NEWS WINTER 2018
CELEBRATING OVER 28 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE NORTH EASTERN SUBURBS The outlook for buying, selling and investing in 2018
Winter
Market Report I
WELCOME TO THE WINTER EDITION OF THE MORRISON KLEEMAN PROPERTY REPORT.
n recent data released from the REIV, Eltham’s median house price has exceeded one million
dollars for the first time! While the weather has begun to cool as we move into winter, Eltham’s median of $1,092,500 signals little cooling of our local market. The significant median house price growth for Eltham was reflected in results reported for wider Melbourne. Middle Melbourne, which comprises the market 10-20 kilometres from the CBD, also exceeded seven figures for the first time. It’s new median of $1,034,000 was an increase of 4.2 per cent from the previous quarter. The median house price across metropolitan Melbourne also rose for the eighth consecutive quarter, up 4.4 per cent to $855,000. Weighing Melbourne’s March median house and unit growth against a slight decrease in the auction clearance rate for the same period, President of the REIV; Mr Richard Simpson, suggested the results should be understood as part of an annual trend. “The median for the March quarter last year showed a higher increase than this year, said Mr Simpson. “But then again, calendar 2017 turned into the best year since 2010, with overall growth of 13.2 per cent.” This comment could perhaps be extrapolated to our local market. For although suburbs such as Eltham, Doreen and Diamond Creek were above the 4.4 per cent quarterly benchmark, suburbs such as Greensborough and Watsonia had
little to slightly negative growth.
note that many of our local suburbs
When this data is considered in
were well below this benchmark. This
relation to Watsonia’s 23.5 per cent
included Lower Plenty and Diamond
and Greensborough’s 17.9 per cent
Creek with 28 and 24 days respectively,
annual growth for the last 12 months,
along with the consistently impressive
however, all signs point to consistent
Mernda and Doreen’s 22 and 17 days!
market growth going forward.
While it was noted Melbourne’s
Average days on market is another
auction clearance rate did drop
good indicator of market performance,
slightly from 71 per cent to 67 per cent
and with Metropolitan Melbourne
for the current March quarter, most of
averaging 33 days on market during
our local suburbs were well above this
the March quarter, it was pleasing to
benchmark. When considering these
suburbs were also below Melbourne’s
renowned ‘Purdys Furniture’ of Briar
2 per cent vacancy rate in the rental
Hill. Finally, we have also featured the
market for the same period, it is clear
impressive vineyard and restaurant
whether you are looking to buy, sell,
space of Massaros in Kangaroo
or rent, our local community is a great
Ground. Massaros, with its celebration
place to invest.
of Italian cuisine and culture, creates
In this edition of our magazine, we
an experience of dining excellence.
focus on one of the pillars of our
Kind Regards, Graham Morrsison
local community, Montsalvat. We also feature a new entrant to our market, Purdys Café, which is the fantastic new café operating out of the
Notable Locals PEOPLE AND PLACES OF NOTE IN THE DIAMOND VALLEY
SOURCE REFERENCE: MONTSALVAT
MONTSALVAT
W
here can we begin on Montsalvat?! The celebrated arts colony settled in 1934, is an established landmark of the local community. Long renowned as a creative space for artists and artisans to learn, develop and exhibit their work, what began with humble intentions has transformed into a multi-purpose arts community and event space. “It’s not until you start talking about it, that you realise how magical and special this place is,” says General Manager Anthony Aspridis. “Whether you’re an artist or someone who’s had their wedding here, the special thing about Montsalvat is that it can mean so many different things to different people.” Set on over 12 acres of land that neighbours the picturesque Eltham Cemetery, Montsalvat is not only a space of artistic expression, the site’s physical evolution was a result of architectural innovation. When Founder Justus Jörgensen acquired the site next door to the studio he was developing for cartoonist Percy Leason in rural Eltham, his expertise in painting and architecture encouraged him to begin experimenting with mudbrick building techniques. With the assistance of art students, local tradesmen and creative talents such as writer Mervyn Skipper and Arthur Munday, Jörgensen was also able to source recycled materials from buildings
around Melbourne. “A lot of the materials were gathered because it was easier to get the people from Montsalvat to take it away for free, than pay someone to do it,” says Anthony. “Back in the day the site was selfsufficient with gardens, farm, horses, cows and sheep. It was a pure medieval village. Justus, rather than coming to Eltham to build a log cabin, built a fortress, a castle.” Many of the original buildings still standing in this much vaunted tourist location, Justus and his colleagues began work on straight away. Work on the atmospheric Great Hall, however, was begun in 1938 and finished after the world war. It too, effectively utilised numerous recyclable materials, a building tradition that is perhaps one of Montsalvat’s greatest legacies today. “You have got two very different styles to Montsalvat which are basically divided by the past,” says Anthony. “You have
SOURCE REFERENCE: MONTSALVAT
got the grandeur of the big stonework, along with the village feel of the wattle and daub buildings. Although both styles are different, they still have the same feel of creativity. If you are going to sum Montsalvat up, it really is just a complete product of vision and creativity. Because you couldn’t plan this place, it is the result of innovating all the time.” With four exhibition spaces around the grounds and more than 60 exhibitions held per year, Montsalvat is not only a place to visit and manage events, it is also the current studio home to over 20 artists and artisans. These creative talents not only exhibit and develop their work onsite, many of them also run workshops to help mentor aspiring talents. In alignment with the mission of the organisation today, Montsalvat truly is a vibrant artistic community welcome to all the general public. https://www.montsalvat.com.au/
SOURCE REFERENCE: MONTSALVAT
SOURCE REFERENCE: MONTSALVAT
PURDY’S CAFÉ
“O
pportunities don’t come along all that often and things happen for a reason,” says Ally Bailey, owner of the recently opened Purdys café in bustling Briar Hill. ‘Purdys’, having long been an esteemed brand for furniture manufacture
in the area, provided Ally with the opportunity to open a café onsite. In successfully creating such a warm, open and family-friendly café space, customers can now combine the joys of dining with shopping. “It’s a really good two-way street given people may sit in here to have a coffee or meal, and then have a wander, see a sofa and sit in it,” says Ally. “All our furniture was made by Purdys so there is a continuity of quality from the store to the café.” The menu prides itself on wholesome homemade cooking. From the popular BLT and Smashed Avocado options, to the amazing selection of sweets including Raspberry Slice and Scones, Ally has a real focus on catering to all her customer’s needs. “We do fruit and savoury salads, along with homemade sausage rolls,” says Ally. “We also do gluten-free and have at least two vegetarian options available every day. In winter, we’ve started doing hot roast beef rolls and we will also have daily soups to help people warm up a bit.” Building on the favourable reviews of their delicious varieties of Atomica coffee and Teardrop tea, another recent success has been the introduction of ‘High Tea Tuesday’. On the first Tuesday of every month, not only are
SOURCE REFERENCE: PURDY’S CAFÉ
the impressive regular dining options available, so too are the treats and sweets of ‘High Tea’. “It was just really putting ourselves out there, so that those that came for high-tea, would then maybe come back as a regular customer,” says Ally. “The feedback has been really good.” Purdys café is open 7.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday. Whether you are catching up with a friend, doing some furniture perusing, or perhaps simply wanting to partake of the many hearty meal options available, Purdys café is well worth a visit. http://purdysfurniture.com.au/
SOURCE REFERENCE: PURDY’S CAFÉ
SOURCE REFERENCE: PURDY’S CAFÉ
Notable Locals PEOPLE AND PLACES OF NOTE IN THE DIAMOND VALLEY
SOURCE REFERENCE: MASSARO’S
MASSARO’S
T
he wonderful Massaros in Kangaroo Ground, is another fantastic local of note within our community. A family business run by experienced vineyard owners Dom and Vanessa Massarotti along with their eldest son Dominic, this unique multipurpose venue has experienced a large transformation since acquisition a few years ago. “In our dining experience, we want people to feel like they’re at home with good food and service. We wanted to create a space where diners can relax, unwind, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings,” says co-owner Vanessa Massarotti. Open for lunch, dinner and wine tastings Thursday through to Sunday, the picturesque surroundings with its rustic vines, manicured gardens and outdoor al fresco dining, creates a wonderful space for weddings, functions and, perhaps most importantly, the
traditional family meal. “All good memories we feel, revolve around good company, food and wine. There’s a real emphasis on sharing, with food and wine placed in the middle of the table for everybody,” says Vanessa. “Our focus is on making everything inhouse. From our homemade pastas to our pizza dough made fresh each day, all the best ingredients are used. It’s about keeping it simple, but always fresh.” In creating Massaros, the Massarotti’s authentically celebrate their traditional Italian-Abruzzo heritage. Everything from the menu designs to the ‘romanstyle’ woodfire pizza, the regionallysourced produce to the expansive natural décor, Nonna Massarotti’s legacy speaks volumes. “My mother-in-law was the most beautiful woman,” says Vanessa. “She inspired us to carry on her flair for flavour. “Whatever we grow on the property we use in the menu. My husband (Domenic), growing up on an
SOURCE REFERENCE: MASSARO’S
SOURCE REFERENCE: MASSARO’S
agricultural farm, it is ingrained in his heritage.” Interestingly, Massaros is also the only vineyard in the Yarra Valley possessing direct city views. When the authentic Italian dining experience therefore combines with a familial veneration of respect for the natural environment, this location of majestic beauty and experience is evocatively produced. “We like to bring the outside in,” says Vanessa. It’s a nice feel when you’re surrounded by plants and greenery, and creates a lovely calming effect,” “Gardening is also a real passion of mine and repurposing is really big too. The old winepress, for example, is a succulent box now. We also have boards on a table from an old convent. Boards that are over 120 years old.” Often fully booked over weekends, Massaros is unsurprisingly a venue of great demand. To come along and enjoy this festive dining experience, please see http://www.massaros.com.au/
SOURCE REFERENCE: MASSARO’S
What’s on in
The North Eastern Suburbs
A selection of the many wonderful events running in the local area over the coming weeks.
THE HURSTBRIDGE WATTLE FESTIVAL
T
he Hurstbridge Wattle Festival is back again with all its wonderful winter festivities. Set around a number of fantastic locations within Hurstbridge village, this community event is abundant in activities. From steam train and doubledecker bus rides, to witnessing the talented artwork, vintage bikes and animal nursery contained within the primary school surrounds, there are attractions for everybody. What makes this festival so unique is how it connects to the rail history of the Diamond Valley in both flora and industry. It’s also the time of year when local residents come together to help showcase what makes Hurstbridge great. Of course, music is a big attraction, with a huge range of local artists performing on a variety of stages. There are also plenty of street performers, vintage displays and even sporting tuition from local superstars to help develop the next generation of talent. With a plethora of market stalls, dining options, a treasure hunt, and even a night market that concludes the evening, it’s a fun day for the entire family. http://wattlefestival.org.au/
LOCATION HURSTBRIDGE VILLAGE DATE & TIME 10AM-8PM SUNDAY 26TH AUGUST
SOURCE REFERENCE: THE HURSTBRIDGE WATTLE FESTIVAL
The St Andrew’s Market
T
he St Andrews Market has a vibrant and earthy atmosphere and has been a part of the local community for over 40 years. Located in the foothills of the Yarra Ranges, the market is held every Saturday except on Total Fire Ban days in
Eltham Farmers’ Market
E
ltham Farmers’ Market is organised by Local Food Connect Inc. – a not for profit community group dedicated to promoting the interests of the local food economy.
COST FREE
the central district. Regulars include organic fruit and veggies, hair braids and wraps, massage, preserves, pre-loved vintage and retro goods, art and craft, handmade soap and organic skin care products, free range eggs, The Chai Tent, kids pony rides, delicious food with vegetarian and gluten-free options as well as a great variety of buskers to name just a few. With a passion for fresh, handmade,
recycled and creative products, St Andrews Market is a great place to relax and take in the atmosphere.
There are a range of stalls, including fruit and veggies, condiments and sweet treats. All the stallholders are local and sell their own produce. This weekly market is held Sundays from 9am to 1pm. On each second Sunday, there is also a Community Market Stall. On each fourth Sunday, there is a Food Swap from 10am to 11am. Eltham Farmers’ Market is listed as one
of the eight best farmers’ markets in Melbourne by TimeOut, Weekend Notes and The Urban List.
LOCATION CNR KANGAROO GROUND–ST ANDREWS ROAD AND HEIDELBERG–KINGLAKE ROAD, ST ANDREWS DATE & TIME EACH SATURDAY | 8AM - 2PM
LOCATION ELTHAM TOWN MALL CAR PARK, 10-18 ARTHUR STREET, ELTHAM DATE & TIME EACH SUNDAY | 9AM -1PM
Recent Sales A SELECTION OF OUR SOLD PROPERTIES
8 Catherine Court, Eltham Undisclosed
11 Bunyip Court, Plenty $1,535,000
14 Chusan Court, Diamond Creek $1,063,000
25 Elation Boulevard, Doreen $695,000
16 Chappell Drive, Watsonia North $1,215,000
4/5 Eldale Avenue, Greensborough $610,000
4 Keating Court, Lower Plenty $1,170,000
10 Avandina Crescent, Greensborough $1,120,000
156 Mount Pleasant Road, Eltham South $1,383,000
3 Rotin Court, Plenty Undisclosed
285 Flat Rock Road, Hurstbridge Undisclosed
2/5 Glengariff Crescent, Montmorency Undisclosed
27 Beale Street, Mernda $715,000
3 Moorland Way, Mernda $781,250
108 Bible Street, Eltham $975,000
37 Stonnington Drive, Watsonia North $825,000
Community News
SOURCE REFERENCE: ELTHAM LEISURE CENTRE
SOURCE REFERENCE: ELTHAM LEISURE CENTRE
ELTHAM LEISURE CENTER
T
he Eltham Leisure Centre, a Nillumbik Shire Council asset; is an integral part of the wider Nillumbik community. The $20.2 million aquatic redevelopment will be completed in mid 2018 and will deliver a designated program pool to assist with swimming lessons, leisure space for children’s aquatic play, a warm water pool to support rehabilitation and therapy programs and a 25m x 8 lane pool for recreational swimmers. Universal design has been considered and ramp entry to the pools and accessible change facilities have been incorporated into the design. To add to this major upgrade, Eltham Leisure Centre has undergone a gym refurbishment which now boasts state of the art Technogym equipment which you can access 24/7. All group fitness rooms have had upgrades and you can enjoy over 180 classes per week and if you have little ones, their childcare facilities are also available six days a week. Along with their exceptional customer service, they are more than a gym, Eltham Leisure Centre is a premier health and fitness facility.”
SOURCE REFERENCE: ELTHAM LEISURE CENTRE
LOCATION 40 BROUGHAM STREET, ELTHAM (03) 9439 2266 CONTACT ELTHAM@ALIGNEDLEISURE.COM.AU
SOURCE REFERENCE: ELTHAM LEISURE CENTRE
Introducing
Craig Parker and Ciaran Brannigan New Directors
Agent Profile We here at Morrison Kleeman have the pleasure of introducing two new partners Craig Parker and Ciaran Brannigan, they are joining the team of Directors Peter Kleeman, Graham Morrison, Rocco Montanaro & Cathy Loftus. In 1991 Graham Morrison and Peter Kleeman commenced business together with the opening of Morrisons Estate Agents in Eltham. In 2004 Rocco Montanaro was appointed as fellow Director along with Cathy Loftus in 2013. In June 2015 our Eltham office relocated to Town Square, 20 Commercial Place, Eltham. We now proudly boast 3 successful offices covering the North Eastern Suburbs, in Eltham, Greensborough and Doreen. Both Craig and Ciaran are well established members of our organisation, with over 30 years of combined experience. They bring an energy and excitement to our brand that we believe will stand our company and its clients in good stead while staying true to all that we hold dear here at Morrison Kleeman with a strong sense of community and commitment to excellence.
CIARAN BRANNIGAN
DIRECTOR 0410 544 478 cbrannigan@morrisonkleeman.com.au
CRAIG PARKER
DIRECTOR 0404 354 686 cparker@morrisonkleeman.com.au
Introducing Ashleigh McColl to our Morrison Kleeman Property Management Team – Doreen Office Agent Profile Always positive with a ‘can-do’ attitude, Ashleigh is known for her helpful, friendly and diligent personality. Starting her real estate career in 2013, Ashleigh has gained outstanding communication and problem-solving skills to assist all tenants and landlords. With a wealth of experience in customer service, Ashleigh provides a knowledgeable and reliable approach to managing investment properties, which allows her to achieve exceptional results when it comes to customer satisfaction. Growing up, living and working in the Diamond Valley and Whittlesea areas, she has obtained a sound knowledge of the market area to offer her clients trusted advice in the field of property management. In her spare time, Ashleigh enjoys walking her dogs, going to the gym and spending time with her family and friends.
ASHLEIGH MCCOLL PROPERTY MANAGER 9717 8780 amccoll@morrisonkleeman.com.au
Editorial by : Michael Fraser (Writer) Project Manager : Amanda McGibbon & Belinda Lafranchi Cover image : Shutterstock Town Square, 20 Commercial Place ELTHAM VIC 3095 Phone 9431 2444 Fax 9431 2650 2/86 Grimshaw Street GREENSBOROUGH VIC 3088 Phone 9435 7666 Fax 9435 7677 3/101 Hazel Glen Drive DOREEN VIC 3754 Phone 9717 8780 Fax 9717 8816
morrisonkleeman.com.au Copyright Morrison Kleeman – Views expressed by contributors in this publication are not necessarily endorsed by Morrison Kleeman. No responsibility is accepted by Morrison Kleeman or the editor for the accuracy of the information contained in the text and/or the advertisements. The information contained within is general in nature only and should not be relied upon. Specific professional advice should be sought if the reader intends to consider the information provided further. No reproduction or transmission is permitted without the prior written permission of Morrison Kleeman. If your property is exclusively listed with another agent, please disregard this communication.