Mansion Australia February 2018

Mansion incorporating news from Dow jones’

AustrAliA

Rural reshuffle

Neighbours make their move

Jamie Durie

Bringing nature back home

On the map

Tasmania’s booming prestige market

Plus

12-page Interiors section

HigH HOpes Issue 14 February 2018

Waiting for vendors to step up

15, 15A-E Evans Court & 2 Glyndebourne Avenue A TRULY RARE OFFERING. A COMPOUND OF 6 PRESTIGIOUS HOMES ACROSS APPROXIMATELY 4,697 SQM OF LAND. A genuine Melbourne legacy, a vast and prestigious century-old holding spanning some 4,697 square metres (approximately) with two street frontages in one of the premier pockets of the city’s premier suburb. Without doubt Evans Court Estate represents an unprecedented opportunity - in terms of style, setting, scale and luxury. This extraordinary family compound features six luxury residences set amidst magnificent grounds. This is an address destined to take its place as one of Toorak´s most desirable. Together, and individually, these homes form an exclusive once in a lifetime opportunity in a location that enjoys and deserves its status as one of Melbourne´s most consistently sought after. Close to several prestigious schools, transport options, parks, bike paths and the retail and dining villages of Toorak and Kooyong. All of this in the worlds most liveable city!

abercrombys.com.au

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EOI: Closing Thursday 8th March at 5.00pm View: By Appointment 24/7 View: www.evanscourt.com.au Contact: Jock Langley 0419 530 008 Sam Goddard 0448 870 454 In conjunction with CBRE Mark Wizel 0409 809 868 Julian White 0422 764 137

Magnificent Southern Highlands estate ‘Mandalay’ Exeter, NSW One of the Southern Highlands’ most coveted properties, ‘Mandalay’ is a significant 77 hectare estate just a few kilometres from the charming village of Exeter. Affording immense privacy, this exceptional country manor is set amid beautifully sculpted formal gardens presenting spectacular views over Morton National Park and the Bundanoon Gorge. The estate also features a manager’s cottage and is ideal for cattle grazing, with paddocks, creeks, dams, natural springs and new cattle yards.

For Sale: Expressions of Interest

Inspect: By appointment

Please Contact: Ken Jacobs 0407 190 152 Bruce Eason 0419 28 28 48

Offering... A Noosa Lifestyle

Rivals the Best on Australias East Coast There’s simply nothing like slipping off the sandals, immersing toes in squeaky-white sand, taking in the heavenly scent of salty breezes, and admiring the beguiling residence of grand proportions on an absolute beachfront private estate.

The completely re-imagined, back-to-bare renovation by international designer David Hicks is an edgy take on modern architecture with splashes of Noosa panache. Interiors, reminiscent of lavish resorts reveal a wealth of nuances: terrazzo, ribbed lacquered timber, subtle layered textures twisted and melded with high quality finishes; and rigorous space planning accomplished ocean views from every room.

Adding magnitude to indoor and beachside living is a glass-fronted pool which dazzles harmoniously with the ocean, expansive terraces and alfresco dining options.

A beach house in the front row with nothing but the sea in front really is the ultimate prize.

NOOSA’S HOME OF PRESTIGE PROPERTY

21-23 Webb Road, Sunshine Beach • 7 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, 3 car garage • Separate self-contained guest cottage • Private beachfront estate: 3595m2 on 2 separate titles • Beach frontage: 44m • Side boundary abutting nature reserve: 25m • Back to bare wall renovation by internationally renowned designer David Hicks

5449 2500

• Domestic & commercial kitchens; wine storage • App activated CBUS,alarms, surveillance systems, ducted aircon • Full-size tennis court with cabana • Hotel-style pool, terraces & gardens • One-only neighbour • One minute walk to Sunshine Beach Village, Surf Club and patrolled beach

offermann.com.au

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$22M Web ID: 2881 Nic Hunter 0421 785 512

‘Azure’ - 28 Koda Street, MISSION BEACH An Absolute Beachfront Home 4

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On tropical Mission Beach, North Queensland, This Spacious and Contemporary home is located on one of Australia’s most iconic beaches with beautiful Mission Beach only a stroll across the lawn away.

Making the most of the views of Dunk and Bedarra Islands, this two story home, situated on 830m2 of land hosts air conditioning throughout, ensuite of the master bedroom and a sizeable lap pool and spacious living room.

Property Ref: 16370 For Sale: $915,000 Inspections by Appointment Only Steve Wiltshire – Principal 0419 674 409 or (07) 4088 6611 sales@missionbeachrealestate.com.au

WATEGO’S BEACH BYRON BAY The Best Beach Location in Australia... 23 Marine Parade

Once in a lifetime opportunity to secure Australia’s ultimate, beachfront “trophy” property 800m² (approx) positioned right on the exclusive, front row of spectacular Watego’s Beach, Byron Bay. Sitting perfectly elevated on the highest point on Marine Parade, this stunning site enjoys tranquility and privacy as well as uninterrupted, expansive views over the bay, Julian Rocks and out to the Mount Warning hinterland.

Access the white sands and crystal clear water of Watego’s from your personal beach track and watch the afternoon fade away in spectacular colours from the privacy of your own front lawn.

Nestled just underneath the iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse and buffered by beautiful nature reserve on one side, this is Australia’s beach property at its best! Watego’s Beach is the most sought after and prestigious location in Australia.

There is an existing 2 bed, original beach cottage on the land. Let your imagination run wild with the potential of what could be built here…the luxury beach home of your dreams.

DA approved architect plans for a stunning, new, luxury, 6 bedroom dwelling.

W W W. B Y R O N B AY P R O P E R T Y S A L E S . C O M . A U

Contact Vicky Innes: 0414 339 229 vicky@byronbaysales.com.au

Contents

Rural rethink, page 26

1 3 l u x u ry

Pittwater chic, adelaide ambition, melbourne modernism with luxury properties at a premium, buyers are ready to pounce

1 8 cov E r story

time to bring nature back home – and there’s an app for that

2 2 ja m i E d u r i E

weather, politics... winds of change in the us luxury market

24 dolly lEnz

2 6 ru r a l E s tat E s 2 8 ta s m a n i a

large farming properties are no longer just a family affair

the island state’s property market is enjoying its time in the sun

3 0 P ort d o ugl a s

a tropical paradise that’s both sea change and tree change

Homes that help you run your life are not science fiction

32 HigH-tEcH 3 4 g ol d coa st

Prestige apartments on the glitter strip are in big demand

3 6 m a n s ion g l oba l

frank lloyd wright, california compound, ski retreat

3 8 bac k Pag E

byron bay’s most exclusive enclave is in big demand

44 intEriors

Property developer lang walker’s ‘spare time’ project

4 8 P rod u c t

neutral tones are perfect for a pared-back aesthetic

50 my stylE

fiona lyda on why beauty is not the only thing

Mansion AustrAliA

Editor turi condon Contributing editor jonathan chancellor Interiors editor david meagher Art director shireen nolan Writers robyn ironside joel robinson milanda rout Elizabeth redman Chief sub editor deirdre blayney Picture editor christine westwood Advertising craig manning tel. 61 2 9288 3678

nExt issuE:

march 10 , 2018

o n t H E c o v E r the seven-bedroom home of rEa group director richard freudenstein on sydney’s balmoral slopes

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craig.manning@news.com.au

unsolicited manuscripts will not be considered.

Printed by PmP Print, 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 february 10, 2018

Editor’s letter who hasn’t imagined living in the country, whether it’s a weekender away from the city or the far-flung red dirt stations synonymous with the bush. but australian farms are changing as the properties once held through generations are sold to acquisitive neighbours or larger commercial operations, writes jonathan chancellor in our new rural Estates section. meanwhile, the nearer city rural retreats have become more opulent, with many transitioning from weekenders to full-time homes with values to match. last year saw price records tumble around the country despite a lack of very top-end homes on the market. this year could follow a similar path, with signs that listings will again be limited. in 2017, sydney chalked up a $71 million sale, a melbourne mansion changed hands for $39 million and brisbane saw a record $18.48 million home sale. a few listings are trickling onto the market as the year moves into gear, with a mosman residence expected to realise around $25 million as the family looks for a smaller home. downsizing looks like being a theme running through 2018. tasmania is again set to be the star performer for price growth as mainland markets cool and some agents report a lift in inquiries of around 50 per cent for homes in the $2 million or more price bracket. further afield, developer lang walker, who has built projects worth many billions of dollars, faced one of his biggest challenges creating a boutique resort in fiji. walker tells interiors editor david meagher that what he thought would be a “small, easy project” turned into one of “the most difficult things i’ve ever done”. kokomo, walker’s second hotel project, faced the challenges of isolation, with the developer saying it was five times over budget and took four times as long as expected. but now that it’s finished walker says he plans to enjoy it. and we hope you enjoy our first issue of mansion for 2018.

Turi Condon Editor

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1 Kippara Road, Dover Heights

Spectacular Views, Level Gardens & Pool on 942sqm The inspired recreation of this recently redeveloped Art Deco mansion delivers the ultimate in luxury living and entertaining in a stately 3-level contemporary home with glamorous interiors by award-winning international designer Thomas Hamel. Set on 942 sqm parcel of land with level lawn, sundrenched pool and resort-style gardens by leading landscaper designer Myles Baldwin, this coastal masterpiece features 5 ensuite bedrooms, study/6th bedroom, multiple formal & casual living rooms and wide alfresco terraces backdropped by a mesmerising panorama stretching to the ocean horizon and coastline headlands, as well as city skyline, Opera House & Harbour Bridge views. Presenting an enviable luxury lifestyle in a blue-chip enclave close to beaches and the harbour, this magnificent family residence is minutes to excellent schools, places of worship, coastal walks, golf courses, Rose Bay shops, Bondi cafĂŠs & restaurants.

Ric Serrao 0412 072 178 Dion Markovics 0407 667 037

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Auction Thursday 22 February, 6.00pm Domain Auction House View Saturday & Wednesday 1.00-1.30pm + Wednesday 6.00-6.45pm

Paul Biller 0411 611 006

Byron Bay 41 Marine Parade

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“Whalewatchers" at Wategos, Byron Bay It’s only on a rare occasion that a residence of this calibre can incorporate such excitement. First time to market, this is a once in a life time opportunity to own Australia’s most easterly beach front home in world renowned Wategos Beach Byron Bay. This stunning cutting-edge home combines state of the art technology with an emphasis on modern open plan living, perfectly positioned to capture the gentle afternoon sea breeze against a backdrop of privileged uninterrupted views.

Quite simply this home is breathtaking from entry to alfresco with unexpected splendour and convenience revealed at every turn. Intuitively crafted to meticulous standards and

immaculate detail showing a synergy of natural textures throughout the residence.

Discover the carefully crafted entertaining areas, while the central living and dining zones centre themselves around the sleek European designed kitchen making entertaining effortless. Master bedroom is a decadent retreat with study, expansive robe and generous ensuite designed to pamper with private balcony that the family.

The uncompromising floorplan whilst luxurious, offers outstanding family practicality in this highly sought after beachfront enclave.

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For Sale by Expressions of Interest closes 3rd March, 2018 View by appointment:

Liam Annesley 0417 780 795 Byron Bay 02 6685 7300

Luxury a newly built Portsea home, cantilevered on a lawned sand dune, has been listed with $3.5 million to $3.75 million hopes. the glass house, completed 14 months ago, was designed by FGr architects melbourne and crafted along clean lines to create a seemingly endless dwelling. kay & burton Portsea listing agent liz Jensen describes it as Portsea’s own modern marvel. close to the back beach and with sweeping coastal views, the home has five bedrooms and two bathrooms. the living and kitchen areas open to a gas-heated pool. the vacant 3460sq m wildcoast road parcel sold for $1,125,000 in 2015.

Hamptons-style homes are certainly becoming more frequent along the Australian seaboard. Generally built with extensive use of timber panelling, the homes typically include large latticed balconies overlooking the water. A crisp white palette is used inside and out, with pale blues bringing in the nautical and beach feel.

Queensland Sotheby’s agent Carol Carter is marketing a Kinsgcliff home reflecting the trend on the NSW North Coast. The contemporary four-bedroom North Point Avenue home has a $3.25 million asking price. The elevated living and dining rooms open to a deep water-facing balcony, while the ground level has two cabana-style bedrooms overlooking the swimming pool, as well as a gym and a cinema room.

Kingscliff prices peaked at $5.8 million in 2008 when the Jack Kent-designed Samanvaya sold. The highest sale in the past decade was $3.45 million.

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adEl aidE

Aiming high adelaide is set to see a new apartment price record, one tipped to stand for some time. Jamie brown from bernard booth is asking $6.75 million for a north adelaide skyhome set in the award-winning Place on brougham. the property has 360-degree views across the adelaide oval and stretching toward the mount lofty ranges. brown says it is a never-to-be-repeated offering in the building that won best residential development in 2008 at the Property council of australia’s annual awards. the sale of the property would shatter the current record, set in 2007 when the same apartment sold for around $4.1 million direct from the developer with undisclosed fitout terms. this was challenged in 2014, when the penthouse in the marina East apartment complex at Glenelg sold for $4 million. it was originally owned by the famous winemaker wolf blass, who sold it for $3.5 million in 2009.

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Luxury

s u nsH i n E c oa st

Front-row seat the sunshine coast has another potentially record-breaking home on the market with the recent listing of a prestige property hidden at the end of sunshine beach. set on a sprawling 3595sq m on webb road, the home has a $22 million asking price through tom offermann real Estate agent nic Hunter. it has been listed by dws managing director danny wallis. when sold back in 2013, it was known as brinbara, after the original owners and builders of the home, brian wood and his wife barbara. the home has now been completely transformed by a back-to-bare renovation by multi-award winning international designer david Hicks. in a nostalgic nod to the italian riviera, it features a wealth of terrazzo and ribbed lacquered timber. the atrium with staircase and chandelier take centre stage, much as they would in a hotel. there are domestic and commercial-sized kitchens and six ensuited bedrooms. the hotel amenities continue throughout the grounds, with a tennis court and cabana, glass-fronted pool and a self-contained guest cottage. the home has a 44m beach frontage and is bounded on another side by a nature reserve. tom offermann recalls the home made headlines in the 1980’s with an old timber cottage because it was the first to reach $1 million on the sunshine coast. “a beach house in the front row with nothing but the sea in front is the ultimate prize,” Hunter says. the listing flags a race to secure the sunshine coast house record. Further down the beach, tennis legend Pat rafter was seeking more than $18 million for his opulent John burgess-designed mansion, marketed by tom offermann and Eric seetoo. it went under contract earlier this month. the sunshine coast prestige market strengthened during 2017, according to valuers Herron todd white, in line with the southern markets of sydney, melbourne and brisbane. “buyers in this segment are certainly purchasing for a position or lifestyle choice, and in quite a number of cases it is the future retirement home and principal place of residence along the coast from caloundra up to noosa,” it advises.

mount Fr anklin

Rural ridgeline

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A chic beach house with postcard views over Pittwater has been sold at Palm Beach by the Pongrass family.

The 1940s waterfront home sits on the tightly held Thyra Road, an exclusive strip of just 20 properties on the water. Only three have sold in the past decade.

It last traded for $4.278 million in 2005 after an impressive renovation that featured in Belle magazine when sold by former finance executive John Mills and Greg Clark.

The latest design, strongly influenced by Burley Katon Halliday, has white beamed ceilings contrasted with sandstone feature walls and lots of light. Meeting the water is a self-contained boatshed with ramp, outdoor shower and pool.

Michael King at LJ Hooker Palm Beach, who described the three-bedroom home as Palm Beach perfection, was seeking offers of around $5 million. The sale comes with approval for a new garage and self-contained studio.

Last year there were more than 50 house sales in Palm Beach, ranging from $1.2 million to $12 million.

sky High, a rural weekender at mount Franklin, 120km north of melbourne, has been listed following its recent construction. the ridgeline home, conceived by designer-builders Josh and tik white, was built in a triangular shape to allow for 360-degree views overlooking the macedon region and has pristine spring water pumped from a 200m bore.

Perched high on 20ha, sky High was constructed around a central courtyard hub with decking overlooking the dormant volcano. another spotted gum deck runs along the perimeter, with a swimming pool to the side. there are four bedrooms and three bathrooms, and feature stone walls.

Jellis craig agents robert broadhurst and terry Gibson describe the property as an assertive piece of architecture. Given recent sales in Hepburn shire, they have a guide of between $2.5 million and $2.75 million for the auction on February 24. t H E w E E k E n d au s t r a l i a n | F E b rua ry 1 0 - 1 1 , 2 0 1 8

Luxury

a melbourne home inspired by the modernist movement that emerged from los angeles’ Hollywood Hills has been listed for sale at lysterfield. the palatial residence, 30km southeast of the cbd, was designed by architect daryl Pelchen and completed by lexion in 2011. it sits on 1ha in the exclusive carrington Estate, with grounds by rolling stone landscapes. the four-bedroom home’s master suite has a private garden courtyard, while the children’s wing has its own rumpus room overlooking the lawn. a pool wing with panoramic city views sits in the signature pavilion, along with a 10-person spa. there’s also a floodlit tennis court and Gyrofocus suspended outdoor fireplace. barry Plant agent anthony Johnson is marketing the home with $3.8 million to $4.1 million hopes. the suburb record dates back to 2013, when Hill of Grace stud, a glass-swathed three-level home on 13ha, sold for $3.75 million.

mElbournE

Compound interest

Ray White Port Douglas agent Mark Flinn is marketing Bedarra Island Villa, a home with private beach and $2 million-plus hopes.

Set on 8000sq m at Doorila Bay, it consists of three pavilions.

The property has been owned for two decades by Terry Kaljo, the boss of Contemporary Hotels. “Its latest renovation, if I may boast, is spectacular,” she says. It was designed by top Australian architect Robert Davidov of Davidov Partners.

sometimes one home just isn’t enough for australia’s ultra-wealthy, who bit by bit start securing surrounding properties. some won’t wait until next door is officially on the market and knock on the door with an offer too good to refuse. the melbourne property market is set for a big compound sale with the listing of the Evans court Estate, toorak, offered with a price guide of $45 million to $50 million. the main residence, windarring, dates back to 1918. the estate was expanded by former bP chief executive James stafford-Fox and his wife moyna. now the six-home compound has been listed through abercromby’s agent Jock langley and cbrE’s mark wizel. the current compound record, in Perth, was set in 2009 when mining magnate chris Ellison and wife tia paid $57.5 million for the mosman Park estate of mining heiress angela bennett. spanning 7550sq m, it included three homes, a private jetty, boathouse, gym, cinema, pool and tennis court. the Ellisons spent a further $6.625 million next door and $5 million on the home next to that. sussan Group founder and Victoria’s richest woman, naomi milgrom, paid $12 million for the former danish club on beaconsfield Parade in middle Park in 2009 and spent years restoring the italianate mansion. she also secured the adjoining home, part of the original Hughenden estate, and has demolished it, seeking to restore the estate’s size to that of its heyday.

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m a nsionaust r a l i a .c om . au

A collection of 15 exclusive golf course residences only minutes from Brisbane.

3 & 4 bedroom now selling.

EMERSONEDITION.COM. AU

Juxtaposed against this beautiful, natural backdrop, the design draws on the classic style of mid-century architecture while still embracing contemporary Brisbane living.

For more information, contact Trent Nicholls 0451 020 274

Alia sanditibus etus sapis et vendis imos ne vera quae. Nem. Nem dunt, que niminti isquam volupta soluptam et aut voluptis est de earum sam enihil maximperum

Ready market With fresh luxury listings in short supply as the year gets under way, competition will be keen among cashed-up locals – who’ll be hoping that foreign buyers take a back seat Stor y by JonaT H a n c H a nc eL L or

Opposite: Wongophora on Wonga Road, Cremorne Above: Boatanica in Avalon

f e b rua ry 1 0 - 1 1 , 2 0 1 8 | T H e w e e k e n d au S T r a L I a n

Leading estate agents across the capital cities have quickly noted 2018 has been slow to throw up the desired supply of fresh luxury homes for sale. “There simply aren’t enough decent properties to go around,” says ben collier at The agency, “especially for properties that appeal to downsizers.”

The home buyers are certainly there, with pockets deep enough to set records. In Sydney’s double bay, a $71 million home sold last year after three years on the market. a $39 million property in melbourne’s Toorak sold off market and offshore. brisbane scored a record $18.48 million on the river. but it was a year when trophy homes hardly flew out the door, with some of the overpriced residences still on the market. It became hard work, especially after state and federal governments made it more expensive for foreigners to buy, with vendors’ ambitious hopes needing to be revised more often than not. without competitive interest from overseas, Phoenix acres, the harbourfront Vaucluse property offered by hotelier ck ow, sold to tough negotiator dr Jerry Schwartz and his wife debbie, who lived just a few hundred metres away.

They secured the home for around $67 million after it had been listed with hopes of bettering Sydney’s $71 million record price.

The Schwartz purchase has prompted the listing of Loch maree, their michael dysart-designed Vaucluse home. The couple paid $24 million for it in 2014 and followed up with a renovation. They now hope for a $32 million sale in the eastern suburb’s freshest offering.

The home has six bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a home theatre, and a rooftop that is accessed by a new high-speed glass lift.

There’s also a tennis court, golf driving range, boathouse, boat ramp and harbourfront pool on the 2586sq m waterfront parcel.

In Sydney’s north, mosman headlines the big fresh listings with the balmoral Slopes home of richard freudenstein, rea Group

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Australia continues to offer one of the most appealing lifestyles in the Asia-Pacific rim director, and his wife Jane, listed with record-setting $23 million to $25 million price guidance. the 1650sq m estate offers postcard views across the harbour to the heads. ray white’s Geoff smith, who is marketing it, says it is “superior in every measure”. “i have been selling prestige homes on the lower north shore for more than 25 years and this home is utterly magnificent,” smith says. “it will no doubt attract interest from all over australia and overseas. there is simply no comparison on the sydney market today.” the seven-bedroom home features an infinity-edge solarheated saltwater pool and a poolside games room, while an eightcar garage sits underneath the tennis court. the home was built by calibre capital chairman lyndsay shaddock and wife Janette, who bought it partly finished from the developer John denoon. there’s also a gym, a gold class-style cinema with bar, and a temperaturecontrolled wine cellar with a sandstone-floored tasting room. mosman had around $1.1 billion in sales last year, according to researcher corelogic. one of the suburb’s premier waterfront streets, Parriwi road, holds the listing of recently departed aru deputy rob clarke and his lawyer wife kylie Virtue-clarke. richardson & wrench agent andrew Blaxland is advertising the property as “the closest thing to the whitsundays on sydney Harbour” with $15.5 million hopes. designed by architect Patrick nicholas, the five-bedroom home with multiple breakout spaces features a private Zen-like retreat room. there’s also a 300-bottle rock wine cellar, a boatshed and a private beach.

Five houses on Parriwi road have sold above the $6 million mark, with the street record occurring in 2016 at $10.1 million for a Fox Johnston-designed home incorporating copper, sandstone and full-height glass. mosman has 45-plus offerings currently, up on this time last year and going against the national trend.

Further around the harbour in cremorne, the luxury wonga road home wongophora has been listed for sale with a $15 million to $16 million price guide. the brief given to mark oxenham from castlepeake architects was to create a functional and timeless home, along with a request to have regard to the home’s carbon footprint. completed two years ago, it was also designed using feng shui principals. it sits on a sloping 1087sq m site that runs down to the boathouse, jetty, jet dock and beach. mcGrath mosman agent michael coombs is marketing it. a few doors down wonga road is the home of landscaper-builder antony tisch, which has $20 million hopes, also through coombs. australia continues to offer one of the most appealing lifestyles in the asia-Pacific rim, agent John mcGrath says, with its stable economy, proximity to asia, world-class health care and education,

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pleasant year-round climate, clean air and endless natural beauty with access to the pristine harbour, bay and beaches. while the market is beginning to cool, sydney and melbourne are certainly on the radar of the world’s elite. mcGrath’s agency recently sold the avalon home of former champion windsurfers anick Graveline and tom luedecke, one of the first luxury sales of the year on the northern beaches. listed for between $10 million and $11 million, Boatanica was the work of architect richard cole for the Pittwater location. there has also been an $8 million-plus sale at Bilgola by david watson at lJ Hooker in conjunction with martin ross at christie’s international. one of the surprise sydney suburbs from last year was dover Heights, with more than 20 sales of houses that fetched more than $4 million. the locality north of Bondi saw a whisper-quiet suburb record secured when celebrity accountant anthony Bell bought from tV personality larry Emdur with an unrefusable offer of $11.5 million. art collector John schaeffer is hoping to be only the second person after Emdur to break the double-digit barrier with his 1930s art deco property. He has hopes of around $10 million for the home he shares with his film producer partner Bettina dalton. with high-end finishes completed by designer thomas Hamel, the kippara road property was reportedly the chinese embassy until world war ii. it has been listed by ric serrao at raine & Horne in conjunction with Paul Biller at Biller Property.

Top, clockwise from left: 1870s house in Hawthorn, Melbourne; Art Deco in Dover Heights, Sydney; former Bond home in Dalkeith, Perth. Above: Balmoral Slopes, Mosman

melbourne doesn’t have the same long-list of trophy homes on the market as sydney. an 1870s-built Victorian home on kinkora road in Hawthorn is among those on the market. the residence was transformed under instruction from the late architect richard swansson and landscape designer tim nicholas. marshall white agents marcus chiminello and James redfern are suggesting between $13.75 million and $15.125 million. the 3000sq m grounds feature a dry creek, and there’s a southern california-style garden with strelitzia and mass plantings of mondo grass. the front of the house is entered through a bronze twig gate designed by Peter cole. there’s a limestone pavilion, mod grass tennis court, a heated pool and spa, and a stables conversion.

Perth’s top listing is the former dalkeith home of 1980s entrepreneur alan Bond, which was listed for sale late last year with a $50 million-plus price tag. it is being marketed by willie Porteous at Porteous international, who suggests the four-storey home has gained millions in value following extensive renovations. the seven-bedroom watkins road mansion on the swan river has been listed by mining entrepreneur steve wyatt and his wife, sue. the home is set across six titles totalling 6400sq m. it has 2930sq m of internal living space and all the attributes of a luxury hotel, with the ability to transform from a private retreat into a fully equipped venue for the grandest of functions. the property last traded for $39 million in 2011 when sold by businessman Barry Patterson. its 1999 trade for $9.5 million stood as Perth’s record until 2006.

Goldmining magnate ross atkins bought the property in 1993 from the Bond family trust company, armoy Pty ltd, for $7.3 million. the Brisbane prestige market is short of luxury home offerings, says Place Estate agents’ sarah Hackett. “we have interested cash buyers we can’t find homes for,” she says.

Hackett found a buyer in less than 30 days for a luxury Bridgeman downs home that fetched $4.9 million last week, the second-highest price in the suburb behind a richard Foley-designed Hamptons-style home that sold last year for $4.96 million. “compared to previous years, we aren’t seeing as many of the jaw-dropping properties come to market,” Hackett notes. some unsold sydney homes are returning to the market with revised prices, including the Hordern home on Bellevue Hill. it has $23 million to $25 million hopes, having been offered initially with $30 million aspirations in 2016. this proved unachievable given Belhaven, the nearby Bellevue Hill home of Brambles chairman stephen Johns and wife michele Bender, sold to asX chief dominic stevens for $21.165 million after having $27 million hopes.

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24 Shearwater Esplanade Runaway Bay 5 Beds 4 Baths

8 Cars

Prime prestigious residence on picturesque water

View By appointment

At a premier waterfront address, this new luxury home is custom designed to maximise the superb Broadwater views. With a substantial multi-level layout spread across 1144m2 of living space complete with Lift, media room, gym, 8 car garage with workshop and top floor entertainers venue, this stunning home is scaled to offer a lifestyle of pure indulgence.

Agent Simon Cowan 0411 860 996 Master Agent National Prestige Realty a Division of National Commercial Realty Ken Clark 0409 009459

Standing on 716sqm of manicured block this residence comes complete with a pool, East/West entertaining terraces and Deep-water pontoon, suitable to host crafts up to 50ft and is centrally located close to shops, Shearwater Park and elite schools.

Other features include a Chef’s Kitchen with integrated Miele Appliances and Lavish bedroom suites, all with ensuites

mcgrath.com.au

Jamie Durie

indoor gardEns

Restoring the balance nature deficit disorder. yes, it’s a thing, an actual syndrome, and we’re suffering it without even knowing it. in fact there is even a book on the subject, The Last Child in the Woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder (2005), by author and journalist richard louv. and as he writes, our children are the ones most susceptible. who’s to blame? we can point the finger at ourselves to a certain extent. Houses are getting bigger and backyards shrinking while developers wallets get fatter. we seem quite content to wipe out our native forests in the quest for more mcmansions – less garden swapped for more interior space, more technology, more energy, more fossil fuels, more industry, more waste, more equity – and even more time in the day needed to achieve all this.

Have we lost our way in this thirst for more? are we happier, more content, less stressed, and is any of it bringing more peace into our lives? those most affected are our children – the little sponges soaking up all this conditioning

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through the many forms of technology they cannot let go of. i can’t remember any part of my childhood being touched by technology. for me it was treehouses, go carts, mud-pies and puppies.

Have we forgotten the very essence of what brings us wellbeing? it’s the new buzzword for healthy living and it seems we can’t get enough of it – in our food, our gyms, our office environments, our skincare ranges, our day spas. you name it and somebody’s labelling it “wellbeing”. it’s nature, and in the past 100 years we have done a pretty fine job of removing our lives from it by surrounding ourselves with technology and physically pushing it out of our homes. ironic, when it’s the very thing that in the past provided us with all the health, nutrition and wellbeing we could ever ask for. our grandparents knew it, and our australian indigenous people have worshipped the source of it for more than 40,000 years. you’d think we could take a leaf from their book. we are all intrinsically connected to nature, and now more than ever we are starting to experience the rubber-band effect whereby every label, brand, mission statement and corporate culture seems to be catapulting itself towards nature and the support of it. we now know children study when they are exposed to nature. crime has been reduced by up to 38 per cent in

china and new york when public gardens are installed. stress is reduced, air quality is increased and blood pressure is decreased as we slowly return to our gardens. the university of melbourne and rmit have completed studies that bring us hard evidence of the benefits of nature. Just one medium-sized pot plant in a medium-sized room can improve the air quality of that room by up to 25 per cent, and increasing that to five plants will bring it right up to 75 per cent better. these plants take up the things we don’t want and push out what we do – pure oxygen. many people are oblivious to the fact that the paints, glues, carpets and textiles we surround ourselves with at home carry harmful, volatile organic compounds that can cause health issues. taking a step outside the home into the garden means you reduce your exposure to these Vocs tenfold. that’s why several conscious companies are busy working towards reducing their Vocs. so what are the solutions available to us today in the world of architecture, building materials and sustainable practices? solar passive architecture is one initiative.

Homes that use less energy require less airconditioning, and allow more natural air ventilation to enter the dwelling’s various cavities

In the past 100 years, we have done a pretty fine job of removing our lives from nature by surrounding ourselves with technology and physically pushing it out of our homes

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danIeL SHIpp

Themed indoor gardens from the app Plant Life Balance. Clockwise from above, Formal Luxe, Fantastic Feasts, the Birds and the Bees, Child's Play and Desert Dreams

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so we gain greater exposure to fresh air and reduce exposure to Vocs. we could also examine what the mcmansions of the future might look like. Instead of creating bloated buildings with giant unused voids that don’t allow nature or natural sunlight to permeate, we could invite our front and back yards in.

Spanish haciendas embraced internal gardens for thousands of years. They were private sanctuaries exclusively for the family’s use, and they kissed every room of their house with filtered fresh air, laden with oxygen. before we developed air conditioners, this was a natural solution. and why are we so conditioned to wiping out native trees in the quest for a front lawn we

constantly need to mow and pump with fertiliser and water, just to keep up with the Joneses? How often do you drive down the street and see a family on a picnic blanket on their front lawn, or mavis and bill enjoying a cocktail on their sprawling patch?

Let’s reclaim the land. Let’s invite all of that precious disused garden into the floorplans of our homes and interrupt every room with green space to regain a greater connection to nature. for those who can’t start from scratch there are thousands of plants that are happy to live with you inside your home. all plants enjoy natural light, so they will best thrive when placed by windows and rotated every two weeks,

watered and fed well and kept away from over airconditioned environments.

There are plenty of websites and youTube links to help you with advice and information – far more of it is available than when I studied horticulture – so there’s really no excuse.

I also suggest a fantastic new free app called plant Life balance. It not only gives you seven differently themed delicious indoor gardens with plant lists to match, but it can also assess your space and tell you about the multiple health benefits these plants will bring you from the moment you invite nature back into your home.

Instagram : myplantlifebalance

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Dolly Lenz

Local opinion

witH jEnny lEnz

r ay w H i t E Grou P

Brian White contrary to some speculation, we expect the australian property market to maintain a strong level of confidence throughout the year. there is no doubt that the strength of the sydney and melbourne markets in recent years is having a “pull-through” effect on other areas.

History shows that for the other markets in australia to have sustained confidence in value increases, a healthy gap is required between the established prices in those markets and what is happening in sydney and melbourne. another important factor is the continuing low interest rate environment and the lack of expectation that interest rates will increase by a significant amount, if any, over the next 12 months. any increases will be likely to be a reflection of the continuing strength of the market and the desire to reign in that growth. the buoyant economy continues to be a powerful influence and the recent announcement that 400,000 new positions had been generated in australia will be a tonic for the housing market. on top of that, the fact that three-quarters of those new jobs were full-time is a reversal of previous trends.

marsHall wHitE

Marcus Chiminello

Hudson Yards, New York 2018 outlook

Market in transition in 2017, americans learned to expect the unexpected in real estate. the market’s continuing supply shortages, increasing home prices, some very unusual weather and a shaky political climate all contributed to a sense of unease, though we’ve certainly come a long way from the 2008 financial crisis. Here’s what we think are the factors, both positive and negative, that will affect the luxury real estate market in the coming year. in the us, recently passed tax legislation has made real-estate ownership more expensive. Homeowners will now be limited in their ability to deduct both real-estate tax costs and home mortgage interest in computing their taxable income. real estate tax deductions will be limited to just $us10,000 ($12,421), including state and local taxes. the previous law permitted much higher deductions. the new maximum mortgage interest expense deduction will be limited to $us750,000 in debt as opposed to the previous $us1 million limit. we predict these changes will exert downward pressure on prices. but the impact on the overall us economy should be positive due to business taxes being reduced from 35 per cent to 21 per cent, although that is not enough to totally offset the negative impact on the real-estate market directly. sydney joined the list of cities imposing higher taxes. in nsw, taxes for foreign buyers doubled to 8 per cent. land taxes also increased, from 0.75 per cent to 2 per cent. a ghost tax for property left vacant for half the year was also introduced. these measures are in response to double-digit growth over the past three years, and if you’re a real-estate buyer they will present a real opportunity as prices adjust downward to reflect the new tax paradigm. us interest rates have steadily been creeping up in recent years.

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in its desire to normalise rates, the federal reserve has indicated that this trend will continue throughout 2018. buyers will have the added incentive to come to market now rather than later in order to take advantage of the current low interest rate environment. the ongoing construction of new homes will also put downward pressure on prices. in the luxury sector, prices have come down as sellers have become more realistic. Gone are the days when they listed properties for outlandish prices to test the market. it’s now a buyer’s market, and they can be aggressive in their bidding strategies. offsetting this increase in supply is an increase in demand due to solid job growth in the us. underlying demand should continue to increase as 2017 was the best year for wage growth since the 2008 recession. ultimately, the real-estate market is shaping up for a transition, with increasing opportunity for buyers willing to take advantage of current conditions. although there are certainly headwinds forcing prices to adjust, homebuyers – especially millennials – should benefit from lower prices, increasing job opportunities, and higher wage growth in the near future. the economic impact of the us stock market’s continuing upward trajectory – it reached 25,000 in january – will prompt investors to diversify into other asset classes, which will benefit the real-estate market. look for the smart money to implement an aggressive purchasing strategy early in the cycle when everyone is in flux digesting the impact of the new economic landscape.

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

we anticipate that the prestige market will maintain its level of value – there will potentially be even a slight upward increase due to the lack of opportunities. activity was strong in 2017 and early signs in 2018 are that it will continue this way. it was a historic year for the prestige market, with several price records broken, including 18 st Georges road, toorak, which sold for $39 million. undoubtedly toorak was one of the best-performing suburbs in 2017. it has been and will continue to be the pinnacle postcode for melbourne. newer or more recently renovated family residences that offered great amenity outside of the house such as pools, tennis courts and recreation rooms proved to be very popular. we are confident that in 2018 we will see price records achieved once again. the amount of “new australian” money has reduced since early 2017, but the overseas buyer with deep-rooted interests here in business or family are still active. trophy homes are difficult to measure based on their days on market. often deals are created starting with the right buyer and then a timely approach to a potential seller.

c H r ist iE ' s in t Er nat iona l

Ken Jacobs we think the top end will plateau and be a stable market in which to acquire quality properties, if they come to the market. overall, the prestige market was quite good in 2017. the shortage of quality stock continued but a new australian record was set, along with several suburban records. that said, ill-considered government decisions made australia less attractive to the international market for both housing and general business investment. new price records were set in sydney’s Hunters Hill and woolwich, both suburbs that have been undervalued for some time. the combination of two trophy properties coming to the market and buyers from out of area with fresh eyes and a good market overview resulted in a positive focus on the peninsula. the suburbs that have historically been the most coveted will remain so but there is sure to be a certain level of catch-up from various localities.

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Rural estates jonat h a n ch a ncel l or

pass the parcel Country seats that were once tightly held by families for generations are increasingly changing hands

any tightly held Australian farms come to market having been owned through several generations. But there is a baton change happening in the bush with the emergence of expansionary neighbours, often in syndicates, as well as serious corporate buyers from the city.

Colliers International Rural & Agribusiness head Rawdon Briggs recently noted a marked decrease in small family farm ownership. Tax changes have also seen off most of the so-called Pitt Street farmers or Collins Street cockies.

Michael Everard, Ruralco Property’s Victorian manager, suggests that the bush is seeing “a slow and steady reduction” in farmer numbers as holdings get bigger. He says established farmers invariably know the best parcels in the district or the adjoining farms they want, and come with a strong asset position in terms of plant and equipment.

Last year, Deltroit Station – one of the premier pastoral holdings on the eastern seaboard – was bought by expatriate hedge-fund billionaire Sir Michael Hintze, through Inglis Rural agents Sam Triggs and Jamie Inglis, for just under $17 million.

The 2573ha, 70-paddock Gundagai estate, with an airstrip halfway between Sydney and Melbourne, was marketed as an agricultural powerhouse. It was a nice fit for the London-based Hintze, who has become a frequent east coast rural investor, acquiring more than 20 farms covering some 70,000ha since his

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first purchase, near Goulburn, in 2007. Hitherto his priciest buy had been a $12.5 million grazing property, Little Wollogorang.

Hintze is on the record saying that he was not just looking for capital gain from his many farms but also seeking solid returns on farm production.

Deltroit Station, with its 1903 Federation homestead, dates back to the 1860s, when it was settled by free English migrant William Richardson. Three generations of the family farmed there before selling in the 1960s to the King Ranch Group. Following the death of King Ranch’s Robert Kleberg in the 1970s, the farm’s ownership has included pastoralist Tom Barr-Smith and the London-based agribusinessman Anthony Crichton-Brown.

Sam Triggs says that these days all his city corporate buyers relish taking a strategic role in farm management.

“Unlike with their sharemarket investments, the off-farm owner can make strategic decisions to influence their farming business,” he says. He says they expect a yield, not necessarily a fortune: “Farmers are making good money now from cash yield and capital growth.”

Last year, Willows, a 1336ha property at Cootamundra in NSW, sold through Inglis Rural for $11.5 million to an off-farm Sydney buyer who faced competition from bidders who had owned in the district for close to 100 years.

Triggs also sold Dunvale & Aberdeen, at Tintaldra in the upper Murray River region, to a large private family business. Listed by the Patton family after 100 years, the 390ha farm was offered with commercial lease potential – $115,000 per annum – but the lease was not taken up.

Both passive and on-farm buyers want to set themselves up as

primary producers for tax purposes, says Christie’s International rural agent Bruce Eason. But the simple reason farms are kept for generations, he says, is that “the farm is part of them”.

“The kids have grown up on it and very often work on it from a very young age,” Eason says. “As they grow older, their knowledge, skills and love for the farm are ingrained.”

Last year, Markdale, at Binda in NSW, was sold by the Ashton family after nearly a century. James Ashton, who bought the original holding in the 1920s, started as the copy boy on Hay’s newspaper before owning it. In business, he became chairman of MLC and The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney.

Ashton had four sons – Jim, Robert, Geoff and Phil – who put Australia on the world polo map in the 1930s. A polo-player weathervane tops the seven-bedroom homestead on the 2250ha Southern Tablelands holding. And only at Markdale did two Australian icons combine their talents: Professor Leslie Wilkinson was responsible for the extensions; Edna Walling did the gardens.

Held by three generations, Markdale was sold by company director Geoff Ashton and his interior decorator wife Mary. Richard Royle, director of Colliers International Rural, notes the Ashtons were thrilled that the property was bought by a family with four boys from Sydney, continuing the familial theme.

A beautiful garden surrounding the home is a big feature on family farms, which can span hectares of grass. Glenburn Station, a 300ha beef cattle property 90km north of Melbourne, has a country garden, a collaboration between Rick Eckersley and nurseryman Barry Teese, that was showcased on Burke’s Backyard. Set among the Manchurian pears, weeping cherries and crepe myrtles are

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ESCAPES

Down on the farm

statues and brick pillars that frame the gateways into the many garden rooms at the property, which has been a setting for weddings in recent years. Noble Knight agents Damian Ford and Anthony Knight are marketing it.

Webster Nolan agent David Nolan compares farms to priceless art, suggesting “sometimes there is only one lifetime opportunity to purchase the asset”. He sees the re-emergence of the existing farmer as a buyer.

“The farmer is either debt free or in a very strong financial position, backed by the strong commodity prices they have been receiving, low interest rates and banks willing to lend. We are seeing the kids return because of the positivity,” he adds.

Chris Meares at Meares & Associates says there are two main reasons that farms are held by generations.

“There is an emotional factor whereby families believe that they are the custodians of a family asset,” he says. “The second, and possibly the most logical, reason is that the farm is in a favoured area that has produced an above-average income stream and profit on a sustained basis over generations.”

Stonehaven, a 2600ha farm in the Holbrook district held by the Ross family for more than 100 years, was sold by Meares & Associates in 2015 to a local three-person grazier syndicate. Meares has just listed just Prestwick, a Northern NSW beef farm with size, scale and potential – some 1171ha in the Niangala district, near Tamworth.

He expects interest from on-farm and passive farming interests, and says that 2018 is likely to continue the late-2017 trend with strong demand and limited offerings. New FIRB laws prevent offmarket sales to foreigners.

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Established farmers invariably know the best parcels in the district or the adjoining farms they want

Opposite: Deltroit Station, Gundagai.

Clockwise from below: Glenburn Station’s garden; Prestwick near Tamworth; Dunvale/Aberdeen in the Upper Murray; and the Ashton brothers with their father, James, at Markdale, NSW

Escaping to the farm for the weekend takes on new meaning with a property such as Mandalay, (pictured above and below) in the New South Wales Southern Highlands. Built in 1992 by Sydney investment banker Chris Fullerton and his wife Judy, the British Colonial-style manor has served as a luxurious retreat for the couple, who split their time between Mandalay and Sydney.

Now that it’s on the market for $10-11 million, Bruce Eason of Christie’s International Real Estate says there has been no shortage of interest.

“The demand for a property with the farm escape is very high; the demand at the higher end of the market, where Mandalay clearly sits, is extremely encouraging,” Eason says.

“It’s in that realm where there are not a lot of buyers, at $10-11 million – not a lot of people can afford that.”

He expects the new owners will be either expats returning to Australia for pre-retirement or retirement, or somebody from the corporate world in Sydney or Canberra looking for a rural getaway.

“It’s extremely quiet; it sits on a large holding of land so they see nothing else but paddocks and bush,” says Eason.

Perhaps not in the same league but still at the luxury end is the architect-designed 734 Calanthe Avenue at Doonan, in the Noosa Hinterland. Marketed in the $1-2 million range, it is under contract, which is no surprise to agent Tom Offermann.

At just 15 minutes from Noosa Heads, “there’s barely time for your hair to dry” on the drive back from the beach, he says.

“Doonan, Tinbeerwah, Verrierdale – they’re all absolutely undervalued, and the last part of the market to respond to the flow of money from Sydney and Melbourne,” Offermann says.

“It’s the best of both worlds – a country escape with the beach at your doorstep.”

ROBY N IRONSIDE

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Tasmania joel robinson

Tasmania has been giving mainland property markets a run for their money. And an increasing number of cashed-up buyers are focusing on the top end, lured by affordability as well as the many charms and growing convenience of living in the island state

In the spotlight 28

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Clockwise from far left: Westbury; Battery Point; The Lake House and Stokes House

tasmania’s highly affordable housing has been making the headlines over the past year, but the top end of the booming island market has likewise been performing well.

Hobart agent Pam corkhill of knight frank says that the level of buyer inquiry for homes over $2 million has increased by around 50 per cent. “where 10 years ago a $1 million dollar sale was exciting, now it is almost the norm,” she says. corkhill notes that affordability at the top end of the market in comparison with some of the bigger states is driving buyers, but suggests there are other factors as well. “there are many other reasons, such as airline frequency, lifestyle, education, climate, as well as the economic growth of the state,” she says. among the mix of buyers, she sees commuters who work interstate and fly home for the weekends, as well as retirees and young people where technology allows them to work remotely.

Hobart broke the $1 million mark less than two decades ago, in 2000. last year there were around 90 sales over $1 million, with sandy bay having the highest number with 27. over this period the city experienced a price surge of more than 14 per cent, against melbourne at 12 per cent and sydney at 10 per cent.

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unique estates agent dominic romeo says overall property inquiries have surged, particularly as Hobart and tasmania have been in the media spotlight over the past year or so.

He adds that while there is no doubt that the number of properties traded for more than $1 million is on the rise, there is a lack of stock at the high end. “owners are reluctant to sell their prestige property due to the fear of being unable to find another prestige property in the area,” he says. one of Hobart’s most impressive trophy homes, stokes House, recently hit the market. at stokes Point in new town, just north of Hobart, it is one of the largest and finest mansions in tasmania, according to eis Property Hobart agents deb stephens and david Gunning. stephens and Gunning are asking for offers over $4 million. stokes House, hidden from the public eye for well over a century by the extensive verdant gardens on its 4410sq m parcel, is a Gothic revival mansion, complete with ballroom, dating back to the late 1880s. it was built by the then lieutenant governor of tasmania, sir john dodd, with no expense spared in the construction and the sourcing of materials.

Hobart’s suburbs are attracting the most attention in tasmania. corkhill is asking $4.8 million for an 1890s Georgian weatherboard

cottage in battery Point, extended with a cutting-edge renovation by maria Gigney architects. blending traditional charm and modern style, the waterfront property with views of the derwent river was showcased on Grand designs in 2012. the front section reflects the history of battery Point, the formal sandstone-edged garden providing an idyllic outlook from the veranda. the home has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a 15m heated indoor swimming pool. the homestead, which sits at the top of a steep 1012sq m parcel, is linked by an elevated walkway to a striking industrial-modern waterfront addition. dominic romeo believes battery Point is one of the bestpreserved suburbs in australia. “every home and garden is beautifully presented,” he says. in 2017, 18 houses sold for more than $2 million across Hobart – well up from just six the year before. sandy bay was the standout suburb, with 11 sales over $2 million, as well as the residential price record. last year knight frank agent mathew chugg sold sentosa, a 100-year-old sandy bay waterfront, for $6.5 million. set amid 2309sq m of Paul bangay-designed gardens on blinking billy Point, the sandy bay road home was snapped up by the property developer Piers dawson-damer and his wife kim. it had sold for $815,000 in 1993.

Hobart’s record-setting home waimea House, a federation arts and crafts-style residence in sandy bay, sold for $8.5 million in a deal that stunned the island’s estate agents. it was bought in 2011 by the low-key investment banker Greg woolley, from sydney’s Point Piper. woolley was born in Hobart and is understood to have admired the home since childhood. launceston has not missed out on the boom, with around 15 sales over $1 million last year. romeo is marketing Parknasilla, a quintessential country home on a rise overlooking the historic township of westbury. around 30 minutes from launceston, it has views across the rich farmland of northern tasmania. built in the 1880s in a gothic style, the house has been restored by its owners, who paid $320,000 for it in 2008. with sash windows, open fireplaces and a steeply pitched gabled roof retained for its charm, the two-storey home has three bedrooms, two living rooms, and a country kitchen complete with a falcon stove. it sits on 4000sq m, with english lavender, hedges, perennials, cottage flowers, deciduous and native trees and bird life. romeo said that within 24 hours of listing the home last month he had 100 inquiries, with 80 per cent coming from the mainland. sales can take time. the lake House at cressy, another small town close to launceston, remains on the market, listed by Virgin australia co-founder rob sherrard through romeo.

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Port Douglas

The travelling north setting at 1 Wharf Street

jonat H a n c H a nc El l or

No longer just a few pubs and a pie shop, the tropical paradise is a classy choice for southerners, Port douglas sits on the bucket list as the perfect blend of sea change and tree change. four mile beach is on the doorstep of the town and the world’s oldest living rainforest is just an hour away. buyers typically holiday there about 10 times and then buy in the tropical Queensland location. “i hear every day people saying ‘we holiday here every year, so now that the kids are getting older it’s time to buy',” sotheby’s international agent barbara wolveridge says.

Port douglas’s trophy homes, cocooned by tropical flora and towering palms, can spend a number of years on the market, but last year more than a few sales trickled through. four houses sold for more than $3 million in the past 16 months, compared with just the one in the barren four years previous to that. last year, property developer michael yates sold his wharf street trophy home for $6.8 million to melbourne-based Paragon financial Group director dean cook and his wife, larah. the residence, which was inspired by plantation-style british west indies architecture, was designed as three pavilions by architect alex Gencur. other sales on murphy street include former retail food Group head tony alford’s purchase of two adjoining homes, including the award-winning tanamera, for more than $10 million. tanamera, spanning three levels with indoor waterfalls and gardens, was sold by singapore-based Howe robinson Partners senior partner timothy madley and his wife, jacqueline. the couple paid $900,000 for the 2000sq m block in 2001 and spent four years planning and building the home. Queensland sotheby’s international realty agent Paul arthur sold the property. sotheby’s new recruit barbara wolveridge has the first big

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Northern star listing of 2018 in the town, which has a reputation as modern, casual, classy and artistic. it was the location for the 1987 film Travelling North, starring leo mckern and julia blake as frank and frances, elderly newlyweds who leave the big city for a small port town, intending to spend their days watching the sunsets. it is also the home of visionary businessman john morris, widely regarded as the man who shaped Port douglas, and his wife marilyn. morris arrived in Port douglas from sydney in the mid-1970s, seeking a place to moor his yacht. the town was then little more than a few pubs and a pie shop. this was well before the likes of entrepreneur christopher skase cottoned onto the place. over the years, morris has been involved in the construction of the ramada Hotel, the Qt resort and the reef Park subdivision.

He still plays a part in tourism tropical north Queensland, along with his daughter wendy, a director of the organisation. john and marilyn, known as mr and mrs Port douglas, bought the wharf street location more than three decades ago. the home

that appeared in Travelling North was onsite and was too iconic to demolish, so the morrises moved it to their inland cattle property closer to cairns and went about building a newer five-bedroom house that was updated around a decade ago. the home is set high on a ridge overlooking Port douglas and the coral sea and has five bedrooms, four ensuites and an office. barbara wolveridge describes it as the region’s top offering. the property joins a number of Port douglas trophy homes now on the market. the Glasshouse, listed for sale at $6.75 million, belongs to legendary rock publicist Patti mostyn, who was famous for working with the likes of frank sinatra, George michael, sting and Elton john.

Her striking charles wright-designed three-level home with swaths of glass offers 200- degree sweeping views to the coral sea and beyond over four mile beach and the Port douglas marina. the master suite and third bedroom have their own private balcony overlooking the tropical landscape. callum jones of the Pink agency is marketing the property. further down the murphy street dress circle is booral, the holiday home of former two-time australian Gt champion mark Eddy and wife margaret. jones is asking $3.5 million for the home, which was designed by local Gary Hunt with tropical and japanese influences. it was built in 1996 for lyn Hall and her late husband mike Hall, ex-president of coca cola japan. booral, which translated from the ancient language means “large”, spans four levels and has four bedrooms and five bathrooms. a heated swimming pool with cascading waterfall is included on the 920sq m parcel.

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High-tech apartments ElizabEtH rEdman

Clockwise from main: Crown Group's Arc, Oros, Crown's Infinity and the Eastbourne

Hudson Yards xxxxxxxxxx

2018 outlook

Top of the range imagine waking up in your penthouse and wondering aloud what your schedule is today, and having the apartment recognise your voice and respond. the high-tech home could run through your calendar and suggest appropriate clothes for the weather, before switching on the heating if it’s cold and starting up the coffee machine. it’s not science fiction, explains Peter kennon of architecture firm Elenberg fraser, who is designing projects soon to hit the market that have all of these features. luxury apartment projects are fielding demand for top-of-therange technology and home automation features, as discerning owner-occupiers look for a convenient, personalised lifestyle. some projects include the features as optional upgrades, while other developers are offering high-tech homes as standard to position them above the rest. kennon says intelligent home technology can allow residents to control lighting, air conditioning and appliances by voice or remotely from a smartphone.

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the automation systems can tell different residents apart by their voices, responding in a personalised way. “when i’m driving home, my car will notify my apartment that i’m 15 minutes away. when i arrive at the garage door, the door will recognise my number plate,” he suggests. “my spotify playlist will start playing in the lift, or i might program it to play the news.”

He says the shift is being market driven, with downsizers drawn to the convenience of an automated lifestyle and younger demographics expecting continuous connectivity. “developers are being forced to understand them,” he says. “the next development with the newest technology is going to be much more appealing to the market.” mirvac is one developer seeing demand for high-tech apartment living, with elements that used to be considered luxurious starting to become standard. at the Eastbourne in melbourne, about 20 per cent of buyers chose to take up a home automation package, general manager of design diana sarcasmo says.

residents can control blinds, lights and climate by smartphone and remotely, perhaps turning on the heater on the way home from work. while on holiday, owners can turn lights on so the home doesn’t appear empty. technology that enables sustainability has been particularly popular. this includes energy-monitoring programs that allow owners to see how much energy they consume at different times of the day, or green switches that turn off all appliances except the fridge with one button as the owner leaves the apartment. “for young buyers, technology’s so native to them. they’ve all grown up with their technology and there’s a level of expectation,” sarcasmo says. “but i think the older generations are catching onto that as well, and where technology can really help the environment and enable a more sustainable way of living.”

Electric cars are also starting to take off, requiring charging points for owners and visitors, she says. owner-occupiers have been driving the shift to smart apartments, cbrE managing director of residential projects andrew leoncelli says. He noted that the apartment market had been investor driven for years, with developers hesitant about adding extras that would increase costs. “that market is moving now and we’re at the point where discerning buyers are looking for something different, and they’ve got the money,” leoncelli says.

He is working on Viapac Group’s oros development in melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs, where the project is even named after its own home automation system, which comes as standard. it includes voice-activated blinds, cooktops, music, air conditioning and door locks, plus a concierge service for drycleaning or restaurant bookings. in sydney, crown Group usually offers home automation upgrades but has included them as standard at its infinity at Green square and arc projects. the developer variously provides sound systems, fibre to the apartment for better internet connections and smartphone-controlled home elements. crown Group head of development chris Pope sees demand from all ages but is also trying to take the lead and provide a high quality of amenity. He tips the next trend will be more fingerprint and retina scans on entry, plus more voice activation.

“Even if the technology’s available, it’s whatever the customer is prepared to pay for it,” he says. “and they’re not quite at that next step.”

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The place we call home.

9327 7404 | ballardproperty.com.au

Gold Coast joEl robinson

Strip rides the wave Demand is surging for prestige apartments on Queensland’s coastal playground luxury apartment owners on the Gold coast have been buoyed by the sale of a record-setting sky home. the chevron renaissance penthouse of property developer ron bakir and his wife maja sold recently for $9.5 million. it edged out the previous $9.2 million record, set in 2011 when melbourne builder Peter devitt bought the penthouse in main beach’s liberty Panorama tower.

Elsewhere on the Gold coast, a fourth-floor jade apartment on the beach at surfers Paradise went under contract last week, having been offered to the market at $3.85 million. the full-floor apartment has three ensuited bedrooms, a media room and study, and a covered swimming pool that adjoins the beach-facing balcony. there was also the pre-auction sale of the Xanadu north penthouse, which sold for more than $5 million. the redesigned 835sq m apartment over three levels has four bedrooms, an indoor heated pool, bar, spa, home theatre and 400-bottle wine cellar.

Valuers Herron todd white advise that prestige prices improved in 2017 for both apartments and houses. “the biggest surprise is how well the prestige market and beach suburbs are now performing, with values pulling further away from lower property brackets and other non-beach locations,” its annual review says.

Prestige units notched up gains of 10 per cent, and prestige housing, including waterfront, canal-front, dry and golf course, had 15 per cent to 20 per cent increases. owners have been enthusiastically taking advantage of the renewed market confidence. the tri-level penthouse crowning the rivage royale building in southport has hit the market with $4.95 million hopes. the 27th-floor apartment with crystal chandeliers has four bedrooms, six bathrooms, a home office, and a rooftop entertaining and dining terrace complete with private pool. there’s even two marina berths included in the sale through kollosche Prestige agents michael kollosche and duncan longmore.

Elizabeth Zarb, wife of prominent mackay businessman tony Zarb, has listed the home. the couple bought it for $3.795 million last year from the family of the late former shopping centre owner Paul kyriakou, who paid $1.42 million for it in 2001. kyriakou had transformed the property into a Hamptons-style

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From top: The Gold Coast’s inviting panorama; three-level Pintari penthouse; apartment in the Allure building

retreat inspired by american fashion designer ralph lauren. the 825sq m apartment was once also the home of former fugitive businessman lux daswani, whose taste saw it furnished to match sylvester stallone’s new york apartment. the entire fourth-floor surfers Paradise apartment of Phillip and Gianna di bella, the couple behind the di bella coffee empire, is listed for $3 million after being passed in at $2.95 million at its recent auction. in the allure building on Enderley avenue, the near-350sq m apartment with its own private podium foyer has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a separate office and fully equipped home theatre. Every room of the apartment, marketed by ray white Prestige agent robert Graham, has a view of the water.

Graham is also marketing a three-level penthouse in the Pintari complex, at main beach, for $4.95 million. the sale would exceed the previous highest in the block, set in 2009 when the same apartment was last sold for $3.3 million. it was previously owned by jackie cross, wife of billy cross, the former surfers Paradise bar baron-turned-entertainment pioneer known for his Vegas-style show of tradies.

Graham said the near 500sq m apartment had been rarely used. beginning on the 21st floor, it has three ensuited bedrooms, a home office and sauna. the large living areas open to an outdoor entertaining terrace with bar, barbecue and heated swimming pool. bakir’s surfers Paradise offering, which took two years to create, was a 1000sq m skyhome spanning the 39th and 40th levels of the building on ferny avenue. it comprised four bedrooms, four bathrooms, two powder rooms and a media room, with balconies offering views over the city, beaches and the hinterland. instead of painted walls, it has panels of timber veneer, smoked glass, imported marble or lustrous lacquered finishes. living areas feature the finest italian designer furniture, and adjacent to the formal dining space is a cigar and wine-tasting area flanked by integrated wine fridges. at the rooftop level of the opulent penthouse there’s a casual entertaining lounge with teppanyaki barbecue, billiards area, gym and sauna. it also has secure basement parking for 21 cars and more than 600sq m of additional storage. michael kollosche at kollosche Prestige agents marketed the record-breaker.

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Who knew a light could be so illuminating?

Scandinavian Luxury.

Melbourne: 175 Johnston Street, Fitzroy 03 9417 5599 Sydney: 613 Elizabeth Street, Redfern 02 9699 7677 greatdanefurniture.com

f r a n k l l oy d w r igh t

Monument to modernism a curvaceous house in Palm canyon outside Phoenix, said to be the last residential project frank lloyd wright designed, has come onto the market for $us3.25 million ($4 million). known as the norman lykes home after the original owners, norman and aimee lykes, the 288sq m house was designed by wright in 1959 to be carved into the side of the mountain. it is one of 14 circular houses echoing new york’s guggenheim museum, perhaps the architect’s most famous work. “the new owner of this very special property will become the new stewards of this important moment in architectural history,” says the agency’s roxanne Johnson, who is handling the listing with fellow agents Jack luciano and raul siqueiros. owner linda melton bought the house in 1994 for $500,000. melton, a longtime fan of frank lloyd wright, told friends in the 1970s that one day she would own one of his homes. in 1994, she saw a for-sale sign at the norman lykes home while driving by. it was not in great condition as it had been used as a dorm for architectural students. melton had the interior updated. “she brought it back to life and nurtured it,” says her daughter, dee dee Biggs. “her heart and soul was in that home.” the two-storey house has three bedrooms, converted from the original five, three bathrooms, a large living room and abundant storage space. outside, the half-hectare property has a crescentshaped pool with mountain views. the listing price includes all the custom built-in furniture. fa n g B l o c k

The #1 place to sell your property this is the place

Originally published on mansionglobal.com

mov i e Produc er' s c a l i for n i a com P ou n d

r e t r e at i n t h e h e a rt of sk i c ou n t ry

thomas tull, producer of blockbusters The Dark Knight, Godzilla and Jurassic World and part-owner of the Pittsburgh steelers football team, has just listed his $us85 million ($105 million), 13ha estate in thousand oaks, california. tull, 47, and his wife alba acquired the four parcels that comprise the compound over several years, says listing broker Jordan cohen, of re/maX. they took down the existing properties to create the main house and guesthouse, and a 1000sq m lake. the main house spans more than 2973sq m and has a 465sq m master suite and a home theatre with 6m screen. outside is the main pool, and a pool house with spa facilities. there’s a second pool beside the 1022sq m guesthouse. the fourth parcel made way for the home’s new farmhouse and 2ha organic farm.

a custom retreat atop andesite mountain in Big sky, montana, has been listed for $us7.795 million ($9.69 million). it’s in yellowstone club, an exclusive, private 6151ha ski and golf community with 11ha of ski slopes. “the house is built with heavy montana rock masonry and it’s all reclaimed wood,” says listing agent dave kisko of yellowstone club realty. the 520sq m house, built in 2007, has five floor-to-ceiling stone fireplaces, four bedrooms and four bathrooms and sits on 1ha. amenities include covered porches, a three-car garage, a generator, in-floor heating, an outdoor hot tub and a fire pit. the master suite has an exercise room, a spacious closet and bathroom, a fireplace and access to a patio. “you can ski out from the back of the property,” kisko says.

liz lucking

Bi l l c a ry

“Mauna View” – Toowoomba

A rare opportunity exists to purchase what is undoubtedly Toowoomba’s finest residence.

Designed by world renowned Architect Paul Clout this masterpiece holds multiple awards including the most coveted of all: 2011 Australian House of the year – for over $3 million category.

Located on Toowoomba’s range escarpment and sitting on 4000 m2, Mauna View is a resort-like residence boasting million dollar views. Minutes from exclusive private schools, award winning golf course and the CBD, this is a rare opportunity that needs to be seen.

Located in Australia’s second largest inland city & the service centre for the Surat Basin.

Fly direct from SYD/MEL & Cairns to Toowoomba to inspect one of the city’s finest residences.

With a level of opulence rarely reached in the local market, this home has achieved the ultimate in privacy & world class style & luxury.

For more information contact Jen Taylor. jen@jentaylorproperties.com.au I 0408 357 776 I www.jentaylorproperties.com.au

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Byron Bay Jonat H a n c H a nc El l or

Coast watch the offering of the byron bay trophy home whalewatchers, with its dress circle position overlooking wategos beach, has the town talking. it is likely to trigger competition between interstate buyers for the coveted location, and maybe even draw in some expatriate or international interest. byron bay, perhaps more than any other australian coastal destination, consistently attracts out-of-towners – more so than Palm beach, Portsea, noosa, Eagle bay or kangaroo island. whalewatchers has been listed with $18.5-$20 million hopes by the sydney-based co-founder of salmat, Peter mattick, and his wife Pam, who have enjoyed its ocean views for 14 years. set on the eastern end of beachfront marine Parade, the home is spread over two levels, with a central pool. the matticks bought the 803sq m holding in 2004 for $3.9 million before commissioning architect 38

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tim moon to design the house. finishes, including copper, basalt stone and spotted gum flooring, integrate the house. listing agent liam annesley, of lJ Hooker byron bay, says a property like this “is nearly impossible to find on the east coast of australia”. He hopes it will break the $15.68 million record set in 2006 by the house at the other end of the parade, wategos House. that was bought by developer danny Goldberg, who rents it for $25,000 a week. fewer than a dozen properties sit between the two, with the highest sale in the ensuing 14 years being $9.5 million paid by orthopaedic surgeon david kirwan for nautica. former Point Piper publishing mogul deke miskin and his bikini-designer wife, Eve, head up the list of former sydneysiders settled along marine Parade. the couple had Popov architects design the $1.8 million house having paid just over $3 million for their home in 2001 – well before

they sold their sydney harbourfront mansion altona for $52 million in 2013. they share the stretch with clare mulham, the Vaucluse-based daughter of entrepreneurs bill and imelda roche, and prominent recruitment industry veteran Geoff morgan, who has been there since 1994. melbourne-based former domain boss antony catalano owns the luxury hotel rae’s on wategos, which underwent refurbishment last year by sydney interior designer tamsin Johnson. the townsend family from wheelers Hill have also been on marine Parade since 1991, expanding their holding a few years after that. burra foods chief executive Grant crothers, also melbourne based, spent $8 million in 2016 on the holiday home of fellow melbourne businessman mark rowsthorn. also on the strip is melbourne lawyer scott stewart, who paid $3.735 in 2014 for the beachfront house of the late sir leslie

froggatt, the melbourne-based head of shell australia, and lady Elizabeth froggatt. the home, owned by the froggatts since the 1970s, was an early christine Vadez design. nearby, Victoria’s richest woman, naomi milgrom, is also part of the strong melbourne contingent, having spent $17.5 million on a lighthouse road property over the past decade. oddly, brisbanites are absent from wategos, but they do like it around at belongil beach. for such a small strip, opportunities to buy are surpisingly regular. currently listed through Jeremy bennett, at byron bay Property sales, is the luxury holiday home of boorowa farmer John arnott, who is selling his marine Parade property the white House. it has been rented by the likes of kate moss and Elle macpherson, who paid $14,000 a week for the privilege. next door, colleague Vicky innes has the listing of the former boss of skilled Engineering, Greg Hargrave, who has been trying to sell his property on and off for six years.

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Interiors Mansion AustrAliA

Fiji time

Lang Walker’s labour of love

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Warm beige

Light and languid echoes of summer

Less is more

Fiona Lyda’s one-woman quest

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MY LIFE DESIGN STORIES Phoenix Kitchen, design CR&S Varenna.

SYDNEY MELBOURNE POLIFORMAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

island S t o r y b y d Av I d m E A g H E R Photog raphs by LU k E SI mon A n d jA Son LUc A S

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Island life....The dĂŠcor of Kokomo, continued throughout the resort and repeated in the nearby residences, uses neutral colours to echo the island's sand, driftwood and natural rock formations. Much of the furniture was purpose designed and built for the project

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What started out as a ‘spare time’ project for Lang Walker proved to be more challenging than the developer expected.

But he took the long view, and now his breathtaking resort on a remote island of Fiji is something to behold

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roperty developer Lang walker has built more than 1000 projects in his 50-plus years in business, but he says kokomo Island – a multi-million dollar resort in fiji he built with his own money – was by far the most arduous undertaking of his career.

“I thought this was going to be a small, easy project I could do in my spare time, but it turned out to be one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done,” he says. walker founded walker corporation with his father Alec in 1964 and grew it to become one of Australia’s largest privately owned diversified property development companies. In terms of scale, the $100 million, 21-villa resort is small compared to other projects walker currently has in the pipeline, such as the $2.5 billion multi-tower collins Square project in melbourne and the $2 billion redevelopment of the Parramatta city centre in Sydney. but kokomo was not without its challenges.

“Had I known that it was going to go five times over budget and take four years longer to build than I thought it would, maybe I wouldn’t have done it,” he says. “but now it’s all come together and it’s all working well, I feel very proud of what we’ve achieved on a remote island.” kokomo is only the second hotel project, after Hope Island resort in Queensland, the corporation has undertaken. It’s also the first time walker has been the developer and operator of a hotel.

However, he says, he is a developer at heart, so he decided to also build five luxury residences on the 57ha island.

The residences, like the hotel, were designed by architect keith Lambert, with interiors by Philip Garner. At present they are available to rent as part of the resort with the intention of appealing to intergenerational families. The idea is that large families holidaying together don’t necessarily want to all be under the one roof but could spread across a residence and the resort’s beachfront villas.

The residences range from three to six bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms, pools and private gardens. The décor is similar to that of the hotel, with an emphasis on neutral colours to echo the sand, driftwood and natural rock formations on the island. much of the furniture was purpose designed and built for the project. walker has approval to build as many as 20 residences on the island and the grand plan, he says, is that eventually he will sell them to private investors.

“I always like looking at the long game and in a couple of years I will put the residences on the market,” he says. “we’ll sell one or two of them, build another one or two. we’ve already had a few discussions with people but I think it’s too early to be putting them on the market at this stage – we still have work happening on the island and I want to be sure it’s all finished first.” “with everything I’ve done over the past 50 years there have always been headaches, but when it’s all finished you look back and you forget all the bad things.”

The “bad things” on this project, he says, were largely around achieving the level of quality in workmanship he wanted – at one stage he had to import a drywall construction team from malaysia to get the standard he was after. Transporting building materials onto the island was also a challenge, dealing with the fijian bureaucracy was another. “what I would like to do now is just enjoy it, to do my diving and read my book instead of dealing with the issues of running the island,” he says. “but I think it’s in my dnA that I will always be concerned that it’s being run properly and our guests are being looked after. I just can’t help it.”

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Etc. sHirEEn nol an

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Neutral ground Keep a cool head and extend the summer theme with these light and easy statement pieces

1. d a y b E d multifunctional spine daybed in oak with hand-sewn upholstery in fabric or leather. from Great dane 2. c H a i s E Pacific outdoor sunlounger with woven rope back, weatherproof upholtery and aluminium base. from coco republic 3. t a b l E s arcolor round tables by Jaime Hayon for arflex in marble or lacquer colours. from Poliform

4. l o u n G E c H a i r classic 1959 arne Jacobsen Pot design updated using modern materials and fabrics. from cult

7. c H a i r s kartell Generic a, left, and Generic c chairs by Philippe starck, in six finishes. from space

5. r u G nala handmade wool rug combining high and low pile, inspired by traditional monochrome tribal designs. from armadillo & co

8. d E s k companions writing desk by studioilse in walnut, oak or ash with cork bowl. from spence & lyda

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6. s t o o l lassen ml 42 kitchen and breakfast bar stool in oak with brass footrest. from urban couture

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My Style f iona ly da , f ou n dE r , spE nc E & ly da

bl a inEy nortH, intEr ior dEsignEr

clectic is a terribly overused term but it’s essentially effective in understanding my style. i respond viscerally to beauty so it must be that too, but beauty is not and cannot be the only criterion. the world has enough products; there is no need for another thing. so the reason that more is made now must come from a more altruistic place. i’m on a one-woman quest to stop anything being thrown away… ever again. our mission statement is “Everything you really want”, so we showcase pieces that inspire and surprise as well as performing the functions of everyday life. i would say that the piece to invest in is the piece you find that you truly love – the piece that will give you joy every time you see or use it. i am lucky in that i attend lots of trade fairs around the world, so they are definitely a source. i love finding makers that are passionate about their product. i love hearing their stories and helping them to make a living doing what they love. great design is generally a collaborative process between a designer and a maker/craftsperson. the gold is in the communication, in articulating the problem, defining the potential solution then devising how it should be made. that element of surprise and serendipity, the magic and the art that makes great design, does not happen every time.

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pHotogr apHEd by nick cubbin

Great design is generally a collaborative process between a designer and a craftsperson