Domain Prestige - March 27, 2024

Daylesford’s reputation precedes it but when we rolled into the quaint Victorian town in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, all expectations were blown out of the park. Perhaps it was the contrast of arriving in a place so serene on what would usually be a stressful day at work, or maybe it was simply the magic of its natural mineral springs, gardens, galleries and vinecovered cafes. Whatever it was, it was love at first sight and I’m reliving all the goodness in this week’s Living in column until we meet again. Elsewhere, on the unmissable cover you’ll spot my favourite residence (possibly ever), which has come onto the market in Perth. Why my favourite? Prestige has seen nothing like the house designed by acclaimed architect Iwan Iwanoff in his signature ’70s brutalist style. It has been owned by a number of highflyers, who were rumoured to have hosted some legendary parties there.

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By KATE FARRELLY

City Beach

Perth 7 Dorking Road

Private sale

Agent: Shore Property, Scott Swingler 0403 344 649 with William Porteous Properties

International, Olivia Porteous 0423 557 438

If your property wish list includes a prestigious address, water views, a large landholding with a pool and tennis court and, most importantly, an extraordinary architectural residence, Tomich House could be just the ticket. This five-storey, Iwan Iwanoff-designed masterpiece has undergone a professional restoration.

Gruyere

Yarra Valley 12 Range Road

Nubeena

Tasman Peninsula 511 Roaring Beach Road

Expressions of interest

Agent: Harrison Agents Hobart, Georgie Rayner 0418 660 388

This off-grid residence boasts breathtaking views of Roaring Beach Bay. Showcasing recycled building materials, the home comprises living and sleeping pavilions wrapped in decks and terraces. A spell in the sauna or a soak in the outdoor sunken bath is a great way to end the day.

Burleigh Heads

Gold Coast 26 George Street East

Expressions of interest

Agent: Forbes Global Properties, Robert Fletcher 0413 493 901

The result of a 1990s collaboration between restaurateur and arts patron Rinaldo Di Stasio and his good friend, the late architect Allan Powell, this unique estate provides ample space for cooking, entertaining and displaying art. Highlights include a tree-studded courtyard and an impressive pool.

Private sale

Agent: Kingfisher Realty, Conal Martin 0418 885 767

This newly completed house is a 10-minute walk from the beach and offers landscaped gardens, a north-facing swimming pool and a courtyard.

Murray Bay Road, Whitsundays

Contact Agents

Lynn Milsom | +61 415 039 060

Wayne Singleton | +61 416 024 168

The gateway to the Whitsundays.

MURRAY BAY ROAD, WHITSUNDAYS

Welcome to a world of exclusivity, where opportunity is as limitless as imagination. Embedded within the picture-perfect Murray Bay, this stunning Whitsunday property is a masterpiece of privacy and sophistication.

Steeped in heritage, this prime-position property stands at the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. Spanning close to 9 acres with over 250 metres of beachfront, the potential for this property is boundless. Under tourism/residential zoning, this property ofers fexibility in use. Whether you envision a premium resort, caravan park, lifestyle hotel/licensed venue, or you wish to retain this slice of paradise as your own private retreat, this estate ofers a curated canvas for your grandest aspirations.

Adelaide-based design brand Daniel Emma infuses simple items with playful energy, exemplified by the Stripe Vase. This piece combines whimsy with artistic form, offering graphic appeal in two different colourways: red and pink or chocolate and latte. daniel-emma-store .com

Pattern play

Not for the minimalists, these bold, graphic designs are brimming with artful expression. Compiled by PAULINE MORRISSEY

Tart It Up Lamp shines with its bold tartan pattern, while the Desert Sands Lamp is ochre brown with white and tan stripes. kipandco.com.au

STYLISH STOOLS Interior atelier Sally Caroline has launched her debut furniture line – a series of stools that blend minimalism with Amalfi Coast elegance. With rounded profiles and intricate link details, these pieces boast vibrant powder coat finishes and patterned fabrics. sallycaroline.com

CERAMIC CRAFTS In collaboration with ceramicist Kaz Morton, Kip & Co unveils a collection of handmade ceramic lamps with paper mache shades. The

SWEET STRIPES

CULTURAL CANVAS First Nations and Hungarian artist Tiarna Herczeg has collaborated with Double on a rug collection. She blends her Kuku Yalanji heritage with contemporary design, transforming practical home decor into a canvas of cultural storytelling. double.online

by DANA TOMIC HUGHES

A sense of intimacy and sophistication

At first glance, the sophisticated moodiness of this contemporary house in Melbourne’s Hawthorn East appears to be a high-end heritage renovation like many others. Yet, the longer you look, the more the eye discerns this is no ordinary home renewal.

Architect Adrian Amore breathed new life into the Edwardian dwelling, and shares his insights into the captivating transformation.

“The owners had previously remodelled their home in the early 2000s,” he explains. “Interior finishes were showing signs of wear and were feeling dated. Their tastes had also changed.”

With more than 40 years of cherished memories, the owners, both in their 70s, sought to update their space but preserve its character.

The brief evolved through an iterative design process that gradually revealed spatial opportunities. The final scope involved updating the kitchen, dining and living areas, formal lounge and dining, main bedroom, wardrobe, en suite, library and powder room.

“Improving functionality and ease of use was paramount,” Amore says. “Our response became about looking for ways through designing the built environment [to make] our clients’ lives easier and more pleasurable. The existing dwelling was the real source of inspiration.”

Using the existing rooms and garden, Amore opened up spaces to achieve a greater sense of physical and visual connection, improved circulation and a richer spatial atmosphere.

One of the standouts is the central dining area, previously underutilised and disconnected.

Through clever interventions, including introducing a bar area and banquette seating, Amore successfully transformed this space into a vibrant hub that flows into adjacent rooms.

A picture window draws in natural light and opens to views of gardens, framed with a bronze reveal that connects cabinetry with a curved bronze panel. This detail becomes the bridge to adjacent spaces, shifting from wall joinery to the

COURTESY OF JONES

fireplace into the kitchen and butler’s pantry.

The shifting compositions of the architectural elements interlock and visually link all spaces.

Materiality plays a pivotal role in shaping the aesthetic and sensory experience. Amore’s warm, dark finishes create a sense of intimacy and sophistication, which harmonise with the abundant natural light.

The architect’s commitment to precision is evident. Spaces feel bespoke and considered, with precision akin to a Swiss Army Knife. Lines of joinery marry up with precise connections in curved and domed ceilings, carried through to the kitchen corner window.

Every detail is approached with such exactness, reflecting Amore’s obsession with architectural junctions. This obsession delivers a unifying language, which he refers to as “embracing volumetric generosity”.

The en suite further proves his obsession with detail and willingness to push boundaries.

“The juxtaposition of traditional materials with abstract geometries adds depth and visual interest while maintaining a cohesive design language,” the architect says, adding: “The true measure of success lies in the emotional connection forged between occupants and their environment.”

Indeed, the owners’ profound affection for their revitalised residence speaks volumes about this project’s real impact. yellowtrace.com.au

“The true measure of success lies in the emotional connection forged between occupants and their environment.”

11 Pipers Point, Robina

THE FINEST HOME IN ROBINA WITH STYLE, SOPHISTCATION & PURE QUALITY

The Ben Williams Team are excited to present this prestigious home that is ready for its new owners to move straight into!

POINT POSITION - NORTH FACING - VIEWS - LARGEST BLOCK IN THE

SUBURB 2,756m2 WITH 53.3m WIDE WATER FRONTAGE

11 Pipers Point is Enviously positioned at the end of the cul-de-sac in the Exclusive Pipers Point Robina, it is a secluded and private oasis that flawlessly captures the essence of our much-vaunted lifestyle enjoyed here in South East Queensland, where one is gently coaxed outside at every opportunity to enjoy the lake, lush gardens, peaceful surrounds and serene alfresco spaces all year round in this wonderful climate.

This modern stylish bespoke home covers over 100 squares and is encapsulated by 2,756m2 of gated lush landscaped and tropical gardens that has been exquisitely renovated where the Attention to detail is evident throughout creating an executive yet functional family home with multiple living area’s and loads of outdoor space for the kids & “big boys” toys.

Boasting a Northerly aspect with a huge water frontage and uninterrupted lake views, it is unmistakably clear that outdoor living is high on the agenda of the current owners and they have gracefully created a resort style feel, where kids can play, Mum, Dad & the teenagers can entertain friends and family in whatever numbers the occasion demands. Life-long memories will be made, as you come together with your favourite people, living, laughing and loving together in this inviting alfresco oasis.

Features Include & Not Limited to:

• Securely Gated

• Landscaped Gardens

• 3 Car Garage with Storage Room

• Wine Cellar

• Additional Parking for 5+ cars

• Kids Play Area

8 6 11

• Pontoon

• Outdoor Under Cover Alfresco & Entertaining Area

• Indoor Pool

• Dual Living opportunity with separate entrance

Ben Williams

0435 780 117

benwilliams@remax.com.au

DAYLESFORD

Top restaurants, spas, stunning homes, friendly people … what’s not to like about this central Victorian gem? By PAULINE MORRISSEY

Ninety minutes from Melbourne, in the lush goldfields of central Victoria, Daylesford dazzles with its splendid period architecture echoing the wealth that once flowed as freely as its mineral springs. Together with Hepburn Springs, it offers a harmonious mix of heritage and natural beauty, surrounded by peaceful hamlets.

Daylesford shines with its myriad awardwinning restaurants. The annual ChillOut Festival is the third-largest queer event in Australia, highlighting the town’s embrace of the LGBTQIA+ community. And its vibrant and warm community spirit is affirmed by its rating as Australia’s friendliest destination and the fourth globally, according to booking.com users.

Daylesford’s drawcards

Brimming with local treasures, Daylesford often converts weekend visitors into residents. The acclaimed Lake House blends boutique stays, fine dining and spa treatments. Cliffy’s Emporium is a rustic cafe, and The Convent Daylesford, now an art gallery, offers exquisite high tea.

At the town’s heart, Ecasa, a European-inspired homewares store in an Edwardian terrace, features a Parisian-style guest apartment above.

“Alongside renovated grand period residences, we’ve seen a surge in architect-designed homes, enriching our historic backdrop,” says Belle Property Daylesford principal Will Walton.

“Our tourism also continues to flourish, not relying on sun, sand or snow, but rather on our thriving hospitality industry that heralds paddock-to-plate experiences.”

Daylesford is increasingly attractive to professionals with young families seeking the space and serenity of country living without sacrificing urban comforts. “Short bus trips to Ballarat also appeal to families who wish to send their kids to some of Victoria’s best schools and colleges,” Walton says.

Sault of the earth

Sault Restaurant, owned by Jodi Flockhart and her husband, Damien Aylward, is nestled on a breathtaking estate that resembles the French countryside, with its lavender and sunflower fields and a picturesque lake.

“It’s wonderful to watch people drop their shoulders as they hop out of their cars, take a deep breath of fresh alpine air, and catch a glimpse of flowers and fresh produce growing on our farm,” Flockhart says.

“I love watering my bee garden at sunrise, collecting fresh flowers and eggs from Loganberry Farm, and Sunday trips to the farmers market. Days can end just as magically, whether strolling through Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, bike riding to Hepburn Springs, or taking sunset walks by Lake Daylesford.”

Daylesford Lake to the north-west of Melbourne is a small town area popular with city visitors.

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Daylesford

Macedon Ranges 33a West Street

$3.075 million

4 3 3

Private sale

Agent: Belle Property Daylesford, Ashlee McKee 0448 169 383

Brand new with multigenerational appeal, this architectural gem flaunts a sublime kitchen and superb al fresco areas with a plunge pool. Oversized windows frame Wombat Hill views.

Hover your camera over the code to see Domain listings in Daylesford

The

If they build it, will returns come?

Investors thinking of buying in boom areas around the Western Sydney Airport metro line face a plethora of pros and cons.

By SUE WILLIAMS

It’s Australia’s single biggest development project, so does the area around the construction of the Western Sydney Airport metro line offer fabulous investment opportunities? Or is it a vast building site with no end in sight that’s best avoided?

And the answer is … a bit of both.

“It’s catering for a major expansion of population growth there, so you’re looking at massive spending on infrastructure, roads, hospitals, housing, schools, everything,” says Kate Hill, the founder of property advisors Adviseable, who’s been buying in nearby Penrith since 2016.

“They’re building a whole aerotropolis and, to borrow the line from the movie Field of Dreams, ‘If you build it, he will come’. But you can’t get everything all at once. Once the community is established, the rest of the infrastructure will come. So, you have to be patient as it’s a longterm project, and be aware that governments change and things can change, too.”

The area’s airport earthworks, rail stations, tunnels, bridge, data centres and residential

development have driven billions of dollars in investment and, according to Premier Chris Minns, thousands of new jobs.

While he likes to avoid any that is likely to have traffic congestion, infrastructure spending indicates that the area is expected to attract employment and offer a better quality of life.

“At the moment, the country is undersupplied significantly in housing so the new housing that will be built there, and the jobs to come, are definitely also good indicators of how property prices will go in the future,” Fadini says.

“More infrastructure will come and catch up, like childcare and schools, and make the area even more appealing in the long term.”

“More infrastructure will come ... and make the area even more appealing.”

On the other hand, Urban Taskforce of Australia chief executive Tom Forrest has criticised the lack of action on more vitally needed infrastructure, namely water and other nearby road upgrades, that he believes is hampering economic activity.

However, Julian Fadini, founder of investment advisors PRPTY 360, says a significant part of his investor philosophy is based on buying property around infrastructure.

Of course, some of the earliest investors have done best since the announcement of the Western Sydney airport plans, with land prices in the vicinity doubling from 2008 to 2012 from $300,000 to $500,000 an acre [0.4 hectares], says Pure Property Management’s Paul Glossop.

Later, the 2016-17 rezonings from rural to R2 for low-density housing, R3 for townhouses and villas, and R5 for apartments meant land prices shot up again, with some in prize positions being exchanged for $1 million an acre.

Glossop is recommending the “average investor” buys free-standing houses in higherdensity areas nearby, like St Marys and Claremont Meadows. For less money, an alternative would be buying into the 1960s or 1970s red brick double-storey walk-ups with an entry level of $400,000 to $600,000.

“These older apartments in small blocks are generally well built and can grow in value, along with their land area,” he says.