Alexis Albert, who lived there until he died in 1962 with it then being vacant for more than a decade. 
Perth-based developer Warren Anderson owned it from the mid 1980s until 1993, when he was evicted by the Bank of New York and it was sold by the mortgagee to the now jailed fraudster Nati Stoliar for $6.6 million.
Then merchant banker Malcolm Turnbull was interested at the time, underbidding at its 1993 auction, for the home with its majestic Moorish porte cochère, arcaded loggias, oak panelled library with Tudor-style fireplace and its so-called peacock room conservatory.
Australia’s record house price was set last August at $70 million when James and Erica Packer sold their Vaucluse mansion, La Mer to Chinese-Australian businessman Dr Chau Chak Wing.
<div>The historic Double Bay estate Elaine remains the most expensive property for sale in Sydney after agents set an official price tag of $80 million.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The trophy home, which sits over 6900 sqm on the harbour, has been on the market for two years through Ken Jacob’s of Christie’s International Real Estate.
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“It is one of the world’s most exciting opportunities,” he said.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>For more than 125 years it has been in the hands of the Fairfax family.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The Wang's concealed ownership of the property behind a complex shelf company structure, with Chaimovitch Investments Pty Ltd fronted by an elderly relative in Melbourne.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
It's purchase attracted the interest of the Foreign Investment Review Board at the height of Treasurer Joe Hockey's crackdown on illegal Chinese property purchases last year.
</div>
<div>
But Wang and his wife Guan Hongyan are now permanent residents, and deciding on downsizing, looking at what next to buy in either Sydney or Melbourne.
A spokesman said the sale was voluntary, not a forced divestiture.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
</div>
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Altona, the Point Piper trophy home hits the market

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It was our fourth Surveyor-General Sir Thomas Mitchell who led the harbourfront residence push when he built the 1840s residence, Carthona on the shores of Darling Point, which is still seen and admired.
But concerns over sanitation saw many of the pioneer plutocracy taking themselves instead to harbourside ridges. 
During World War II, the fear of invasion via the harbour led to a loss of interest in waterfronts.
They haven't always been the must haves.
But come the late 1980s, the playwright David Williamson had detected the firming in sentiment when he wrote his 1987 play, Emerald City.
"No-one in Sydney ever wastes time debating the meaning of life - it's getting yourself a water frontage," one character advised.
Ofcourse not all waterfronts are alike. Not all the wisest of trophy home acquisitions.
The recent $80 million sale of four adjoining homes on Coolong Road, Vaucluse as a harbourside compound for Russian entreprenuer was significant for several reasons, not the least that it marked a return to the more traditional approach to the selection of prestigious property.
Aspect once again reigned supreme, not the picture postcard view that's highlighted every New Year's Eve.
Traditionally a northeast facing sheltered bay with boating facilities on Sydney Harbour was the most sought after buying waterfront option, but because of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and then the Opera House there's been an escalating value add to the west facing eastern suburbs homes.
This has become even more pronounced given the surging interest from off-shore buyers who often comment to estate agents “when I am in Sydney I want to know I am in Sydney by seeing the icons from my lounge room”.
Waterfronts to the west of the Harbour Bridge have seen their own transformation, especially as its industrial sites have been remediated.
The gentrification of the waterfront ever westward has meant the million-dollar price tags are the norm, and not just on the main harbour. All the way up the Lane Cove and Parramatta rivers. And Sydney's other waterways too.
When choosing the right waterfront, professional help is helpful from the buyers' agent through to the architect.
Bear in mind that councils have special foreshore protection zones that impose restrictions. 
Starting with the aspect, a north east facing home is most desirable.
The next point to consider is the depth of the waterfront. Can it accommodate a jetty or a pile berthing for your boat? 
Buyers need to consider how swells might impact with the quieter waters of bays definitely preferred.
The opposite of swells, low tide must also be borne in mind because it can become sandy and muddy. Or worse smelly with seaweed and scattered with debris.
Sandy beaches tend to attract the public who are generally allowed access to all areas below the mean high water mark.
If the waterfront is close to ferry wharfs, it will be noisy. Then there's the tour boats with their megaphone commentary which landowners can hear about themselves! Add to that the party boats with their blaring music and light show.
Accessibility to the waterfront from the house is another important consideration. Steps and inclinators are a turn off for may buyers. Steep waterfront blocks are a challenge, engineering wise and also ease of parking. 
Lastly some might wish to bear in mind the impact of climate change and rising seas as it could potentially effect especially on reclaimed land.
Selecting a property with just a great view in mind is possibly not the wisest outlay.
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Aspect makes a comeback with Sydney waterfront property

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The top sale of the week was a six bedroom deep waterfront in the Sydney suburb of Tennyson Point, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
The property, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-tennyson+point-121079062" target="_blank">141a Tennyson Road Tennyson Point</a>, sold for $5,905,000 through Joseph Mazar and Susie Crino from Ray White of Gladesville &amp; Ryde.
Top ten sales 
141a Tennyson Road, Tennyson Point, NSW 6 bed, 4 bath, 3 car house $5,905,000 Ray White Gladesville 
144 Glenmore Road, Paddington, NSW 4 bed, 3 bath, 2 car house $4,200,000 BresicWhitney Darlinghurst 
701/21a Hickson Road, Millers Point, NSW 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car unit $4,000,000 McGrath Estate Agents 
28 Cosham Street, Brighton, Vic 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car house $3,925,000 RT Edgar Brighton 
16 Belmont Avenue, Kew, Vic 4 bed, 2 bath, 2 car house $3,905,000 Jellis Craig Hawthorn 
2 Callantina Road, Hawthorn, Vic 5 bed, 3 bath, 2 car house $3,840,000 Kay &amp; Burton South Yarra 
59 Woodside Avenue, Strathfield, NSW 4 bed, 2 bath, 2 car house $3,800,000 Georges Ellis &amp; Co 
26 Bowden Crescent, Connells Point, NSW 3 bed, 2 bath, 3 car house $3,750,000 McGrath Estate Agents 
76 Wood Street, Manly, NSW 4 bed, 4 bath, 2 car house $3,550,000 Clarke &amp; Humel Property 
15 South Street, Strathfield, NSW 7 bed, 3 bath, 2 car house $3,450,000 Strathfield Partners 
 
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