NEWS SPRING 2018
CELEBRATING OVER 28 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE NORTH EASTERN SUBURBS The outlook for buying, selling and investing in 2018
Spring
Market Report I
WELCOME TO THE SPRING EDITION OF THE MORRISON KLEEMAN PROPERTY REPORT.
t was ‘a tale of two cities’ in market results reported for the June quarter. While median house and
unit prices fell throughout Inner and Middle Melbourne, Outer Melbourne remained firm, generating slight growth during this period. This was explained in recent data released by the REIV, where despite median house prices in the state’s regions rising 4 per cent to $419,500, it dipped by 0.6 per cent to $840,000 in the Melbourne metro area. As Melbourne’s metropolitan area comprises the Inner, Middle and Outer Melbourne market segments, their results reported for the June quarter were subject to conflicting falls within Inner and Middle Melbourne while slight growth was achieved for Outer Melbourne. Given our local suburbs bridge both the Middle and Outer Melbourne markets, in both Greensborough and Eltham (middle Melbourne) and Doreen and Diamond Creek (Outer Melbourne) the results are mixed. “Auctions continue to be popular all over Melbourne, but clearance rates have fallen from the lofty highs of early 2017,” said REIV President Richard Simpson. “Despite the fall in median house prices in the June quarter,
for the June quarter. Similarly, both
Despite the falling Melbourne auction
median prices are still up this calendar
Greensborough and Watsonia North
clearance rates noted by Mr Simpson,
year for both houses and units, in
held steady to slight median house price
many of our local suburbs exceeded the
Melbourne and in the regions.”
growth for June, and now hold medians
Melbourne average. This included St
While Outer Melbourne and many
of $825,000 and $795,000 respectively.
Helena where 71.4 per cent of sales were
regional suburbs produced much of
For suburbs identified within Outer
successfully cleared through auctions
the significant growth that occurred
Melbourne, Doreen and Mernda
for the June quarter, along with Doreen
during June, there were also some
performed consistently again. Doreen’s
which produced a considerable 76.1 per
surprising results reported for Inner
0.8 per cent growth during the June
cent for this period.
Melbourne. Lower Plenty; which in
quarter means its median house price
While Eltham, Eltham North and
comparison to Greensborough and
now sits at $645,000 while Mernda’s 4.1
Diamond Creek experienced slight
Eltham is also classified in this category,
per cent quarterly growth has resulted
median house and unit price falls
achieved impressive 11.3 per cent growth
in a new house median of $617,000.
during June, they all exceeded the
35 days on market averaged across
in Greensborough, has a distinctive
Melbourne. Average days on market
style that has already received wide
along with auction clearance and
recognition. We also feature the
quarterly median growth are strong
impressive Slices family Restaurant
indicators of overall market strength.
that has opened recently in Doreen
When these data measurements are
along with a historical benchmark of
combined with a rental vacancy rate
our community; Shillinglaw CafĂŠ and
well below the Melbourne metropolitan
Restaurant in Eltham.
average, our suburbs are clearly still in high demand and a great place to live. In this edition of our magazine, we introduce readers to talented local artist Leigh Hewitt. Leigh having grown up
Kind Regards, Peter Kleeman
Notable Locals PEOPLE AND PLACES OF NOTE IN THE DIAMOND VALLEY
SLICES DOREEN
S
et over three stories, in an impressive scenic location that overlooks Laurimar lake, Slices Doreen is another welcome ‘Notable Local’ to the community. “We are quite large and really focus on accommodating families,” says Group Marketing and Functions Manager Tace Parr. On the other side of this, the staff here really interact with our customers and make them feel very welcome.” “Fast, Fresh and Friendly is our brand motto and what we strive to achieve,” adds Director Daniel Zammit. Having worked with the organisation for over eleven years, a period of which has seen Slices Founder Sam Cannalonga build from the original La Trobe University quality service offering, into successful stores at Keilor, Caroline Springs and now Doreen, Daniel understands the importance of providing a consistently high-quality product that exceeds customers expectations. “As part of our rebranding, all of the stores will soon be looking quite similar and offering much of the same experience,” says Daniel. “This experience,” added Tace, “will be in terms of the quality and consistency of the food with slight variations in menu offerings between stores due to the location and demographics. Despite these slight differences, the staff often move between stores. Our brand is therefore about creating that happy, friendly service while delivering quality food.” SOURCE REFERENCE: SLICES DOREEN In its versatile Italian-Australian cuisine, Slices Doreen not only authentically celebrates Sam’s quality pizza and pasta tradition, the menu has expanded significantly to include a wide range of tasty seafood and locally sourced meat. With a wide range of salads, antipasti and mouth-watering desserts, along with vegetarian options such as the handmade Ricotta Gnocchi which surprisingly includes delicious bocconcini and croutons, there are options available for everybody. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the functionality of the space itself. While the ground level is immediately welcoming and inviting; a great place for casual dining or perhaps coffee with friends, the Level One function space can seat up to 94 guests within an elegant, semiformal setting. This appears perfect for cocktail and birthday parties, along with larger group gatherings. SOURCE REFERENCE: SLICES DOREEN “We are open for breakfast and lunch, however most of our trade is at night,” says Daniel. “We also do a lot of functions as well.” The first level acts as a function space which is definitely growing,” adds Tace. “We also have a private dining area upstairs which host morning meetings with companies seeking to utilise that space.” Simply, when looking for a venue within Doreen that provides quality food, friendly service in an impressive, convenient location, Slices Doreen exceeds all expectations. Open 8am until late Monday to Friday and 7am until late Saturday and Sunday, it is the perfect place to accommodate all your dining needs. slices.com.au/doreen
SOURCE REFERENCE: SLICES DOREEN
SOURCE REFERENCE: SLICES DOREEN
SOURCE REFERENCE: SHILLINGLAW CAFÉ AND RESTAURANT
SHILLINGLAW CAFÉ AND RESTAURANT
T
he interesting thing about Shillinglaw Café and Restaurant is that not only is it the site of renowned Shillinglaw Cottage; a unique historical dwelling that connects local residents with their treasured past, it is also a place of renewed celebration, where the community can create new memories going forward. “When we first began here it felt abandoned and tired,” says Louise Harrison, part owner of the café and restaurant space since it reopened in 2016. “It felt like it had a heart, albeit faint. Yet as we worked away and developed it further, more families came, and it seemed to just grow because of the neighbouring library, the type of building it is, and the wonderful garden that surrounds it and of course the coffee and menu.” The cottage itself was originally built around 1859 on a large parcel of land
comprising much of today’s Eltham township. Built by celebrated local builder George Stebbing for pioneer Phillip Shillinglaw and his family, it was marked for demolition in the 1960s to make way for the previous Eltham Shire offices. However, due to the tireless efforts by local Eltham community members, including Charis Pelling, Alan Marshall and Diana Bassett-Smith, funds were saved to conserve this important building, where it was rebuilt brick-bybrick in today’s Panther Place location. “The cottage is heritage listed and thankfully the community rallied and raised funds to save it,” says Louise. “This fundraising involved the publication of a cookbook called Flavour of Eltham, which comprised delicious recipes donated by many prominent residents. Because it has been saved by the locals that are why I feel there is such a wonderful community feel about the location.” The café space itself isn’t only notable for the history, both the menu and décor are also expansive and impressive. The food described by Louise as
SOURCE REFERENCE: SHILLINGLAW CAFÉ AND RESTAURANT
SOURCE REFERENCE: SHILLINGLAW CAFÉ AND RESTAURANT
‘contemporary Australian along with a nod to the health conscious’, includes the popular Avo Smash, Chilli Scramble and French Toast, along with a range of amazing salads, children’s menu and other options which include glutenfree and vegan. “Our menu is generally seasonal,” says Louise. “We have a local organic vegetable supplier, for which the chef will adapt the menu accordingly with available produce. While the regular favourites largely stay the same, we like to support local business.” In recent months, the café has also seen the installation of an outdoor roofed area. This is not only to help accommodate customers wanting to sit in the garden during both the warm and rainy months, it has also helped to support the recent influx of weddings, birthdays and other organised functions within the picturesque garden. Equipped with its own sandpit, along with the impressive oak that helps protect customers from the elements, the garden space has also accommodated large groups of children who have enjoyed listening to ‘Storytime’ underneath the welcoming oak. “The cottage with its history of the Shillinglaw family, has a soul that comes alive when children and families are here,” says Louise. “For me, I feel Shillinglaw is the ‘Flavour of Eltham’ in so many ways, as it embodies Eltham’s community spirit.” shillinglaw.com.au Instagram: @shillinglawcafe Facebook: www.facebook.com/shillinglawcafe
SOURCE REFERENCE: SHILLINGLAW CAFÉ / CIRCA 1870
Notable Locals PEOPLE AND PLACES OF NOTE IN THE DIAMOND VALLEY
SOURCE REFERENCE: LEIGH HEWITT
LEIGH HEWITT
T
here is something very curious about talented, young Melbourne artist Leigh Hewitt. Not only has Leigh – who grew up in Greensborough and completed much of his training at NMIT (now Melbourne Polytechnic) – exhibited award-winning oil paintings, prints and sketches at renowned galleries and exhibition spaces, he is a man of great humility, who finds inspiration by connecting with others. “It may sound a bit strange,” says Leigh, “but when I’m painting I’m not only aiming for something realistic, I’m also trying to create something cartoonish – especially as I feel people, life, nature and animals can all be cartoonish at times. There is always something amusing or quirky about them.” Leigh’s sketches and paintings; somewhat surprisingly, balance an interesting contrast between earthy realism and otherworldly impressionism. It is as if the subject of the painting literally jumps off the canvas, yet the uniqueness of the finish allows them to remain effortlessly distant. For Leigh, more than merely desiring to celebrate the subject’s ‘cartoonishness’, he creates art that balances the structured and unstructured, the finite and infinite. “I like to capture something about the subject yet also display it in correct proportion,” says Leigh. “That way the elements all come together nicely. I
often find it’s a battle between balancing looseness with clear proportions. In the detail, you’re always walking a form of tightrope.” Having always had an artistic passion for drawing, a creative calling that developed further when he undertook private oil painting lessons while only an 18-year-old, Leigh is another example of finding success after having previously left his vocation – a break that included various forms of study, along with a role as a data analyst which was the eventual prompt for inspired overseas travel. “It was interesting that when I went to university and was sitting in lectures,” says Leigh, “that I would spend more time sketching and drawing people in the lecture theatre rather than listening to the content. It didn’t occur to me at the time that this is what I should be doing. Yet going back to study (at NMIT) after a long break from painting, was pretty seamless – it felt like exactly what I was meant to do.” While possessing obvious talent with still life paintings, sketches and an amusing sense of the day-today absurd, because he has such a passion for observing and capturing that indefinable ‘something’ about others, many of Leigh’s successfully exhibited works are portraits. This skill in portraiture has led to professional commission work, where Leigh has been available to produce not just quality portraits of people, but also
SOURCE REFERENCE: LEIGH HEWITT
animals and even a very beloved truck. Leigh clearly finds great joy in both pursuing his own artistic ideas and in creating quality commissioned works. “I think art is for everybody, I don’t believe in the whole elitist perception around a lot of the art world,” says Leigh. “To paint a dog, who has often been someone’s best friend for many years, you are creating the most meaningful piece of art possible for that person. Connecting to people, I really feel is the key. When I first started I wasn’t looking to commercialise, but when you present a customer with a commissioned painting and they love it, it’s really something.” More of Leigh’s work may be seen at http://www.leighhewitt.com.au/ His works will be showing at “Off The Kerb” Gallery, Collingwood, from 28th Sep - 12th Oct. http://www.offthekerb.com.au/
SOURCE REFERENCE: LEIGH HEWITT
What’s on in
The North Eastern Suburbs
A selection of the many wonderful events running in the local area over the coming weeks.
PRACTICALLY GREEN FESTIVAL
T
he Practically Green Festival celebrates sustainable building, living and all things green. Entry is free.The Festival offers something for everyone and will include sustainable building and lifestyle exhibitors, market stalls, live music, free children’s activities, workshop and talks, local food and wine and also not-for-profit and community groups.
LOCATION EDENDALE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT FARM, 30 GASTONS ROAD, ELTHAM 3095
SOURCE REFERENCE: PRACTICALLY GREEN FESTIVAL
DATE & TIME 10AM-4.30PM SUNDAY 14 OCTOBER 2018
OPEN CELLARS OF NILLUMBIK - SPRING
V
isit cellars that are not always open and taste wines that are not always on offer. Come and meet winemakers in the region and share their passion for the exceptional quality wines they produce in this special part of the Yarra Valley. The weekend is an excuse for winemakers to make available some limited releases and offer some special prices or events they don’t do for the rest of the year. You’ll also find excellent food to complement the wine as well as exhibitions and live music at some venues.
ELTHAM MUDBRICK TOUR
T
he Artisan Hills is unique in its mudbrick architecture that has accumulated over more than half a century of experimentation, design and construction. Local architects today estimate that there are over 1,300 mudbrick houses within the region. The tour invites you to discover our local architectural heritage with homes open for one day only. Spend a few hours or the whole day viewing classic Eltham mud brick houses. There are new houses to look at each year, so come along and experience new designs and architecture. A continuous free shuttle service will be available. Run by the Eltham High School community, its ensemble musicians will perform in The Barn Gallery at Montsalvat on the day. Bookings open on Trybooking in August via www.elthammudbricktour.org or www. facebook.com/ElthamMudbrickTour
SOURCE REFERENCE: ELTHAM MUDBRICK TOUR
LOCATION STARTING AT MONTSALVAT, 7 HILLCREST AVE, ELTHAM 3095
SOURCE REFERENCE: OPEN CELLARS
LOCATION VARIOUS WINERIES INCLUDING SWIPERS GULLY WINERY, 25 ELTHAM-YARRA GLEN ROAD, KANGAROO GROUND OPEN CELLARS CONTACT DETAILS: GREG ROWELL, PROJECT MANAGER – THE WOO EVENTS, E: GREG@THEWOO.COM.AU WWW.OPENCELLARS.COM.AU DATE & TIME 11AM-5PM SATURDAY 20 & SUNDAY 21 OCTOBER 2018
DATE & TIME 10AM-4PM SUNDAY 21 OCTOBER 2018 COST ADULTS $25, CONCESSIONS $20, CHILDREN UNDER 16 FREE
Recent Sales A SELECTION OF OUR SOLD PROPERTIES
6 Woodfull Road, Lower Plenty $3,500,000
128 Glen Park Road Eltham North $1,195,000
11/171 St Helena Road, Greensborough $750,000
50 Fernside Avenue, Briar Hill $900,000
7 Gum Glade, Eltham North $1,430,000
13 Fineran Court, Plenty $2,100,000
30 Scotts Angle Road, Wattle Glen $1,270,000
35 Jacksons Road, St Andrews $2,100,000
28 Grange Avenue, Plenty $1,900,000
7 Harlin Street, Doreen $890,000
16 Nokes Court, Montmorency $1,220,000
12 Sinnott Street, Doreen $760,000
245 Kangaroo Ground- Wattle Glen Rd, Kangaroo Ground, $1,820,000.00
7 Grey Street, Eltham Undisclosed
610 Hurstbridge-Arthurs Creek Road, Nutfield $2,000,000
1 Yarra Braes Road, Eltham $1,865,127
Community News Morrison Kleeman major sponsor of ROTARY ELTHAM FESTIVAL H i g h l i g h t s t h i s y e a r i n cl u d e : • M i n i a t u r e Tr a i n R i d e s i n E l t h a m L o w e r Pa r k o n Saturday 12-4pm & Sunday 11-4pm. • F r e e s h u t t l e b u s b e t w e e n E l t h a m L o w e r Pa r k & A l i s t a i r K n o x Pa r k • Hot Rod display • Fa r m e r D a r r y l ’s m o b i l e fa r m • K i d ’s M a r k e t • Fireworks
Saturday 12pm - 9.30pm
A
c t i v i t i e s g e t u n d e r way o n S a t u r d ay i n A l i s t a i r K n o x Pa r k s t a r t i n g a t 1 2 n o o n w i t h k i d s e n t e r t a i n m e n t , a n i m a l f a r m , k i d s r i d e s, d i s p l ay s, s t a l l s a n d l o t s o f fo o d a n d d r i n k o p t i o n s. Fa m i l y e n t e r t a i n m e n t f r o m 5 p m , c o m e a n d b a g y o u r s p o t o n t h e h i l l fo r t h e f i r e wo r k s a t d u s k .
Sunday 9am - 5pm
SOURCE REFERENCE: ROTARY ELTHAM TOWN FESTIVAL
S
u n d ay k i c k s o f f a t 9 a m a t A l i s t a i r K n o x Pa r k , E l t h a m C e n t r a l O va l a n d E l t h a m S k a t e Pa r k . A c t i v i t i e s i n c l u d e t h e p o p u l a r H ave a G o O v a l featuring free local sporting and community group a c t i v i t i e s. There will be three stages that will include; jazz, blues & r o ck m u s i c, y o u t h u p a n d c o m i n g t a l e n t a n d c o m m u n i t y g r o u p s. T h e r e w i l l b e a h u g e r a n g e o f s t a l l s, f o o d a n d d r i n k s, b u s i n e s s ex p o s, a r t s a n d c r a f t a s we l l a s f r e e r i d e s fo r s m a l l k i d s a n d a c a r n i va l fo r o l d e r o n e s. R o v i n g a c t s, g a m e s a n d f u n w i l l h a p p e n t h r o u g h o u t t h e d ay. E l t h a m Wo o d w o r k e r s w i l l h ave t h e i r a n n u a l d i s p l ay i n t h e E l t h a m R e c e p t i o n a n d C o n ve n t i o n C e n t r e. T h e r e w i l l b e a s c o o t e r a n d s k a t e b o a r d c o m p e t i t i o n a t E l t h a m S k a t e Pa r k . C o m e a l o n g a n d e n j oy t h i s f a n t a s t i c c o m m u n i t y e v e n t . P l e a s e c h e c k o u r we b s i t e a n d f a c e b o o k p a g e fo r u p d a t e s a n d t i m e c h a n g e s. www.elthamfestival.org.au www.facebook.com/elthamfestival/
SOURCE REFERENCE: ROTARY ELTHAM TOWN FESTIVAL
SOURCE REFERENCE: ROTARY ELTHAM TOWN FESTIVAL
LOCATION ALISTAIR KNOX PARK, 829 MAIN RD, ELTHAM 3095 DATE & TIME SATURDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2018 | 12:00 PM - 09:30 PM SUNDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2018 | 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
SOURCE REFERENCE: ROTARY ELTHAM TOWN FESTIVAL
SOURCE REFERENCE: ROTARY ELTHAM TOWN FESTIVAL
Investor News Are you Rental Ready?
Getting rental ready The cooler months often signal a slowdown in the leasing market as potential tenants seem to hibernate like bears for the winter and don’t emerge until early spring as the weather warms. This is the perfect time to get your home ready for the rental market in Spring. Property presentation is key in leasing. How your property is viewed by potentional tenants could ultimately mean the difference between the property being leased immediately and the property taking that extra week, two weeks, or even months to find a quality tenant. It’s the little things which make or break the deal. Let’s look at some tips to help get those Prospective Tenants racing to our office with an application in hand. • Internet advertising is one of the largest portals which Prospective Tenants will use in the hunt for a property, especially the tech savvy generations X & Y. Ensure your agent is using at least the 4 main portals to advertise your BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER investment property. 9431 2444 • Ensure the property is advertised with a minimum of 5 professional photos. The bmcintyre@morrisonkleeman.com.au benefits of professional photography will make your home stand out over others who haven’t gone the extra mile – for approx $120 this is a wonderful investment you can use again when the tenant moves out (as long as property is in similar condition) and is a tax deduction in most cases. • The photos should reflect a true picture of the home, no mail lying around, tea towels & rubbish bins moved out of pictures as well as ensuring no tenants or pets in photos. Also remove personal belongings including photos, expensive electronics, clothing and jewellery. • Ensure the property is very clean & tidy inside and out including the lawns mowed, garden beds weeded and new mulch laid if required. • Also ensure the gutters and downpipes are cleared regularly, a perfect job to complete before a new tenancy commences • Provide agent with a FULL set of keys for each door & window as well as a remote if a spare is available • Taking care of any minor maintenance before a tenant moves in for example; dripping taps, sticking doors can ensure a smooth transition at commencement of tenancy • Contact your Insurer to discuss combined coverage including Landlord protection and Building Insurance. Ensure the policy you choose best suits your requirements and includes; loss of rental income and loss or damage to your contents and building by the tenant as well as unexpected events that damage your building such as fire, storm and flood. Other items to ask about are cleaning of premises when tenants are evicted, removal of goods left behind, change of locks & re-letting expenses. Please feel free to contact myself Bri McIntyre, Business Development Manager at Morrison Kleeman if you wish to discuss your home in further detail and we can organise a time to ensure your property is “ Rental Ready”.
BRI MCINTYRE
Are you up to date with your home loan ? AQUA Financial Services We here at AQUA Financial Services pride ourselves on delivering quality Home and Investment Loan Options to our clients. Located in Eltham’s Town Square, we have shared an affiliation with our neighbour Morrison Kleeman Estate Agents for more than twelve years. With this affiliation, we have a proven track record of helping homeowners with all their lending needs. Having also been ranked as one of the top 20 Australian brokers by Mortgage Professional Australia (MPA) 2014-2017, our team are well equipped to help identify the most competitive home loan for you. In recent months we have seen considerable market activity. At its July meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to leave the cash rate on hold at 1.5%, where it has remained since August 2016. Most economists now believe the RBA will leave the cash rate on hold until next year, and some are even predicting it will be 2020 before we see a change. In relation to these low rates; which have been echoed in falling auction clearance rates within some localities, there are a plethora of opportunities out there for savvy property buyers and investors. Our thorough knowledge of the marketplace along with our awardwinning service helps us tailor our advice directly to you. If you are looking to buy or refinance your existing home loan, now is a perfect time to come in and discuss all your finance needs. Aqua Financial Services. Phone: ph: 1800 AQUAFS (278 237) 20A Commercial Place, Eltham VIC 3095
Editorial by : Michael Fraser (Writer) Project Manager : Belinda Lafranchi Cover image : Leigh Hewitt (Artist) 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.