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incorporating news from Dow jones’ M A NS ION Gl oba l
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Interiors
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WARMING UP
Ripples across the Queensland market Sitting pretty
Perth’s prestige apartment boom 1
m a nsionaust r a l i a .c om . au
Issue 38 J September 2020
Heaven on earth
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Contents
Award-winning home at Noosa designed by Paul Clout See page 29
1 1 L U X U R Y Gull House at Byron, Historic Adelaide, New Farm reinvention 1 4 C O V E R S T O R Y Queensland’s prestige market shows some intriguing trends 2 4 D O L L Y L E N Z Appearing onscreen can lend a property star power 2 6 M A N S I O N G L O B A L Beachfront Barbados, MI6 penthouse, model’s estate 2 7 P R E S T I G E M A R K E T In nervous times buyers see safety at the high end 2 8 T A M A R A M A The Kalypso complex offers rare luxury on the coast 2 9 N O O S A Buyers are being lured by the coastal enclave’s pristine reputation 3 0 P E R T H P R E S T I G E The west’s market is riding high on a wave of demand 3 6 M A Y F I E L D E S T A T E This stunning property sits well in its prosperous region 4 1 B A C K P A G E A mid-century home designed by Russian-born Anatol Kagan 4 3 I N T E R I O R S The Merricks House on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula 4 9 P R O D U C T S Fire, light and delicious fragrances to tantalise the senses 5 0 D E S I G N C L A S S I C Arne Jacobsen’s sleek and innovative Vola 111 Tap
N E X T I S S U E : October 10, 2020
C O V E R The recently sold Jabiru House at Mudgeeraba in
the Gold Coast hinterland, designed in the wabi-sabi style by Seabreeze Design and Construct
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Mansion AustrAliA
Editor Lisa Allen Contributing editor Jonathan Chancellor Interiors editor David Meagher Art director Samantha Yates Writers Joel Robinson Sam Duncan 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 September 12, 2020
Editor’s Letter From Melbourne’s Toorak to Sydney’s Tamarama and Noosa’s Tewantin, COVID-19 has changed the shape of real estate markets. In Sydney, there have been several house and apartment sales at the upper levels, but there’s been a downside too, with the Emerald City riven by an alarming drop in weekly rents and multiple apartment vacancies. Rents have tumbled across Sydney by as much as 15 per cent. All up, there were more than 7000 apartments vacant between the Sydney CBD and the Eastern Suburbs, according to independent property economist Andrew Wilson. He wonders just how long some landlords can hold out, particularly as vacancy figures are further swollen by an influx of Airbnb properties. Further south in Victoria, listings and sales are down, with prices dropping in Melbourne. However the state’s premium real estate market continues to tick over, with agents expecting a big summer come the lifting of restrictions. Of course at press time Melbourne agents were hoping they could start conducting private open inspections sooner than officially signalled last Sunday. In Queensland, border closures have apparently not dampened Noosa’s eversimmering property market, while in WA agents report that Perth has not seen any price reductions. Indeed, the state’s southwest is having a mini-boom. Ray White agent Jody Fewster says Perth’s rental market is so tight she is desperate for more homes to market. In good news for investors, the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia says the low vacancy rate is likely to provoke a rent rise in WA. Regionally, buyers are looking to escape COVID-19 and head to the hills. Agents report heavy interest in rural idylls. Investment banker Richard Thomas and his wife Kathy are taking advantage, listing their Mayfield Estate in the booming NSW regional centre of Orange after holding it for 22 years. Gold miner Newcrest, a major local employer, is helping to boost the Orange economy, with the city now sporting hatted restaurants and an unprecedented 48 coffee shops even though its population numbers just 40,000 souls. As always, we thank our hard-working real estate agent pals, developers and wealthy property owners for allowing us into their homes and lives. Lisa Allen Editor THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
| SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
U 9 & 1 0 ‘ W E Y B A Q U AY S ’ NOOSA HEADS
Picture a lavish nautically edged, Hampton’s-inspired house-size hideaway on the pages of a glossy magazine in alluring sunny Noosa that’s an easy stroll to Hastings Street. Imagine the absolute waterfront is yours? Easy, just bring the boat and fundamentals. Everything else including high end furnishings is here and ready. Halcyon days come into play when sliders seemingly disappear, revealing a massive terrace, private jetty and white-sand beach. Taking postcard position centre stage, is the glistening waterway where sundowners with friends are a shore thing. Move strait in and enjoy or holiday let with a strong income stream – the choice is yours.
Price
$5.5M
Agent
Jesse Stowers 0414 367 282
1/31 NOOSA DRIVE NOOSA HEADS
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An innate sense of gravitas, plus an timeless aesthetic of clean lines with a dash of bold colour, were synonymous with revered architect Gabriel Poole, and distinctive at “Alkira”, meaning ‘happy place in the sun’. From the elevator, oh-so-wide glass doors open to the light drenched hallway. Impressive living spaces extend to a wide balcony, out to the exclusive use pool, with a backdrop of filtered peeks of Noosa waterways and the hinterland, this lavish elevated ground level apartment exceeds all expectations, and is a mere 400m from Hastings St.
Auction Saturday 26 September 12pm Agent
Jill Goode 0418 714 653
THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
| SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
HAWTHORNE, QLD
A five-level riverfront luxury home on Virginia Avenue in Hawthorne has hit the market. Arguably the tallest on the Brisbane riverfront, it was built before height restrictions were introduced. Having last traded for $2.276 million in 1997, the five-bedroom home on a 2110sq m block with 27m of river frontage was recently renovated and a wine cellar, theatre, library and gym added. There’s a rooftop terrace with bar and a 360-degree view of the Brisbane skyline, plus a tennis court, private beach, boat ramp and pontoon. The site was originally owned by the former Labor lord mayor of Brisbane Clem Jones, but the home was built by entrepreneur James Penny and bought by retired doctor Peter Hawes. Ray White’s Dwight Ferguson has the listing.
BYRON BAY, NSW
Gull House, an architect-designed residence in the heart of Byron Bay, is getting a renewed marketing push with hopes of securing $4.3 million. Designed by Harley Graham, the Paterson Lane home has views to the east over Tallow Beach and to the north over the Bay. Conceived to mimic a seagull floating above a timber platform, it was part of a two-house development seeking a form of residential density in the middle of town. There are three bedrooms, open living rooms, outdoor living and dining areas, a double garage and an inground pool. The house runs on a solar system with battery back-up and all roof water is recycled into two 10,000 litre tanks. The property has been offered by Jeremy Bennett and Travis Lipshus from Byron Bay Property Sales.
SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
| THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
TA M A R A M A , N S W One of Tamarama’s priciest homes, Pavilion House, has been listed for mid-September auction. It last traded three years ago for $11.2 million, when former Ramsay Health Care chief Chris Rex and his wife Lynette bought it from the sports and entertainment manager Basil Scaffidi and his wife Catherine. The Tamarama beach house was designed by architect Walter Barda to integrate with the natural landscape. It holds a coveted position high on the ridge on Thompson Street, between Tamarama and Bronte beaches. The sprawling Hamptons-style beach house has been crafted to take advantage of 180-degree views over the beach, ocean and Mackenzies Bay. It has five bedrooms, a four-car garage and a lift to all three levels, a glassenclosed wine cellar, a parent’s retreat and a poolside entertaining pavilion. The home has been listed by D’Leanne Lewis, of Laing+Simmons Double Bay, in conjunction with Phillips Pantzer Donnelley, who have an $11 million to $11.5 million guide for its September 19 auction. MANSIONAUSTRALIA.COM.AU
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MOUNT MARTHA, VIC
ST KILDA, VIC
A home in Mount Martha designed by Venn Architects is on the market with hopes of fetching nearly $6 million. Built in 2005, it last traded in 2018 for $4.22 million. It spans 745sq m across three levels, linked by an internal lift, and has been constructed down its sloping 2065sq m block to take advantage of panoramic views from the Safety Beach shoreline to The Heads. The master retreat occupies the whole of the third level, and has a walk-in wardrobe and stone ensuite with integrated TV, as well as its own balcony overlooking Martha Cove. Another three bedrooms and the main living zone is on the ground floor. A covered outdoor kitchen overlooks the tennis court, infinity pool and spa. In the basement there’s a cinema and a six-car garage with travertine flooring and reclaimed timber pillars from Sydney Harbour. Kay & Burton Flinders agents Meg Pell and Tom Barr Smith have a $5.5 million to $5.95 million guide.
A modernised 1920s Edwardian home in St Kilda has sold.The three-level, fivebedroom home underwent a contemporary redesign and renovation by O’Connor and Houle Architecture and Landscapes. The front comprises the private master suite, with its own living room, walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. Upstairs there are another four bedrooms, including a self-contained guest suite. The second level has access to the rooftop terrace with its private deck and city glimpses. At the rear of the residence, past the home office and a second living room, is the the open plan kitchen living and dining space, opening to a landscaped rear garden with an integrated barbecue and fireplace, and a self-cleaning heated pool. In the garden there’s a heritage feature wall, a remnant of the stables that were originally on the 695sq m block. The Agency’s Sam Hobbs and Jesse Raeburn had $6 million plus hopes.
GLEN OSMOND, SA
Set in stone Woodley House, built in the 1840s from stone quarried in the Adelaide foothills, has been listed for sale. It was built by Osmond Gilles, a settler, pastoralist and mine owner and the colony’s first treasurer. Before arriving in South Australia, Gilles had been a merchant in Hamburg from 1816-1833 and he would invite German settlers to his estate for hunting parties, music and drinking on weekends. Adelaide’s biggest land owner, he discovered silver on his Glen Osmond property, a find that yielded him substantial royalties. The sprawling 5880sq m property has had only five owners in four decades from the 1930s, including Vernon Pridmore and then Sir Stanton Hicks, professor of human physiology and pharmacology at the University of Adelaide. The home, which is some 20 minutes from the Adelaide CBD, was next owned by the Pierce family, which included eight children. The Georgian-cum Victorian-style villa is now being sold by architect Ian Traill and his wife Fiona, whose work is drawing them back to Sydney. The couple purchased Woodley House as a deceased estate in 2017 for $3.005 million and have overseen its refurbishment into a sixbedroom, four-bathroom home. It has been listed by Booth and Booth Real Estate agent Jamie Brown with a price guide of $4.5 million to $4.8 million. Offers are due on September 15. 12
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THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
| SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
ROSEVILLE, NSW
Rowena, a grand Federation home in Sydney’s Roseville, has been listed for sale. Built around 1910, it retains some of its original features, including high ornate ceilings, leadlight windows and vintage fireplaces. There are four bedrooms, a home office, a number of formal and informal living and dining spaces, and a wine cellar and tasting room. In the 1460sq m landscaped gardens is a new alfresco pavilion, elevated at the rear to overlook the heated saltwater swimming pool. There’s also a one-bedroom cottage beside the pool. Rowena last traded in 2016 for $4.64 million, when it was sold by the then chief operating officer for KPMG Asia Pacific, Geoff Wilson, and his wife Alison, who had moved to Hong Kong. Sydney Sotheby’s Double Bay agents Ben Cohen and Mark Goldman have a guide of $6 million to $6.4 million. Only seven houses in the Upper North Shore suburb have sold for more than $6 million. The record was set last year when the Federation home of investment banker Rob Mactier and his wife Sally sold for $8.5 million.
NEW FARM, QLD
A restored and extended Queenslander in Brisbane’s New Farm has been listed for sale. The property was reinvented by design practice AAD and Wrightson Stewart Interior Design after trading for $1.3 million in 2016, when there was just a stone garage on the ground level. AAD and Wrightson Stewart made that level part of the home and reconfigured the layout. Both levels are now self-contained. There are two bedrooms on the ground floor, with their own kitchen and living space. A feature void over the entry and foyer spaces incorporates a staircase that leads to the main kitchen, living and dining area opening to the rear deck. There are another three bedrooms, the master with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite, as well as a home office and a family room. A swimming pool sits in the 750sq m Brunswick Street grounds. Matt Lancashire and Patrick Goldsworthy of Ray White New Farm have the listing. SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
| THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
DARLINGHURST, NSW
The whole-floor sub-penthouse in Darlinghurst’s Top of the Town building has been listed for sale for the first time in nearly two decades. Spanning nearly 500sq m, Apartment 1601 hasn’t traded since the modernist Marchese Partners landmark was constructed in 2003, two years after it sold off the plan for $3.941 million. Banks of glass walls flank the apartment, offering panoramic views of Sydney Harbour. Grey stone floors feature throughout the living and entertaining areas. There are four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a media room and a study. Entry is through a private foyer on level 16. Alison Coopes at Agency by Alison Coopes is asking $7.5 million for the property. MANSIONAUSTRALIA.COM.AU
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The border might be shut but the southeast Queensland prestige residential markets are still doing quite nicely. Indeed they’re faring better than those of the bigger east coast capitals of Sydney and Melbourne. There are, however some subtle market trends emerging in the region, both in pricing and preferences. Brisbane’s upper-quartile values have dropped 1.5 per cent in the past six months, according to data from CoreLogic’s head of research, Tim Lawless. The fall was primarily driven by apartments, which are down 2.5 per cent. Meanwhile, 80km south on the Gold Coast, upper-quartile housing values are up 1 per cent over the same period but luxury apartments are down 2.5 per cent this year. “Overall, the Gold Coast is showing a stronger performance relative to Brisbane,” Lawless says, noting that upper-quartile dwelling values are up 7.9 per cent over the past 12 months across the Gold Coast while Brisbane has recorded a smaller 2.9 per cent rise over the same period. He reckons the recent under-performance across the upper quartile is likely to be partly cyclical, in that the more expensive end of the market led the state’s initial growth cycle. “We are seeing similar trends across many of the coastal and lifestyle markets within close proximity to the major capitals,” he says of the Gold Coast and Brisbane differences. “With remote working becoming more available and popular, major urban centres that offer a lifestyle opportunity as well as commuting options seem to be becoming more popular.” Despite the statistics, there have been some big Brisbane sales. McGrath New Farm agent Brett Greensill puts it down to the lack of stock. “The options for buyers are extremely limited, which helps explain why the prices are so strong,” he says, citing the recent $7.35 million sale of the Pier penthouse in Newstead, which had three written offers in the $7 million range. “Interstate inquiry is strong, as is international inquiry, which gives us the impression that the market is on the brink of something fabulous.” When it comes to the most expensive suburbs, Teneriffe ranks as the only location with a median price of $2 million, according to Cameron Kusher, the director of economic research at REA Group. Surfers Paradise is next with a median price of $1.96 million, followed by Sunshine Beach, Main Beach, Chandler, New Farm, Mermaid Beach, St Lucia, Ascot, with Hamilton rounding out the top 10 at $1.4 million. Ray White New Farm agent Matt Lancashire says he has sold more property over $5 million in the past three months than in the past two years. “We are having a party on the high end,” he says. “The prestige market is very strong. The buyers are coming from everywhere too. I have built relationships with a number of high-end buyers where I run an exclusive database of buyers I know are looking to transact in every price category. I currently have 17 A-grade buyers looking to buy above $10 million-plus.” Ray White Surfers Paradise principal Andrew Bell, however, is concerned about the lack of immigration to the Gold Coast. He says a recent report suggests the previous population growth trajectory predicted 1.4 million fewer arrivals over the next two decades. “That is a lot of potential real estate buyers and will cause a significant redrafting of our housing needs, and while reducing demand for existing homes, it will also have an impact on the home build industry, which of course will therefore affect our economy.” Bell says the border closure has had an immediate effect, but it will also have an effect for years to come. “Even when [the borders] are open we won’t be bringing anywhere near the same number of new Australians into the country because until
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THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
| SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
BY J ONAT H A N C H A NC E L L OR
LAPPING IT UP
Despite a few mixed messages the sun is still shining on Queensland’s prestige market, where the search for quality and lifestyle goes on
The pool and entertaining pavilion at Jabiru House, a wabi-sabi style home in Mudgeeraba
SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
| THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
MANSIONAUSTRALIA.COM.AU
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From top: Bluestone in the Gold Coast hinterland at Guanaba, and its interior; inside a renovated 1990s house in Tallebudgera inspired by Colorado mountain chalets, and the exterior
unemployment has been reduced significantly, which will take years, we won’t be adding new people to that unemployment list,” he says. In 2019, the Gold Coast population grew by 349,800 people, or 1.4 per cent, with around 210,000, or 60 per cent of that growth, the result of immigration. “Housing construction is one of the key drivers of our economy but we can’t keep building new homes if we don’t have more humans to occupy them, and so immigration has been critical to drive that economic activity,” Bell says. There’s still an appetite for quality product, however. Harcourts Coastal agent Katrina Walsh recently found a buyer in less than two weeks for Jabiru House, a newly built home in Mudgeeraba’s gated Jabiru Estate, about 13km southwest of Surfers and 10km from the Gold Coast beaches. After the block of land traded for $855,000 in 2017, the owners created a modern home that blended into the native Australian landscape. They had Seabreeze Design and Construct build it in the Japanese wabi-sabi style, which essentially means finding beauty in imperfection. A wabi-sabi home is described as one that embraces authenticity, finds value in the lovingly weathered and lived-in, and promotes an overall sense of peace and tranquility using simplicity. Hand-laid filed stone and raw concrete was used to convey a natural alignment with the surroundings, while vertical timber screens across the multi-level home were installed to open and close through automated actuators. There’s 930sq m of living space, with 3m high ceilings above the grand dining and living area that includes a double-view fireplace and a marble, stone and timber kitchen. It opens to the main entertaining deck, which meets the 25m mineral pool and its entertaining pavilion, with integrated barbecue kitchen, woodfire pizza oven and a 9m long concrete bench. Set on 4610sq m, the home has seven bedrooms. The quick sale and the state of the market gives Kollosche Broadbeach agent Ryan Ward some optimism. Along with colleague Bec Southey, Ward is marketing a Tallebudgera home that has been fully renovated since it sold for $1.275 two years ago. The 1990s residence, 20km southeast of the Gold Coast on 1.2ha, was inspired by mountain chalets in Colorado. It even comes with its own English-style pub with open fireplace. It has four bedrooms, a master with ensuite and walk-in wardrobe, and a full outdoor kitchen overlooking the saltwater pool, which has a swim-up bar and spa. Entry to the home is via a Japanese-style bridge over a pond. Ward says buyers are generally from the hinterland and are moving from one part to another, most of the time upgrading. However, he is seeing some returning from the beach. “We are seeing some of our buyers that are moving away from the ranges to try seaside living and are coming back to what they love,” he says. “Some buyers that are on water are trying the hinterland experience. I think with what we generally sell, our buyers are choosing these locations for schooling.” Ward says they choose the hinterland over the beach because they love the space, privacy, and not having neighbours so close. Ray White Rural Queensland agent Jez McNamara says there’s always consistent demand for lifestyle properties in the hinterland, but recently they’ve seen more parties from Brisbane looking for a tree change. “It’s the lifestyle,” he says. “Not all people love being on the beach; instead they are looking for more space and fresh air. Space is the most important factor for buyers as they can get a lot more value with a hinterland property.” Northern NSW is benefiting from the closure of the Queensland border, particularly given the time of the year, as Sydneysiders look north for sun but can’t get any further on a plane than Ballina. Max Shifman, the chief operating officer of national development firm Intrapac Property, says they are getting huge growth in inquiries from cities for their latest beachfront neighbourhood, Aureus at Skennards Head, between Lennox Head and Ballina on the NSW far north coast near Byron Bay. “We are seeing a growing number of inquiries from the bigger cities – Sydney and Melbourne – from people who are considering the lifestyle they want to lead,” Shifman said. “This is both the younger, first-home buyer demographic but is increasingly the more affluent upgraders looking for their sea change 2.0. “People are looking for more internal and external space and to get out of congested city areas. Idyllic beachy locations, large enough to accommodate services and amenities but still within easy reach of bigger cities, are top of the list.” Aureus, which will have nearly 5ha of parkland and its own village centre, has just seen two adjoining blocks snapped up by the same buyer on two occasions in the past month. Its biggest drawcard is the views it has over Sharpes Beach. Back in Queensland, Bluestone, a rural sanctuary on more than 4.3ha in the Gold Coast hinterland, was quick to go under offer after hitting the market with $3.5 million hopes. The six-bedroom, five-bathroom home in Guanaba with valley views has a chef’s kitchen, lounge room with fireplace, dining room, gym, pool, and an eight-car garage. For the equestrian, it also has three stables, a tack room and lunging area, plus a chicken coop and a duck house. There’s an entertainment pavilion with acreage views, bluestone-clad barbecue and a pool room with bar. Kara Evatt and Eddie Wardale of Kollosche Broadbeach secured a $3.85 million deal in six days and are hoping it goes unconditional. 16
MANSIONAUSTRALIA.COM.AU
THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
| SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
BELLEVUE HILL 9 Cranbrook Lane , ’Exhibit House’ Artfully crafted by Stukel Architects, this contemporary home was a finalist for the Interior Design Awards. Featuring an abundance of natural light and a north east aspect, boasting a beautiful yacht studded harbour panorama, an incredibly flexible design, chefs’ kitchen with butlers’ pantry, spacious living and dining areas with terrace and views, 4 bedrooms all with views, master with ensuite, self-contained apartment with separate entry, heated pool, sauna and entertaining courtyards, ample storage and double lock up garage with level entry. Privately positioned, close to Rose Bay Marina, Double Bay & Rose Bay shops, harbour beaches, elite schools and transport. 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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Auction Saturday, 26th September at 11:00am, Onsite View Saturday 11:00am - 11:30am
Michael Pallier 0417 371 522 sydneysothebysrealty.com
ROSLYN ROSLYN 3366 3366 Middle Middle Arm Arm Road, Road, 'Glenferrie 'Glenferrie Farm' Farm' AArare rareopportunity opportunityto topurchase purchasean anequine equineestate estatelocated locatednear nearGoulburn Goulburnand and2.5 2.5hours hoursfrom fromSydney. Sydney. ´Glenferrie´ ´Glenferrie´isisset seton onaa121ha 121ha(300 (300acres) acres)with withundulating undulatingcountry countryand andstables stablescomplex. complex.Featuring Featuringfoaling foaling barn, barn,main mainstable stablewith with10 10stalls, stalls,managers managersapartment, apartment,office, office,large largehay hayshed, shed,conference conferenceroom, room,separate separate staff staffkitchen/dining kitchen/diningarea, area,14 14horse horsepaddocks, paddocks,99cattle cattlepaddocks, paddocks,9km 9kmofofelectric electricrail railfencing, fencing,multiple multipledams, dams, 440,000 440,000litres litreswater waterstorage storageplus plusbore, bore,access accessto toregional regionalrace racetracks tracksininGoulburn, Goulburn,Canberra, Canberra,Bathurst Bathurstand and 2hr 2hrdrive driveto toWarwick WarwickFarm. Farm.´Glenferrie´, ´Glenferrie´,set setininthe theprestigious prestigiousRoslyn Roslyndistrict district comes comescomplete completewith withall all the thespecialised specialisedfacilities facilitiesto toagist, agist,train trainand andbreed breedhorses horsesand andproviding providingaasuperior superiorlevel levelofofcare. care. All Allinformation informationcontained containedherein hereinisisgathered gatheredfrom fromsources sourceswe wedeem deemtotobebereliable. reliable.However Howeverwe wecannot cannotguarantee guaranteeitsitsaccuracy accuracyand andinterested interestedparties partiesshould shouldrely relyon ontheir theirown ownenquiries. enquiries.
Auction Auction Saturday, Saturday,14th 14thOctober Octoberatat11:00am 11:00am Double DoubleBay BayAuction AuctionHouse House View View Contact ContactAgent Agent
David David Medina Medina 0419 0419 772 772 233 233 sydneysothebysrealty.com sydneysothebysrealty.com
Dolly Lenz
Local aspect
WITH JENNY LENZ
FOUNDER, RAY WHITE TRG
Gavin Rubinstein These days the homes we become familiar with on our TV screens tend to be those featured in various reality TV shows – The Real Housewives of Sydney, The Biggest Loser, The Bachelor etc. There is often a lot of hype around these shows, with the homes/location being centre stage. Recently I sold the apartment of Real Housewives of Sydney star Krissy Marsh, in Double Bay. The show was filmed in this apartment and as a result that sale attracted various press articles that definitely helped generate interest in the property throughout the campaign. In the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, sitcoms ran for decades on one set, but the modern-day viewer tends to be more fascinated by reality, celebrities and where they live – like the Kardashian phenomenon in the US. Some have said they put Calabasas on the map. In my opinion a particular suburb or property attracts notoriety more through the celebrity who lives there than from being featured on a TV show. Many buyers are aspirational and are attracted to locations or homes that are perceived to be sought after by the elite and affluent. REAR WINDOW LOCATIONS
Anthony Marano
The Chartwell Mansion of Beverly Hillbillies fame LOCATION PROPERTY
Star billing Since the beginning of motion pictures, real estate has played an essential role in the most memorable pieces of cinema and television. Privately owned apartments, mansions, and estates have set the stage as the fictional homes of revered, notorious and beloved characters alike. While many simply blend into the backdrop and are forgotten, a select group of trophy homes rose to a starring role and are perhaps even more identifiable in a film or show than the actors who starred in it. One of the most famous examples of a real estate star was featured in the iconic 1960s television series The Beverly Hillbillies. The show’s opening credits featured an exterior shot of the famed Chartwell Mansion in Bel Air, California, that was the fictional home of the Clampett Family. The home became so famous that it is still one of the first things that comes to mind when Beverly Hills is mentioned. Meanwhile in real life, the mansion was recently purchased by Lachlan Murdoch for $US150 million ($204.6 million), It was the record residential sale in the state of California at the time. Having a property that has been featured in a film or show certainly can help add value to a home. In Studio City, California, the fictional home of the beloved Brady Bunch family was listed for sale at $US1.885 million and ended up selling for $US3.5 million – a whopping $1.6 million over the asking price after a bidding war that included several celebrities. Ultimately, television network HGTV was the successful bidder, purchasing the home to showcase it in its 24
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miniseries A Very Brady Renovation. Hollywood recorded yet another record sale just this past week with the home from the 1980s hit Golden Girls selling in a matter of days for $US1 million over the $2,999,999 asking price – a 33 per cent premium. While owners are likely to enjoy a price bump from having their property featured, such wide exposure can bring unwelcome consequences. In the show Sex in the City, main character Carrie Bradshaw lived in a quintessential New York townhouse on a charming cobblestone street in the famed West Village. The show ended years ago, but fans are still flocking to take pictures in front of the townhouse and it’s so popular that the current owners have had to install a velvet rope across the front steps to keep them at bay. While the increased attention may be a negative for some, almost everyone would welcome the fame garnered from their property having starred in a movie or television series. While only a few will ever have the chance to be so featured, those that do enjoy a lasting cachet and added provenance that sets them apart. In the uber-competitive world of trophy home ownership, a Hollywood feature is certainly an opportunity hard to pass up. 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. Jenny Lenz is managing director of Dolly Lenz Real Estate. dollylenz.com
I work as a location scout for film, television and commercials, and while Sydney is not Hollywood, we have had our share of big budget films shot here. It does tend to open doors to amazing properties due to the appeal of having your house featured on the big or small screen. The opening scene of Mission Impossible Two, shot here in 2000, was in the courtyard of Boomerang in Elizabeth Bay. We shot a 1970s party scene for Fred Schepisi’s Eye of the Storm (2011), with Geoffrey Rush and Charlotte Rampling, in a house in Rose Bay. The most recent example of a property being given star billing is Seven Studios’ new series Between Two Worlds. Ruthless billionaire Phillip Walford lives in a stunning CBD penthouse whose sweeping staircase and soaring ceilings give the show an international feel. The penthouse, on top of the ANZ tower with interiors by Blainey North, is as good as anything in Manhattan, Hong Kong or London. While the fees paid to home owners can be as high as $20,000 per day, if they decide to sell the publicity generated can add thousands to the sale price. RAY WHITE PATTERSON LAKES
Stephen Hill
Over the first three weeks of the campaign [for the house used on Kath & Kim], we had lines of people – 95 per cent were fans of the show with no interest in purchasing. Most came to look and take photos. We promoted it as the Kath & Kim home and I was on Sunrise talking about it. We sold it after about a month to someone who wasn’t too interested in its history but loved the location on the water. Not for a second did we think of not using its TV claim to fame in the marketing. Yes, we had a lot of stickybeaks, but we were prepared. I don’t think it added to the sale price but it was great from a marketing aspect. In general, enquiry doesn’t really spike after a certain house/location is used for filming and then is for sale. If you are looking for a home like that you are not buying it for its internal bones. It was built 20-plus years ago and didn’t have a wow factor except for the fact it was such an iconic TV home. That acclaim lasts forever; it was a hugely popular show and still is. There was an open home there at the beginning of the year to raise funds for cancer research and they got thousands of people through. The current owners organised as they will be doing some major renovations and it will not look as it did in the show ever again. THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
| SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
Ar tist’s impression
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ENQUIRE NOW merrinda.com.au Mark MacKenzie 0414 950 148 Gaby Rogers 0435 658 325 Colliers International do not guarantee, warrant or represent that the information contained in this advertising and marketing material is correct. Any interested parties should make their own enquiries as to the accuracy of the information. We exclude all inferred or implied terms, conditions and warranties arising out of this document and any liability for loss or damage arising there from.
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Originally published on mansionglobal.com
COASTAL INDULGENCE
MODEL HOME After spending seven years bouncing her Balinese-inspired Los Angeles estate on and off the market, former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Cheryl Tiegs has finally parted with the four-bedroom property, selling it for $US14.07 million ($19.64 million). The single-storey spread, in the city’s tony Bel Air neighbourhood, has tried the market three times since 2013, most recently last September with an $US18.5 million price tag. Perched on almost 1.5 acres (0.6ha) on a bluff overlooking the city, the home “offers a secluded and tranquil resortstyle setting,” according to the listing with Jade and Tiffany Mills of Coldwell Banker. Tiegs, 72, had owned the home for more than 20 years after buying it in 1996 for $US2.49 million. Set behind gates, the 433 sq m house is entered through double doors flanked by lily ponds. The centre of the home is the sprawling great room, an open-plan space that comprises a living room, a family room, a den and a formal dining room. There is also a chef’s kitchen, and a main bedroom suite with a seating area, a fireplace and a spa-like bathroom. Outside, the verdant gardens are home to a pool, fountains and ponds. LIZ LUCKING 26
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This roomy beachfront apartment in Saint James, Barbados, has unobstructed, impossibly blue ocean views throughout, extensive indoor-outdoor living with almost every room opening onto a covered patio area, and a private plunge pool. The penthouse is finished with cooling marble and granite, and features a study and a wine cellar. World-renowned restaurant The Cliff is next door. The Sandy Cove development was designed and built circa 2005 by Gillespie & Steel, known for expertly combining traditional elements and contemporary design. The 540 sq m apartment, one of 15 in the building, has four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms. Owners have access to a gym and sauna, an owner’s locker, and a large communal pool overlooking the beach. The property manager’s office is on site. The apartments are just seven minutes south of Holetown, on the west coast of the island. Listing agent Geoff Wilford of Wilford’s Estate Agents says the west coast boasts the most top-end, luxury offerings in terms of real estate and lifestyle of the four coasts. Holetown, the hub of the west coast, boasts a wide range of restaurants and boutiques, as well as a new designer village and lifestyle centre called Limegrove that Wilford says is “a bit like Sloane Avenue in London—it has all the luxury boutiques, including Chanel, Louis Vuitton”. There are four world-class golf courses within reach of the residence, he adds. The apartment is listed for $US5.5 million ($7.678 million). JONELLE MANNION
HOUSE OF SECRETS A three-storey penthouse apartment within the building that was once the top-secret London headquarters of MI6 has come onto the market, complete with reinforced steel-core beams and specially hardened flooring installed by the agency decades ago. The 385sq m spread within Whitehall Court, on an unassuming street between the River Thames and Trafalgar Square, has an asking price of £5.5 million ($10.05 million). The triplex has three bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen and dining room, a library, exposed brick walls, a statement staircase and views over the London Eye, according to listing agency Beauchamp Estates. In 1911, the top floors and eaves of the building became the clandestine MI6 base. The agency had been created two years earlier by Sir Mansfield Smith-Cumming, the inspiration for James Bond’s boss M. The penthouse’s unusual network of huge, steel-encased timber beams, along with hardened flooring, were security upgrades installed during World War I to reinforce the building in case of bombing. “Who doesn’t love the excitement and glamour of the Secret Service, spies, gadgets and James Bond?” Gary Hersham, founding director of Beauchamp Estates, says. “This unique penthouse in the eaves of the building helps to shine a spotlight on the thrilling history of the secret service and its 007-style agents.” The building even has a cameo in the upcoming Bond film No Time To Die. LIZ LUCKING THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
| SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
Prestige Market Update NERIDA CONISBEE
A property in Samford Valley, Queensland. Right: Clontarf, NSW
The flight to quality Buyers appear to be seeing the premium residential market as the safest option This recession is unlike any other major downturn I have seen in my lifetime. Unemployment is rising, the economy is contracting, but the banking system is stable and there are record levels of government stimulus. Certain industries are doing very well and those working in government, health, technology or mining are probably feeling quite different from those employed in hospitality, education or tourism. This dynamic is creating a very interesting investment environment, and as a result investments that are perceived as safe are seeing enormous amounts of money being placed into them. For residential property, the premium market appears to be considered the safest option. COVID-19 is affecting property in different ways, with some property types in certain locations currently more affected than others. The areas most at risk are those with very high proportions of young renters, particularly suburbs that rely on students. Suburbs with family homes on decent-sized blocks are faring better, but the best performers continue to be premium suburbs. Most well-paid white-collar professionals are still employed and may have had only minor cuts to their incomes. They are also spending less on things such as eating out and travel. Discretionary spending is down, which appears to be leading to more money being spent on property in some of our nicest suburbs. Looking at capital growth in the most expensive suburbs in each city shows where money is flowing. In Sydney, the best performers are beachside, with Clontarf and Bondi both seeing double-digit price growth. In Melbourne, the flight to quality is extreme, with the city’s most expensive suburb, Toorak, experiencing an almost 20 per cent increase in the past 12 months. SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
| THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
In some cities, the trend is towards outer suburban premium locations. Perhaps this is being driven by people looking for more space or taking the opportunity to move further out due to not having to commute to work so often. In Brisbane, Samford Valley – which has experienced more than 20 per cent growth in the last 12 months – contains a high proportion of large homes on acreages but it is 21km from the CBD. In South Australia, the Adelaide Hills continues to be very popular, with Crafers West regularly receiving the highest number of views per listing on realestate.com.au. Crafers West’s popularity is now translating into prices having achieved more than 35 per cent growth, making it the highest-growth premium suburb in Australia. A similar trend can also be seen in Hobart and Perth, with the popular Bellerive in Hobart experiencing 18 per cent growth over the past 12 months, while in Perth, Leederville has seen almost 15 per cent growth. It’s a strong result given that overall prices have declined in Perth during the same time period. Canberra is benefiting most from COVID-19 and since midMarch has not missed a beat in terms of price growth. Pearce has seen the strongest price growth, and although the suburb median may not have hit a $1 million median yet, it is not far from it. Historical performance is not the best indicator of future performance. Nevertheless, it is likely that premium property will hold its value best during this recession. If you are holding out for a bargain in Bondi, Grange or Ainslie, you may be out of luck. Nerida Conisbee is the chief economist with realestate.com.au
High growth premium suburbs by capital city % change 12 months to July 2020
Median
% change
Sydney
Median
% change
Hobart
Clontarf
$3,800,000
27.6%
Bellerive
$700,000
8.2%
Bondi
$2,850,000
23.9%
Margate
$592,000
11.7%
Willoughby
$2,439,000
23.7%
Lenah Valley
$625,000
11.6%
$2,200,000
22.7%
Leederville
$880,000
14.7%
Toorak
$4,575,000
18.8%
Winthrop
$905,000
11.7%
Aberfeldie
$1,640,000
18.8%
Ascot
$800,500
11.2%
Melbourne Caulfield North
Perth
Brisbane
Canberra
Samford Valley
$1,110,000
21.3%
Pearce
$940,000
27.0%
Grange
$1,075,000
19.8%
Gordon
$626,450
16.0%
Sherwood
$975,000
19.0%
Ainslie
$1,112,500
15.7%
Adelaide Crafers West
$867,500
35.5%
Glenelg East
$932,500
28.8%
St Peters
$1,415,000
18.9% Source: realestate.com.au
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Tamarama
Clockwise from below: Artist’s impressions of a Kalypso apartment’s main bedroom, dining and living areas
LISA ALLEN
Beachside gem Danny Avidan’s Kalypso complex offers a rare chance to own a luxury coastal bolthole 28
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Developer and lawyer Danny Avidan has twice delayed the launch of his exclusive $50 million Kalypso apartment complex in the beachside Sydney suburb of Tamarama due to COVID-19. But the veteran luxury residential developer puts a positive spin on the setback, claiming that the extra months have given him time to further finetune the block of 11 apartments slated for a site overlooking Bondi Bay and the legendary Bondi to Bronte coastal walk. “Basically the whole project was delayed because of COVID and that six months gave us the chance to ensure that we really came up with the most fantastic product,” says Avidan. “It gave us the time to elevate it and make it everything we wanted it to be. “I was going to launch it in April, then August, and then we just decided to launch in October,” he says, adding that from
October 24 he will host a hospitality suite at the nearby Bondi Icebergs to showcase Kalypso. Kalypso’s interiors were designed by the Melbourne group MIM, and Avidan notes that all apartments will sport luxury appliances such as upmarket American-manufactured Wolf ovens and Subzero refrigerators. Apart from natural stone Italian tiles, terracotta, 100 per cent wool carpets, Carrara marble and oak wooden flooring, Avidan has added “some amazing details’’ such as copper inserts to the flooring in every apartment. He says the one- and two-bedder apartments will sport the same high quality inclusions as the larger apartments, but they will not have the fireplaces or wine rooms. “The interiors are pretty consistent throughout the building,” he says. Avidan expects that demolition of the existing Art Deco building on the site, at 63 Fletcher Street, Tamarama, which he bought last year, to commence from early next year. He says that his lenders have been very supportive of the project. “I don’t have to sell a lot of apartments [to commence construction] as the banks are very supportive,” he says. “I can sell four apartments and get on with it. The banks are being very supportive of certain projects,” he said. Prices will start from around $1.7 million apiece for the three one-bedroom apartments. The four two-bedders will hit the market at about $3 million each. The single three-bedroom apartment is priced at around $6 million. Avidan is yet to price the two sub-penthouses but if he markets the penthouse, which he may consider retaining for himself, it will be priced from $12 million. He expects that buyers will be empty nesters, expats, or somebody living overseas who would love to have a pad in Sydney. “Or it could be somebody who has a rich dad for the smaller apartments,” he says. CBRE’s Ben Stewart is handling the apartment sales. Designed by architects MHNDU, the complex creates the illusion of having been carved into the sloping street, its design mirroring the cliffs nearby. “The large windows and balconies soak in the spectacular views of the stunning coastline, from Bondi in the northeast to Tamarama and Bronte in the south,” Stewart says. “Kalypso’s vantage point affords it an incredible aspect of the sea and landscape, providing the utmost degree of calm and balance.” He says the offering is unique as it is difficult to buy brand new apartments so close to the beach, adding that the last such project, Bondi Pacific, was completed back in 2013. “There are hardly any sites to build brand new apartment complexes,” Stewart says. Because of COVID-19, he says, people are working from home and want a better lifestyle. “They want the beach, the cafes, the local amenities that Tamarama and Bondi offer. Lifestyle is becoming a priority.” THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
| SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
Noosa J OE L ROB I N S ON
Going coastal Along with its natural charms, Noosa’s reputation as clean and safe is luring more buyers than ever
Top: View over the beach from La Mer on Hastings Street Above and below: Paul Clout’s Sunrise Beach home
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Border closures have not dampened Noosa’s hot property market. Despite being mostly inaccessible to buyers from outside Queensland, it is seeing accelerated activity and more profitable sales than ever before. It’s often a sight unseen process, with the local agents selling to their database buyers, sometimes before properties hit the public listing sites. Local agent Tom Offermann says the big question is, how long will it last? “We are in a privileged position being able to communicate daily with people who are at the top of their game, including business leaders, economists, and highly informed and successful individuals,” he says. “Some are telling us we are at the beginning of a significant and lasting shift in where people want to live and work from home or retire, and that this shift will last for years and produce significant impacts and demands on our residential real estate.” Noosa could soon see only its second double-digit apartment sale, the other secured earlier this year, with the latest listing of a Hastings Street apartment. Richardson & Wrench Noosa agent Shane McCauley has a guide of $10 million for the penthouse atop La Mer. The unit, a $2595 a night holiday rental over Christmas and $1,240 in low season, last sold for $7.2 million in 2018 – the first time it had been offered in 27 years, shortly after La Mer was built in the late 1980s. It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as a private 240sq m roof terrace. The block’s most recent sale was last year, when property industry veteran Geoff McWilliam and his wife Barbara paid $6.1 million for a three-bedroom apartment. The Noosa apartment record was set earlier this year when Elizabeth Ring, the ex-wife of Swisse Vitamins billionaire Stephen Ring, paid $14 million for the penthouse in the Noosa Court block. McCauley says there is currently very little prestige stock, and with cashed-up buyers hovering there has been a string of big off-market sales. He says inquiries are coming from the southern states and expats overseas looking for a clean, safe place. “We are selling property sight unseen through walkthrough videos,” McCauley says. “This is now the time we live in, and most of these buyers have either holidayed in the complex or have stayed in a house close by and know the location. Some also have family and friends who own here and they get them to inspect on their behalf.”
Offermann says the agency’s sales volume has been double what it normally is. In the past month it sold nine properties in the $5 million to $10 million-plus range, mostly on Noosa Sound and Sunshine Beach. “The prestige market is particularly active,” he says. Offermann is selling a number of properties sight unseen, with buyers developing a clear understanding of what’s on offer via good photography and video walkthroughs, and in some cases third party inspections. Recently he sold two properties, one to an expat in the UK for $6.5 million and the other to a buyer from Victoria who spent more than $4 million in late August. Offermann says that apartments are in hot demand, having secured $3.98 million for the penthouse in the Noosa Pacific block, which had eight bidders at the auction. As did an apartment in the Little Cove block which sold for $6.3 million last weekend through Tom Offermann agent Nic Hunter. A three-bedroom unit also recently sold for more than $7 million, and the Parkridge Noosa penthouse went to a local buyer in a week for around $4.45 million. So far this year, across the Noosa Shire – which comprises the likes of hot-spot areas of Noosa Heads, Sunshine Beach and Sunrise Beach – there have been over 70 sales of houses and apartments for more than $2 million, with a number yet to settle. There have been two $10 million plus sales kicking off September. Tom Offermann agent Cameron Urquhart secured the sale of the Sunrise Beach home of local building designer Paul Clout. The 2018 HIA Sunshine Coast House of the Year winner in the exclusive Beaches estate on David Low Way has three bedrooms, and a rooftop terrace. Every room that faces inwards opens through sliding doors to the wet-edge swimming pool, spa and alfresco dining space. Entry to the home is through the lobby with high glass walls and doors in to the crisp white living area, complete with a marble feature wall with an integrated fireplace. There was a near $12 million sale of Hayven, the former home of the late Hayco founder Donald Hay on The Anchorage, Noosa Waters, which set a new record for Noosaville. Reed & Co. agent Adrian Reed sold the 13bedroom, 12-bathroom mansion with 25m swimming pool, a gym and its own nightclub. MANSIONAUSTRALIA.COM.AU
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Perth J OE L ROB I N S ON
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THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
| SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
Clockwise from far left: Balcony at ONE Subiaco; the pool area; 8 Parker Street; A sub-penthouse in The Ritz Carlton Towers; dining area at ONE Subiaco
Room at the top The Perth prestige apartment market is enjoying a surge, driven by returning expats and discerning baby boomers
“Nobody in Perth, and possibly Australia, has ever done a penthouse like this before,” says Blackburne Property Group managing director Paul Blackburne. The penthouse in question is part of Blackburne’s $280 million ONE Subiaco development on the site of the Subiaco Pavilion Market, which was demolished earlier this year. Twenty-four floors up, its penthouse is the most expensive ever envisaged in the state. The Perth apartment market continues to face tough times, but developers think there is an appetite for luxury projects. The Subiaco project should be finished in three years, by which time the Perth market may have emerged from its long price downturn. Ray White Dalkeith, Claremont, agent Vivien Yap says there seems to be more traction in the apartment market than ever. “Australians who have left Perth in the past are now coming back and they’re used to living in prestige/luxurious apartments,” Yap says. The confidence in the market was underscored in July by the record $17.9 million off the plan sale in Blackburne’s ONE Subiaco. It was Perth’s biggest ever apartment sale, topping the previous record set earlier in the year at the same development – a subpenthouse two levels lower that sold for $15.9 million. Before that the record sale price of $15.2 million had stood since 2014. Construction of ONE Subiaco hasn’t even begun yet and it is 80 per cent sold. Its six-bedroom, 1300sq m penthouse will have a
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gym, staff quarters, a rooftop pool and spa, and its own sports bar. The project is expected to be completed in 2022. Vivien Yap is hoping the confidence in luxury apartments continues, listing a sub-penthouse in The Ritz Carlton Towers in Elizabeth Quay. One of just four sub-penthouses, the apartment has four bedrooms and four bathrooms across 220 sqm of internal living space., Dempsey Real Estate agent Mal Dempsey, also a property developer for modern boutique apartment complexes, says COVID-19 put a stop to Perth’s recovery, but it has also driven expats back into the market. “The luxury top end market was showing good signs of emerging from a four-year period in the doldrums early this year,” he says. “However, international travel restrictions forced by the coronavirus has seen renewed slowdown. “The coronavirus has delivered a reality check to many, especially expats living in the US, Europe or Asia generally. People now realise business can be conducted from home and that there is no better environment than right here in Perth.” Dempsey says the trend toward off the plan or newer apartments has been helped by the government’s new stamp duty relief. Perth announced late last year that for the next two years, buyers of a new apartment will be eligible for a 75 per cent transfer duty rebate of up to $50,000, on top of first home buyer assistance. “It appears to be a two-speed market, with good inquiry for off the plan and truly unique, well-located riverfront apartments that tick all the boxes with regard to size, quality, views and facilities, and slower sales for older established apartments,” says Dempsey. “We have witnessed an increased acceptance of luxury apartment living over the past 10 years as the successful baby boomer demographic seeks a safe, secure lock-and-leave base from which they are free to travel, or enjoy their boat, farm or holiday home. The type and size of apartments now available is unlike those previously on offer and they’re being designed to meet the most discerning scrutiny.” In South Perth, the owners of an ageing complex at 8 Parker Street called in Perth’s leading waterfront architect, Colliere Architecture, to create a $20 million luxury building of 26 apartments with interiors by Cox Interiors. The final apartment was recently sold off the plan. Prices ranged from $1.8 million for the two-bedroom apartments to $10.5 million for the penthouses. Harcourts Malaga agent Vanessa Barry secured the tower’s final sale, a 290sq m, three bedroom sub-penthouse. The 8 Parker Street development is slated for completion in late 2021. Barry says development is tracking nicely around inner Perth. “Boutique and small to mid-rise developments have been more sought after over recent years and it has become more important than ever to purchase from a reputable developer,” she says.
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Orange LISA ALLEN
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i
Top row: Owners Richard and Kathy Thomas, and Mayfield Estate Centre: The homestead; resident pet peacock; the artificial lake Bottom: Living area of the main house; outside wall; guest cottage interior
Finding Elysium
A historic estate in the NSW Central West epitomises the good life enjoyed in its prosperous regional location
Investment banker Richard Thomas, the owner of Mayfield Estate – a historic spread just outside the thriving central NSW city of Orange – reckons it’s customary for a true gentleman to sport a magnolia grandiflora in his garden. Thomas and his wife Kathy, whose childhood home was a sprawling 100,000 acre cattle and sheep holding in Walgett, are not letting the side down. Their magnolia grandiflora, a large, striking evergreen tree, was planted deep in the gardens of Mayfield Estate back in 1910. At 12m in height, it dominates the garden, which is filled with elms, birch, oaks and lime trees, and a handsome artificial lake that was once home to scores of trout. Inspired by architect Hardy Wilson – billed as one of the most outstanding architects of the 20th century – the sprawling neo-Georgian Mayfield is one of the great estates of Orange. It’s a showpiece of a house that has been partially redesigned by leading National Trust architect Howard Tanner and was decorated by renowned interior specialist, the late Leslie Walford. Mayfield Estate is the original property of Orange, a bustling rural city that these days owes its booming economy to gold miner Newcrest Mining Ltd, the largest listed gold producer on the Australian Securities Exchange and one of the world’s largest gold mining companies. With Newcrest and the NSW Department of Primary Industries headquarters fuelling the local economy, it’s no wonder the town of 40,000 souls sports 48 coffee shops, hatted restaurants and trendy bars. A drive of three hours-plus from Sydney over the Blue Mountains, it is nestled amid rolling countryside and historic towns and villages such as Millthorpe, a heritage-listed town with cobbled, bluestonelined streets bordering relatively unchanged 19th century buildings. Just 9km east of the Orange city centre lies Mayfield Estate, which has its own illustrious history. It was granted to WC Wentworth for his crossing of the Blue Mountains in 1813 and was passed to James Crawford, the founder of Britain’s Crawford’s Biscuits empire. Crawford’s manufactured 13 million biscuits a day, including Scottish shortbreads. The vast 800sq m homestead, built between 1906 and 1910, is recognised by the National Trust, and comes with an oversized master suite with two bathrooms and a dressing room or further bedroom leading off it. Another five grand bedrooms (all with ensuites), a large conservatory, a library, boot room, guest vanity, drawing room, formal dining room, large study and five marble fireplaces are also included. There’s a self-contained annexe with bedroom, a large garden room, a kitchen and bathroom, and several outside entertaining areas, as well as the central western courtyard. The surrounding 4ha arboretum is home to 55 exotic plant species and more than 22 species of birdlife, including a pet peacock who spends his leisure hours in the magnificent homestead’s recessed northern veranda. Since the couple acquired the estate 22 years ago they have developed its commercial side, adding premium cool climate vineyards, which produce the Icely Road and Mayfield Vineyard labels, and letting out its village houses, tapping into the boom for weekend accommodation. Mayfield Estate now includes a village of four authentic two- and threebedroom cottages – many decorated in the French style – that are let out to guests through various websites, plus a fully irrigated vineyard producing premium white and red varieties.
SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
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The couple have been capitalising on the booming regional short-term rental market by offering the four cottages, which overlook the ornamental dam and vineyards, plus the horses, flocks of geese, and orchards of plums, peaches, quinces, walnuts and almonds in a bucolic setting reminiscent of England, to the weekend holiday market. They have tapped into the fact that Orange attracts 1.2 million visitors annually, and report that with little marketing the cottages, built from timber and rammed earth, are renting out at a healthy average daily rate of $372 and are 72 per cent occupied. On those figures, the pre-tax profit is around $370,000 a year. “There are lots of people coming here who usually go to Aspen or Vail,” says Richard, adding that even at 900m above sea level Mayfield averages four to five snowfalls annually. With bottled wine sales of 4500 cases per annum, Mayfield Estate’s wine business can generate a pre-tax profit of about $210,000 per annum from its existing brands and vineyard capacity. The vineyards are presently planted to chardonnay, pinot noir and sauvignon blanc, which is sold to specialist wine makers, and its wines have been rated highly by James Halliday. Richard, who has enjoyed a long career in Australia, the US and the UK, and now runs TankStream Investments from Sydney’s Macquarie Street, says that when he first arrived at Mayfield back in 1998 he had a moment of revelation. “I realised the Elysian Fields didn’t just exist in Greek mythology but in fact were manifest on the Mayfield Estate!” he says. Mayfield is the perfect lifestyle estate combined with underlying complementary cash-flow businesses stemming from the vineyard and the rural cottages, he says. “The estate provides a retreat from the congestion and intensity of city life, allowing one to absorb the richness of nature yet within close reach of the amenities and connectivity of Orange. “It is a special place of many dimensions and interesting potential pursuits. It has taken me back to my country roots, seeking the meaning of life from the soil and the seasons, but still allowing me to be active with my investment banking and venture capital interests in Sydney.” However the couple now believe they have reached the age where they must move on, and the 46.45ha estate is on the market through Chris Meares of Meares & Associates. Meares notes that with 15 bedrooms onsite it could be used as a family retreat with ample room for friends and guests, but also as a business opportunity with its on-farm accommodation and the potential for commercial boutique hotel operation, a restaurant, function centre or small conventions venue. Mayfield Estate is being offered by expression of interest closing October 30, with bids expected to be lodged at more than $8 million. “Over the past five years, real estate capital growth in Orange has risen 38.6 per cent, as opposed to Sydney, which has risen 22.2 per cent,” says Meares. Orange rental prices have tripled those of Sydney over the past five years, rising 15.2 per cent as opposed to Sydney’s 5.8 per cent growth. Asked why he is selling Mayfield, Richard Thomas is succinct: “It’s just the phase of our life. We need to get our affairs in order before someone else does.” The writer was a guest of Mayfield Estate MANSIONAUSTRALIA.COM.AU
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Coastal
www.coastal.com.au
Toorak J ONAT H A N C H A NC E L L OR
Modernist legacy A quirky Toorak residence designed by Russian-born architect Anatol Kagan has been listed for sale. It was built in 1959, and with its stone walls, flat roofing and built-in furniture, it still bears all the best hallmarks of a Kagan design six decades later. The home, on Theodore Court, has been listed by Jock Langley and Emma Pierson of Abercromby’s Armadale with a price guide of between $3.7 million and $4.07 million. Anatol Kagan was born in St Petersburg in 1913, the only son of Abram, a member of the Russian intelligentsia and the revolutionary Menshevik faction of the Social-Democratic Labor Party, who was forced into exile after the 1917 revolution. In 1939, on the eve of World War II, Kagan arrived in Australia from Berlin, via a short stint in London, as a political refugee. As the son of a scholarly publisher, he was well read, a prodigious artist and fluent in four languages. His biographer, Simon Reeves, wrote that his subject was “Jewish by race, agnostic by faith and Socialist by politics, a distinctive New Australian who spent a decade establishing himself in his adopted homeland, working for leading architects and government departments before starting his own practice in 1949”. As an émigré architect who brought authentic European modernism to Australia, Kagan became a household name among Melbourne’s thriving European refugee community, which formed the majority of his clientele. His impressive portfolio of modernist rectilinear private SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
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houses were built mostly in Beaumaris, Caulfield, Toorak, Kew and Balwyn. And the homes he built around Studley Park near the Yarra were once so numerous that insiders jokingly dubbed the precinct “Kaganville”. Practising in Melbourne at the same time as Robin Boyd, Kevin Borland, Roy Grounds, Peter McIntyre and others, Kagan found his work somewhat overshadowed. But there are those who fight to ensure that his legacy is respected. In 2018, the Kagandesign Lind Residence in Caulfield North was threatened with demolition after having been sold in 2016 for $2.1 million. It was granted protection by the Heritage Council of Victoria after a campaign supported by the mayor of Glen Eira, Mary Delahunty. The two-storey butterfly-roofed home was built in 1955 for the Polish émigré textile manufacturer Leo Lindwaser and his wife Dorothy. Its heritage listing was partly due to the European interior touches that separated it from the work of well-known, locally trained modernist architects. Kagan was known for his “bespoke high-quality, inbuilt timber joinery and furniture”, likely to have been detailed and fabricated by skilled European émigré craftsmen. The story of Kagan’s sudden withdrawal from private practice in 1961 and subsequent re-emergence in Sydney is told in Reeves’s book, Gentle Modernist: The Nine Lives of Anatol Kagan. Tired of designing houses for rich people, Kagan worked in the government sector, seeking to create a better world at the NSW
Department of Public Works by designing schools, hospitals and psychiatric institutions. He designed the City Morgue and Coroner’s Court building (1971) on Parramatta Road in Glebe. In 1977, he accepted a role as a consultant for the Department of Foreign Affairs, designing his last major work, the classified underground Communications Centre in Parkes. Kagan retired in 1974 but continued working privately on a St Petersburg/Leningrad planning project, corresponding with and regularly visiting Russian officials and travelling to Russia. The two-storey, flat-roofed residence on Theodore Court was designed for Austrian-born Edward Witten, an interior designer who had a shop in Chapel Street. There is an urbane, minimalist approach to modernism in its key characteristics, which include a clever mix of flexible communal living spaces and intimate settings that facilitate separation for work or quiet time. The home’s generous windows take full advantage of the sun, actively and passively, as well as views of the peaceful modernist garden, and it incorporates a recreational patio with views. A significant renovation has added modern kitchen facilities and stylish bathrooms. But the home retains some of the original olive green wallpaper in the living and dining room, along with vertical fluted timber panelling and stylish inbuilt furniture in the dining area, lounge and den. MANSIONAUSTRALIA.COM.AU
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Mansion
Spine tingling
A house anchored by its curved corridor
Touchy feely
Decor pieces that will seduce the senses
Creative flow
When Arne Jacobsen tapped into the zeitgeist
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Below and opposite: The Merricks House Bottom, from left: Entryway; kitchen; the curved corridor
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n a picture-perfect rural setting of rolling green pastures and vineyards of chardonnay and pinot noir, the blue waters of the Bass Strait in the distance, the pale rammed-earth form of the Merricks House on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is full of convention-defying surprises. Its location is often battered by the strong southerly winds that blow across Bass Strait, and architect Randal Marsh says the desire to connect with the sea views from a sheltered position, protected from the biting winds, gave rise to the design. “You want to live on the backside of the house and you want to be able to see the views,” he says. “They are not one and the same thing – it’s a contradiction.” This led to the formation of a pair of rammed-earth walls more than 50m long at the core of the design. With a gentle curvature, leading from the entry point all the way to the other end of the house, it forms a central spine from which more refined volumes radiate. “It’s slightly curved so that as you enter the house you don’t see everything at once,” says Marsh. “Rather, it’s unveiled as you walk along this corridor, which also functions as an art gallery. “The elements of the house then hang off that in either direction. It’s not like one building, in the sense that it’s a series of pavilions hanging onto the main spine.” The arch creates a semi-internal courtyard, which is where the swimming pool is, making it more protected. When you get to that point of the corridor, there are huge windows that look in two directions, one towards the sea and the other to the pool – both are unexpected. From the pool in the outdoor protected courtyard space, you can see through the glazing across to the sea, so you still feel a part of the view but sheltered from the winds. Marsh, who founded Melbourne-based practice Wood Marsh with Roger Wood more than 30 years ago, says their design philosophy, developed over the years, is a line of thought about the language of the way a building plays on its site.
PETER BENNETTS
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Landscape art An unusual curved corridor forms the spine of this house to make a virtue of its unforgiving setting while unfolding a series of ‘surprises’ Stor y by SAM DUNCAN
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It’s important that the structure is considered in the round, to see it as not necessarily having a face or a front, he says. The pair have an overriding philosophical position, says Marsh, about their buildings relating to sculpture, relating to the abstract and relating to forms found in nature. In this type of country setting, the building is well suited to that kind of language as a reference, he says. As with many Wood Marsh projects, the Merricks House includes elements of surprise through intentional manipulation of light conditions as the occupant moves through the building. “As soon as you walk in the door, it shuts down in terms of view and natural light,” says Marsh. “It then moves from dark to light, internally, creating a drama as it unfolds. It’s not an even-handed but a gradual progression, which never fully reveals itself.” The standout feature for Marsh is the central spine and the way as it curves around there is a downward sweep in the ceiling so that at the “crunch point”, before the curve continues and the ceiling sweeps back up, there are the huge windows that reveal the sea and pool views for the first time. “I think that is a sort of central tenet of the interior – everything comes together in one point,” he says. Marsh’s clients wanted a low-maintenance home, which led to a design with a seamless connection between the interior and exterior. “There’s not a distinction between the two,” the architect says. “There is not an internal lining to the house; there is not a facade material. It’s entirely composed of solid, very natural materials.” Also important was to achieve separation between the private areas and the guest wing, which played into the series of pavilions and created different zones. The main central zone includes the kitchen and family areas, which are semi-separate from the formal larger living area and the study. “The interesting thing about this building and other buildings is their timelessness,” says Marsh. “They’re not about a fad, but about a solid, organic, abstract form in the landscape. Whether a building was done 30 or three years ago, it’s a timelessness I find attractive.” 48
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A series of pavilions creates distinct zones and keeps the private area separate from the guest wing
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Etc.
1.
S A M YA T E S
7.
Touch points 1.
FIRE PIT Gio outdoor fire pit, $695 cocorepublic.com.au
2. S I D E
TABLE Geo side table with bronze or smoked grey glass, $2245 danielboddam.com
3.
STEM LIGHTS The Stem system allows for floor and ceiling installation. In black or brass finish with a variety of pendant options. $7020 for the three-lamp version. poliform.com.au
4.SCENT
DIFFUSER Cire Trudon L’Oeuf, in three scents – Ernesto, Abd El Kader and Cyrnos – provides more than three months of scent diffusion. $495 libertineparfumerie.com.au
5.CABINET
Poiat Bastone cabinet, from $18,500 greatdanefurniture.com
6.TABLE
2.
6.
LAMP Louis Poulsen Panthella portable lamp, $560. cultdesign.com.au
7.OUTDOOR
LOUNGE Arflex Cloud Big armchair by Carlo Colombo 2010, $ 7220 spacefurniture.com.au
3.
5.
4. SEPTEMBER 12-13, 2020
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VOLA 111 tap
Design classics
AR NE J A C O B S EN
DAVID MEAGHER
The VOLA 111 tap, a minimalist design that has proved timeless, hides the tap’s mechanics so that only the handle and spout show
W
hen the great Danish architect and furniture designer Arne Jacobsen was commissioned to design the National Bank building in Copenhagen, he was given complete aesthetic control, overseeing even the smallest architectural details – including the design of the taps for the building. At the time Jacobsen was already well known for his organic-shaped Egg chair and Ant chair, but working with Danish manufacturer VOLA in 1968, he proposed a revolutionary design for a wall-mounted tap where all the mechanical parts of the mixer would be hidden in the wall with just the handle and the spout exposed. The 111 tap was so different from anything else on the market at the time that it was the subject of several newspaper stories. The design won Denmark’s national design prize that year, was included in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection in 1974, and has been in production ever since. The National Bank building opened in 1971, a few months after Jacobsen died. The building has 250 sink taps and another 60 in showers and all are now heritage listed, along with the rest of the building. Since 1971, Teit Weylandt, one of Arne Jacobsen’s former assistants, has continued to introduce new products in keeping with Jacobsen’s original design and functionality principles into the VOLA range. en.vola.com 50
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