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21428 Tasman Highway, Four Mile Creek. Picture: SUPPLIED

WHEN Frank Bowling and Barbara Makepeace designed their dream home on Tasmania’s East Coast they truly left no stone unturned.

From sustainable living building principles to carefully selected materials, from the inspired floorplans to the orientation of the house, every inch of the property was well considered and then built with a craftsman’s eye for detail.

The definition of a dream home will vary from person to person, and for Frank and Barbara this ocean-side coastal home was their dream.

They bought the land about five years ago after finding it “almost by chance”.

Frank said they knew it was the place for them immediately after laying eyes on the glorious, almost 180-degree ocean views.

“We designed the house with floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise those views,” he said.

“It is paradise. You can watch the waves breaking and the whales swimming past each year.”

Total paradise.

Expertly built.

The place to be.

Frank described the home as particularly well built.

“With its insulation properties, orientation and passive solar design we don’t need any heating or cooling, aside from occasionally running a fire if there is an extended run of wet weather, ” he said.

“The walls of the house are about 500mm thick and are made from a rather attractive looking rammed earth and concrete block that looks similar to sandstone.

“Some of the internal walls are lined with limestone, which makes large feature walls.

“And we have a sliding barn door design for the internal doors.”

Frank said the home had a large thermal mass and was completely soundproof, too.

“To hear the waves you have to open a door or crack a window open,” he said.

“The windows, a German design, have a two-way action to swing open or lean back.”

A stunner.

Gorgeous from any angle.

A relaxed sanctuary.

Barbara and Frank named their property Wombat Cove, inspired by the location and the visitors that come by the property.

Less than two hour’s drive from Launceston, 15 minutes to Scamander or 20 to St Marys, this property feels peaceful and private, yet not isolated.

Its absolute coastal frontage includes private beach access.

Indoors or out, there are myriad vantage points from which to enjoy the location.

Inside the house, living and dining areas are highlighted by spotted gum floors that flow to fabulous decks.

One in particular that grabs they eye is a sheltered retreat that is the ultimate indoor-outdoor room.

The house has tall ceilings that give the interiors a spacious, light and airy feel.

An entry foyer is positioned near the centre of the home.

To one side there is a laundry and then the master bedroom suite with an impressive ensuite and the luxury of a walk-in wardrobe.

On the other side of the foyer there is a splendid median room/home office, the main bathroom, a bedroom — both bedrooms boast unforgettable views — and the open-plan living zone, including the kitchen.

Bathroom bliss.

Work and play.

Imagine sitting here anytime you like.

Equipped with European appliances — Miele and Siemens — the chic kitchen features stone surfaces, an island bench and ample storage.

The home office is enhanced by 60Mbps fixed wireless broadband and the property has ethernet cabling and Wi-Fi connectivity throughout.

Back outside there are landscaped areas, a dam filled 24,000-litre water tank, an automated irrigation system, a secure double garage and a workshop.

There is a separate self-contained studio (calling all handymen and artists, this spot’s for you) a 7.8m x 5.7m space with a sun deck and the property’s third bathroom.

Barbara, a trained horticulturalist, has created absolutely spectacular gardens, primarily with Australian natives, alongside extensive vegetable gardens inside pest-proof enclosures. And there is a small vineyard, too.

Produce galore.

Superb details.

One last look at the location.

The orchard is home to cherries, figs, apricots, lemons, passionfruit, berries and much more.

While the impressive features of this property also include 90,000 litres of rainwater storage, three-phase underground power, extensive solar panels, historic sealers’ walls, a Nectre fireplace and a pizza oven, it might be the location and the views that are the elements that stay with you the longest.

No.21428 Tasman Highway at Four Mile Creek is listed with Knight Frank and will be sold by expressions of interest.

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Senator Pauline Hanson and political advisor James Ashby.

CONTROVERSIAL political adviser James Ashby has embarked on a renewed push to sell his investment property in the central Queensland coastal town of Yeppoon.

The block of four townhouses, which is owned by the right-hand man to One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, is back on the market with a new asking price of offers over $440,000 with Harcourts Yeppoon.

This block of units in Yeppoon, owned by James Ashby, is back on the market.

It had previously been listed for sale with another agency for $425,000 earlier this year, and before that, $455,000.

The new listing describes the property at Raymond Terrace as “designed and built to capture the sea view and sea breezes” and “perfect for first entry level buyers, investors and buyers hoping to downsize”.

This block of units in Yeppoon, owned by James Ashby, is back on the market.

“The units have always had long term reliable tenants and have been well maintained and cared for over the years”.

Inside one of the units in the complex in Yeppoon, owned by James Ashby, which is back on the market.

The complex consists of three, two-bedroom townhouses with open-plan living and kitchen areas, and one, one-bedroom townhouse on the ground floor.

The kitchen in one of the units in the complex.

The building is situated on a quiet street with accommodation for two cars and within walking distance to town and the beach.

The staffer recently made headlines again when it was reported he was suing the Commonwealth for $3.67 million in costs incurred in litigation against former speaker Peter Slipper for alleged sexual harassment in 2012.

The bathroom in one of the units in the complex in Yeppoon.

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22 Riverview Terrace, Belmont, has sold for $1.26 million.

A riverside pocket in Belmont has proved hot property with a quick sale setting a street price record.

Six potential buyers had emerged days in to the campaign to sell the renovated four-bedroom house at 22 Riverview Terrace.

The 560sq m property was scheduled to be auctioned in October, but McGrath, Geelong agent David Cortous was forced to bring the sale forward due to the huge amount of interest.

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22 Riverview Terrace, Belmont, has sold for $1.26 million.

Mr Cortous said two buyers from Melbourne, who had were unable to inspect the property due to the stage four lockdown in the capital, drove the early running for the two-storey house 250m from the Barwon River bank.

But a Geelong family’s bid of $1.26 million proved the strongest.

The sale price was $60,000 above the top end of the quoted $1.1m to $1.2m price range.

The kitchen has stone benches and double Siemens ovens.

“The house is beautiful — a great floorplan and it was executed beautifully and it obviously had the location,” Mr Cortous said.

“Riverview Terrace is the premium street of Belmont and it right near the river there. The house had been beautifully rebuilt and saw a record price.”

The open-plan living area offers a large indoor-outdoor family space and the kitchen has stone benchtops, double Siemens ovens and a butler’s pantry with floor to ceiling cabinetry.

The main bedroom has a private balcony overlooking the backyard.

The main bedroom upstairs has a private balcony, ensuite and sitting room or home office.

It’s the fourth house in Riverview Terrace to sell for more than $1 million and Belmont’s second million-dollar sale in 2020.

Earlier, vendors who had spent to two years renovating a 1920s residence at 113 Roslyn Rd sold for $1.18 million.

22 Riverview Terrace, Belmont, has sold for $1.26 million.

The house, which occupies a 830sq m corner block at Cambridge St, sold in July.

Belmont’s median house price has climbed 9.2 per cent in the past 12 months to $580,000, Hometrack data shows.

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The post Belmont: Riverside house beats price hopes by $60K as six bidders swoop before auction appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Viewbank has been crowned Melbourne’s speediest property market, with houses typically flying off the shelves in less than three weeks.

Houses sold in a median of 17 days over the past year in the popular suburb, which agents say is being buoyed by leafy streets and top schools.

Realestate.com.au data shows North Warrandyte and Seddon houses were also snapped up at rapid rates, notching sales at a median of 18.5 and 19.5 days respectively.

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8 Robern Parade, Viewbank is for sale.

11 Castle Road, North Warrandyte was snapped up earlier in July.

Properties in Melbourne’s northeast dominated the list of the city’s fastest-selling suburbs, with speedy deals also recorded in Watsonia, Heidelberg and Heidelberg Heights.

Jellis Craig Eltham director Aaron Yeats credited Viewbank’s quick transactions to the area’s top-quality schools.

“Viewbank College is particularly very sought after, and even the local primary school is highly regarded,” Mr Yeats said.

“It definitely is selling a little faster than the suburbs surrounding and I think the reason is the suburb and the school zone are quite tight. So when properties do come up, people are keen to buy when they can.”

Agents say the areas are increasingly popular for families.

Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee agreed, noting the fast-selling suburbs pointed towards strong interest in family homes.

“Particularly with the suburbs in the northeast – they are all areas that are leafy and have great access to public transport, but also offer great affordability,” Ms Conisbee said.

Viewbank houses have a $980,000 median sale price, according to realestate.com.au data.

While she expected Victoria’s stage four real estate restrictions to extend the time properties spent on the market, she said it wasn’t curbing buyer interest.

“The issue isn’t demand, because we can see people are still looking at houses,” she said. “It’s just increasingly difficult to make that transaction at the moment.”

Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee.

For units, Sunbury scored the fastest sales of the past year in a median of 22 days, followed by Clifton Hill and Elwood at 27 days.

Blackbird and Wren Real Estate director Ben Roberts said demand had been strong for several years for Sunbury units, which were attracting first-home buyers and those looking to downsize.

5/54 Darbyshire Street, Sunbury sold in June this year.

“It’s not unheard of for a well-placed unit in Sunbury to sell after just a few days or a week on the market,” Mr Roberts said.

He said the market might see an upswing in fast-paced sales after lockdown, as budding first-home buyers who had been forced to put their purchasing plans on hold flooded back into the market.

christina.karras@news.com.au

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HOUSES

(Suburb, median number of days on market)

1. Viewbank, 17

2. North Warrandyte, 18.5

3. Seddon, 19.5

4. Watsonia, 19.5

5. Dingley Village, 21

6. Murrumbeena, 22

7. Heidelberg, 23

8. Woori Yallock, 23

9. Bayswater, 24.5

10. Heidelberg Heights, 24.5

UNITS

(Suburb, median number of days on market)

1. Sunbury, 22

2. Clifton Hill, 27

3. Elwood, 27

4. Balaclava, 27.5

5. Balwyn North, 29

6. Bayswater North, 29

7. Bentleigh, 29.5

8. East Melbourne, 30

9. Ferntree Gully, 30

10. Kew, 30

Source: realestate.com.au

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“This thing is getting fair dinkum,” Scott Cam says during this episode, in which we rewatch ourselves from six months ago, one minute joking about hoarding dunny rolls, the next minute realising we may be about to face the apocalypse.

Work stops for the Scott Morrison press conference announcing limits to gatherings of more than 100 people (what luxury!). That doesn’t mean The Block has to shut down — yet — but the parents among the contestants are beginning to get edgy about what a looming shutdown could mean for getting home to their kids.

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Scott comes up with a plan to bring the contestants’ kids and their carers to Melbourne. He’s even going to set up a mini school at Block HQ so they don’t miss out on any education. It’s a nice idea, but in reality it’s not going to be much use to anyone.

Daniel and Jade’s parents are not only caring for their kids, including one with significant health issues, they’re also running the couple’s farm.

“We’re at a crucial, crucial time,” Jade says. “If we don’t get seed in the ground, that’s our livelihood.”

Contestants watch Scott Morrison’s coronavirus press conference announcing bans on mass gatherings.

At the same time they’re desperately worried about what the virus might mean for their daughter.

“It makes me wonder if I even want to be here,” Daniel says. “We have a daughter that has a lot of bigger issues than most people. I won’t stay if I get a whiff of it back home. I’ll walk home if I have to.”

Jimmy and Tam are also upset. They’re longing to see their daughter, but recognise having her travel to Melbourne from her safe spot of Noosa isn’t necessarily going to be the best choice. Ditto Luke and Jasmin and their kids in Perth.

It seems Scott’s kind gesture isn’t the solution he hopes it will be.

Meanwhile, Sarah and George have now changed their minds about travelling to Sydney for her grandmother’s funeral. They’re worried about interacting with the other vulnerable older people who will be there. Instead they decide to spend a few days away from The Block with Sarah’s family.

Who said The Block is just cheerful escapism?

It’s not all plague and death though. There’s also stress and breakdowns to enjoy.

Jimmy and Tam wrestle with the decision of whether to bring their daughter to Melbourne mid coronavirus

While Sarah and George are away their builder cracks on with their master ensuite build, until Keith discovers a monumental error. After eight hours of intricate tiling work is completed, Keith notices the plasterer hasn’t put in enough screws. The plaster would be fine if it was just being painted, but it’s not secure enough to support a heavy set of floor to ceiling tiles. The tiles have to come off, and there’s a risk that they’ve dried to the point that will rip off the waterproofing, giving the pair no chance of finishing the room.

For once Keith doesn’t sound gleeful at finding the error.

He saves that for Harry, when he and Dan noticed some major errors with the installation of a puddle flange. Nope, us either. Anyway, it’s wrong, and a bunch of sheeting has to come up for it to be fixed.

Harry’s woes aren’t over even after that though. Tash has chosen three different tiles for their master ensuite, because that worked out so well for them in their guest bathroom, but they’re all different sizes so the grout lines won’t meet up neatly.

Tash comes close to ignoring her dad’s increasingly hysterical calls, and she’s still having none of it when he tells a producer that The Block has been a “steep learning curve” for her. Given he’s not exactly a master handyman himself it’s not surprising Tash executes a perfect “excuuuuuuse me” face when she hears that patronising line.

Tash’s face when Harry says she’s had a “steep learning curve”.

But by the time Scott and Shelley arrive for their pre-judging inspection, all is well. Sarah and George’s tiler Hoppy worked 17 hours straight to redo the tiling.

“What’s the greatest word for appreciation? We are forever in debt. It touched me, man. After this show I’ve got brothers for life,” George says.

And Scott and Shelley approve of Tash’s tile choices. There may be three of them again, but this time they’re understated rather than a mish mash of patterns.

One of the only sour notes of the show (other than old mate COVID-19) is a dibber dobber incident. When Keith notes Dan’s waterproofer has used the wrong edging material and tells him to rip it up, Dan is quick to alert Keith to the fact his was not the only house the waterproofer worked on.

Keith is quickly on to Jimmy and Tam’s house to get them to rip up their edging too, and is just as quick to tell Jimmy that Dan was the one who told him about it.

“How nice. I didn’t think we were playing schoolyard dibber dobbers,” Jimmy says. “That was a dick move by Daniel.”

Daniel denies dobbing – why do contestants on this show seem to forget there’s cameras recording their every move?

But Jimmy doesn’t stay mad for long and soon the couples are consulting one another about what to do about their kids.

Daniel and Jade are definitely leaving their kids on the farm.

“If they have to self-isolate they can run for days and not be found,” Daniel says. We think that means he thinks they’re safer there.

Likewise, Jimmy and Tam know their little girl is happy and settled in Noosa, so they make the difficult decision to choose not to bring her to them.

What none of the contestants know at this point is in a few days it will all become moot.

MISSED AN EPISODE?

Episode 13 recap: ‘Blockhead’s potty antics disgust Keith’

Episode 10-11 recap: The new Block rule that could ruin the season

Episode 9 recap: Favourtism allegations hit The Block

Episode 8 recap: Judges pull no punches on grieving Daniel and Jade

Episode 6-7 recap: Sack your builder: Keith slams ‘pathetic’ work

Episode 4 recap: Luke and Jasmin’s big stuff up

Episode 3 recap: “So two years ago”. Team’s boring room slammed

Episode 2 recap: Disappointment as Block houses are handed out

Episode 1 recap: Block 2020 tears start flowing early

The post The Block 2020 episodes 14, 15 recap: Contestants in tears as COVID hits, and dobbing drama see tensions rise appeared first on realestate.com.au.