McGrath Collections 22/23

As we reflect on this year, 2022 has seen immense change in our lives. Not only can we embrace many new choices relating to where and how we live, we have also seen an impact on our personal lifestyles and our ability to generate wealth through property.

Affordability plays a large part in people’s decisions on where to live, and the coast and country regions provide an abundance of choice across many price brackets.

Many are upgrading their lifestyles while reducing their home loans in areas like the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. Some Sydney and Melbourne buyers are purchasing both a home and an investment because they’re bringing big city money to a much more affordable market.

There is one place we Australians have traditionally loved to live and that’s by the coast, and it’s easy to see why. Our beaches are amongst the best in the world and our climate means we can enjoy them almost all year round.

And while the regional relocation continues, many beachside markets have become too pricey for some millennial families. As a result, we’ve seen a beach-to-bush swap. Coastal hinterlands, rural areas and wine regions are the beneficiaries.

This is the reason for the McGrath Collection Summer 2022 – 2023 magazine returning – we want to make it easy for you to find and fall in love with some of Australia’s best Coastal & Country homes across the East Coast markets.

If you’re thinking of buying, don’t bother trying to time the market. No one can pick the top or bottom – even the professionals.

The only factors that should be driving you are personal needs and affordability. Just remember whatever you pay today is going to be cheap in 10 years’ time. Just get the location right, only buy quality, and keep within your budget.

On behalf of the entire team at McGrath we hope that you and your family have a great summer, reuniting with those you love across the country. Our best wishes for a happy and safe Christmas and New Year and we look forward to working with you in 2023.

John McGrath CEO & Managing Director

Hit the Road

With summer upon us, the time is ripe to plan a trip away. Escape from the city and explore the sights Australia has to offer. Simply pack up the car, plan a route or just hit the road and see where the days take you. This is your chance to find respite and relaxation, to experience new sights or relive the places and experiences you hold close. Travel with friends or family or book yourself in for a solo trip and revel in some of the country’s top escapes.

Wherever you’re located, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite pitstops for an ultimate holiday road trip. Visit one or check into them all as you plan your summer itinerary, curated from the locations that most appeal to you. Head to the beach or avoid the crowds and journey inland; connect with nature or embark on a gourmet trail; each day a totally new adventure.

For who else in the world does summer better than us? This is our season of becoming, where we remember that life is all about good times and memories shared. So get ready for those long days and warm nights, where everything feels possible and tomorrow is just a short drive away.

This page (clockwise from top left): Wild Wilderness Retreat, Devonport, photo: Chris Crerar. Lilypad, Palm Beach, photo: Ian Davidson. Sovereign Hill, Golden Point, photo: Nicole Cleary. Wild Wilderness Retreat, Devonport, photo: Chris Crerar. Stillwater, Launceston, photo: Anjie Blair. Mysa Motel, Gold Coast, photo: The Mysa Hotel X Soda Shades.

NSW STAY.

Lilypad, Palm Beach

Moored off the beaches of Palm Beach is Lilypad, a floating home that takes beach living to a new level. Fully solar powered, Lilypad takes you off-grid in the best possible way. Unwind with a selection from the onboard wine cellar, feast on meals prepared by an offsite chef, explore Pittwater with your private boat and relax in the home’s sauna before stepping off the deck and into the cerulean waters of Palm Beach. lilypadpalmbeach.com

EAT.

The Press Shop, Bowral Stop in at this iconic Bowral eatery and refuel in the most beautiful of surrounds. Combining an eatery and a printing workshop, The Press Shop lets you browse boutique stationery before sitting down to a delectable brunch, just the way to start off a morning in the Southern Highlands. thepressshopbowral.au

DO.

Hunter Valley Ballooning, Hunter Valley Experience the Hunter Valley from new heights with Hunter Valley Ballooning. Brave the early start and float across the horizon in your own hot air balloon, watching the sun rise and making memories to last a lifetime. huntervalleyballooning.com.au

QLD STAY.

Mysa Motel, Gold Coast

Enjoy a slice of Palm Springs without leaving the country with the Gold Coast’s new offering, Mysa Motel. Just a short stroll from Queensland’s Palm Beach and its surrounding cafes and shops, Mysa Motel combines convenience, luxury and sustainability. Complete with pink neon signage, restored vintage furniture and exposed breezeblock walls, this is the retro vacation of your dreams. themysamotel.com

EAT.

Rick Shores, Burleigh

A Burleigh institution, Rick Shores is a must visit for anyone heading to the Gold Coast. Come for the views and stay for the food, a delectable fusion of contemporary Asian dishes. Start with a Rick’s Martini before moving onto the famous bug rolls - a melt-in-yourmouth flavour bomb that has turned this eatery into a local favourite - and end with a refreshing dessert as the sun sets over Burleigh Heads. rickshores.com.au

SHOP.

Nineteen

Twenty-Four

US, Noosaville

When thinking of Noosa’s shopping scene, the mind often goes to beach wear and coastal finds, but Nineteen Twenty-Four US is doing things differently. Open by appointment only, this branding studio doubles as a shop and gateway to another world. Curated in the style of an early 20th century general store, the space is stocked with wondrous goods and unique finds, a must visit for something entirely unexpected. 1924.us

This page (from top to bottom): Lilypad, Palm Beach, photo: Ian Davidson. Hunter Valley Ballooning. Mysa Motel, Gold Coast, photo: Trent Mitchell. Rick Shores, Burleigh, photo: Rick Shores.

Regional VIC

EAT.

The Fields, Mansfield

Stop by The Fields as Mansfield for a lunch that packs a punch. Offering a menu of Japanese fusion, this casual eatery may look like local haunt but its flavours have given it a reputation that goes beyond the typical regional cafe. Pair small share plates or more substantial meals with a selection of local beers and wines and get a full taste of Victoria’s High Country. thefields3722.com

SHOP.

Boom Gallery, Newtown Boom is a bustling contemporary art and design gallery located in Newtown, about five minutes walk from nearby Geelong. Launched by Ren Inei and Kate Jacoby in 2011, Boom is houses in a historic former wool mill and exhibits original art and design by local, interstate and international artists, designers and makers. Stop by one of their monthly exhibitions and shop from a selection of handmade jewellery, ceramics and design objects. boomgallery.com.au

DO.

Sovereign Hill, Golden Point

If you’re a bit of a history buff, why not head on a historical road trip through some of regional Victoria’s oldest towns. Start from Melbourne and head out towards Ballarat, stopping in quaint country towns like Ballan, where history is embedded in the architecture. Keep the family entertained with a pitstop at Sovereign Hill, a living museum that relives Ballarat at the height of the gold rush. sovereignhill.com.au

TAS STAY. Wild Wellness Retreats, Devonport

By the time summer rolls around, we’re all in need of a reset, and there’s nowhere better to disconnect than the rugged shores of Tasmania’s north coast. Wild Wellness offers retreats and courses designed to cleanse the mind and soothe the soul. Combining knowledge from medical professionals and holistic thought leadership, each package makes use of the environment to invigorate and relax. Keep it local to Devonport or head further afield, with programs in some of Tasmania’s most iconic destinations. Just what the doctor ordered! wildwellnessmethod.com

EAT.

Stillwater, Launceston

Set in an 1830’s flour mill on the banks of Launceston’s Tamar River sits Stillwater, a restaurant and hotel that offers some of Launceston’s best hospitality. Look out over the river as you dine on local and seasonal produce. If you just can’t bear to leave, make a night of it and head upstairs to one of their seven stunning guest rooms. stillwater.com.au

DO.

Sirocco South, Hobart

Discover a new side to Hobart as you embark on a hand-foraged feast led by Mic Giuliani. Hunt for native greens, wild asparagus and salt bush and then sit back as Mic creates a 6-course lunch from your finds, complete with matched wines from the multi-awardwinning Bream Creek Vineyard. Tours are limited to six per group so get in quick to secure your place. You can also visit Sirocco South at their regular store at Hobart’s Farm Gate Market. siroccosouth.com.au

This page (from top to bottom): Stillwater, Launceston, interior by Lusy Productions. Mansfield Coffee Merchant, Mansfield. Wild Wilderness Retreat, Devonport, photo: Chris Crerar. Stillwater, Launceston, photo: Anjie Blair. Sirocco South, Hobart, photo: Chelko.

MAKE IT AN ACTUAL STAYCATION

If you fall in love with a location on your travels, why leave when summer ends? Make it a permanent holiday and stop by the local McGrath office to find your new home.

McGrath NSW Gosford, Ryde, Ballina, Bowral, Byron Bay, Central Tablelands, Coffs Harbour, Hunter Valley, Newcastle City, Orange, Port Macquarie, Snowy Mountains, Tweed Coast, Ulladulla, Upper Hunter, Pittwater

McGrath QLD Cleveland, Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Noosa Heads, Townsville, Palm Beach, Surfers Paradise, Paradise Point

McGrath TAS Devonport, Launceston, Hobart McGrath VIC Newtown, Geelong, Mansfield, Ballarat

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The material produced in this publication is for reference purposes only and has been obtained from third parties or sources believed to be reliable. While McGrath has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the material, this publication does not constitute advice and McGrath does not guarantee, and accepts no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained in this publication. Readers should seek appropriate advice prior to relying on, or entering into any commitment based on material in this publication.

Boom Gallery, Newtown VIC, photo: Carli Wilson Photography.