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Barry Plant Highton agent Kieron Hunter calls the auction at 8 Angus Street, Belmont. Picture: Peter Ristevski

The first on-site auction since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in regional Victoria has to put some cream on top of a strong result for a Belmont vendor.

A two-bedroom townhouse at 8 Angus Street, Belmont, sold for $546,000 after three bidders contested Saturday’s auction.

Barry Plant, Highton agent Kieron Hunter said being able stand at the property and encourage buyers to continue bidding helped eclipse the reserve by $26,000.

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Mr Hunter had continued to auction properties using an online app during the lockdown but said returning on site paid immediate dividends.

“You’ll never know what’s better (online or on-site because you’ll never be able to do the two side-by-side but I do feel that in person, to be able to have that personal touch, we were able to encourage them to take another bid,” he said.

“The reality is there was another $6000 there, just from encouragement.”

The unsuccessful bidders. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Ben, a first-home buyer who didn’t want to reveal his surname, has cemented an escape from Melbourne’s stage four lockdown.

Although the health care worker didn’t attend the auction, his Geelong-based parents bid for the 312sq m property on his behalf.

“I’ve been looking to enter the property market for the last year or so, so with everything happening in the current climate, Geelong seemed like a logical fit for my lifestyle and being closer to the family,” he said.

Bidders wore masks and observed social distancing at the auction. Picture: Peter Ristevski

“It’s definitely a good fit. I think it was a really nicely and neatly-presented property – fairly low maintenance.

“I’m in my late 20s, so I’m a young professional, work in health care, and it suited my lifestyle really well.

“It has a nice little entertaining area so an opportunity to be social with friends, but it’s not a property that needs to undertake too much maintenance on.”

Hopeful buyers at 8 Angus Street, Belmont. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Ben said his immediate family had relocated to Geelong in recent years.

“I have been working in Melbourne, but I’ll be residing in Geelong in the next couple of months so I’ll be looking at commuting and doing some work locally as well,” he said.

“I can split my time between the two and maybe in the future transition further down the Surf Coast.

“My mum and her family are from Geelong and surf coast originally.

8 Angus Street, Belmont, has sold for $546,000.

8 Angus Street, Belmont, has sold for $546,000.

“It’s always had a bit of appeal to us. As kids we were coming down here fairly often, so I see Geelong and the surf coast as being a nice happy medium.”

Mr Hunter said there were 10 people at the auction, including a fourth party that didn’t bid and two onlookers.

“The neighbours from across the road were inconspicuously watering the garden,” he said.

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Architect Graham Birchall, who designed The Bubble House in Ipswich with his wife Sharon. Pic Peter Wallis

IT’S hard to find a naughty corner in a round house, even with 140,000 people looking.

When the Bubble House of Ipswich, with its series of 11 connected domes, became one of Australia’s most viewed properties on the market this year, it put quirky homes in the spotlight, and challenged homebuyers to think outside the square.

6 Autrey Court in suburban Stafford Heights has its own squash court. Picture: John Gass

“A home is about the people and what makes them comfortable,” First National Ipswich estate agent Helene Shephard said.

For Queensland architect Graham Birchall that has meant building a house out of concrete domes to support his university thesis on the building technique.

“I like them because they are so pure, there’s no hard joins,” Mr Birchall said. “They’re good for storm water, water just rolls off; there are no gutters and they’re very spacious; up here there’s no ceiling under 4m.”

Construction of 79 Elanora Way, Karalee, began in 1983 and took 10 years with Mr Birchall and his father-in-law Ed Bohl devoting every weekend to the job with a little maths help from some of the state’s brightest academic minds. NASA also was approached for inspiration to design aperture window coverings in the cantilever bathrooms that hang off larger domes, and plans to the Mars Rover arrived by post in case they were useful.

“They ended up not helping but it was good to get them,” Mr Birchall’s wife, Sharon, said.

The bubble house is one of only seven in the world and when it went on sale last month, an international frenzy was created that stretched from Vanuatu to Paris, with Ms Shephard receiving 100 calls a day in two weeks.

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“It’s only because of its uniqueness that it’s attracted such an intense amount of interest,” she said. “Other than that it’s really no different to any other campaign – you still have to find the right buyer.”

Curiosity should never be dismissed when selling quirky properties, Ray White Ascot’s Ian Cuneo said.

“It’s fine to come to have a look, even if you’re not intending to buy the property,” Mr Cuneo said. “I sold a two-bedroom house to a lady who wanted a six-bedroom home and afterwards I said, ‘Why?’ and she said, ‘I really liked the butterfly stairs’. And she just renovated after that. Never in my wildest dreams would I have rung her up (about the property) but she just fell in love with the interiors.”

In the north Brisbane suburb of Stafford Heights, a five level home at 6 Autry Court has been listed for sale with an indoor squash court, although during the COVID-19 lockdown, it did become a glorified play gym for owner Aeron Lin’s toddler. “We had four rooms on rotation during the lockdown and when we’d had enough of one room, we’d go to another. There’s lots of space in this house.”

There’s also a resort style 180,000 litre heated saltwater swimming pool, a floodlit championship size synthetic grass tennis court and an indoor/outdoor Feng Shui-style fish pond to give the 2039sq m block positive chi.

Chris Ball climbing on his rock-climbing wall at home. Photo: Mark Cranitch.

Across the river, Chris Ball is selling his Yeronga home at 22 Ellesmere Street that has a 5m high indoor boulder wall in the void facing the kitchen.

“When we renovated, the architect asked what was on our top 10 list,” Mr Ball said.

“The climbing wall sat at number three, behind the new master bedroom and the new kitchen downstairs. We climb socially and it didn’t really take much convincing for us to decide to put one in.”

The bulk of the wall is on a 30 degree angle while a lower portion is on a more gentle 15 degree angle where the kids’ holes are.

On the Sunshine Coast, Keith Murray has taken four historic train carriages and converted them into an eco-sanctuary at the bottom of Mount Tibrogargan in the Glass House Mountains where he has lived since 1982.

The 1.72ha property at 198 Barrs Road, Glass House Mountains, includes the 130-year-old Wivenhoe Pocket Presbyterian Church which took seven hours to transport to the new site and more than two years to assemble into a family home. Whoever buys the property will also inherit a boutique coffee plantation.

Coffee can also be found in one of the most unique properties to hit the market in Queensland, this one is in Tropical North Queensland.

Peter Marshall’s home is just 15 minutes from the shopping mall but in the wet season, 30 cubic metres of water a second can roar past his house on the edge of a waterfall, and there’s a free skyrail that can drop him a two-minute walk from his front door.

Barron Falls Estate is an almost 66ha site at the top of the Atherton Tablelands, with part of the land accessed by operators of the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which ferries tourists and locals from Kuranda to Cairns. The site also includes 50,000 coffee trees.

QUIRKS ARE PERKS

The Bubble House. Pic Peter Wallis

1. The Bubble House

79 Elanora Way, Karalee

Price: $1.7 million

Quirky feature: A house made completely out of concrete domes.

1015 Kennedy Highway, Kuranda

2. Barron Falls Estate

1015 Kennedy Highway, Kuranda

Price: Contact agent

Quirky feature: Live beside a waterfall with a skyrail that drops you to your front door.

Melanie Blin and Hugh Dao of Jensen Property play some squash at 6 Autry Court, Stafford heights. Picture, John Gass

3 6 Autry Court, Stafford Heights

Price: Offers over $3 million

Quirky feature: Indoor squash court.

22 Ellesmere St, Yeronga.

4. 22 Ellesmere St, Yeronga

Price: Offers over $989,000

Quirky feature: Internal boulder wall facing the living and kitchen areas.

507 Stafford Road, Stafford.

5. 507 Stafford Rd, Stafford

Price: Contact agent

Quirky feature: 1950s converted church with curved roof trusses, Silky Oak walls and leadlight windows.

198 Barrs Rd, Glass House Mountains

6. 198 Barrs Rd, Glass House Mountains

Price: $1.6 million-$1.8 million

Quirky feature: Four historic train carriages including a diving carriage and a Victorian-Era first-class carriage have been converted into self-contained accommodation with kitchen, bedroom, a library and lounge.

10 Aminya Street, Coochiemudlo Island.

7. The Quirky Cottage — Holy Cow

10 Aminya St, Coochiemudlo Island

Price: $265,000

Quirky feature: A former holiday rental that comes with its own custom-made cow-themed interiors so you can ‘moo-ve’ right in.

Knells

111 Moray Street, New Farm

8.111 Moray Street, New Farm

Price: Contact agent

Quirky feature: The dormers or roof windows of this Hansel and Gretel-inspired Old English manor.

455 Gregory Tce, Spring Hill.

9. Carrington Manor

445 Gregory Tce

Price: Offers over $3.2 million

Quirky feature: A preserved 1930s art deco building with ornate horse hair plaster ceiling on the top level.

563 Royal Esplanade, Manly

10. 563 Royal Esplanade, Manly

Price: Best offers around $1.7 million

Quirky feature: Use of billboards and raw building materials throughout the home including the staircase that spirals around the trunk of a tree.

The post Ten quirkiest Queensland homes appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Lots to love – 3 Milray Ave, Wollstonecraft.

Looking out over the rolling lawns, manicured gardens, sandstone terraces, pool and tennis court, you could be forgiven for thinking you were kicking back in the Southern Highlands.

You will need to pinch yourself, because you are actually less than 6km away from the Sydney CBD.

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It’s a few minutes’ drive outside peak time, and even quicker any time of the day on the train. Conveniently, the Wollstonecraft Train Station is just metres from the front gate, as well as the harbour foreshore and Berry Island Reserve.

The 1884sqm property at No. 3 Milray Ave is recognised as one of the largest landholdings in Wollstonecraft, and one of only a handful of homes in the area with a private tennis court.

The three-level home sits on a prime corner block on two titles, and has been meticulously and respectfully restored.

Summer ready.

Grand design.

The kitchen.

The renovation has recaptured the estate’s original character, and is topped off by wonderful landscaping that adds to the secluded and private feel of the property.

Easy living.

Dine outdoors in any weather.

Tennis anyone?

Geoff Smith and Bernard Ryan, of Ray White Lower North Shore, are marketing the property via expressions of interest, with a guide of $10.5 million.

“There’s nothing else like it, it’s one of very few big estates in Wollstonecraft and having the level lawn and the tennis court makes it a standout,” Mr Smith said.

“The house is in a really good spot on the block. It’s just got a really nice feel to it and it’s got very good family functionality.”

The pool.

There are multiple living spaces.

An aerial view.

The home has a big focus on outdoor living.

The chef’s grade kitchen melts into the dining room, family room and poolside terrace.

Inside, the home offers a range of formal and informal living and dining spaces, as well as a rumpus room on the lower level adjoining the home gym.

The main bedroom is a treat, and has a wraparound terrace with a view stretching from the Harbour Bridge across the city skyline to the Anzac Bridge and beyond, as well as a decadent ensuite and dressing room.

The property is for sale by expressions of interest, closing on or before 4pm, September 30.

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The post One of Wollstonecraft’s largest estates comes to market with $10.5m guide appeared first on realestate.com.au.

No. 10 Coolong Road, Vaucluse, has sold for $5.5m — $2m above the $3.5m reserve.

Onlookers who gathered to watch the worst house on Vaucluse’s best street left in total disbelief after it sold for $2m above reserve.

The two-bedroom semi-detached described as a doer-upper with no off-street parking attracted nine bidders including Jackie O’s ex, Lee Henderson.

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Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty agent Michael Pallier said the auction for 10 Coolong Road took off from the start with a number of parties making plenty of big and bold bids.

The semi is on the same street where Nicholas Vass sold his mansion for $34m last month.

The property was snapped up for $5.5m by PPD Real Estate agent Alexander Phillips. Fellow bidder Henderson, who is looking for a home of his own after splitting from Jackie O in 2018, did not make an offer on the property during the auction.

Mr Pallier said everyone from himself to the seller and the crowd were shocked at how much over the reserve price it sold for.

“No one could believe the result – the silence was deafening when the hammer fell,” he said.

“For a semi-detached with no parking to sell for that sum is simply unbelievable.”

Owned by the same family for 45 years, the semi-detached is on the same street where Vass Industries founder Nicholas Vass sold his mansion on Sydney Harbour last month for $34m. Throughout the campaign, Mr Pallier had more than 300 buyers inspect the northeast facing home that has glimpses of the harbour.

It had been owned by the same family for 45 years.

The Coolong Road home had potential to add a second floor.

“I’ve never seen a better market than right now – great homes are strongly contested at the moment,” he said.

Buyers who looked at the semi were attracted to the potential to do it up and add a second floor.

Also in the east, first-home buyers paid $182,000 above the reserve for an original two-bedroom semi at Kingsford.

No. 98 Sturt Street sold for $1.432m after it attracted 15 registered bidders. Ray White’s Roger Wardy said the property was so popular they moved the auction forward by a week.

An out of area family have purchased 53 Darley Road, Manly.

The dream of living near the beach has become reality for an out of area family after they paid $3,999,500 at a thrilling Manly auction.

The result of 53 Darley Road was well above the reserve and came after three parties from across Sydney registered to bid. Bidding opened at the $3.6m mark and rose mostly in $100,000 increments before finishing up with half a dozen $500 bids.

Clarke & Humel principal Mich­ael Clarke said the buyer was after a large block with a good lifestyle.

“We’ve never had so many buyers from across Sydney to Manly,” he said. “It is all about COVID-19 and wanting to live somewhere with a lifestyle.”

No. 8/19-25 Flinders Road, Earlwood.

The “new normal” of working from home has meant an Earlwood couple had no choice but to sell their townhouse.

It paid off, with their two-bedroom home selling for $957,000 in a cracker.

Up against five bidders, a local couple who had been to five auctions and kept missing out walked away with the keys.

Seller Jeremy Cook said he and wife Sarah were forced to sell due to the property not having enough space for both of them to work at home.

First homebuyers have purchased 41 Frederick Street, St Peters.

“I am at the dining room table working, and she is in the bedroom, so I have to pack up every night so we can eat dinner,” he said.

8/19-25 Flinders Rd was sold by Ray White Belmore director Dean Vasil.

In neighbouring St Peters, 41 Frederick St sold $75,000 above expectations for $1.175m.

Ray White’s Ercan Ersan said both bidders were first-home buyers.

He said first-home buyers had overtaken investors to be the dominant force at the lower end of the market.

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Deborah Doctor and her father-in-law Tony Leibowitz outsmarted 14 other bidders to secure a terrace on St James Road at Bondi Junction. Picture: James Gourley/The Sunday Telegraph.

A lady bidding with the help of her father-in-law has stunned a ­socially distanced crowd of about 100, after paying $540,000 above the reserve for a deceased estate.

The standout result for the Bondi Junction terrace came after the auction for 102 St James Street was brought forward by a week after overwhelming interest from more than 120 groups.

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This translated into 15 groups registering on an overcast Saturday morning, with the five bidders ­act­ive.

Deborah Doctor celebrates with her father-in-law Tony Leibowitz (centre) after buying the Bondi Junction property. (Picture: James Gourley/The Sunday Telegraph).

McGrath Coogee agent Angus Gorrie said the successful buyer who paid $2.94 million knocked several parties out with her savvy bidding.

“It was smart bidding on her ­behalf, as most parties were priced out from the $2.5 million mark due to her determination,” he said.

Auctioneer Troy Malcolm got proceedings under way with an opening bid of $2 million after a lengthy period of silence.

The buyer entered the arena at $2.05 million, before landing her first knockout blow of $2.4 million — a jump of $150,000.

There were five bedrooms at 102 St James Road, Bondi Junction.

The property was ripe for a renovation.

When another party made a counter offer of $2.45 million, the buyer was not having any of it and made another $150,000 jump to $2.6 million with the help of her father-in-law.

By this point, it became a two-horse race between the purchaser and two ­ladies, who no matter what amount they bid, were outclassed by the ­determined buyer.

After 10 minutes of bidding and tense negotiations, the underbidder pulled out after placing a $2.93 million bid, and handed the deceased estate to the purchaser for $2.94 million.

Auctioneer Troy Malcolm had 15 bidders register. Picture: James Gourley/The Sunday Telegraph.

The sale price was also a whopping $740,000 above the price guide that Mr Gorrie had quoted on the terrace located near Centennial Park. The real estate agent said the result showed the current strength of the market.

“There is not a lot of good quality housing on the market at the ­moment, and it was evident that good properties like this one on a great street are selling very well at the moment,” he said.

There was a rear courtyard as well.

It last sold in 1988 for $300,000.

With five bedrooms and a carport at the front, the terrace had been under the same family ownership for the past 32 years after being ­purchased in 1988 for $300,000, according to CoreLogic.

The Bondi Junction sale was one of about 665 Sydney auctions scheduled for the week, an 8.66 per cent increase on the volume of auctions recorded last weekend, Realestate.com.au showed.

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14 McAnally Drive in Sunshine Beach. The area is on the wish list ofinterstate buyers.

People are still determined to make that sea or tree change six months after the onset of COVID-19.

According to realestate.com.au, a property listings website, regional areas have registered a significant increase in popularity, in a trend that is particulary prevalent in Queensland.

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The small town of Biloela in the Banana Shire received a 197 per cent growth in views per listing for houses for sale in August, compared with March, followed closely by the Central Highlands, which showed a 182 per cent rise in views. Port Douglas and Daintree (147.1 per cent), Noosa (136.2 per cent) and Maryborough (131.7 per cent) rounded out the top five places of most interest.

Biloela agent Mark Simpson of Ray White said that while the town’s market was far from going gangbusters, it had improved on a few years ago.

He said most inquiries related to rental properties off the back of some large infrastructure projects occurring in the area, which had attracted workers from farther afield and tightening vacancy rates.

35 Lawrence Street, Biloela is on sale through Ray White Biloela. The country town had 197 per cent growth in property views on the listings website realestate.com.au in August, compared with March.

When it comes to rental viewings statewide the Sunshine Coast dominated searches on realestate.com.au, with Maroochy registering a growth in views per listing of 258.1 per cent. Noosa made another appearance with 217.7 per cent, followed by Mudgeeraba – Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast gaining 194.9 per cent more eyeballs, the Noosa Hinterland (194.5 per cent), and Caloundra (183.3 per cent). New South Wales is experiencing a similar trend with place in the Richmond Valley Hinterland most popular.

Cameron Kusher, director of economic research at REA Group said: “Regional markets have experienced some of the largest increases in views per listing for both for sale and for rent properties during the COVID-19 period.

“Whether this increase translates into a mass exodus from metro areas remains to be seen, but it does show a change in consumer behaviour, which is the result of Australians wanting more space, cheaper property and working from home,” he said.

Cameron Kusher director of economic research at REA Group says whether an increase in viewings in regional areas translates to an exodus from city areas remains to be seen.

Mr Kusher said while increased viewings for properties in coastal and hinterland areas, such as Noosa, were interesting, he was surprised by the spike in viewing in the more remote areas.

“I didn’t expect they would be areas that would attract an increase in demand. Perhaps the onset of the recession may have expedited some people into early retirement, which may account for the increase. It would be interesting to know the demographic of those searching in these areas.”

The trend for regional migration, was however backed this week by the Property Investment Professionals of Australia’s (PIPA’s) annual investor sentiment survey, which consults more than 1100 investors.

The survey showed that while market confidence is up, COVID-19 has led investors to reconsider not only where they buy, but also where they live.

Once again, regional areas are set to benefit most after investors indicated that their top locations to migrate to nationally are regional New South Wales (21 per cent), regional Queensland (18 per cent), Brisbane (16 per cent) and regional Victoria (14 per cent).

PIPA chairman Peter Koulizos said most investors cited lifestyle factors, housing affordability and working from home as the main drivers.

“It’s no surprise that COVID-19 and made many people reconsider their lifestyles with

nearly a fifth of investors indicating they are contemplating a move,” Mr Koulizos

said.

Queensland is a particular hotspot with 30 per cent of investors investors agreeing that it offered the best prospects over the coming year.

The proportion of investors that said regional markets were the most appealing increased to 22 per cent, up from 15 per cent in 2019, with coastal locations also on the rise, almost reaching 12 per cent, up from 8 per cent last year.

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Fishing on the beach at St Helens, Tasmania. Picture: SUPPLIED

PROPERTY hunters have got their eyes on Tasmania’s regional areas, with interest rising substantially over the past year.

With demand an indicator for price growth, this could be good news for homeowners in the north of the state — particularly the North East — who are considering selling.

New realestate.com.au data analysed the growth in views per listing in August, compared with the COVID-19 lows of March for sale listings and April’s rental listings.

The significant jump in popularity of regional areas is a nationwide trend and in Tasmania, the North East topped the charts with a 76.2 per cent lift in views per listing.

The North East also recorded the state’s largest change for rental views on the site, with a 117.1 per cent surge.

This data region covers a large area including Dilston-Lilydale, Georgetown, Longford, the Northern Midlands, Perth-Evandale, St Helens and Scottsdale-Bridport.

Property market analyst Tony Collidge said affordability, a relaxed lifestyle and climate would be among the driving factors drawing interest to these towns.

Tony Collidge.

“Remember, prices in the North and North West are well below Hobart prices and in some cases less than half,” he said,

“They are also more communal yet within a 30-minute to one-hour drive of major population centres and services.”

Following the North East, the Central Highlands (69 per cent), Devonport (62.6 per cent), Meander Valley-West Tamar (59.4 per cent) and Brighton (46.7 per cent) each recorded huge growth in views per sale listing.

REA Group director of economic research, Cameron Kusher, said regional markets had experienced some of the largest increases in views per listing, which indicates that since lockdowns commenced, people have had a “greater interest in regional areas”.

“Whether this increase in interest in regional properties translates into a mass exodus from metro areas remains to be seen,” he said.

“It does show a change in consumer behaviour, which is likely the result of Australians wanting more space, cheaper property and working from home.”

In Tasmania’s rental sector, four regions recorded growth above 102 per cent: Burnie-Ulverstone (102.7 per cent), Hobart South and West (110.2 per cent), Hobart North East (112.8 per cent) and the North East (117.1 per cent).

Mr Collidge said he would expect areas surrounding Hobart had higher levels of inquiry because almost half the population live here.

“This is where most of the employment opportunities are, and this is where most services are available,” he said.

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31 Queen Street, Bellerive. Picture: SUPPLIED

IT may not be the most expensive or fanciest property in Bellerive, but this building in Queen St is among the most intriguing.

Just ask the potential buyers who have been lined up around the block for a peek inside.

Or the viewers online who helped put it on top of the realestate.com.au weekly charts for most-viewed properties — No. 1 in Tasmania and No. 5 nationally — with more than 7500 views and counting.

It’s not often that an 1800s sandstone church hits the market, especially in a popular residential suburb such as this Eastern Shore hub.

Built in 1852, the St Mark’s Chapel of Ease is one of the oldest buildings in the area.

31 Queen Street, Bellerive. Picture: SUPPLIED

It is older than the nearby historic post office and even older than the Kangaroo Bluff Battery — if only its walls could talk.

Roberts Real Estate property representative Karen Young said the church had been a hit with potential buyers.

“It has been very popular already, I took 11 groups through in just one day and then 17 more on another,” she said.

31 Queen Street, Bellerive. Picture: SUPPLIED

Mrs Young is no stranger to this type of building, having sold a couple recently.

“I sold a church in Dunalley and another in Colebrook within the last 12 months,” she said.

“This one is more complex, with the cemetery attached, although the last burial at this closed cemetery was over 100 years ago.

“There are more complexities when selling this type of property compared to a typical home.

“Not only are there Tasmanian Heritage restrictions, but also the council.

“And the new owner will need to apply to be a cemetery manager to own the property.”

No. 31 Queen St is positioned on a large corner block of 2035sq m.

31 Queen Street, Bellerive. Picture: SUPPLIED

The chapel was used as a Sunday school until 1917 and in 1927 the Bellerive Sea Scouts became the tenants.

More recently, the property was approved by Clarence City Council for a one-lot subdivision of about 542sq m.

Expressions of interest for No. 31 Queen St, Bellerive, will close on September 28 at 5pm.

The post Divine Bellerive property delights propspective buyers appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Cate Blanchett at last week’s Venice Film Festival. Picture: Pascal Le Segretain.

Hollywood star Cate Blanchett and her husband, Andrew Upton, have sold their $12m two-storey apartment in the historic Astor apartment building in Sydney’s CBD.

This is the same pad where Barry Humphries famously upset neighbours in the 1980s, by joining two apartments with a Hollywood-style staircase without getting permission from the owners’ corporation.

The now five-bedroom residence, listed in March with Ken Jacobs of Christies, attracted 3000 views in the first 12 days on realestate.com.au with the advertisement even advising it was “owned by Academy Award-winning actor Cate Blanchett”.

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The famous staircase.

It leads to the bedrooms.

Well-placed sources have revealed the apartment in the 1923-built landmark building at 123 Macquarie Street has sold in the “double-digit” millions, the first in the building to do so.

It’s the largest in the block, with 400 sqm of internal space and with a north-easterly aspect.

There are views over Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Garden and the main Harbour.

And large formal living and dining rooms, a chef’s kitchen, large casual living area and two decent-sized bedrooms downstairs, one with an ensuite.

Head up the semi-spiral staircase to the master suite, which has its own study, dressing room and ensuite. Plus two more bedrooms and a bathroom.

Magnificent views.

Fine dining.

Blanchett and Upton had bought it for $8m from the Wizard Home Loans founder Mark Bouris five years ago.

They’d moved to Britain — where they live with their four children in a historic English manor in East Sussex called Highwell House that cost $6.25m in 2016 — but they’d wanted the Astor apartment as their Sydney bolthole.

There’s marble in the chef kitchen …

… And also the bathrooms.

The couple had previously lived in the Hunters Hill mansion Bulwarra, purchased for $10m in 2004. They thought they’d sold that for $19.8m in 2015, but the deal fell through. It still set a suburb record when it sold for $18m in 2017.

They sold their Berowra Creek holiday home for $1.7m last Christmas which had cost $1,495,000 in 2004.

The only Sydney property they now own is a harbourside Elizabeth Bay investment apartment bought for $1.92 million in 2013.

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Sabrina Groenewald, and her husband, Etienne, are desperate to sell their Wyndham Vale home to move to Queensland, where she grew up. Picture: Jay Town

Victorians are eyeing homes in Tasmanian and Queensland lifestyle havens as lockdown lingers.

Searches for interstate homes on realestate.com.au by Victoria-based buyers are up 54 per cent on a year ago, with the Hobart, Launceston and Gold Coast regions rising to the top of their wishlists since COVID-19 struck.

Househunters are simultaneously deserting Melbourne, with demand from buyers and renters plunging in pockets on all sides of the city.

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The realestate.com.au listing for this striking 1/1 McDevitt Avenue home in the Hobart suburb of Dynnyrne has notched more than 6500 views. It’s available to offers above $875,000.

Over the past six months, the 25 regions with the biggest drops in average views per sale listing nationwide were all in Melbourne, headed by Monash, which was down 25.6 per cent.

Demand from buyers also plummeted in the Whitehorse and Sunbury areas, while renters turned away from Stonnington, Yarra, Glen Eira and the CBD, realestate.com.au found.

REA Group director of economic research Cameron Kusher said whether this search activity foreshadowed a “mass exodus” remained to be seen, especially with Melbourne’s physical inspections ban putting many homeowners’ moving plans on hold.

“For a lot people, it’s not worth listing their properties at the moment — they can’t put their best foot forward by having (professional) photos done, and having people come and have a look at it,” he said.

But the pandemic had made many Melburnians realise they could work from home, and accordingly move to places where they could get “a lot more space and more for their money”, Mr Kusher said.

1/74 Waitomo Street, Broadbeach Waters is on the market for $1.99m-plus on the Gold Coast.

That included commutable regional cities — “if you’re living on the outskirts of Melbourne, say down at Cranbourne, you might as well be in Ballarat or Geelong” — and interstate.

“Even if you live in Tassie or southeast Queensland and need to go into the office in Melbourne one or two days, it won’t be out of the realms of possibility to jump on a plane,” he said.

When asked this week about Melburnians moving interstate, Premier Daniel Andrews said: “We’ll get this health challenge dealt with and then we’ll be beginning the biggest program of economic repair and rebuilding this state has ever seen.

“As for individuals who may make a choice to find a COVID normal somewhere else, that’s a matter for them.

“We’ll wait and see if they come back … when we’re in a freer position to show the rest of the country and the world our inherent strengths.”

Devonport joined Hobart and Launceston among Victorian buyers’ Tasmanian targets on realestate.com.au, while Noosa Heads, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Cairns represented Queensland alongside the Gold Coast.

Rounding out top 10 were New South Wales’ Byron Bay and Moama.

Many of these suburbs were also among the most searched by Victoria-based renters, with Adelaide, Canberra and Tassie town Burnie also making the list.

41 Ruskin Street is asking $3.2m in NSW hot spot Byron Bay — and the property has accrued more than 11,000 views online.

Ray White Werribee director Michelle Chick said many Melburnians who had suffered financially due to COVID-19 were also deciding they “don’t need large mortgages, or they can’t afford their large mortgages anymore” and seeking cheaper homes outside Melbourne.

She added others like Sabrina Groenewald — whose three-bedroom Wyndham Vale house is on the market asking $500,000-$550,000 — were pursuing warmer climates to help alleviate health issues that had deteriorated during lockdown.

Ms Groenewald and her husband, Etienne, planned to sell the 3 Ologhlen Drive property to help fund her urgently needed spinal surgery and a move to Flagstone, between the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

But the state government extending Melbourne’s physical inspections ban to October 26 had “shattered” those plans.

“We’ve been wanting to move to Queensland for years now, I grew up there,” Ms Groenewald said.

“Then all this happened, so my husband and I thought it was the perfect time.

“But with the real estate restrictions, I can’t sell my house, so I won’t have the money to buy the land in Flagstone and build our dream house.”

Ms Groenewald said she had even picked out a “prime piece of land” and hired a conveyancer in preparation for their move.

“I’m hoping the government will allow private inspections, maybe even auctions outside in the fresh air where people can distance, … so I can get this house sold,” she said.

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samantha.landy@news.com.au

INTERSTATE BOOM:

Most searched interstate regions by Victorian-based people since COVID-19 hit

Buy

Hobart greater region, TAS

Launceston greater region, TAS

Gold Coast, QLD

Noosa Heads, QLD

Sunshine Coast, QLD

Byron Bay, NSW

Devonport greater region, TAS

Brisbane greater region, QLD

Moama, NSW

Cairns greater region, QLD

Rent

Hobart greater region, TAS

Launceston greater region, TAS

Gold Coast, QLD

Adelaide, SA

Burnie greater region, TAS

Sunshine Coast, QLD

Brisbane greater region, QLD

Launceston, TAS

Devonport greater region, TAS

Canberra greater region, ACT

Source: realestate.com.au, from April to August

MELBOURNE EXODUS:

Biggest drop in views per listing since COVID-19 hit

Buy

Monash: -25.6%

Whitehorse (west): -22.4%

Sunbury: -20.2%

Whitehorse (east): -18.1%

Darebin (north): -15.1%

Essendon: -14.4%

Moreland (north): -13.4%

Yarra: -12.8%

Cardinia: -11.8%

Stonnington (east): -11.5%

Rent

Stonnington (west): -26.6%

Stonnington (east): -26.2%

Yarra: -24.1%

Glen Eira: -23.4%

Melbourne City: -21.3%

Essendon: -20.8%

Boroondara: -20.7%

Port Phillip: -18.4%

Brunswick-Coburg: -17.3%

Maribyrnong: -14%

Source: realestate.com.au, buy from March to August, rent from April to August

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