A landmark former orphanage site in Surrey Hills could be transformed into a new residential community under plans lodged by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/antipodean-land-developments">Antipodean Land Developments</a> that would deliver 76 apartments and townhouses while restoring some of the suburb's most significant heritage buildings.

The burgeoninng Melbourne-based developer has submitted plans for the 9,158 sqm site at 1 Kent Road and 24 Durham Road, home to the former St Joseph's Home for Destitute Children, a historic institutional complex dating back to the late 19th century. The proposal seeks to adaptively reuse several heritage buildings while introducing two new four-storey residential buildings set within extensive landscaped grounds.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> and Kerstin Thompson Architects, the project has been conceived as a contemporary residential village embedded within a restored heritage precinct. The development team describes the design approach as "The Village in the Garden," with new buildings positioned among mature landscaping by OCULUS and significant heritage structures.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44ec8c1b-c0b6-44ae-859e-5811b3e6a023" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29.png?VersionId=p.p1_KFh4iQoV4nisdnPfQBAsWNi7m79" />

The proposal would deliver 76 dwellings comprising a mix of apartments and duplex-style residences, significantly increasing housing supply on one of the largest privately held residential landholdings in Surrey Hills. The development includes 127 car spaces, 24 bicycle spaces and more than 1,000 sqm of communal amenity, with the existing chapel building earmarked for conversion into resident facilities.

According to the planning submission, the project centres on the restoration and adaptive reuse of the site's most significant heritage assets, including the original c.1889 St Joseph's building, the chapel designed by architect Augustus Andrew Fritsch, and the historic brick perimeter walls and entry gates. The proposal also incorporates the retention of other contributory buildings including the former infirmary and school building.

Tract Consultants, in the planning report accompanying the application, said the scheme had been shaped through extensive heritage analysis and design development.

"The shared vision for the Site by the project team has culminated in a scheme which successfully breathes life back into a historic site while delivering upon the objectives of Victoria's Housing Statement in a carefully curated and contextually responsive manner."

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7263b7d8-95ea-400f-9531-6ca7d22c3c33" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29.png?VersionId=4cR1tiWOsDpgxEOwZi5vVFcyvvOsYkIE" />

The proposal is being assessed under Victoria's Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway. As part of the application, three per cent of the project's residential development cost would be contributed to the Social Housing Growth Fund. The development would also provide a diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences targeting a broader range of buyers than typically found in Surrey Hills' detached housing market.

Sustainability initiatives include an anticipated 66 per cent BESS score, natural cross-ventilation to 80 per cent of apartments, 28 per cent deep soil landscaping and a canopy cover outcome exceeding local planning requirements. The proposal also sets aside more than 1,083 sqm for communal indoor and outdoor resident amenity spaces.

<img alt="First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33fad46f-fe26-4d0a-acfd-6b776e1c6a3d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Untitled%20design.png?VersionId=D9F6WVSyYCtGvSUmith35LRp6R7PQkw_" />

Planning documents describe the property as one of the largest underutilised residential sites in Surrey Hills, arguing it presents a rare opportunity to introduce "missing middle" housing in an established inner-eastern suburb while preserving and revitalising a significant heritage precinct.

Antipodean Land Developments has built a reputation for design-focused residential projects across Melbourne, particularly in the medium-density sector. Previous developments include Neighbourhood in Brunswick East, delivered with Breathe Architecture, and Balfe Park Lane, designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects.

They've been very active in site acquisition as they build out their future development pipeline. They recently launched Thornubury House, 45 apartments above a mix of commercial, retail, and food and beverage tenancies, and have plans for a boutique project in Fitzroy and another <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/vic/antipodean-plan-apartments-for-deepdenes-missing-middle-on-whitehorse-road">"missing middle" project</a> on Deepdene's Whitehorse Road.

Joel Robinson

First look: Antipodean Land Developments plans heritage-led apartment community in Surrey Hills

Developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/auyin-property-development">Auyin</a> is the latest to turn to the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program in an effort to secure approval for its long-planned, mixed-use project in Elsternwick.

In 2018, Auyin lodged plans with Glen Eira City Council for a 14-storey building, however Council approved a reduced eight-storey scheme. A subsequent VCAT appeal in 2019 upheld the eight-storey height limit.

The project was later amended to nine storeys, but Auyin is now seeking to revive something closer to its original vision. The developer argues that the planning context has evolved significantly over the past decade, particularly within the Elsternwick Activity Centre, where higher-density development has increasingly been encouraged along Glen Huntly Road.

The proposal would transform the 1,239 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/7-12-horne-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">7-15 Horne Street</a>, opposite Elsternwick Railway Station, into a 13-storey residential and retail development designed by CBG Architects, with 40 apartments

The site currently comprises three commercial properties.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5f465dd4-509b-4082-a669-0253b313914b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20podium.png?VersionId=72frWi0SmQ5AVJ3ARRhX5ILUYObhTm7x" />

The proposed apartment mix comprises 25 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom residences above 200 sqm of retail space at ground level. Residents would have access to a 90 sqm wellness facility, a 351 sqm communal indoor and outdoor terrace on the third level, and extensive landscaped areas throughout the development. A publicly accessible 135 sqm plaza would be created on the north-east corner of the site, providing seating, landscaping, and a new gathering space adjoining Horne Street.

The design adopts a four-storey podium that references the finer-grain character of the surrounding streetscape, with the upper tower recessed behind generous setbacks on all boundaries.

<img alt="First look: 13-storey mixed-use tower planned for Elsternwick activity centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e637e763-2abc-4c34-a0aa-5c7ad36fae18" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/elsternwick%20open.png?VersionId=J1AoOpZgTyaF.KeeFSX6lMjEScX8KKRi" />

A key element of the proposal is the reconfiguration and widening of the surrounding laneways. Vehicle access would be retained from Lois Lane, with upgraded pedestrian connections linking Ross Street and Horne Street. The development would provide 58 residential car spaces, two retail car spaces, and 52 bicycle spaces across two basement levels and ground-floor facilities.

Architecturally, the building draws inspiration from the established character of Elsternwick Village. The façade combines dark charcoal brickwork, textured concrete, bronze-toned metal detailing, and extensive planting integrated into podium and tower levels. The design also incorporates a chamfered corner treatment and publicly accessible plaza intended to strengthen pedestrian activity around the station precinct.

Elsternwick's last new development completion was&nbsp;EVA Elsternwick by Pitard late last year. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/milieu-property">Milieu</a> is working away on its nature-led neighbourhood, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/elsternwick-gardens-by-milieu-8-gordon-street-elsternwick-vic-3185">Elsternwick Gardens</a>, on Gordon Street, with its first stage expected to complete next year.

First look: Auyin seeks mixed-use apartment project in growing Elsternwick Activity Centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/otium-parkdale-123-125-como-parade-east-parkdale-vic-3195">Otium Parkdale</a>, the 13-residence boutique development by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/huxtable-property">Huxtable Property</a>, has entered its final stages of delivery, with completion expected within the coming month and more than half of the residences sold.

The Como Parade East project is nearing the finish line at a time when opportunities to purchase new apartments in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parkdale-vic-3195">Parkdale</a> remain exceptionally limited. Fewer than 10 per cent of dwellings in the bayside suburb are apartments, making developments like Otium a relatively rare addition to a market traditionally dominated by detached housing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5427]

The three-level development comprises 13 residences, including ten two-bedroom apartments and three larger three-bedroom homes, all positioned above a secure basement car park.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/almeida-architects">Almeida Architects</a> with a strong connection to its coastal surroundings, Otium combines red brick, exposed concrete and dark metal detailing with integrated landscaping and greenery. Expansive glazing, generous balconies and terraces have been incorporated throughout the design to maximise natural light and reinforce indoor-outdoor living.

Inside, the residences feature engineered European oak flooring, natural and reconstituted stone benchtops, Bosch kitchen appliances, ducted heating and cooling, lift access and secure entry systems. The larger three-bedroom residences on the upper level have been designed with house-like proportions, while the two-bedroom apartments prioritise functionality, flexibility and low-maintenance living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5421]

The project is now in its final stages, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/labco">Labco</a> completing the remaining landscaping and external finishing works following the completion of the residences' interiors.

Otium's location within the heart of Parkdale continues to underpin its appeal. Residents will be just steps from local cafés, restaurants, shops and the newly elevated Parkdale Station, while the beach is less than a kilometre away.

With the project tracking ahead of schedule, buyers can currently secure a residence with a five per cent deposit and benefit from settlement terms of up to eight months. The advanced stage of construction also provides buyers with the opportunity to walk through the near-complete residences and experience the quality and finishes firsthand ahead of completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134974]

Otium Parkdale enters final month before completion as rare apartment opportunity nears sellout

A new boutique apartment development is entering the market in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chermside-qld-4032">Chermside</a>, with Brisbane-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ausdev">Ausdev</a> bringing 33 residences to a well-connected pocket of Brisbane's north.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/parkdrive-apartments-chermside-25-sammells-drive-chermside-qld-4032">Parkdrive Apartments</a>, at 25 Sammells Drive, will comprise a mix of one- and two-bedroom residences positioned within walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, and Bradbury Park.

Established in 1989, Ausdev has a long-standing presence across both development and construction, with Parkdrive Apartments representing its latest residential project in Brisbane's northern suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363778]

The development has been designed around open-plan living and natural light, with residences featuring stone benchtops, timber cabinetry, BOSCH appliances, and private balconies that extend the living areas outdoors.

Kitchens are positioned as the centrepiece of the homes, incorporating natural material palettes and integrated appliances, while bathrooms have been designed with a focus on functionality and understated finishes.

Residents will have access to a communal barbecue and entertaining area on Level 3, providing shared outdoor space within the development. Secure parking and lift access are also incorporated into the building.

The project will deliver a limited collection of 33 apartments, with one-bedroom residences priced from $749,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Beyond the building itself, the location places residents within easy reach of several of Chermside's key amenities. Bradbury Park is around 350 metres away, while Westfield Chermside is approximately 1.3 kilometres from the site. The Prince Charles Hospital is located within 750 metres, and the Chermside Bus Interchange is around 1.5 kilometres away, providing connections across Brisbane.

Parkdrive Apartments adds to the growing residential pipeline in Chermside, a suburb that continues to evolve as a major retail, healthcare, and transport hub for Brisbane's north.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152125]

Ausdev introduces boutique Parkdrive Apartments to Chermside's growing centre

<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]

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

Tasmania

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If you are a potential owner occupier or investor with a property budget of $500,000, it can go a long way in the Tasmanian residential property market compared to other states, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White in their residential market report for July 2016.
"This figure is within a price bracket in the residential market which is characterised by purchasers that are second home buyers trading up either in location, size or age although recent sales in all regions indicate some investor activity," says the report. 
This market segment is currently the most active within Tassie’s residential property market.
Recent sales within this price bracket include: New Town, approximately four kilometres northwest of central Hobart, a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, renovated period home sold for $250,000. The property has flexible living options, was sold leased and marketed as achieving $610 per week rent.
Tolman’s Hill can be reached via Hobart’s southern outlet and is approximately six kilometres southwest of central Hobart and is where a three-bedroom, two-bathroom modern strata property recently sold for a touch over $500,000. The property is located in a bushland setting with water views and was listed for rent at $450 per week.
In Legana, an outer suburb of Launceston, an older style, partly updated, four-bedroom, two-bathroom property on a large block with river access and an above ground pool recently sold for $500,000. This property is currently being offered for rent at $450 per week.
Charles Street, which some Launcestonians refer to as the Paris end of town due to its strip of cafés and restaurants is where a circa 1900 updated, four-bedroom, two-bathroom terrace property sold recently for just under $500,000. This area is sought after by renters as it is close to Launceston’s General Hospital.
The traditional holiday spots along Tasmania’s northwest coast appear to be where the majority of recent sales around the $500,000 mark are occurring. At Hawley Beach, approximately 24 kilometres northeast of Devonport, a modern three-bedroom, two-bathroom home sold for just over $500,000. The property was subsequently listed for rent at $420 per week.
At Sisters Beach, approximately 22 kilometres northwest of Wynyard, a modern, beachfront, two-bedroom, two-bathroom home sold for just over $513,000.
"With regard to longer term capital gains in the property market, historically in all Tasmanian population centres, centrally located suburbs have best held their value. During the past year Tasmania has continued to enjoy relatively stable economic conditions with some regions experiencing reductions in stock levels resulting in some incremental capital gains in these areas."
Property Observer found this two-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-sisters+beach-119466087" target="_blank">57 Irby Boulevard Sisters Beach, Tas 7321</a> sold for $513,450.
<img src="/images/HTW-Tassie.png" alt="">
 
 
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Second home buyers more active in Tasmania's $500,000 property market: HTW

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Chef Steve Cumper has listed his Tasmanian farm, Silver Creek. 
The 1890's home was one of the first in the now trendy Cygnet, Huon Valley locality. 
Owner Steve Cumper is a popular figure in the area, owning the Red Velvet Lounge, one of Cygnet's hotspots. 
There's <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-cygnet-122792434" target="_blank">$490,000 plus hopes</a> through Amber Leighton at Your Home Realty. 
The charming five bedroom home sits on four hectares, south of Hobart, where big-city refugees are living the dream. 
There's a separate studio in the grounds with a dam, stockyards, timber sheds and a hot house. 
It's where he grows vegetables and herbs. 
Cumper the winner of Country Style magazine’s first ever National Country Chef of the Year award made his name at Soulmama at the St Kilda seabaths. 
His iconic The Red Velvet Lounge on Cygnet's main street was included in a 2014 issue of the Wall Street Journal. 
Cumper is a keen participant in the Product of the Huon Valley network. 
He, like many of the local foodies, was attracted some two decades ago to Cygnet by the superb local produce.
This article was first published in The Weekend Australian.
 
 
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Silver Creek, Cygnet, Tasmania farm offering

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A contemporary beachside home has been listed for sale in Waubs Bay, Tasmania. 
The architecturally designed beach house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-bicheno-112351223%20" target="_blank">2 Jetty Road</a>, Bicheno has been listed for $1,790,000. 
The 389 square metre house has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and is climatically controlled with underfloor heating.
The house was featured in an issue of Tasmanian Life Magazine which celebrated the property’s Greek influences and modern design. The article was written by Elizabeth Bailes and photographed by Sean Fennessy. 
The 2026 square metre property is located next to the beach with views of the water from every window and the top floor terrace. 
The property is listed through LJ Hooker agent Robert Evans whose parents currently own the house. 
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Contemporary beachside home for sale in Waubs Bay, Tasmania  

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A rural property with two homes plus ownership of a nationally-known country restaurant and landmark on Tasmania's East Coast, The Famous Mt Elephant Pancake Barn, has been listed for $1,250,000.
The property at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-st+marys-121342558" target="_blank">824 Elephant Pass Road, St Marys</a> has four bedrooms and two bathrooms. 
The current lease of the Mt Elephant Pancake Barn restaurant expires in 2018.
The restaurant is managed by the lessee family who have been in charge for the last seven years of the restaurant’s 30-year history. 
The property is listed through Peter Lees Real Estate Launceston.
The median price for a home in St Mary's is $138,500, according to CoreLogic.
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Two houses and restaurant income listed in St Marys, Tasmania

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The former divisional director and head of training for equity markets at Macquarie Bank Rohan Boman and wife Anne have listed their Tasmanian Federation home Cooinda.
Originally from Queensland, the couple have spent many years living and Sydney and overseas but decided to settle in the south.
They paid $2.7 million for the home which sits on a sprawling 3.4 hectare parcel on the edge of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel.
Built in 1905, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-birchs+bay-119616911" target="_blank">the fully renovated Cooinda</a> has four bedrooms, a formal dining room, a central study and a sheltered garden terrace.
They keep chicken and sheep on the property which also features a 1984 renovated barn and a self-contained cottage.
Rohan is currently the director at Australian Whisky Holdings.
The property is listed through Knight Frank Hobart agent Pam Corkhill who has $3 million plus hopes.
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Tasmanian Federation home, Cooinda for sale

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486 Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay Tasmania has been listed with expectations of selling for $2.3 million.
 
Shangrila, a four-bedroom house, is on the water's edge with harbour views.
 
It is marketed by Charlotte Peterswald for Property Sales.
 
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Sandy Bay Tasmania trophy listed

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Housing market conditions in Hobart have remained relatively flat over the past year, showing a 0.7 percent fall in Hobart home values over the past 12 months, according to the latest NAB housing insights report.
With Hobart home values down 4.0 percent over the past five years and rents consistently rising, Hobart rental yields are now the highest of any capital city which may attract higher levels of investment over the coming year
House values in Hobart expected to ease by 0.6 percent, while units expected to remain stable in 2016 .
<a href="/images/2016/03/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-11%20at%203.43.31%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/03/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-11%20at%203.43.31%20PM.png" alt="">
While the Tasmanian economic outlook has improved over the last year, thanks in large part to a pick-up in business investment and strong domestic tourism, recent data suggest that the recovery may be losing some steam. 
Manufacturing continues its structural decline and the mining sector continues to struggle, but we are optimistic about some of Tasmania’s biggest sectors. In particular, agriculture is becoming more important and enjoying favourable conditions thanks to a cool climate and expanding irrigation schemes (particularly for dairy).
<a href="/images/2016/03/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-11%20at%203.46.43%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/03/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-11%20at%203.46.43%20PM.png" alt="">
Likewise, the lower AUD should continue to boost tourism and agriculture, making domestic holidays more attractive for Australians and improving local prices for farmers. Nevertheless, even though population trends in Tasmania have improved, population growth has generally lagged behind the rest of the nation. 
NAB expects Hobart house prices to decline modestly by 0.6 percent in 2016 and unit prices are expected to be flat.
On balance, the demand environment for housing is expected to improve moderately, but not enough to drive a meaningful turnaround in the housing market. Consequently, NAB expects Hobart house prices to decline modestly by 0.6 percent in 2016 – a more modest decline than in 2015 – and unit prices are expected to be flat.
 
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House values in Hobart expected to ease by 0.6 percent, units stable in 2016: NAB

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A Tasmanian beach house features as today's trophy home, on the market for a mere $660,000.
Last traded for $75,000 in 2003, the 90 sqm waterfront property has been decorated with a maritime theme and the collection can be purchased for a negotiable price.
The three bedroom home features a large sundeck, an outdoor bar and separate boatshed.
Kate Storey and Steven Jenner of Kate Storey Realty agents have the listing of <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-saltwater+river-121301330" target="_blank">35 Turners Road, Saltwater River. </a>
The property has been on the market for nearly two years.
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Tasmanian beach house still on the market

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Ninth Island, a Bass Strait island off Tasmania's north-east coast, has sold for more than $1.2 million.
The local owner of the island had initially listed the island for sale at auction last July but knocked back an offer of $1.19 million.
Selling agent Jack Lim of Fletchers Balwyn North told the Australian Financial Review the buyer was a local who bought the island before its latest scheduled auction without viewing it.
The island, which is 11 kilometres from the coast, is about 1.3 kilometres wide.
Its name is best known for the Tasmania's wine, Ninth Island.
Jack Lim said the new buyer might want to use it for ecotourism.
Ninth Island was being marketed to Chinese buyers around February last year.
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Ninth Island, Tasmania sold

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Most people don’t let the facts get in the way of an entrenched attitude.
For six months or more, I’ve been getting blank stares or responses like “Seriously?” whenever I suggest to investors they should be considering Hobart and Tasmania.
It’s really easy to get a bad reputation and extremely hard to lose it. Tasmania has the image of a basket base economy. A state that’s losing population. A property market bereft of growth.
For many years, all of that has been true. It’s true no longer.
But most people won’t be convinced until they read there’s a boom on. And by then it will be too late to buy well.
Perhaps it is already. According to the latest House Price Report from Domain, Hobart median prices rose 8.7% for houses and 7.1% for apartments in 2015. The apartment result is the second best among the capital cities, after Sydney.
Other research sources have smaller growth numbers for Hobart but there’s no doubt that this market is moving. Throughout 2015, sales activity rose. Each quarter of the year recorded more sales than the same period the year before. Inevitably that translates into price growth.
Why is this happening? Because the Tasmanian economy is mounting a strong recovery. I’ve been recording this over the past six months or so, as an increasing number of surveys and reports by major organisations like ANZ Bank, NAB and others have recorded increasingly positive outlooks for the state economy.
Here are a few of them:
<ul>
<li>The NAB business survey for August 2015 showed business confidence in Tasmania at plus 12 — three times higher than the next best states, NSW and Queensland. Chamber of Commerce CEO Michael Bailey said at the time this was further proof that Tasmania’s economy was looking up. “There’s a feeling Tasmania is a very exciting place to be right now,” he said.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>MyState’s quarterly report showed a rebound in economic indicators for Tasmania. MyState’s David Harradine said Tasmania was no longer the softest state economy on several indicators. “The lower Australian dollar, plus low interest rates, are providing an important tailwind,” he says. “This will continue to present opportunities for improvements ... The lower dollar is positive for the tourism, agriculture and manufacturing sectors which together represent a significant portion of overall activity and jobs.”</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A Sensis survey found that Tasmania leads the nation in business confidence and its State Government is the most popular among small businesses. “Businesses see the Government as supportive and interested in small business and believe it is working to reduce bureaucracy,” Sensis CEO John Allan said. The Sensis Business Index showed business confidence has tripled in the state, rising 46 points to +64 and is now 25 points above the national average. Hobart was the most confident capital city, followed by Sydney and Brisbane, while confidence in regional Tasmania was up 52 points to +60, which ws the highest regional score in the nation.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A Deloitte Access Economics Business Outlook report described the Tasmanian economy as “well and truly on the rise”.</li>
<li>Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce CEO Michael Bailey said the effect of Australia’s post-mining boom slump on interest and exchange rates was breathing life into Tasmania’s tourism, manufacturing, forestry, building and overseas student industries. “We are seeing phenomenal opportunities, particularly for Tasmania’s agricultural and aquaculture industries,” he said.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>State Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the State Government was working to grow the economy with its $315 million jobs package and $1.8 billion infrastructure program.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The quarterly ANZ/Property Council survey said Tasmania is about to experience a surge in foreign investment. It forecast that foreign investors would be responsible for 14% of residential purchases in Tasmania in the March 2016 Quarter, compared to 4% or below throughout the quarters of 2015. 
</li>
</ul>
The situation in Tasmania right now feels a little bit like 2003. Back then, after prices had surged in mainland cities like Melbourne, investors looked across Bass Strait, noticed how cheap everything was and generated a price boom.
Hobart currently has a median dwelling price around $330,000, compared to $600,000 in Melbourne and $775,000 in Sydney.
Cheap real estate, a market with rising momentum, underpinned by a strongly moving economy - it’s a package worth considering.
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter.</a>
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