Blog

Property in regional locations such as Wagga Wagga are becoming more popular.

COVID-19 has encouraged property investors to cast a wider net in their search for deals and a third are seeking properties more than 200km from where they live.

Investors are also increasingly shunning their home suburbs, with only 6.9 per cent buying property in the streets near where they lived, according to a MCG Quantity Surveyors study.

The research analysed the details of 1000 investors who commissioned depreciation reports in the year to May 2020 to get a picture of their buying habits.

MORE: Marina berth listed at price of Sydney home

Jawdropping transformation of inner west house

About 36 per cent bought within 10km of their primary residence, while about 30 per cent bought more than 200km away. Investors in the latter category purchased an average of 293km away.

MCG director Mike Mortlock said the proportion of investors buying locally was well down from 10-20 years ago and was a sign many were putting aside familiarity in the pursuit of “potential”.

Buyer’s agent Cate Bakos said investors were embracing technology.

“There’s been a tradition among Aussie investors to buy where they know and, in general, they know where we live,” he said.

“The idea of wandering too far from your ‘locality of comfort’ frightened investors in the past so an average distance of 293km is substantial.”

The trend of investors buying in further flung areas would rise as COVID-19 driven work from home arrangements sped up people’s embrace of remote technology, Mr Mortlock added.

“Online information, combined with easy access to independent professionals like buyer’s agents, has made it a cinch to confidently buy in national hotspots regardless of where you reside.”

Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia president Cate Bakos said investors were using tools like Google Earth and Street View to suss out properties and were more comfortable viewing properties without physically being there.

Some investors were buying in regional locations to limit their land tax bills.

“It’s easier to make informed decisions without being there and the experience with online technology because of COVID-19 has made investors more comfortable with that,” she said.

Ms Bakos added some investors were looking interstate to lessen their land tax burden – many states charge higher land tax on investors who own more than a stipulated number of properties.

“Various regional markets in different states are becoming more popular,” she said.

Investors once dominated inner city sales across Melbourne and Sydney, with investor buyers behind nearly 60 per cent of purchases in the NSW capital over 2016.

Buying activity from investors dropped in the years after as banks tightened their lending policies and, with rents plummeting in some inner city areas, investor activity has been largely subdued during COVID-19.

Lending restrictions were also driving investors to cheaper regional markets, Ms Bakos said. “The limitations scaled down what you can borrow and this meant many investors started going for regional properties.”

The post Buying habits: the new areas property investors are targeting due to COVID-19 appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett and husband Andrew Upton have bought a house with a sordid past – and it’s not just any haunted house. The manor was once a squalid drug den painted with witchcraft symbols.

No, you did not read that wrong. Cate has shacked up in a famously haunted house that has been a drug den, a meeting place for pagans and a hide-out for criminals. And she paid $6.25m for the privilege.

Prior to its renovation, Highwell House was squalid and run down. Picture: Knight Frank

Previously known as Potters Manor or Steep Park, in 2016 the English manor, located in Crowborough 90 minutes from London, is now named Highwell House.

The Victorian manor was built on the sprawling estate in 1890 and began to fall into disrepair in the early 2000s before it was extensively refurbished in 2015. 

Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett weren’t put off by the spooky past of this English home. Picture: Getty

The place was literally falling apart and looked like some kind of squat straight out of a movie set.

While the home today is light, airy and has been restored to its palatial-like glory, before it was refurbed it was listed as Britain’s 13th most creepy abandoned house in 2015.

A Facebook page dedicated to Potters Manor House is said to feature pictures from people who visited the home and claimed to have captured images of ghosts or spirits.

The house was previously dilapidated and in need of love. Picture: Potters Manor House / Facebook

There are even photographs that show a pagan pentagram, commonly used for seances or wicca magic, painted on the floor at the time. 

Local residents are said to be very happy that Cate, Andrew and their four children have moved into the home thinking that by them being there the area is made safer. 

The home itself is exactly the picturesque manor home you’d expect to find in England. The exterior has been lovingly restored to its Victorian-style glory and looks beautiful set against the surrounding greenery.

The post Cate Blanchett’s home a haunted English manor house appeared first on realestate.com.au.

COVID-19 is not deterring house hunters on the Gold Coast with 33 bidders battling for a Broadbeach apartment at auction, with the hammer coming down just shy of $1 million.

The property, a “neat and tidy” two-bedroom residence at 3/17 Broadbeach Blvd, sold for a building record of $960,000.

3/17 Broadbeach Boulevard, Broadbeach.

“The response to this property over the last three weeks has been nothing short of record breaking,” marketing agent Tolemy Stevens of Harcourts Coastal said.

“We had over 70 inspections which led to 33 cash bidders.

“The auction started at $500,000 and eventually sold under the hammer for a record price of $960,000.

“It sold well in excess of the reserve.”

The block is tightly-held – the last sale in the building was $652,500 in 2015.

3/17 Broadbeach Boulevard, Broadbeach.

Mr Stevens said the apartment’s appeal was widespread.

“It’s just such a nice all round opportunity,” he said.

“It appeals to all buyer demographics including first home buyers, renovators, owner-occupier, as a holiday home, a returning investment or potential for a landhold for redevelopment down the track.

3/17 Broadbeach Boulevard, Broadbeach.

The unit block, named Pacific Sound, is a block of only six apartments – apartment 3 is on the second floor and has an easterly aspect with spectacular ocean views.

It was built in the 1960s with units well-maintained but in mostly original condition.

“The building is very sought after and ticks a lot of boxes so I always knew it would attract a lot of interest however I certainly wasn’t prepared for the sheer volume and active number of cash buyers that were trying to secure the property.”

3/17 Broadbeach Boulevard, Broadbeach.

Mr Stevens said he believed Queensland’s low numbers of COVID-19 when compared to NSW and Victoria was only fuelling demand for property.

“A result like this is a testament to Queensland’s low numbers of COVID-19,” he said.

“A lot of interstate buyers are seeing the Gold Coast as a bit of a safe haven and seeing the Gold Coast as secure spot to invest their money.

“Of the nine registered phone bidders we had at Wednesday’s auction, five of them were from Sydney and Melbourne.”

The post Huge number of bidders line up for Gold Coast apartment appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Emilie Smith inside one of two display apartments she decorated at the East Brunswick Village (EBV) project by Banco Group. Photo: Armelle Habib

You might think pulling together a beautiful home requires a big budget.

But interior designer Emilie Smith says having limited cash to spend on decor can be a bonus.

“A smaller budget can actually result in an outcome that is more interesting, unique and satisfying than if you’d walked into a store and bought everything in one go,” she said.

“It just takes a bit more time, resourcefulness, and maybe even learning some new skills to create a gorgeous interior without a hefty price tag.”

Ms Smith recently furnished two display apartments at Banco Group’s new East Brunswick Village (EBV).

Here are some of the clever ideas she used.

RELATED: East Brunswick Village: Developer sets 28 artists loose on project

East Brunswick Village: construction commences at former Sidney Cooke Fasteners site

Brunswick Beyonce house too Bootylicious for auction

Saffron Newey’s cloud mural drifting above dreams. Photo: Armelle Habib

1. Cloud mural

Ms Smith commissioned Melbourne artist Saffron Newey to paint a striking mural on a bedroom wall.

“At EBV, there’s a lot of art in the communal spaces, including a large mural by Saffron,” Ms Smith explained.

“I knew she’d painted clouds in the past. So I asked her to paint a cloud above one of the beds, which she did in a gorgeous teal, inspired by a lamp I’d also put in the room.”

She said the mural added a “dreamy and ethereal” quality to the space, which she didn’t think would be achieved with a framed artwork.

Banquette seating by the dining table. Photo: Armelle Habib

2. Banquette-style seating

If space is tight around a dining table, a practical solution is to use banquette-style seating that can also double as storage.

Ms Smith asked local furniture designer Nick Pearce to make a banquette seat for one of the apartments.

“There’s a perception bespoke is super expensive, but that’s not always the case,” she said.

“And I love the idea of using local makers to design a piece of furniture that fits perfectly into a space.

“The banquette would also work well in an entrance way, as a place to put on and store your shoes.”

An antique table surrounded by modern chairs. Photo: Armelle Habib

3. Antique table

Ms Smith is a fan of buying second-hand furniture to add texture and character to an interior — and because it can be cheaper than buying new.

She sourced a Victorian cedar dining table, which, as it’s on porcelain castors, also has the space-saving ability to be pushed into a corner when not in use.

She teamed the antique piece with minimalist steel-framed dining chairs to provide contrast.

“I don’t feel there are any rules about mixing different styles,” Ms Smith said. “Trust your gut and just have fun.”

Pendant lighting in a bedroom. Photo: Armelle Habib

4. Pendant lighting

When it came to lighting, Ms Smith turned to pendants to create ambience in the apartments.

“Newly built properties (usually) come illuminated with downlights, which are functional yet lacking in atmosphere,” she said.

“To avoid expensive hardwiring, I created pendant lights by combining beautiful electrical cords from Creative Cables with pendants from the likes of Mr Kitly and Rodwell and Astor.”

Ms Smith had an electrician rewire the pendants. She then plugged the extended cables into wall sockets and hung the pendants in the desired spots with the help of ceiling hooks.

Clever use of a small space. Photo: Armelle Habib

5. Framed scarf

Getting creative with art can help you avoid having blank walls, according to Ms Smith.

She created a beautiful pop of colour by framing a pink and red Edith Rewa silk scarf and hanging it above a bookcase.

“(Framing is one way) of displaying treasures and mementos you’ve collected over the years, and can now have pride of place in an interior scheme,” she said.

Visiting art fairs was a cost-effective way of sourcing pieces, she said, as you could often purchase directly from up-and-coming artists at reasonable prices.

But she recommended also saving up for a special piece you would treasure forever — such as the striking black-and-white artwork, 100 Years (After Guo Jian) by Melbourne artist Robert Hague, which creates a focal point in one of the apartments.

Greenery, always. Photo: Armelle Habib

6. Greenery

Pot plants add visual and health benefits to a space. Ms Smith accordingly considers them a key part of her interior-decorating toolkit.

“In interiors, you want to play with things being at varying heights so the eye can move to different places,” she explained. “One way to do that is with plants.

“If a plant is still on the small side, I like to pop them up on to a stool or side table to help vary the heights.”

eastbrunswickvillage.com.au

The post Interior design on a small budget: How less money can be a big win appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Auctions are rolling out across Melbourne as real estate agents fast-track sales campaigns and stage four restrictions kick in.

More than 60 auctions were brought forward to Wednesday night before further coronavirus restrictions began, which have forced the industry almost entirely online.

Properties are going under the hammer every day this week, including more than 130 still scheduled for Saturday, according to realestate.com.au.

RELATED: Melbourne stage four restrictions: Rush of online auctions before lockdown

Melbourne stage four restrictions: Can you move house in lockdown?

Richmond ’Cashmere’ house smashes price expectations

Ray White auctioneer Arthur Mitsinkis selling 1091 High St, Reservoir.

Online auctions are rolling out every day this week.

Last-minute sales on Wednesday night produced strong results across the city, including for a two-bedroom unit at 1A Elizabeth Street in Bulleen.

Phillip Webb auctioneer Anthony Webb said the property soared $171,000 above reserve to sell for $771,000 as nine bidders competed for the keys.

“It almost felt like panic buying,” Mr Webb said.

“With the uncertainty of the property market looming, the buyer indicated they were going to keep bidding almost irrespective of the price.

“The bidders seemed determined to get something before the next six weeks, which are full of uncertainty for real estate.”

1A Elizabeth Street, Bulleen sold for $771,000.

There were nine bidders for the home.

The low-maintenance home sold $171,000 above reserve.

A three-bedroom Reservoir house sold $42,500 above reserve at an auction held on Google Hangouts an hour before the 8pm curfew kicked in.

Ray White Preston agent Ian Dempsey said 21 Croft Street attracted seven registered bidders and 30 bids to achieve a strong $892,500 sale.

“(The buyer was) a middle-aged lady who had been looking for a while,” he said.

“She’d never done an online auction before, so I had to give her a bit of coaching.”

21 Croft Crescent, Reservoir sold for $892,500

Inside the three-bedroom home.

Mr Dempsey said a lack of available housing stock had ensured buyer demand remained high for quality properties, despite Melbourne’s escalating COVID-19 lockdowns.

He said he had notched a 100 per cent clearance for online auctions over the past three weeks.

But the stage four shutdown had already caused new appointments with prospective sellers to “pretty much stop”.

1/61 Darling Street, South Yarra is scheduled for auction this weekend.

27 Morphett Avenue, Ascot Vale is also due to go to auction.

Buxton Hampton East agent Paul Sibley said his office had sold eight of 10 properties that were scheduled to go to auction this weekend.

He sealed a deal for 67A Raynes Park Road, Hampton above its price guide for $1.39m on Thursday morning.

“There might be a few selling online this Saturday that were seen enough times by buyers to be comfortable,” Mr Sibley said.

“But any new campaigns will be put on pause, as we’d be very surprised if anyone buys a property without seeing it first.”

67A Raynes Park Road, Hampton sold ahead of its scheduled auction.

2/126 The Boulevard, Thomastown will go to auction on Saturday.

A terrace in Ascot Vale, a Thomastown townhouse and an apartment in South Yarra’s renowned Beverley Hills building are all among properties still going under the hammer this weekend.

Online auctions and virtual inspections are permitted activities during Melbourne’s stage four lockdown.

— with Samantha Landy

READ MORE:
The Malt District: Seven silos next to Nylex Clock face The Punisher

Sir William McPherson: Former Victorian Premier’s stately Hawthorn mansion for sale

Olympic golfer Marcus Fraser sells Beaumaris mid-century house

The post Melbourne stage four restrictions: Online auction flurry as full lockdown hits appeared first on realestate.com.au.

With the COVID-19 pandemic making many Aussies rethink their home priorities, a new survey has revealed what features are in growing demand among new home seekers.

Research conducted by the Real Estate Buyers Agents Association has revealed the nation’s top 10 property features on buyer wish lists.

RELATED: What stage four lockdown means for real estate

The key reason it’s better to buy than rent now

Ramshackle home wins House of the Year

Since COVID hit, buyers home priorities are shifting. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Not surprisingly, office space is a growing consideration as a new consciousness of the need for separating work and living areas in the home is evolving quickly.

The top 10 property features on buyer wish lists include:

1. Kitchen

2. Outdoor entertaining area

3. Home Office

4. Multiple living areas (minimum two)

5. Bedrooms

6. Flat level backyard

7. Ensuite

8. Natural light

9. Views

10. Large land footprint

Demand for home offices is spiking. (Picture: Troy Snook/AAP)

By collating answers from Australia’s leading accredited buyer’s agents from across Australia, the results give a topical insight into how COVID-19 is changing buyer wish lists.

It marks quite a sharp change in behaviour, as two years ago the home office did not even make the top 10, according to REBAA president Cate Bakos.

Homes with outdoor entertaining areas continue to rank highly in what Aussie buyers want.

She said demand for properties that could accommodate workspaces had grown significantly since the onset of COVID-19 restrictions and believed it would be a permanent trend.

“Buyers are looking for a quiet space to work from home, specifically a space away

from the family living area, whether this be a separate office or an extra bedroom that can accommodate this,” said Ms Bakos.

Home office spaces don’t have to be large.

“No longer is a study nook, or a small allocated space for a desk a suitable alternative for a professional and/or creative worker.

“We are now seeing a heightened demand for second study spaces, more generously proportioned co-working spaces in the home and a sharp focus on internet connectivity.

Buyer’s agent and Real Estate Buyers Association of Australia president Cate Bakos.

“The direct impact for buyers who desire additional bedrooms or second living spaces for their work from home requirements comes down to budget and where affordability leads them.

“Unchanged budget and increased internal floor areas spells a location change for some, or a switch from small house to generous apartment for others.”

The survey also revealed a keen desire for larger kitchen layouts with more people cooking at home.

Views and outdoor entertaining areas are among the top 10 things on buyers wish lists.

MORE: Hemsworth reveals plans for Byron estate

Can you move house during stage 4 lockdown?

Inside Premier’s old-world nine-bedroom mansion

“Kitchens have always been high on buyer wish lists but we’re definitely seeing a trend in demand for much larger kitchen spaces,” said Ms Bakos.

“A renewed interest in cooking, including a self-sufficient lifestyle for some, is stronger now than it has been in past years.

Real estate agent Catherine Murphy (left) and potential buyer Helen at an open house. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

“You only need to look at the isolation photos on social media which are showcasing home-cooked meals from baked bread to impressive breakfasts and dinners to understand why there is increased demand.”

The post Demand for home office space growing among Aussie buyers during COVID-19 appeared first on realestate.com.au.

No. 1/40 Smith St, Surry Hills, has a price guide of $1.2m.

One of Australia’s most respected art consultants, Mark Hughes, has listed his Surry Hills warehouse apartment in the renowned Spice Traders building.

Hughes, who spent more than a decade in New York including nine years as the Director of Galerie Lelong, established Mark Hughes Art Advisory in 2011 and works with individual collectors and corporate clients.

He bought the 90 sqm two-bedroom apartment with garage parking at 1/40 Smith Street for $800,000 in 2013.

It’s now listed with BresicWhitney’s Shannan Whitney with a $1.2m guide ahead of an August 29 auction.

MORE:
Stranger Things star home shopping

Tim Minchin eyes off $10m mansion

Mark Hughes at his home in Surry Hills home. Picture: Hollie Adams/The Australian

The apartments offers 90sq m of internal space.

The apartment offers separate living and dining areas beyond its entrance hall, a stainless-steel kitchen, timber floors and high ceilings.

Spice Traders was one of Surry Hills’s earliest “authentic” warehouse conversions, and Whitney recalls Platino Properties outbidding Kerry Packer to redevelop the building in the mid-1990s.

The nine apartments there are very tightly held. Optus Chairman Paul O’Sullivan has hung on to apartment 7 since paying $930,000 in 2000 according to CoreLogic. He’d bought it from Robert Rigby for $465,000 in 1996 when the conversion occurred.

And the apartment 9 two-level penthouse, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment over 215 sqm with terrace, cost $1.35m in 2008 when Glen McGillvray and Nicole Solomon snapped it up.

Hughes and his partner, Mike, are planning to upgrade in Surry Hills.

Lend Lease chief sells

No. 17 Beresford Rd, Rose Bay sold in the mid-$9m range.

Every buyer’s agent in town has been through the Rose Bay home of the director of Urban Regeneration at Lend Lease, John Burton, and wife MaryLouise.

The couple purchased the home for $8.75m in October 2018, via Raine and Horne Double Bay principal Ric Serrao.

But sources have revealed the five-bedroom, three-bathroom Smyth & Smyth architects-designed home with pool at 17 Beresford Rd had sold again off-market — and in the mid-$9m range.

The agents this time were Knight Frank duo William Laing and Adam Ross.

Neither would comment.

The rumour mill has Simon Cohen as representing the buyer.

The Burtons are believed to be moving to the Southern Highlands.

Another big sale

No. 25 Kambala Rd, Bellevue Hill, sold for $8.5m.

There was another hush-hush sale in Bellevue Hill this week, with the Kambala Road home in the one family for 80 years trading at the mid-$8 million mark.

The four-bedroom home on an 897 sqm block, which records show is in the name of Bettena Henty, sold through Ray White Woollahra’s Randall Kemp, though Ray White TRG’s Cae Thomas is understood to have introduced the buyer.

Thomas was tight-lipped when contacted. Two sources falsely claimed the Kambala Road buyer was dentist Angelo Sklavos and his wife, Fiona — whose family own Peters of Kensington. They recently sold their Bundarra Rd home in the high-$6 millions through Ray White Double Bay’s Ashley Bierman and Cae Thomas. But the Sklavos’s are still apparently on the home hunt.

Mosman-based Henty had been renting the family Kambala Rd home at $2,850 a week, CoreLogic records show.

Mum’s the word

No. 28 Blake Street, Rose Bay, sold for $2.5m.

The Blake Street, Rose Bay home of Tina Luciano — mother of Hedge Fund manager Rob Luciano — sold for $2.5m via Ray White TRG principal Gavin Rubinstein and Cae Thomas.

Thomas also sold a Beaumont Street home around the corner for above $3.8m in five days.

Then he sold the house next door for above $3m.

And Rubinstein sold a Dover Heights home for $4.85 that could only get $4.5m a year ago.

“Stock levels are at an all-time low for houses,” said Rubinstein.

Streets ahead

No. 1/41 Francis Street, Bondi Beach set a street record.

Decent apartments in good locations are being snapped up quickly at big prices.

A two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment at 1/41 Francis Street, Bondi Beach with rare garage sold for $1.58m — $80k above reserve and a street record — after just two weeks on the market.

Ray White Double Bay’s Adam Reichman had 100-email inquiries and 50 groups through.

In end, he had three groups fighting over it, hence the premium price. The buyer was an investor who will no doubt find tenants easily given its proximity to Bondi Beach.

Despite being in an older-style block, it had a lot going for it, including the covered terrace that opened to a garden with a huge Banksia tree that gave it privacy from the street; the modern kitchen with Smeg appliances, along with the timber floors and high ceilings.

Flying high

No. 32 Greville Street, Clovelly, has a $3.7m guide.

The five-bedroom, three-bedroom home of retired pilot Christopher Holt and wife Suzanne, at 32 Greville Street, Clovelly, has a $3.7m price guide ahead of an August 13 auction.

Property records show the couple, who are downsizing to the central coast, bought the 241 sqm property for the grand sum of $47,000 in 1978.

And 20 years ago they knocked down the existing home and did a total rebuild. Ray White Double Bay principal Elliott Placks said the home is attracting interest from local families.

My pick

No. 28 Park Parade, Bondi has a $2.5m guide for an August 29 auction.

Young families can’t get enough of the four-bedroom doer-upper with park views at 28 Park Parade, Bondi.

It’s owned by schoolteacher Catherine Prichard, the daughter of real estate mogul Barry Prichard.

With a $2.5m price guide ahead of an August 29 auction, Angus Gorrie of McGrath had 21 groups through Saturday’s first open home.

“There was a really good vibe,” Gorrie said. Character charms include high ornate ceilings and picture rails.

The post Art adviser Mark Hughes lists Surry Hills warehouse apartment appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Cladding is appearing around the base of several silos at Cremorne’s $1 billion The Malt District redevelopment by Caydon.

Seven silos connected to those beneath Melbourne’s iconic Nylex Clock are being prepared for “a pretty careful bit of demolition” — by a robot named The Punisher.

Built in the 1960s, after the site’s heritage protected main silos, the towering cylinders will be dismantled in 1m sections by the affectionately named demolition bot and its twin.

The works were planned to commence mid this month, but are likely to be delayed as a result of Melbourne’s stage four lockdown.

RELATED: Melbourne’s iconic Nylex Clock sign back on for 24 hours

Melbourne’s landmark Nylex clock and silos development approved

Skipping Girl Vinegar sign’s Abbotsford home skips to market

How the project will look once completed.

However scaffolding has already begun to be installed around the concrete towers as Caydon Property Group prepares the second phase of demolition at the former Richmond Maltings.

The prominent Cremorne property, set between the Monash Freeway and Hoddle Street, is undergoing a $1 billion transformation into a new lifestyle hub called The Malt District.

The robot affectionately known as The Punisher.

The robot will be installed on a descending platform inside the silos.

Caydon boss Joe Russo had the popular Nylex Clock switched on briefly earlier this year for the first time in a decade, with plans to refurbish it and make it even more prominent when the redevelopment is completed. It is not expected to be illuminated again until 2022, when a restaurant and bar are intended to join the sign at the top of the silos.

Mr Russo said the seven less-significant silos being removed would be approached with caution and not impact the clock.

The silos beneath the Victoria Bitter sign will be turned into the Silos Studios office space.

“Given their height, demolishing the silos requires a sophisticated methodology and Caydon has adopted cutting edge, remote controlled technology that will slowly break down the concrete of each structure and let it fall to ground level within the silos,” he said.

Multi-award-winning architectural firm Lovell Chen is overseeing the site’s heritage works to ensure the iconic silos beneath the clock and a nearby group supporting a popular VB sign are not damaged.

Founding principal Peter Lovell said the hi-tech approach would expose the western end of the silos for the first time in half a century — though it was not known what condition the long concealed section would be in.

About 100,000 bricks will be recycled at the project.

“The critical issue is obviously stability and a lot of engineering work has gone into making sure the ones to remain are fairly stable and protected from debris,” Mr Lovell said.

“It’s a pretty careful bit of demolition.”

The demolition paves the way for a new wave of construction at the site set to create 2400 jobs.

The Coppins Corner apartment complex was recently topped out.

It follows the developer recently topping out the 14-storey Coppins Corner residential tower built at the future lifestyle precinct, with residents to begin moving in early next year. Office space, a 206-room 25Hours hotel, a microbrewery, plus a restaurant and retail precinct will also feature when the project is complete.

It will feature 200 apartments when completed, though initial plans called for 1000.

Caydon bought the mostly derelict site for $38 million 2014.

The Husqvarna DXR 300 robot tasked with the heavy lifting in the demolition is about 1m in size, but has a 4m-long arm that can be fitted with a claw hand, and will be controlled by an operator outside the silo.

Restaurant and retail space is also being developed at the landmark Cremorne project.

This will be used to break the silos down in 1m sections, then fold them back into the silo where they will be dropped to the base and removed without damaging heritage aspects neighbouring the demolition work.

The use of robots on construction sites is becoming increasingly common in dangerous or difficult to reach locations, and in the past a human with a jackhammer would have had to do the work from inside the silos.

About 100,000 bricks at the site will be reused, and industrial machinery from the Richmond Maltings heyday will be on display.

MORE: The Sands Torquay on the market after lenders call in receivers

Coronavirus: Tradies will abandon Victoria as building economy plunges

HomeBuilder extended in Victoria due to stage four lockdown

The post The Malt District: Seven silos next to Nylex Clock face The Punisher appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The Yankalilla estate at 34 Main Street is offering househunters the ultimate country retreat. Pic: realestate.com.au

Looking for a quiet home in the countryside to escape the hustle and bustle of city life?

A historic Yankalilla estate at 34 Main Street is offering househunters the ultimate refuge, with all the bells and whistles expected of a dream home within easy reach.

With a pool, stables, home office, guest cottage, cellar, underground larder and wedding pavilion, you’ll rarely need to leave the property.

Owners Jo and Gary Brown bought the home, known as Bungala House, six years ago with the intention of renovating it and spending their weekends there.

MORE NEWS

Divine converted chapel almost ‘pew’ good to be true

Take a sneak peek inside MasterChef star Laura Sharrad’s home

The suburbs in and out of Adelaide’s million-dollar club

It has been lovingly renovated to retain its historic character charm over the years. Pic: realestate.com.au

The owners spent years renovating it. Pic: realestate.com.au

They say it has been a labour of love. Pic: realestate.com.au

“We were only looking for a little weekender but when we saw this place and it’s potential, we just couldn’t believe it,” Mr Brown said.

“For the first two-and-a-half years we only came down on weekends from Adelaide.

“I sold our business and sold the other house and we’ve been down here now for three years. We basically changed our lives for it.”

The sprawling 1.79ha estate, which is on the market without a price tag, includes the main six-bedroom house, a guest cottage that used to be the original home’s kitchen and store room, a separate office building, an orchard, wedding pavilion, stables and pool.

Mr Brown said there was also another outbuilding that “needed work” but was “very adaptable”.

“We had plans of turning it into more accommodation,” he said.

The Browns spent years renovating the house, which started as a cottage with two rooms in 1856.

The house started as a two-room cottage in 1856. Pic: realestate.com.au

Established gardens surround the property. Pic: realestate.com.au

“They’re in the middle of the house now, you can pick it but it’s difficult,” Mr Brown said.

The renovation has given the property a new lease on life without destroying its historic character charm.

“Over the past six years, it’s been an absolute labour of love,” Mr Brown said.

“It’s actually exceeded our expectations.”

While reluctant, the couple have decided to sell the property to pursue a business opportunity overseas.

They listed it in November but took it off the market for a few months earlier this year.

“Because of COVID-19, like a lot of people our plans have all been tossed up in the air,” Mr Brown said.

“We feel that we now need to start making some plans and changes again.”

South Australia Sotheby’s International Realty principal Grant Giordano and director Anthony Hurl are selling the property.

The guesthouse used to be the original cottage’s kitchen and store room. Pic: realestate.com.au

The post Historic Yankalilla estate offering househunters the ultimate countryside retreat appeared first on realestate.com.au.