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Pamela Phillips and Greg Cherry are selling Marysville’s Crossways Historic Country Inn. Picture: Jay Town

A Marysville hotelier who fought off the flames on Black Saturday with a hose and bucket is calling last drinks on his beloved country inn.

Greg Cherry and partner Pamela Phillips are selling the Crossways Historic Country Inn at 4 Woods Point Road as they look to retire.

The listing comes as the popular tourist town’s old guard, including the long-time owner of the popular lolly shop, prepare for a new generation to take over a Marysville they believe is now better than it was.

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Mr Cherry stayed through the night on February 7, 2009, to keep the fires from his local landmark. The building was one of few to survive and is now believed to be the oldest commercial building left in town.

The couple have restumped, rewired and updated it, but have never resumed operating it the way they had before the fires.

They also added the bar to the property, though did so in keeping with its history.

They’re hoping a new owner will reopen it for the public to enjoy.

“There’s a big following of people who love it here, hardly anyone walks in the door without just saying ‘oh my god’ and ‘wow’,” Ms Phillips said.

“But I’m over 70 now, so cooking 150 meals on a Saturday is a bit much.”

The property comes with a commercial kitchen.

It’s also been a popular spot for weddings and events.

For sale with a $1.4-$1.5m asking price, the 2500sq m property also features several bed and breakfast cottages and is surrounded by gardens. The main building features two restaurant-style areas, a bar, function room and a commercial kitchen.

There is also manager’s accommodation with a lounge room, kitchen and two bedrooms.

It is prominently located on the road that heads up to Lake Mountain.

The property has had just four owners across its almost 100 years.

The couple have registered the Marysville Tavern business name and hope to see it reopen as a restaurant or local pub.

Ray White Rural’s Nik Patek said Marysville had resumed its position as Murrindindi Shire’s most prominent property market after dropping back following the fires.

“The main street now has a really nice feel about it,” Mr Patek said.

“It’s more modernised, but there’s not a lot of evidence that it was burned out.”

Julia Harris bought Marysville’s lolly shop in 2005 and rebuilt it after Black Saturday, but after selling the business a few years ago she’s now selling the building. Picture: Jay Town

Ms Harris with her west highland terrier Wynnie in her two-bedroom home upstairs from Marysville’s much loved old fashioned lolly shop. Picture: Jay Town

Marysville’s Old Fashioned Lolly Shop owner Julia Harris turned her business over to another local about two years ago, but is now selling the freehold as well as her dream two-bedroom home upstairs.

Ms Harris ran the store with a business partner from about 2005, but rebuilt it by herself at 8 Murchison Street after the fires — initially from a shipping container.

With a skate park and playground with a flying fox now over the road, Marysville was “back to better than before normal before the start of this year”.

“So now it’s a chance for young ones to take over,” Ms Harris said.

The lolly shop downstairs is leased for the next five years.

The property is on a 908sq m allotment.

With a $1.275 million asking price the property includes Ms Harris’ current home, a two-bedroom unit above the shop with impressive raked ceilings, hardwood floors and a rear deck for entertaining in warmer weather.

The operator of the Old Fashioned Lolly Shop has a five-year lease and a five-year option.

Real Estate Yarra Valley’s Stuart Aldridge said with a secure tenant and a charming home upstairs, it would suit a full-time resident, holiday-home hunter or investor.

High raked ceilings create a bit of wow factor for the home’s living spaces.

The home’s kitchen is a modern masterchef’s dream.

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The post Crossways Historic Country Inn, Marysville lolly shop site for sale appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The Melbourne buyers had their heart set on the house in Swanston St, Geelong from the minute they laid eyes on it.

MELBOURNE buyers with their hearts set on a 150-year-old bluestone house in inner city Geelong had to tune on nervously from afar as the lockdown prevented them from bidding in person on Saturday.

Barry Plant, Geelong agent Mitchell Falzon said tears were shed as their representative on the ground secured 91 Swanston Street for $725,000.

Barry Plant, Geelong agent Mitchell Falzon auction 91 Swanston St, Geelong on Saturday. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

He said the out-of-town buyers beat one other bidder for the renovated four-bedroom house just moments from Geelong hospital and the waterfront.

“At the moment with these weird and wacky times they weren’t able to attend the auction but they had someone there,” Mr Falzon said.

“It was the character of the house, they were trembling at the knees when they first saw it.

“Then they saw the location and that got them over the line.”

The buyers had a bidder among the crowd on the ground. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

The interior blends old and new.

There’s space to entertain outside.

He said they were able to inspect the property earlier in the campaign and looked forward to calling it home.

The house dates back to the 1870s and retains exposed period detail like bluestone walls, high ceilings and cornices.

Modern meets heritage in the kitchen/meals area.

An open-plan living area at the rear links to a deck for outdoor entertaining, while the backyard is home to a separate studio/rumpus room and a single garage.

It was listed with price hopes of $700,000 to $770,000.

The post Tears shed as locked down buyers secure Geelong home from afar appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Rental values have fallen in Southbank and CBD since the onset of COVID-19. Picture: David Caird

An explosion of listings has put tenants in the box seat to negotiate lower rents in inner-Melbourne suburbs.

But cruelly, the emergence of renter’s markets in suburbs like Southbank, Docklands and Carlton has partially been driven by the plight of tenants who’ve lost income amid the COVID-19 crisis, according to ANZ and CoreLogic’s latest Housing Affordability report.

A dangerous double whammy of falling demand and rising supply has fuelled a 57 per cent jump in the volume of rentals on the inner-Melbourne market, from 7011 in March to 11,019 in June.

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CoreLogic head of research Eliza Owen attributed this to an exodus of overseas migrants and workers in the struggling hospitality, arts and recreation sectors — groups that were more likely to rent than own — combined with Airbnb owners converting properties to long-term rentals amid a tourism drought.

Inner Melbourne’s rental stock increase was the largest of any capital city region, followed by Sydney’s city and inner south with a 53 per cent rise to 5530 listings.

Melbourne’s inner east and inner south both notched 19.7 per cent increases to have more than 2300 listings each.

The report found the stock boom had translated to hefty rental value declines in inner suburbs in the March-to-June period, with Southbank’s median falling 7 per cent to $525 per week.

The suburb had 1554 rentals on the market by June’s end, and a 16.2 per cent vacancy rate.

Tenants like Oliver Mullaney, Riley Mayne and Damien Lee are in a strong negotiating position for homes in inner-Melbourne. Picture: Rob Leeson

The CBD, where there are 2678 available rentals, notched a 6.9 per cent value drop to $528.

Docklands, Carlton, West Melbourne, North Melbourne, Parkville, East Melbourne, Port Melbourne and Albert Park each experienced price falls between 3.7-6.5 per cent, and as such were also identified as postcodes where tenants were “most likely to negotiate lower rents”.

Ms Owen said when supply outweighed demand, tenants gained “power to negotiate”. But it was important to remember affordability hadn’t improved for renters who had lost income.

She said another outcome of the rental glut was that investors were “losing interest in the

housing market”, with investor finance falling sharply in April and May.

Tenants in sectors hit hard by COVID-19 are doing it tough.

Tenants Victoria chief executive Jennifer Beveridge said renters were “over-represented in hard hit areas such as hospitality and other service jobs”.

“So what may seem to be ‘cheaper’ rent may not actually be affordable for these challenging times,” she said.

Ripponlea renter Courtney Windross said she was luckier than some, despite being stood down from the restaurant where she worked part time while completing a masters degree.

The fact the 29-year-old’s partner was working full time and receiving JobKeeper payments meant they could still afford their unit. But the couple’s plan to save to buy their own home had been “wiped out” for the time being.

“All our income covers the rent, bills and food, but there’s nothing else,” she said.

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samantha.landy@news.com.au

Negotiating tips for tenants

— Be aware several inner-city rental markets are now oversupplied, giving tenants more choice and a position of power to negotiate from

— Work out what you can afford to pay in rent, while being aware paying 30 per cent or more of your household income (before tax) places you in “rental stress”

— Consider whether the terms of a lease, including the length, meet your needs

— Keep a written record of discussions, with negotiating via email a good idea

— Research comparable properties on the market to ascertain average asking rents in your desired area

— Remember, renters have rights and there are extra protections in place due to COVID-19

— Also consider many landlords are doing it tough

— Use resources provided by Victoria’s leading tenancy legal service at tenantsvic.org.au

Sources: Tenants Victoria, CoreLogic’s Eliza Owen

Suburbs where tenants are most likely to negotiate lower rents

Rental value decline from March to June / median rental value / number of listings in June

Southbank: 7% / $525 / 1554

Melbourne: 6.9% / $528 / 2678

Docklands: 6.5% / $547 / 661

Carlton: 5.8% / $452 / 533

West Melbourne: 5.3% / $481 / 234

North Melbourne: 4.4% / $466 / 265

Parkville: 4.2% / $446 / 88

East Melbourne: 4% / $555 / 109

Port Melbourne: 3.9% / $623 / 299

Albert Park: 3.7% / $756 / 60

Source: ANZ and CoreLogic

The post Melbourne inner suburbs become renter’s markets due to COVID-19 appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Renters who abandoned the Gold Coast market are now returning, but with tighter budgets in mind for their accommodation.

While the housing rental market was largely unaffected during the pandemic period, units in beachside suburbs including Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach bore the brunt as out of work hospitality and retail workers were forced to vacate.

This modern furnished two-bedder on 3/8 Leonard Avenue, Surfers Paradise is listed for $380 per week.

Real Estate Institute of Queensland Gold Coast zone chair Andrew Henderson said vacancy rates have decreased as people return to work but the market is noticeably price sensitive.

“I think people are looking very carefully at their overall spending and rent is one
of those areas where they have been quite careful in how much they want to spend,” he said.

“If you price something a little bit high you don’t get the level of interest as if it was priced to meet the market.”

Current data from realestate.com.au offers a snapshot of median rental prices across the Gold Coast over the 12 months to July.

This one-bedder in Molendinar includes WiFi, power, water, a TV and DVD player and courtyard for $350 per week. Picture: realestate.com.au

The most affordable suburb in which to rent a unit is Molendinar, where the median weekly rent is $380.

A search on realestate.com.au shows pickings are slim, however, with a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit the only offering in Molendinar at $350 per week.

Ideal for a student, the rent for this self-contained furnished unit includes Wifi, power, water and a courtyard.

Nearby Nerang offers the next cheapest digs, with weekly rent setting you back $385 a week. There are currently four listings priced between $300 and $480 per week for three bedrooms with a large yard on Gilston Road.

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The northern Gold Coast offers plenty of affordable locations for unit dwellers, including Pimpama ($385), Labrador ($395), Coomera ($390), Parkwood ($400), Arundel ($410), Oxenford ($410), Upper Coomera ($410) and Coombabah ($420) and Runaway Bay ($425).

For a more central location, median unit rentals in Southport cost $420 per week while $430 will get you even closer to the beach in Surfers Paradise.

While prices are slightly higher, renters are spoilt for choice with more almost 500 units and apartments currently available for rent in Surfers Paradise and 300 listed in Southport.

Weekly rent of $350 buys a one-bedder with a golf course view and use of Surfers Fairways East Resort in Clear Island Waters.

Renting by the Surfers Paradise Golf Course in Clear Island Waters presents as good value with a media rate of $400 per week. There are four units available on Fairway Drive priced between $340 and $380 per week.

A renovated and furnished one-bedroom unit for $380 in the Surfers Fairways East building at 13 Fairway Drive enjoys use of the resort pool and sauna as well as easy access to the golf course and tennis courts.

The post Top 10 most affordable suburbs to rent a unit on the Gold Coast appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The Sydney Conference and Training Centre at Ingleside is on the market with potential for a major redevelopment.

Residential development is being touted for the Sydney Conference and Training Centre on the northern beaches.

The former Westpac owned complex at 30 Ingleside Rd in Ingleside sits on 3.51ha and is being offered for the first time in about five years.

Sydney Conference and Training Centre is perched on top of a hill overlooking Narrabeen Beach and is made up of 56 four-star hotel rooms, a swimming pool, gym and several conference rooms.

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The Ingleside complex is on 3.51ha.

The site has a long history of attracting Sydney’s corporate heavy hitters over the years and was previously Westpac’s in-house training centre for 20 years until they sold the complex in 2008.

Listed with CBRE — Hotel’s Raymond Tran, Andrew Jackson and Tom Gibson, the conference centre is being marketed as a rare opportunity to acquire 3.51ha of land in a “prime” northern beaches location.

It offers developers the chance to redevelop the existing conference centre or convert the site into a retirement home, aged care facility or house and land sub division. There is also the option to bank the land until it is rezoned.

Corporate heavy hitters from across Sydney frequently attend retreats at the conference centre.

Mr Tran said he expects the buyer will be land banker who will use the centre in its current form until rezoning is complete.

“It is available to subdivide now, but if you wait a few years there is the option to undertake a more substantial development,” he said.

Despite the venue being forced to close earlier this year due to the outbreak of coronavirus, majority of land bankers are still attracted to the strong income on offer in the short term.

“The centre is used by many corporate heavy hitters as well as school and leisure groups,” Mr Tran said.

Land bankers have made up majority of the interest so far.

There has also been inquires from major hotel brands interested in managing the complex and buyers from Asia looking to buy Australian real estate.

While no guide has been made public, CoreLogic shows the property last traded in 2016 for $13 million — the then suburb record.

Expressions of interest on the landholding are open until August 20.

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The post Sydney Conference and Training Centre on the market with option for house and land subdivision appeared first on realestate.com.au.

22 Colleen Crescent, Primrose Sands. Picture: SUPPLIED

AS delightful and it is low maintenance, this Colorbond home will be a winner for those looking for a quiet lifestyle.

Set on a sprawling 3600sqm-plus block, the property feels even bigger still with its views across to the water and out to nearby hillsides.

The builder of this immaculately presented home definitely had his thinking cap on when orientating the home toward its neighbouring wetlands, the Carlton River and Mount Wellington/kunyani in the distance.

This two-storey home is spacious and bright with high ceilings and a neutral colour palette.

There’s room for all of the family here with just under an acre cleared land.

Space to roam.

Cosy comforts.

For property owners that dream of having some animals, there is abundant space.

The ground floor of the home is open plan with two large living areas separated by the kitchen in the middle

The front living room could be used as a sitting room or a large dining space.

The living area to the rear has big windows that take in the water views.

Via glass doors there is a huge undercover veranda, a perfect place for relaxing, alfresco dining, barbecues or entertaining friends and family.

The kitchen will be a delight for the family cook. It has an induction cooktop, double wall ovens, a full extraction rangehood, a dishwasher and a microwave. It offers generous bench, drawer and cupboard space and — if desired — there is plenty of room for an island bench.

This level also houses the laundry.

Alfresco entertainer.

Cook up a storm.

The upper level of the property is home to the master bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe, a three-piece ensuite and a balcony overlooking the beautiful views.

Bedrooms two and three are spacious double-sized rooms with built-in wardrobes.

The fourth bedroom could be suitable for use as a nursery or a study as desired.

A landing area on this level offers the flexibility to be used as a family retreat or a reading nook.

The family bathroom is also upstairs with a tub for soaking in and a separate shower, plus a vanity.

Outdoors, the property has a double garage with lights and power, plus two large water tanks and a newly gravelled driveway.

If required the owner could park five or more vehicles in the long driveway — cars, a boat and a caravan, too.

Primrose Sands is a 20-minute drive to the main shopping precinct of Sorell, 30 minutes to the airport and about 45 minutes to Hobart’s CBD.

The suburb’s fishing and boating destinations are close by this impressive property.

No.22 Colleen Crs, Primrose Sands is listed with PMM Real Estate and priced at “Offers over $560,000”.

The post A fantastic lifestyle at your fingertips appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Three generations of the Bisinella family inspect the new site in Baywater Estate, Bisinella Developments’ chief financial officer Steven O’Neill, managing director Lino Bisinella, Adam Bisinella and director Richard Bisinella.

A LAND grab across Geelong, spurred by the new HomeBuilder grant, has prompted a key developer to fast track construction at a Bellarine Peninsula estate.

Bisinella Developments has released stage 13 of Baywater Estate in Curlewis six months earlier than expected.

Civil contractor Wellam Constructions started work on the 29-lot stage on July 1 and it is expected to be finished in January next year.

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Bisinella Developments director Richard Bisinella said there had been strong demand for stages 1-12 at Baywater Estate, with only 16 titled lots remaining.

The developer is offering a $30,000 rebate for purchasers in those stages and has announced a $20,000 one-off rebate for those buying land in stage 13.

This is in addition to the Federal Government’s $25,000 HomeBuilder grant.

The view towards the You Yangs from Baywater Estate.

“The Federal Government’s $25,000 HomeBuilder package, combined with the grants being offered by Bisinella, has led to a significant increase in sales in Baywater Estate,” Mr Bisinella said.

“As a result, we have brought the construction of Stage 13 ahead of schedule by six months.

“We are noticing a strong interest for land on the Bellarine Peninsula, with the incentives opening up the estate to a wider market.

“Purchasers are looking for titled land so they can take advantage of the incentives and build their home straight away.”

Homebuyers Kyarna Cloke and Ben McCarthy discuss land options with Warralily Estate manager Claire Almond. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Geelong developers reported a surge of interest in land during June as buyers raced to take advantage of the new HomeBuilder grant.

Villawood executive director Rory Costelloe said sales were at double the projected numbers in recent months.

“We had very, very slow numbers in March … so if you average it out over 12 months we are back where we should have been,” Mr Costelloe said.

He said there were a higher proportion of first-home buyers in the market, chasing titled land as they needed to enter building contracts by the end of the year to secure the grant.

The post Baywater Estate, Curlewis land released six months ahead of plan appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The three terraces housing an erotic massage parlour in Ultimo is on the market.

The expression “sex sells” certainly applies to a row of three terraces on the market that house a popular massage parlour.

The dwellings at 576A-580 Harris St is home to Masstige 8 — an erotic parlour that promises all massages will have a “happy ending”.

It is being offered for the first time in over 12 years and features a wide street frontage, rear parking and provides an annual rental return of $380,000, plus all outgoings until 2031.

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The landholding at 576A, 578 and 580 Harris St in Ultimo has 671sq m of internal space.

The property is due to go to auction this Friday with Ray White Commercial South Sydney directors Philip Elmowy and Anthony Vella, in conjunction with First National Pyrmont.

Strong interest from investors after a freehold investment with a good return has seen feedback for the property hover around the $6.7 million mark. A sale at this amount would be the highest recorded price for any property in Ultimo this year, according to CoreLogic.

Mr Vella said the terraces offer the savvy investor a myriad of opportunities for future use.

“Permitted with consent, these include; boarding houses, centre-based child care facilities, commercial premises, community facilities, educational establishments, entertainment facilities, function centres, and hotel or motel accommodation, to name a few,” he said.

Rooms feature high ceilings with mirrors, massage tables and a shower or spa.

Masstige 8 has a lease on the site until 2031.

Two of the terraces have two levels and the other at 578 Harris St has three levels of endless possibilities. Described as “one of Sydney’s most exclusive wellbeing sanctuaries”, Masstige 8 has 671sqm of internal space.

The property features over half a dozen rooms equipped with everything needed for a good time including a spa and/or shower, massage tables and couches. There are also high ceilings with mirrors, blackout curtains and ducted airconditioning.

It is located with the Powerhouse Museum and Chinatown.

The auction is this Friday.

City of Sydney records show the business, described as a “brothel” was successfully granted the ability to operate until 5am for a five-year period beginning in 2017.

The business’s website said it offers traditional Korean massages from Korean ladies “renowned for their hospitality and eagerness to please their guests”, along with other services.

The three terraces are located at the foot of Chinatown and Haymarket and are near Star Casino and the Powerhouse Museum.

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