Mansion April 2020

Mansion AUSTRALIA

INCORPORATING NEWS FROM DOW JONES’ M A NS ION GL OBA L

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Interiors

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HIDDEN GEMS Buyers head to Queensland for luxury and respite Position, position

Elysium

Beachside at Tamarama

The ultimate housing estate

Issue 34 H April 2020

Eames Chair

Work from home comfort

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SEAN FENNESSY

Contents

Interiors, page 33

1 3 L U X U R Y Sydney artistic estate, Sassafras grandeur, modern living in Ascot 1 6 C O V E R Buyers look to the Queensland market for lifestyle and value

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2 0 D O L L Y The Hamptons is buzzing while New York watches and waits 2 2 N O O S A A housing estate that has it all has finally come into its own 2 4 T A M A R A M A Danny Avidan’s new project has a stunning beach outlook 2 5 P E R T H In the WA capital, the smart money is moving into prestige property 2 6 P R E S T I G E Australia’s favourite streets are not just about price 2 7 F E R N H I L L Grand old properties are being repurposed for the future 3 0 M A N S I O N G L O B A L Scandi style in NZ, river views in Bangkok 3 1 B A C K P A G E Redleaf is one of the finest examples of the Federation style 3 3 I N T E R I O R S A Victorian cottage gets an injection of Japanese wabi-sabi 4 0 P R O D U C T S Monochrome highlights to add understated impact 4 2 D E S I G N C L A S S I C S The timeless Eames Chair and Ottoman

N E X T I S S U E : May 9, 2020

O N T H E C O V E R A grand 1ha estate on London Road in

the upmarket Brisbane suburb of Chandler. Now on the market, it last sold for $3.85 million in 2018.

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Editor Lisa Allen Contributing editor Jonathan Chancellor Interiors editor David Meagher Art director Samantha Yates Writers Sam Duncan Michelle Singer Emily Pettafor Ben Wilmot Chief sub editor Deirdre Blayney Picture editor Christine Westwood Advertising Michael Thompson Tel. 61 2 9288 3630 michael.thompson2@news.com.au

Unsolicited manuscripts will not be considered.

Printed by Ovato Print Pty Ltd, 31 Heathcote Road, Moorebank 2170, for the proprietor and publisher, Nationwide News Pty Limited (ACN 008 438 828), of 2 Holt Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010 for insertion in The Weekend Australian on April 11, 2020

Editor’s letter Time will tell how the unprecedented ban on live residential auctions coupled with the cessation of open house inspections will influence the nation’s real estate. Unsurprisingly, house values started weakening towards the latter half of March as the rapacious coronavirus took effect. Agents, like most other members of the community, were called to do their bit and stop its spread by switching from open house inspections to private tours. As we know, public auctions have been banned for now in favour of online auctions.

And some agents are now taking the private treaty sale route.

In early March, prices were still strong, but later in the month as the pandemic deepened values started edging downwards, according to CoreLogic’s head of research, Tim Lawless. Over the quarter, CoreLogic data shows prices rose in every capital city except for Hobart, where they declined a paltry -0.2 per cent. Sydney has the highest growth in the three months to March with values shooting up nearly 4 per cent, Melbourne residential prices were up nearly 3 per cent and Canberra 1.7 per cent. Darwin and Adelaide gained in prices but at a much lower percentage than the major capitals, while Perth house prices rose nearly 1 per cent.

Everyone is talking about how the economy will boom once the COVID-19 threat passes. Some believe prices will fall, while veteran real estate agent John McGrath, founder of McGrath Estate Agents, says there will be a surge in demand for rural and regional luxury homes. Certainly Blue Mountains agent Brenden Purcell at Purcell Property has noted an influx of Sydneysiders looking for clean air in the mountains west of Sydney.

McGrath tells Jonathan Chancellor in our cover story centred on South East Queensland that there will be a surge in demand in luxury homes away from our major capitals when the country bounces back from COVID-19.

McGrath reckons rural and regional luxury homes within two hours’ drive will experience a surge in demand as they did post 9/11, as buyers reassessed their priorities and lifestyle became top of mind.

As Sydneysiders flock to the Southern Highlands, Melbourne residents descend on the Mornington Peninsula, and Brisbane dwellers head north to Noosa and south to the Gold Coast, we are already experiencing a flight to quality – out of our cities to healthier climes.

As always, we thank our hardworking real estate agents, property developers and interior designers who helped us put together this issue of Mansion Australia.

Lisa Allen Editor THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

| APRIL 11-12, 2020

“French Inspired Opulence on the Bellarine Peninsula”

Campbell Point House, Bellarine Peninsula, Leopold Campbell Point House is a breathtaking private estate beyond compare. Set on 15 hectares (37 acres approx.) of waterfront land on the banks of Lake Connewarre the property boasts panoramic views across the Bellarine Peninsula. Currently operating as a boutique hotel, the property was built in 2008 as a private residence, comprising some 1,400sqm (approx.) of luxury living. This secluded property offers a large family compound or corporate retreat with abundant accommodation.

campbellpointhouse.net.au

Expressions of Interest View

Contact

By Private Appointment Only

Sean Cussell 0425 787 979

prestigehomes.com.au

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With uninterrupted breathtaking views along Noosa Damthe late 80’s t. Eque praecri turimen Main Beach, Noosa River mouth and beyond to terivita reo vo, consum halic reissilic iste nonfex Mt Cooroy, a contemporary design masterpiece, me forae consuam tam prae, Patu quem iam inspired by everything ultra-luxurious with no atod nonsis. Hocaes iam ad consulem iam expense spared, is undoubtedly Little Cove’s most inverma nductat, mo vit; Catis occhuid mus prized residence. Interiors exemplify a sense omnit plisterio, ina, cutemul arestiam tere, of calm, almost a Zen simplicity of using natural estuam Romnem vitus comnequerum ne que materials, flowing water plus patterns of light and aucerid epsesse renium opubliquod ad aveme space in response to the natural backdrop.

Price $7M Price Saturday 17 March 1pm Agent Rebekah Offerman View Saturday 11.00am - 11.30am Wednesday 0413 044 2414pm - 5pm Agent Nic Hunter 0421 785 512

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TERREY HILLS, NSW

Harvey House Gallery and Sculpture Park, the Terrey Hills acreage of art collector Trevor Harvey and wife Skii, has been listed with a guide of $8 million. The Harveys have crafted the grand residence and its surrounds over the past two decades, since paying $1.48 million in 2000. The two-level home was designed as an entertaining venue and private resort-like retreat.

There are six bedrooms, the master with an Italian marble ensuite. A swimming pool oasis lined with Italian tiles sits in the immediate surrounds. The horse stables have been turned into a studio for arts and crafts, while there’s an undeveloped 100-year-old workman’s cottage and another set of art studios.

Etch Real Estate agents Hugo and Luljeta Ortega have the listing of what Hugo says is one of Sydney’s finest artistic estates.

PALM BEACH, NSW BRONTE, NSW

Light-filled retreat with ocean views

A renovated 1950s Palm Beach weekender on the prized low side of Barrenjoey Road has been listed for sale with $3 million hopes. The two-level home with a crisp neutral beachy palette last traded for $1.85 million in 2014, the first time it had sold in more than four decades since it was bought for $40,000 in 1971.

Adjoining a waterfront reserve on 815sq m, the home is described as a hidden gem by LJ Hooker Palm Beach agents David Edwards and Danielle Forde. Nearly every room has views of Pittwater, across to Stokes Point and Careel Bay. There are five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a renovated kitchen. The living area opens to an entertaining deck facing the water. There’s a second sitting room in the master retreat that joins the deck. A third living area is located on the ground level.

APRIL 11-12, 2020

| THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

A brand new Bronte home designed by architect Nick Bell has hit the market. Bell created the home to embrace the ocean views and natural light, with energy efficiency also in mind.

Set on the Blandford Avenue dress circle between Bronte and Tamarama, the contemporary four-level duplex was completed last year.

An internal Kone industrial-grade lift services all four storeys. There are four bedrooms, including the master suite with its own private balcony overlooking Bronte Beach, and a self-contained teenage retreat.

The top level has informal and formal living and dining areas, with the open-plan kitchen living and dining space leading out to a rear garden with alfresco decking, a lawn and a spa.

Sydney Sotheby’s Double Bay agents Mark Goldman and Ben Cohen have a guide of $5.5 million.

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PERTH, WA

A contemporary Mount Pleasant home near the Swan River in Perth has been listed for sale. The minimalist residence on a 1010sq m Bateman Road block was designed by Rietveld Architects in 2017, complete with tray ceilings featuring Mataka stonework.

The 500sq m home is built on two levels, with the upper level dedicated to the master retreat with its own living room, walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. The open-plan living, kitchen and dining area opens to the alfresco area on the south side and a courtyard with pool and spa. Another three bedrooms occupy the ground floor, including a second master with walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. There’s also a second living area and a home office on the ground level.

The original brick home on the block sold for $1.41 million in 2015 before the new build was commenced.

Ray White Dalkeith Claremont agents John Harun and Vivien Yap have the listing.

ASCOT, QLD

Contemporary class BRIGHTON, VIC

A modern three-level home in Ascot has hit the market.

The Palm Avenue residence was the project of property developer Troy Daffy, who owns the Silverstone Group, and wife Caroline. The pair have just upgraded to Windermere, one of the suburb’s most historic houses.

In mid-2015 they paid $3.03 million for the vacant 1265sq m Palm Avenue block, before taking on the build themselves. It took a year to complete the contemporary home, which has 1255sq m of living space. The master bedroom has its own wing, with his and hers wardrobes, a dressing area, an ensuite and a balcony. The open-plan kitchen, living and dining space opens to an alfresco entertaining area, where there’s an outdoor kitchen with BeefEater barbecue and stone benchtops. It adjoins the mosaic glass heated pool. A synthetic grass tennis court sits on the other side of the home. The underground level has an intimate wine cellar with a feature black ceiling and LED lighting, a pool room, second kitchen and an entertaining space with an under-the-water view of the swimming pool.

Ray White New Farm agents Matt Lancashire and Hamish Bowman have the listing.

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A recently completed modern home in bayside Brighton, split into two houses, has been listed. The six-star energy-rated, seven-bedroom architect-designed home consists of two residences linked by a wide hallway. The front home has four bedrooms over two levels connected by a curved staircase by Enzie Stairs.

Upstairs is a master with walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. Downstairs is the open-plan kitchen, living and sitting room. The rear residence has three bedrooms, as well as a kitchen, living and dining space. A courtyard and pool sit between the two homes on the 820sq m Iona Avenue block.

Kay & Burton Bayside agents Tracy Tian Belcher and Jason Wedge have a $4.5 million to $4.95 million guide.

THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

| APRIL 11-12, 2020

FLINDERS, VIC

A near-new home in Flinders is set to be sold for the first time since its construction.

Marketed as Byron Bay chic in Flinders, the 2018-built single-level residence blends concrete and timber. The front exterior features vertical timber beams, while the rear was crafted from smooth concrete render and reclaimed bricks. The 860sq m block last traded for $530,000 in 2016 before building commenced on the home, which has a guide of $2 million to $2.2 million through Kay & Burton agents Andrew and Cass Hines.

The bespoke holiday house has four bedrooms, including a master with dressing room and concrete rendered, tumbled brass ensuite, as well as a self-contained studio.

The heart of the home is the open-plan living and dining area, complete with suspended fireplace. It sits just off the state-of-the-art kitchen, which features an island bench with a custom concrete benchtop. The living spaces open to the outdoor entertaining space, which includes a self-cleaning solar-heated swimming pool, brass and copper outdoor shower and native gardens.

AVOCA BEACH, NSW

An Avoca Beach penthouse with gun-barrel views across the sand and the sea has been listed for sale. It is located in a tightly held block of just four apartments where there hasn’t been a sale since 2007. The second-level apartment, and the penthouse both sold on the same day to the same buyer, the penthouse for $2 million and the other for $1.5 million.

Set on the dress circle Cliff Avenue, the two-level, 750sq m penthouse comprises three bedrooms on the lower level, two with Juliet balconies and the master with its own ensuite. Upstairs is the dedicated living and entertaining space, with the kitchen, living and dining area wrapped in bi-fold doors opening to an entertaining terrace with sweeping views of the beach. Belle Property Killcare agents Cathy Baker and Ben Bedford are asking $2.5 million. Baker says the apartment has a holiday rental potential of $100,000 per annum.

SASSAFRAS, VIC

Grand manor Beauxbatons Manor, a castle-like residence in the Dandenongs in outer Melbourne, has hit the market for the first time in more than 16 years. The stately home in Sassafras, some 45km east of Melbourne, last traded for $1.18 million in 2003. The 2550sq m estate is now listed with a suburb record guide of $2.6 million to $2.86 million through Bell Real Estate Olinda agents Corinne Sukroo and Jo Hirst.

Through a main entry with stone stairs flanked by bronze sculptures is the front porch, with Gothicinfluenced windows, doors and pointed arches. On the ground level are two master suites split by a casual sitting room with fireplace and bar nook, and French doors leading to a terrace. The main living space is upstairs. The dining room features a wall-length trompe l’oeil painting.

Another two bedrooms are on this level, as well as a mezzanine patio.

APRIL 11-12, 2020

| THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

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S Cover story

outh East Queensland sits ready to welcome the many home seekers who are expected to head there when the coronavirus tempest passes. Be it properties close to the beaches or hinterland offerings, they represent a cheaper housing option as well as a more relaxed lifestyle.

There’s value for money on Brisbane’s fringe and on the Gold Coast – both likely to prove tempting compared to what’s available in Sydney and Melbourne.

John McGrath, founder of McGrath Estate Agents, believes there will be a surge in demand in luxury homes away from the bustling suburbs in our major capitals when the country bounces back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I anticipate that rural and regional luxury homes within two hours of the big cities will see a surge in demand as they did post 9/11, when many people reassessed their priorities and lifestyle became top of mind,” McGrath says.

McGrath Bayside Manly agent Joseph Lordi says that Queensland offers tremendous opportunity and value.

“Queensland offers a large variety of properties and the lifestyle is unmatched,” Lordi says. “Within only a handful of kilometres of the Brisbane CBD there are many large land parcels and gorgeous traditional Queenslander-style homes.”

Lordi says Chandler, about 20km from the CBD and airports, and considered an inner-city acreage suburb, is one of the most sought-after areas in Brisbane. He says he’s recently seen a high influx of interstate buyers from Sydney and Melbourne but there are typically only 20 or so properties for sale each year. The tightly held suburb has an average hold rate of 24 years for each property, with the median sale price growing by about 30 per cent during the past five years. However, at $1.55 million, it remains significantly cheaper than Sydney and Melbourne’s inner ring. Properties in the suburb are typically on at least 1ha.

Lordi is marketing Chandler’s former record holder, on the high point of the dress circle London Road. The grand 1ha estate last sold for $3.85 million in 2018.

A stone driveway behind wrought iron gates leads to the solid concrete home’s porte cochere, past manicured hedges and landscaped gardens. With more than 900sq m of internal living space over two levels, the no-expense-spared residence features marble staircases and Spanish Crema Marfil marble flooring. On the ground level is a formal living and dining space, six-seat home theatre, dance room, home office, games room and a gym.

The upper level has five bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master suite features a walk-through wardrobe, ensuite with dual vanity and access to two Juliet

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THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

| APRIL 11-12, 2020

Fifth-level apartment in the M3565 block at Main Beach on the Gold Coast developed by Harvey Norman chief executive Katie Page

Taking stock

Buying beyond the major centres is expected to become a trend as people reassess their priorities in the wake of the virus

BY J ONAT H A N C H A NC E L L OR

APRIL 11-12, 2020

| THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

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Above: Exterior and pool at the property in Chandler, left, and its piano room Below: The lounge area of the property in The Southport School precinct, left, and its exterior as seen from above

balconies. There are a number of courtyards accessed through French doors and a 20m lap pool flanked by lawns.

PRD Nationwide’s chief economist Dr Asti Mardiasmo says many buyers in South East Queensland come from Sydney and Melbourne, as they are able to secure more for their money.

“If they are thinking of it for an investment property, it’s quite the jackpot,” Mardiasmo says, citing the lower entry price, higher rental yield and comparable vacancy rates as drawcards for buyers from the southern states.

Strong buyer interest is also apparent as a trend on the Gold Coast. Ray White veteran agent Andrew Bell saw NSW and Melbourne buyers kick off 2020 in the prestige apartment sector.

“Their activity accelerated over the Christmas/New Year period, with a decision not only to gain financially from the sale of their properties in southern states in what was a very strong market and to pocket significant cash from the difference between Sydney sale prices and Gold Coast purchase prices, but from a very noticeable desire to enjoy something of the more stress-free lifestyle the Gold Coast provides,” Bell says.

“Most of these downsizers were moving out of homes they had been living in but they did not want to move into houses here on the Gold Coast. However they could not fit into small apartments, and so one-per-floor apartments, very sizeable three-bedroom apartments and sub-penthouses became their preference.”

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The apartment offerings around Main Beach have always had the owner-occupier in mind, as opposed to the neighbouring Surfers Paradise, which caters for the holiday renter.

Ray White Prestige Gold Coast agent Robert Graham is marketing the fifth-level apartment in the Main Beach block M3565, developed by Harvey Norman chief executive Katie Page. Graham recently secured the sales of two of the seven apartments, at $4.5 million and $4.75 million, to leave just two apartments on the market in the boutique beachfront block.

The full-floor apartments, which are not allowed to be let to holiday-makers, each comprise four bedrooms and four bathrooms. Graham is asking $5.85 million for the level-five apartment, which spans 315sq m.

Graham is also marketing a sixth floor Bayden Goddarddesigned apartment in Sea for $5,975,000. “Main Beach hasn’t had anything of this calibre built since 1991, so it’s been received quite well,” Graham says on Sea. “It’s a highly prized location on Main Beach and there is no vacant land along the strip so you can’t buy and build, you have to go for something existing.” Graham says 90 per cent of top-end sales in the past year have gone to downsizers.

The Gold Coast’s $3 million-plus apartment market has performed exceptionally well during the past six months, according to Graham. “For $3 million, the apartment you will get today is far inferior to what you would have been able to buy three or four years

ago,” he says. “This market is driven almost exclusively by locally based buyers from the Gold Coast. They are almost all mature buyers downsizing from homes on the Gold Coast to luxury apartments so they can travel and not be committed to the maintenance of a home. Most are empty nesters who want room for the kids and grandkids to come and visit periodically.”

Graham says the supply line for these types of apartments is drying up, however. “Demand is the highest I have seen in almost 20 years and there’s a shortage of owners wanting to sell.”

There is still a market on the Gold Coast for upsizers. In the neighbouring Southport, inland from Main Beach, Lucy Cole Prestige Properties Broadbeach agents Jim Sherrah and John Cole are marketing a sprawling 3900sq m estate with a recently renovated 1990s home. The home, in the sought-after The Southport School precinct, has seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a home cinema, two offices and a gym. There are two master suites, each with private terraces, walk-in wardrobes and marble ensuites. In the grounds is a swimming pool and cabana.

PRD’s Arit Mardiasmo says in South East Queensland you get much more square metreage, bigger blocks of land with backyards and bigger bedrooms. “If you look at the milliondollar houses you are getting sweeping staircases and higher ceilings, and bigger walk-in robes. You don’t see this in Sydney and Melbourne (for the same price).

THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

| APRIL 11-12, 2020

3 MAHER TERRACE 1 R AV E N W O O D D R I V E SUNSHINE BEACH 8 SERENITY CL, NOOSA HEADS Spectacular artworks theEque spotlight in an idyllic beach Damclaim fachuit. praecri turimen terivita reo vo, consum house, seducing escapes to a salty life three minutes halic reissilic iste nonfex me forae consuam tam prae, Patu away from toes-in-the-sand.

Withnonsis. oceanHocaes breezesiam andad a consulem iam inverma quem iam atod monochromatic palette, all evocative of when the hustle nductat, mo vit; Catis occhuid mus omnit plisterio, ina, cutemul stops, and summer begins every day at Sunshine arestiam tere, estuam RomnemBeach. vitus comnequerum ne que Casual entertaining with two dining areas, living areas aucerid epsesse renium three opubliquod ad aveme tam larius am te and a green tranquil backdrop fromterfecri every aspect. facturore inatien se publicur patur inc vivenati,

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Price $2.55M Price From $7.4m Auction Saturday 17 March 1pm View Agent Nic Hunter 0421 785 512 Saturday 11.00amOffermann - 11.30am Agent Rebekah Agent Nic Hunter 0421 785 512 0413 044 241

offermann.com.au

CLOVELLY 1 Greville Street Aptly named The Stables, this former early-20th century horse stable has been converted into a true one-of-a-kind residential masterpiece by former TV producer and Fiji resort operator Henry Crawford. Combining timeless architecture with warehouse proportions, bespoke renovations and globally sourced materials, this exceptional residence showcases a unique island resort quality and is almost certainly unlike anything else available on the market.

All information contained herein is gathered from sources we deem to be reliable. However we cannot guarantee its accuracy and interested parties should rely on their own enquiries.

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NOOSA’S HOME OF PRESTIGE PROPERTY

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For Sale Expressions Of Interest View

By Private Appointment Ben Cohen 0400 501 544 Mark Goldman 0411 193 299

sydneysothebysrealty.com

Dolly Lenz

Local aspect

WITH JENNY LENZ

PENINSULA SOTHEBY’S

Rob Curtain Our biggest challenge will be our secondary/lifestyle housing market, which can’t avoid being affected by this pandemic.

Stock market crashes, recessions and even the GFC pale into insignificance in terms of the impact this will have on so many, including the wealthy. Many of our secondary market clients are landlords or major shareholders of large cap companies, or hold (held) well-paid executive jobs. Few will be spared some level of fallout. The market here will benefit from people not travelling, retiring sooner to the coast or taking advantage of the low Australian dollar. However, countries such as Hong Kong know how to live during times of social distancing and we can only hope Australians are quick learners. Government restrictions will have little or no impact on the way we transact sales. Over the past six years, 99 per cent of all of our sales, including many of the Peninsula’s highest, have concluded by private sale or boardroom auction. Very few, if any, multimillion-dollar homes are going to be sold by virtual or video tours without someone attending a private appointment.

RAY WHITE RURAL

Stephen Nell

Vacation comfort in The Hamptons, an area more in demand than ever

NEW YORK CITY & THE HAMPTONS

Holding pattern April in New York is traditionally an exciting time as the city sheds the last remnants of winter and the real estate market begins to heat up with the start of the spring selling season.

What normally is the most anticipated season for real estate, brokers has been completely up-ended as New York has become the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in the US. The pandemic has brought New York to a standstill and all non-essential businesses have ceased to operate.

Like so many other industries, real estate has been hit hard, as in-person showings, open houses, and offices have been closed for the time being. While transactions currently under contract are closing and deals in negotiation are continuing to be consummated, many buyers are pumping the brakes and taking a wait-and-see approach before proceeding into new deals.

Although we are still in the early stages of the pandemic, we see no indication of prices coming down. While there will always be situations where sellers must sell and will reduce prices accordingly, overall we see no signs of price declines as a result of the pandemic. What we do know is that real estate volume will be substantially reduced as deal flow slows considerably.

What we are experiencing is an early start to the Hamptons rental season, as NYC elites, prompted by a desire to exit a city under virtual lockdown, are snapping up properties as fast as they come onto market. Moreover, instead of waiting to begin the rental on Memorial Day (May 25) as is the norm, they are signing leases two 20

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months earlier, beginning on April 1. Rental prices in the Hamptons are rising commensurate with the increase in demand, to the delight of local residents.

Given recent sales data, one would think the last place needing a boost to its real estate market would be the Hamptons. Closed transactions include a $US18.350 million ($29.99 million) 6ha estate in Bridgehampton; a $US41 million, 929sq m oceanfront mansion on Southampton’s famed Meadow Lane; and another nearby Meadow Lane property, considered a tear-down, just sold for $US30 million. Yet here we are – and we expect this region to remain hot for the foreseeable future.

Responding to official appeals to stay home, many would-be buyers continue to actively search online and the real estate industry has quickly adapted to a fully virtual approach to reaching those clients. While virtual resources have long played a tremendous role in the search for real estate, the internet is now the only viable means for buyers and sellers/brokers to interact until developments return to some level of normality.

Buying and selling real estate is truly a confidence play and we expect agents to be doing some serious hand-holding as they shepherd both buyers and sellers into the future.

Dolly Lenz heads New York-based Dolly Lenz Real Estate and last year sold more than $US500 million worth of luxury US and international homes. dollylenz.com

We’re moving into a new normal where we have a great opportunity to bring the future into the present with our technological tools. We have seen our agents across the country use virtual inspections and auctions with great success, and I expect that’s something the rural industry will want to replicate. Our members have been working around the clock to photograph and video all our properties so we’re adequately future proofed, with one agent spending eight hours a day videoing their current listings. There’s a rural property in Victoria with a significant amount of infrastructure, and a huge effort has gone into the imagery and videography. It feels like you are there. It’s too early to speculate on what the impacts will be but inquiry numbers are relatively good given the uncertainty. People will always gravitate towards property when a significant event occurs.

When stocks and shares are fluctuating, people tend to prefer investing their money in bricks and mortar. There will be pent-up demand when we come out the other side.

MCGRATH ESTATE AGENTS

John McGrath Social and economic events of this nature have been a catalyst for people to reassess both their investments and their priorities and this is why we’ve seen them surge back to property as they quickly revert to the blue-chip assets they have faith in. Australian residential property is considered one of the safest assets and now our currency is providing strong discounts to expats and overseas buyers. There are few if any signs of panic selling, especially at the top end, with most vendors either maintaining their listings or choosing to sit on the sidelines until this passes. I expect the low-volume listing environment to continue in the short term and this will also protect any significant price corrections. Sydney and Melbourne are most in-demand from wealthy expats and there is a very limited supply of blue-chip positions, so demand will outstrip supply in the medium term. With a low Australian dollar our market has become even more attractive.

THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

| APRIL 11-12, 2020

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C H A R D O N N AY $55 $25 d i stasi o

DELIVERY

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P I N OT N O I R $75 $35

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A L I M E N TA R I p i ck-up & de l ive ry aust ral i a wi de d i stas iode l ive ry. com

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C H A R D O N N AY $55 $25 di stas i o d i stasi o

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Noosa heads MICHELLE SINGER

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A designed life

A high-end housing estate that got off to a rocky start now has everything to offer buyers

he $400m luxury housing estate Elysium to the west of Noosa Heads’ famous Hastings Street, was an ambitious plan. Launched in 2004 by Sydney-based developer Consolo Property, the 27ha site adjacent to the Noosa Springs Golf Course, the project was to be a 189-home estate with properties priced between $1.25m and $2.65m.

Key to the execution was the commissioning of a dozen or more of Australia’s biggest architectural firms hired to design these world-class homes. But it wasn’t to be for the sleepy resort town, which now is suffering a major COVID-19 outbreak. The GFC struck in 2008 and the project collapsed, with administrators appointed before home builder AVJennings bought the project in 2011.

For Noosa Heads real estate agent Sean Cary, it was an opportunity to sell what he considered a brilliant concept. “I always knew it was going to work; it was just a matter of timing and price,” he says, having called AVJennings asking for a job the day the deal was announced.

Back then only a handful of the dream homes were complete, several more were unfinished and 158 blocks of vacant land were yet to be sold.

“When AVJennings took it over, Noosa was still recovering from the GFC and it extended here a lot longer than it did in other areas,” Cary says. “It wasn’t until the end of 2012 that we started to see signs of a recovery. We thought the land was going to walk out the door because it was Noosa and well-priced, but we didn’t factor in all the negativity and uncertainty hanging around at that time.”

The prices of the homes were slashed to $1.2m, but even then the market was prepared to pay only around $800,000 to $900,000.

“It took two years; it was a hard slog,” Cary says.

A big turning point was the completion of Elysium’s $3m recreation centre, with its lap pool, gym, dual tennis courts, playground and dog park, in October 2012. It instilled confidence in buyers and remains a highly valued perk among residents, including former property developer Geoff Brinckman and his wife Anne, who were the first buyers in 2011.

Having purchased a Bligh Voller Nield-designed property at 22

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Clockwise from below: 6 Cottonwood Court, living room and exterior; and two views of 4 Cottonwood Court, designed by Bligh Voller Nield

4 Cottonwood Court for $950,000, the couple now is moving to a single-level apartment and has listed the four-bedroom home with price expectations of $1.695m.

“We were just driving past when we saw it was open and decided to stop in and take a look,” Geoff Brinckman says.

“As soon as we walked in, we looked at each other and said: ‘This is it.’ The roads, facilities and landscaping are all first class. There’s a real family atmosphere; kids are everywhere, playing in the road.

“I don’t think people fully appreciate what’s on offer here. They look at the house but don’t consider everything else they’re getting in all those other facilities — it’s a great advantage of what we’ve got here.”

Similarly, the Brinckmans’ neighbours at 6 Cottonwood Court, who also plan to move into an apartment, have listed their Richard Kirkdesigned home for $1.5m, having purchased it in 2013 for $806,000.

Jared and Jayden Clout, sons of renowned Noosa Heads designer Paul Clout, recognised the potential of Elysium early, launching their business CUBE Home.

The estate was finished to the highest standard and it was a nobrainer, the brothers say: “We bought two blocks and designed and built a home each and were planning on living in them. But they sold so well we thought we’d start a business.”

While their father specialises in high-end luxury builds regularly valued at $5m or more, Jared, 27, and Jayden, 25, deliver a more minimalist product with large master bedrooms and plenty of glazing.

They completed more than a dozen homes in Elysium, with some resales achieving almost $1m after Elysium’s estimated price growth of 60 per cent in the past five years, according to CoreLogic.

There is still plenty of upside yet to be achieved though, according to Cary, with building documentation on the original architectural homes proving prices remain well below replacement costs.

“You can’t buy a similar home anywhere else in Noosa for what Elysium homes are on the market for at the moment,” Cary says.

“Houses here won’t perform any differently from the rest of Noosa; it’s in such a central location, has all the facilities and is of the highest quality.”

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Tamarama

Artist’s impression of the view from the Kalypso apartment development in Sydney’s Tamarama

LISA ALLEN

Vantage point An upmarket development in a beachside setting will boast one of Sydney’s most coveted views

Sydney-based property developer Danny Avidan is so enamoured of his proposed Tamarama residential apartment complex Kalypso he is considering retaining one of its yet-to-bebuilt apartments for himself.

“I like it so much I might keep one apartment, maybe the penthouse or a sub-penthouse,” says Avidan, a former ragtrader and boss of the clothing company The Discovery Group.

The lawyer turned fashion executive turned developer now heads the Dare Property Group, and is developing the $50 million Kalypso complex comprising apartments, sub-penthouses (with wine rooms and fireplaces) and a penthouse, overlooking Bondi Bay and the famed Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk.

“Sydney is divided at the premium end between ocean and harbour views and proximity,” he says. “Certain types are attracted to one or the other, but in my case I am attracted to both.”

Avidan, who is married to former high-profile fashion designer Charlie Brown, is planning the development on a prominent site he bought last year at 63 Fletcher Street, Tamarama, on which there is presently an Art Deco building operating as a backpacker’s hostel.

The project is scheduled to be launched later this year. Avidan 24

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says that prices will start from around $1.7 million apiece for the three one-bedroom apartments. The four two-bedders will meet the market at around $3 million each.

There’s also one three-bedroom apartment priced at around $5 million, but Avidan says he is yet to cost the two sub-penthouses and the aforementioned penthouse.

Kalypso’s Melbourne-based interior designer Miriam Fanning (see also Interiors page 36), founder and director of Mim Design, did the interiors for a recently sold upper-level apartment at Harry Seidler’s Horizon development in Darlinghurst and the highly successful The Bower apartment development in Manly, as well as individual houses in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

She says it was really important to create a calm yet relaxed vibe at Tamarama.

“Whenever we do designs for apartments, we see them as houses,” Fanning says, adding that she is using natural stone Italian tiles, terracotta, 100 per cent wool carpets, Carrara marble and oak wooden flooring throughout the complex.

Fanning has custom-designed louvres and window shutters, and is not giving buyers a choice of light or dark schemes.

“No, we are not giving options of colour schemes … we are

going for a mid scheme,” she says, adding that 80 per cent of apartment buyers generally opt for a lighter scheme.

She says the apartment complex’s “soft curvaceousness” mimics the yet-to-be-demolished Art Deco building on the site.

Up-market Wolf and Subzero appliances are being used throughout the project while the walk-in pantries feature substantial laundries.

CBRE agent and director Ben Stewart is exclusively handling the sale of the Kalypso apartments.

He says Kalypso’s design is the highest quality that he has ever seen in Bondi and Tamarama. The site has development approval for 13 units.

Stewart expects buyers will be locals and will also hail from overseas. “It will be low key but of supreme quality,” he says.

In Melbourne, Avidan is building two office towers in Gipps Street, Collingwood, at a cost of about $25 million. Fresh from developing an apartment complex in inner city Sydney’s Foveaux Street, he is also looking at developing New York-style lofts in the city’s inner west as well as further properties in Victoria.

But when it comes to Tamarama, he is blunt: “I have developed and built some great buildings but nothing to this standard.”

THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

| APRIL 11-12, 2020

Exterior and pool of 140 Victoria Avenue, Dalkeith, and bottom, the living area

Perth E M I LY PE T TA FOR

Safe haven in the west Interest in the WA capital’s prestige market is keen – including from expats Perth’s prestige real estate market is on the move, with a record sale and high-net worth individuals seeking a safe place to park their money.

Dalkeith has just notched up its highest sale in nine years, with a glamorous riverfront home changing hands for $14 million. Ray White Cottesloe director Jody Fewster put 140 Victoria Street, Dalkeith, under contract ahead of its planned March 21 auction.

Fewster had five written offers on that 2293sq m property and says confidence is high in Perth’s prestige market.

“I had 15 private inspection groups view the home and it was under offer in less than seven weeks,” she says. All the potential buyers were local families, but Fewster says since 140 Victoria Street sold, she has seen increased interest from the US – largely from expatriate buyers.

Dalkeith, in Perth’s exclusive western suburbs, holds the crown as the city’s most expensive suburb, and is home to many of its trophy mansions and famous families, including Kerry Stokes and Gina Rinehart. Bordered by the Swan River on three sides and close to the central business district, the suburb has always been sought after.

Fewster says she is “very bullish” on the prospects for Perth’s prestige market. “The smart money is moving into property.

There are few other asset classes where people can place large amounts of capital. Everyone knows Perth is at the bottom of its property cycle and we have a very favourable exchange rate.”

While she acknowledges that fear and uncertainty surrounding the global spread of COVID-19 could take its toll at the lower end of the market, high-net worth individuals are looking for safe havens as global stock markets plumb depths not seen since the Global Financial Crisis.

Fewster has several other prestige listings on her books, including 89 Watkins Road, Dalkeith, which happens to be her childhood home.

That property, being sold by Sue Gibson, sits on 6406sq m with 270-degree views of the river, a marble-floored ballroom, a tennis court and boat shed. Currently seeking $35 million, Fewster says the estate, known locally as “the Bond Mansion”, could potentially be subdivided, with her vendor investigating this option.

She also has 39 Keane Street, Peppermint Grove, which occupies 1818sq m, for sale and is seeking offers of $11 million to $12 million. “Given the price for 140 Victoria Street, both of those properties look like very good buying,” she says.

Research confirms a nascent recovery in Perth’s property market, which has seen house prices fall 22 per cent from their mid-2014 peak. November 2019 was the first month-on-month growth for the city in 18 months, with house prices up 0.4 per cent across Greater Perth. CoreLogic head of research Tim Lawless says the prestige market, centred on inner-Perth and taking in the city’s western suburbs, drove those gains. “The top quarter of the market saw values up nearly 1 per cent.”

While Lawless says the one-month gain was “probably too soon to call the bottom of the market”, if a recovery in Perth was under way it would be driven by the upper end of the market.

APRIL 11-12, 2020

| THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

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Prestige Market Update NERIDA CONISBEE

Address sense Sometimes choosing the street where you live is about more than just prestige Every city has its most prestigious suburbs and most expensive streets. Wolseley Road, Point Piper, contains 16 of the most expensive homes in Australia, while Monomeath Avenue in Melbourne’s Canterbury is regularly referred to as the Golden Mile. In Perth, Saunders Street in Mosman Park was once crowned the city’s best street by real estate agents.

Surprisingly it’s not these streets that top the list of Australia’s favourites, according to data from realestate.com.au. The streets that received the highest views per listing are found in a mix of some of the most expensive and prestigious suburbs, while others are more affordable streets in our best family-favourite suburbs.

Topping the list of Australia’s favourite street in a prestigious suburb is Cross Street in Mosman, Sydney. Cross Street is a tightly held location with few sales, so when a property does come onto the market it creates a great deal of excitement.

The most expensive property sold on the street was 10 Cross Street, which changed hands for $15.8 million in 2017. Not surprisingly, the house is beautiful, with even better water views.

It is likely that the combination of a popular suburb with stately homes, in a leafy street with spectacular views is what appeals most to premium buyers. Looking at Sydney, stunning views are a key feature of preferred streets in luxury suburbs; Monash Crescent in Clontarf is on the water, as is Baden Road in Neutral Bay. The desire to be close to the water in Sydney also surfaces 26

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when analysing keyword searches by property seekers on realestate.com.au.

If you’re looking for prestige without the pricetag, Battery Point is Hobart’s most expensive suburb, but with a median of $1.35 million it’s a lot cheaper than buying in Mosman. The most popular street is Battery Square, where it’s possible to get both water and mountain views. Next door in Sandy Bay, the influence of lowerbudget buyers wanting to live in one of Hobart’s best suburbs is evident. Norfolk Crescent isn’t Sandy Bay’s best street but it is the most popular in Hobart’s second most expensive suburb.

In Perth, Floreat is one of the city’s most expensive suburbs.

Interestingly, the most popular street is Birkdale Place. While it’s well located, it is possible to buy more affordable homes there. In contrast, College Road in Claremont is a little grander.

Melbourne’s top streets in high-end suburbs are all luxury streets. Kinane Street in Brighton, Shakespeare Grove in Hawthorn and Alleyne Avenue in Elwood all contain multimillion-dollar stately homes.

Perhaps Australians are taking the advice to “buy the worst home on the best street” and applying it at a suburb level, clearly preferencing “modest streets in the best suburbs”. While I would like to live in Alleyne Avenue in Elwood, my budget is more in line with Birkdale Place in Floreat, and to live in a great suburb like Floreat is just as much of a success.

Nerida Conisbee, realestate.com.au Chief Economist

Most in-demand luxury streets on realestate.com.au Sydney NSW Cross St, Mosman 2088 Monash Cres, Clontarf 2093 Baden Rd, Neutral Bay 2089

Adelaide SA Oxford Tce, Unley 5061 Eton St, Malvern 5061 Adare Ct, Grange 5022

Melbourne VIC Kinane St, Brighton 3186 Shakespeare Gr, Hawthorne 3122 Alleyne Ave, Armadale 3143

Perth WA Birkdale St, Floreat 6014 College Rd, Claremont 6010 Elphin St, Floreat 6014

Brisbane QLD Harriet St, West End 4101 Abbott St, New Farm 4005 Latrobe Tr, Paddington 4064

Hobart TAS Norfolk Cres, Sandy bay 7005 Beach Rd, Sandy Bay 7005 Battery Sq, Battery Point 7004 :

Canberra ACT Hunter St, Yarralumla 2600 Bailey Pl, Yarralumla 2600 Frome St, Griffith 2603

Based on views per listing over a three-year time period

THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

| APRIL 11-12, 2020

Heritage

Fernhill at Mulgoa, left; Fairfield House in the NSW Hawkesbury, region, below; and an aerial view of Fernhill, bottom

BEN WILMOT

Estate planning Grand old properties are being repurposed for the future Some of the country’s grandest residential properties could be in for big changes, with new uses being planned for stunning homes across major cities and country hamlets.

The mansions, ranging from the sprawling Fernhill estate on the outskirts of Sydney to Shrublands, a grand home in Melbourne’s up-market Canterbury, could take on a new life if the plans come to fruition.

Fernhill at Mulgoa could be first in line for an overhaul after it was purchased by the NSW government in 2018 for $27.25 million from a unit of finance company Angas Securities. The unusual state acquisition seemingly marked the final chapter in a long-running saga in which the Georgian mansion and surrounding lands were almost sold off to be used as a cemetery. Fierce opposition from the NSW government sank that idea and it quietly stepped in to purchase Fernhill and its extensive grounds.

The sale was brokered by Christie’s International Real Estate managing director Ken Jacobs, who also fielded interest from offshore and developers.

Now the government is looking to bring the 1830s heritage-listed homestead back to life. Thankfully, any development impinging on the main homestead, which includes a 16-seat dining room, ballroom, 12 sandstone fireplaces, and a horseracing track and stables that housed two Melbourne Cup winners, is off the table.

An earlier scheme by South African businessman Simon Tripp, who picked up the property in late 2012, that would have seen him team with Angas to build a 100-lot-plus housing development in the precincts near the mansion, also has been consigned to history.

With much relief at having avoided a carve-up of the historic grounds, NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes called for public help in shaping what he hopes will be a significant open space over the 412ha estate. Stokes says Fernhill will be a signature public APRIL 11-12, 2020

| THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

parkland and identifies potential options for the site. They include arts and cultural activities, such as a museum or gallery, medium-scale events and boutique accommodation, agricultural uses and not-for-profit uses, such as a wildlife sanctuary or research and education facilities.

Options for parts of the grounds could include camping and glamping, or even turning over more remote areas to a working farm, allowing for grazing, orchards and vineyards.

As the economy recovers, there are hopes the property could attract tourism, and recreational ideas, which include more equestrian facilities, could be another drawcard.

The estate’s history is a pointer to its future uses. The original owners, the Cox family, whose land grants make up Fernhill estate and built the main house and nearby Cox’s Cottage, began horse-breeding activities there. A later owner, Hilda Moyes, advertised Fernhill estate as a holiday destination. The Darling family later began the estate’s restoration, including works by landscape architect Paul Sorensen. The 1980s entrepreneur Warren Anderson remade the property and used it to house many of his famed antiques, pouring millions into restoring the entire estate, redecorating the house and adding new buildings.

Most recently, the Tripps hosted concerts but also activated conservation works, including setting up biobanking agreements over a considerable portion of the estate, with the untouched bushlands now spinning off a lucrative income.

Other historic properties are also in line to be spruced up.

Fairfield House in the NSW Hawkesbury region is on the block for the first time in three decades. Built in the early 1800s, the striking property once housed a pioneer and even hosted an international cricket match in 1882. The grand Victorian house incorporates an earlier Georgian residence that was extended in the Victorian Filigree style by Henry McQuade, who managed Her Majesty’s Theatre in Sydney,

in 1880. At that time it housed actors and also once included a private racetrack. The two-storey residence in Windsor was recently a wedding reception venue but a wide range of options is now on the table, says agent Morris Short of Remax Xtra, who says it could sell for about $4 million. “I’ve had people look at it as boutique accommodation, a day spa, a pub and a wedding venue,” he says. “We’re also talking to an aged-care operator. There are all sorts of opportunities there for it.”

In Melbourne, the Shrublands estate in Canterbury is gathering wide interest from local and offshore parties keen to test its $42 million to $46 million price guide as offers have been extended. Abercromby’s Real Estate director Jock Langley says the 42-room property has a business angle, with some private companies looking at the home as a potential headquarters.

“I reckon there has been a shift globally towards that,” he says. While most businesses “bailed out” of working from mansions in 1980s, Langley says “there is actually a focus for that style of property coming back again”.

He says the Italianate estate offers ample event space and can accommodate dignitaries, comparing it to Malvern’s Stonington mansion that was used by dealer Rod Menzies to display art for his auction house before he sold the home for about $52.5 million in 2017. “There’s a new focus for people looking for properties like that,” he says, quipping that it could also suit a more isolated style of living.

Other mansions, particularly rural homesteads and older colonial homes that have served as government facilities, have been through multiple uses already, as the rise of pastoralist and merchant families gave way to the need for state buildings. With the cycle placing many of the finest properties back in private hands and in the possibly straitened times ahead, mansions with another string in their bow could be more sought after.

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M A N S I ON GL OBA L

AUCKLAND

Scandi living in NZ

STA R TA KE S A L O S S

The New York City penthouse of Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence has found a buyer after seven months on the market and a price cut of more than $US3 million ($5 million). Lawrence, 29, paid $US15.6 million for the Upper East Side penthouse in 2016 and looks set to take a loss. She listed the home for $US15.45 million in July 2019 and within a month the price was dropped to $US14.25 million. By the end of last year it was $US12 million. The threebedroom condo has high ceilings, 360-degree views of the city, a great room with a two-sided limestone fireplace and a custom kitchen, according to the listing with Pamela D’Arc of Compass. Spanning more than 372sq m, it also boasts a corner master suite with a dressing room and outdoor space galore.

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This contemporary house, on the market for $NZ7.75 million ($7.5 million), is set beside the sea in a sought-after coastal area of Takapuna, Auckland, on New Zealand’s North Island. The Scandinavian-inspired home looks across the Rangitoto Channel to Rangitoto Island and the Hauraki Gulf. Its gardens have direct access to the sea via a gate that opens to a footpath along the water’s edge.

The property, whose living spaces are on the upper floors, has glass box windows and glazed terrace balustrades, giving it the feeling of floating above the sea. It is set across three staggered floors on the slope of a hill. Built seven years ago by architect Mark McLeay of Creative Arch, it has a monochrome palette and a streamlined feel, with rooms arranged to open on to multiple outdoor spaces.

The 434sq m house has four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a partial bathroom, kitchen and several living spaces. It sits on 0.12ha of land. There is lift access to the three main floors and basement, a chef’s kitchen with butler’s pantry, a security system, a built-in vacuum cleaner and a media room. A double garage sits on the basement level, plus another single garage.

The house is on Kitchener Road, Takapuna, on Auckland’s North Shore, a suburban area connected to Auckland by two bridges. With its scenic, laid-back seaside setting and access to a wide range of restaurants, cafes and shops, the waterfront Kitchener Road is seen as a top place to live. There are beaches at Milford and Takapuna, and a hidden beach at nearby Thorne Bay. Agents: Prudence Foster and Kurt Piper, New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty

Banyan Tree Residences Riverside Bangkok is a 2019 condominium complex providing low-density living (only four units per floor) as well as a stunning riverside location between the old city and the new city, according to the agent, Tim Skevington of SCDA. This apartment on the 28th floor offers sweeping views of the Chao Phraya River and the city. Featuring a large open plan kitchen and living area with floor-to-ceiling windows and three-metre ceilings, it includes a Lutron home automation system controlling the lighting and curtains. Measuring 62sq m, the apartment has three bedrooms, and three full and one half bathroom.

There are two river-view balconies.

CLAIRE CARPONEN

JONELLE MANNION

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B A N G KO K W A T E R V I E W S

THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

| APRIL 11-12, 2020

Redleaf, Wahroonga, NSW J ONAT H A N C H A NC E L L OR

Healthy interest Our love of Federation architecture endures. The style was at its strongest just before and just after Australia’s Federation in 1901, as property owners in the former colony sought to adapt their abodes from British designs, taking into account our warmer weather.

Redleaf, the grand 1899 Howard Joseland-designed residence at Wahroonga, proudly sits on 5000sq m. It was one of the earliest homes designed by the respected British-trained architect after he arrived in Australia.

Joseland installed a sweeping veranda around the two-storey brick-and-shingle structure to capture the cooling summer breezes. Initially it was on a 6ha lot, when the solicitor Walter Parish of the Sydney legal firm Parish Patience and McIntyre, built on what was then known as Lane Cove Road.

The showpiece Federation arts and craft-style house has now been listed with hopes of fetching $10 million by the Moran healthcare family through Darren Curtis at Christie’s.

Greta and Doug Moran paid $38,400 for the property in 1967.

As well as looking after the health of Sydneysiders, the couple were driven by a desire to preserve Australia’s heritage. They returned the property to a single-family home, with 10 bedrooms for their seven children, Kerry, Linda, Peter, Shane, Barbara, Brendan (deceased) and Mark.

It was the family’s first major home restoration in a portfolio APRIL 11-12, 2020

| THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

that still includes Darling Point’s Swifts, Camden’s Study Park, Darling House at Millers Point and Paddington’s Juniper Hall.

Greta, credited with being the administrative powerhouse of the family operation, is now based in the luxury Moran retirement living community at Vaucluse. She is a direct descendant of one of colonial Sydney’s most colourful early settlers, Robert Cooper, who was transported after being caught smuggling fine French silks, cognac and ostrich feathers during the Napoleonic Wars.

Later pardoned, Cooper built Juniper Hall, a fine early Sydney building on Oxford Street.

Redleaf’s 1899 design was considered avant-garde in its time.

William and Rose Parish sold it to the Crane family in 1916 for £600. Arthur Crane died in the 1930s at Pevensey on nearby Ada Avenue. After many changes in ownership, the property was left to the Sisters of Mercy in 1948 by Violet Yuille, widow of Dr Alan Yuille. In 1999 the heritage architect Clive Lucas from architects Lucas Stapleton & Partners undertook its award-winning restoration, the tradesmen being careful not to trample the hundreds of camellias planted in the grounds.

Over the decades, bits had been added on to the residence, especially in the years it was used as a home for elderly nuns. It also escaped the extensive modernisation that transformed many other old homes in the area after World War II. The panama-hat

wearing Lucas removed the four bedrooms that had been built onto the veranda, blocking the breeze and light. Underneath, he discovered the old footings, quarried from sandstone on the site.

He removed a false ceiling in the billiard room and beneath it, covered by seven coats of paint, was the original cedar version.

Greta Moran and Lucas had a shared a passion for William Morris, so they used his wallpapers, designs and fabrics and restored the home’s original colour schemes. Simple leadlight with flowers such as hollyhocks and sunflowers survived. Cosy inglenooks around the fireplaces and seats in the big bay window were given new life.

The Wahroonga house won the Francis Greenway Award for Conservation from the NSW Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects in 1996. At the time, Greta said it had been like rediscovering the house and on its completion she was asked how it felt to live in a period piece.

“It seems normal to us,” she said. “I grew up living in my grandmother’s house. Maybe I haven’t progressed with the times.

In a plain white box I would never feel comfortable; I like colour.”

Tim Smith, director of heritage operations at Heritage NSW, says recent studies of community attitudes to Federation homes confirm that not only do they retain their value over time, but investing in their restoration only increases their market appeal.

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AUSE01Z01MN - V1

Mansion Japanese accent

Wabi-sabi meets Victoriana

Basic black

Decor pieces to dial up the drama

Perfect ease

The Eames Chair comes into its own

V1 - AUSE01Z01MN

This page: The entryway retains a traditional Victorian feel. Opposite: The unusually angled pendant lights are a nod to wabi-sabi

FULL TILT

Melding seemingly disparate design philosophies proved a challenging but inspired way to update a traditional Victorian cottage Stor y by SAM DUNCAN Photography by SEAN FENNESSY

APRIL 11-12, 2020

| THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

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THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

| APRIL 11-12, 2020

i Opposite: The kitchen’s marble bench, top; the windows and doors recall Japanese shoji screens. This page: Furniture has been carefully curated

APRIL 11-12, 2020

In the ancient Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, the world is accepted as imperfect, unfinished and transient, and should be celebrated as such. It’s an aesthetic that interior architect Miriam Fanning sometimes likes to draw on.

With this project – to reshape a Victorian-era cottage in the wealthy tree-lined suburb of South Yarra, Melbourne – she found the perfect opportunity.

“Sometimes it’s nice to use a little bit of wabi-sabi, where there are things on angles or slightly off cue,” she says.

This was just one of many inspirations for Fanning when she took on the task of uniting three disparate styles in the 1890s terrace.

The owners – one Japanese born, the other Australian – tasked her with reshaping their newly acquired home by injecting modern design references along with traditional Japanese elements, and also preserving the property’s Victorianera feel. Certainly a challenge, and not for the fainthearted.

There is an element of wabi-sabi in the design and positioning of the lights, says Fanning, who founded her Melbourne-based interior architecture practice, Mim Design, almost 20 years ago. The unusual black pendant lights jut out at interesting angles, but they also tie in perfectly with the black-steel-framed doors and windows used throughout.

Fanning says the intention with the lights was to bring a sense of modernity without being “ultra-slick”, and also to inject an interesting aspect of Japanese culture with the use of wabi-sabi. It is incorporated in other ways, too, with the selection and positioning of the curated furniture, and a mirror panel that tilts like a secret door as the entrance to the ensuite. “Lots of things that are just a little bit off centre that you wouldn’t normally find in a Victorian home,” she says.

When Fanning listened to the owners’ vision for the project, her first thought was: “Wow, how do we do this?” Some parts of the existing structure needed to be demolished, others reconfigured or refurbished.

Fanning decided to focus heavily on the design philosophy before moving on to the concept stage so that the team could work out how to meld together the three styles cohesively.

“The philosophy phase really does set up the DNA for a project,” she says. “It’s the body of what the project means: how you feel when you’re in a space, what

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you’re looking at, and what are the key elements that are going to make a space have a personality.”

It’s also the best way to get clients and the design team all on the same page, Fanning adds.

Walk through the front door and you’ll find a traditionally planned, decorative Victorian central hallway with extensive cornice and architrave work, as well as ceiling roses. A large sitting room at the front with a stunning Victorian stone fireplace has been opened out and extended with glass panels and doors, so that when you enter the front of the home the whole room opens up. Fanning says she kept the palette simple there to inject modernity into the space.

The glass panels, framed in black steel, in the floor-to-ceiling doors and windows throughout the house were employed by Fanning and her team as one way of bringing coherence to the project. They were designed with a traditional Victorian style in mind, she says, but also allude to a Japanese shoji screen and allow nature inside – another key element of traditional Japanese design.

There are some spaces you wouldn’t find in a Western home, such as the tatami room and Japanese-style family bathroom. The tatami room provides a space to meditate and read, and it also serves as a fourth bedroom where guests stay.

“With the tatami room we chose to open the windows out onto a beautiful courtyard space, which has a massive Japanese maple,” says Fanning. “That courtyard also has a window on the other side that visually takes you through to the living room. The living room is quite pared back – just very simple joinery, which is something that appealed to the Australian owner from a modernity perspective and to the Japanese-born owner from a cultural sense.”

The family bathroom is complete with a Japanese tub and shower. The traditional way is to first rinse your body outside the bath with the shower or a washbowl, and once clean you enter the tub for a relaxing soak.

The main kitchen, which is the hub of family life, was designed to reflect the original Victorian nature of the home: a black-steel range hood and a big, strong marble island bench that the family gather around you walk through,” Fanning says. “You can see the Japanese influences and you can see the modern influences, but it’s all very subtle and I think that’s why it works.”

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Etc. S A M YA T E S

2.

3.

Back to black

Stamp your authority on your space with sleek, dramatic monochrome accents 1.

SIDE TABLE

Wittmann grain-cut side table by Jaime Hayon elaborately turned from a solid block of wood. domo.com.au

2.

MIRROR

Split Mirror by Lee Broom with precision-cut slice shifted from its original position.

Available in long and round versions. spacefurniture.com.au

3.

1.

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MANSIONAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

RUG

‘Tokyo’ by interior designer Greg Natale for Designer Rugs, hand-knotted in 100 per cent Tibetan wool. Custom colours and sizes. designerrugs.com.au

4.

PENDANT LIGHTS

Tom Dixon Beat light collection inspired by the sculptural simplicity of traditional Indian water vessels. livingedge.com.au

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BEDHEAD

Louis plaid bedhead, a gender-neutral range inspired by a high-end men’s atelier.

Featuring wool plaid with contrasting vegan leather piping. heatherlydesign.com.au

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CHAIR

Shane Schneck’s Bernard easychair with frame in solid oak or beech and slip-on cover available in leather or industrial-strength marine canvas. cultdesign.com.au

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KITCHEN

Artex kitchen by R&D Varenna features contemporary design and natural aesthetics.

With generous surfaces and rigorous lines to highlight the quality of the materials. poliformaustralia.com.au

THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

| APRIL 11-12, 2020

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APRIL 11-12, 2020

| THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

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MANSIONAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman

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C H A R LE S & R A Y EA MES

The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman were originally crafted in rosewood and leather but now come in a variety of veneers and several different leathers

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s we spend time confined to our homes, comfort and good design have become more central to our lives than ever.

The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, designed by the husband and wife duo Charles and Ray Eames, combines both of those qualities in a chair that is arguably one of the most recognised furniture designs of the 20th century.

The chair made its debut in 1956 and has been in continuous production by Herman Miller ever since. Charles and Ray Eames were innovators with new technology and materials, and sought to make furniture that could be mass produced and affordable. The lounge chair and ottoman, however, was their first foray into a luxury item and its design was inspired by traditional English club chairs.

Charles Eames once said he sought to design a modern version of the club chair, one that had “the warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt”. The seat, which is made from moulded plywood and upholstered in leather, is permanently tilted to take the weight off your lower spine and distribute it properly to the back of the chair. The lower cushion piece supports your lower back; and the angle supports your chest so that you can be as comfortable reading, watching television or having an afternoon nap.

The chair and ottoman were originally made in Brazilian rosewood which was discontinued in the early 1990s. Today it is available in two sizes in a variety of veneers and several leather options.

Living Edge has a special price from $8500 for a limited time (normally $10,500). livingedge.com.au

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MANSIONAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

| APRIL 11-12, 2020

43 Degrees South Heavenly Home This exquisite architectural designed home with spectacular water views of Norfolk Bay has a refined modern elegance.

Stroll down the hill at low tide for swimming or kayaking from the sandstone shelf.

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Unforgettable open living/dining area featuring floor to ceiling glass

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Kitchen has Tas Oak cabinetry with stainless-steel benchtops

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From central living hub go left or right to separate wings

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Northern wing has wheelchair access to lounge, 2 beds and baths

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Southern wing for parent or guest retreat with spacious master suite

Imbedded into the tranquil landscape with low maintenance landscaping its design is in perfect harmony with its surroundings. This property is ideal for luxury tourist accommodation (stca) or someone who enjoys having regular visitors. Only a 5-min drive to a general store and approx. 15 mins to medical centre, shops and more!

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House Size: 272m² Land Size: 2.184ha Price: $1.8 Million Plus Kate Storey | 0427 532 000 | kate@katestoreyrealty.com.au | www. katestoreyrealty.com.au 2/15 Gordon Street Sorell 7172 | 153 Arthur Highway Dunalley 7177