Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Most people don’t know my suburb. It’s not Oakleigh or Murrumbeena. Nor is it Chadstone or East Bentleigh It’s nestled between them and easily overlooked When I explain to someone where Hughesdale is 15 kilometres south-east of Melbourne’s CBD We are bordered on three sides by Dandenong tradies and truck drivers as well as shoppers heading to Chadstone Shopping Centre Perhaps we residents of Hughesdale are lucky that few seem to know about our quiet pocket of around 8000 people. It recently came in sixth on an analysis of Melbourne’s most “liveable” suburbs – well ahead of all those neighbours – so maybe that will change dating back to the late 19th century when it was a country town This explains why we have gorgeous early 20th-century cottage strips in Carlisle Crescent and Calembeena and Moorookyle Avenues that wouldn’t look out of place in Yarraville or Prahran you can see traces of two early failed railway lines to Hughesdale – the abortive Rosstown Railway running east from Elsternwick and the Outer Circle Line that carved a diagonal route from Fairfield to today’s Boyd Park first in the late 19th century and then again in the years between the wars when the area became known as Hughesdale after former Oakleigh mayor James Hughes Today the city is only 20 minutes away on the new trains running at least every 10 minutes for most of the day Thanks to the new Metro Tunnel opening this year they will soon run direct to Swanston Street This no doubt contributes to our liveability rating and is why Hughesdale residents are among Melbourne’s greatest users of trains in the suburb where her family has a history going back more than 100 years Living near Sydney Harbour and taking ferries to work had been magic gardens and streetscapes here in Hughesdale We also have easy access to the bay at Brighton to the west and it’s simple to jump on any of the local bus routes and find somewhere pleasant to walk and picnic without having to drive Hughesdale may have seceded from Oakleigh, but two of its schools retained the name. Oakleigh Technical School closed as part of the 1990 selloffs, but its playing grounds became Argyle Reserve, home to many happy off-leash dogs and Monash Villarreal which has the unusual distinction of being directly affiliated with a Spanish La Liga soccer team Oakleigh Grammar maintains its historic connection to St Anargiri Greek Orthodox Church which now extends beyond its 1954 modernist building designed by Frederick Romberg during his celebrated partnership with Sir Roy Grounds and Robin Boyd More than 14 per cent of our residents declared Greek descent in the 2021 census – the yiayia a few doors from us taught me how to cure olives We are close to Melbourne’s own Agora in Eaton Mall but also now have a popular Greek and Cypriot restaurant of our own It can be hard to go straight home when you smell a freshly grilled souvlaki while getting off the train in the evening Hughesdale is largely a residential suburb which also sells a terrific range of craft beer If I have to wait 15 minutes for a 767 bus it’s very tempting to pick up something new There are also new cafes and a quality pizzeria a Japanese ramen and katsu place and excellent Nepalese momos which opened soon after the level crossing removal brought the two sections of our shopping strip together giving locals a reason to spend more time there novel Malaysian and Indonesian influenced breakfasts and simply lovely people We are overdue for a good French or Italian bistro that offers BYO a couple of nights a week so if a smart restaurateur is tired of the crowds in places like Fitzroy Our friendliest rivalry is probably with Murrumbeena but we are grateful that they share Oasis Bakery with us you really should try their basturma (Armenian style cured beef) and “lamb prosciutto” The location of Chadstone Shopping Centre just across our northern border works well for us We are close enough to benefit from its amenities such as the banks and the new hospitality zones including the recently opened Market Pavilion There are a few drawbacks to life in Hughesdale which will likely become a more serious issue as our population grows We also lack a central public garden or park that could act as a “green commons” in the way that Springthorpe Gardens serves Murrumbeena or Warrawee Park serves Oakleigh’s civic and shopping precincts For all our liveability, does Hughesdale have an identity? I think we struggled with that before the level crossing removal The residents in Hughesdale’s north inevitably gravitated towards Chadstone while those in the larger southern section were pulled into Oakleigh retail and hospitality zone near the new train station has brought us together Hughesdale is much more than its location and the busy roads around it and the ringtail possum mums shepherding their joeys along our back fenceline late at night and the flying foxes passing low overhead at dusk know it too when we now have so much to offer right here Matt McDonald is a semi-retired executive coach and resident of Hughesdale The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here It\\u2019s nestled between them and easily overlooked 15 kilometres south-east of Melbourne\\u2019s CBD the first thing people usually say is \\u201COh I think I\\u2019ve driven around it\\u201D Perhaps we residents of Hughesdale are lucky that few seem to know about our quiet pocket of around 8000 people It recently came in sixth on an analysis of Melbourne\\u2019s \\u2013 well ahead of all those neighbours \\u2013 so maybe that will change and Calembeena and Moorookyle Avenues that wouldn\\u2019t look out of place in Yarraville or Prahran you can see traces of two early failed railway lines to Hughesdale \\u2013 the abortive Rosstown Railway running east from Elsternwick and the Outer Circle Line that carved a diagonal route from Fairfield to today\\u2019s Boyd Park and have been key to the area\\u2019s growth This no doubt contributes to our liveability rating and is why Hughesdale residents are among Melbourne\\u2019s greatest users of trains and it\\u2019s simple to jump on any of the local bus routes Oakleigh Technical School closed as part of the 1990 selloffs but its playing grounds became Argyle Reserve We also have Sacred Heart Girls\\u2019 College More than 14 per cent of our residents declared Greek descent in the 2021 census \\u2013 the yiayia a few doors from us taught me how to cure olives We are close to Melbourne\\u2019s own Agora in Eaton Mall It\\u2019s likely that our community will become increasingly diverse if the are built around Hughesdale station taking advantage of our proximity to destinations like Monash University and ever-expanding Chadstone This growth became possible because of the removal of the Poath Road level crossing in 2018 when our new elevated station was built as part of the in Melbourne though eagle-eyed residents noted that the upgraded Hughesdale station is now in it\\u2019s very tempting to pick up something new you really should try their basturma (Armenian style cured beef) and \\u201Clamb prosciutto\\u201D We also lack a central public garden or park that could act as a \\u201Cgreen commons\\u201D in the way that Springthorpe Gardens serves Murrumbeena or Warrawee Park serves Oakleigh\\u2019s civic and shopping precincts I think we struggled with that before the The residents in Hughesdale\\u2019s north inevitably gravitated towards Chadstone The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge surprised by price $315,000 above reserveAlesha Capone The kitchen features two Bosch pyrolytic ovens Ben and Brea Kunstler bid a fond farewell to their Hughesdale townhouse The couple and their two children, four-year-old Abby and Max, who is under three months old, are upsizing from the home at 1/13 Bletchley Rd. they were “gobsmacked” when it sold for $1,360,500 RELATED: Hughesdale: Couple’s $110k bonus on beloved first home with ‘50s charm Oakleigh East townhouse sells $260k+ above reserve price at auction Family sells beloved 1940s Hughesdale house to buyer who had never even been inside Mr Kunstler said he and his wife purchased the three-bedroom property in 2015 “I just fell in love with the home,” he said Ms Kunstler said the large open-plan living and dining area won them both over along with the adjoining kitchen featuring two ovens which cuts back on time spent preparing Christmas meals for friends and relatives The townhouse is close to the Monash Freeway Chadstone shopping centre and cycling trails A crowd watched the home go under the hammer They also love the north-facing backyard and the amount of sunlight that streams into the home while Abby is a big fan of scooting about in her toddler-sized mobile toy car “Her first time laughing was in the bathroom upstairs,” Ms Kunstler said “There’s a big mirror and she could see herself and her dad “It’s a great place to raise young kids,” Mr Kunstler said A north-facing and private courtyard that is easy to maintain The location is “amazing” thanks to a nearby cycling track public transport and being a 10-minute walk to nearby shops and cafes a local Greek church’s parishioners walk through the neighbourhood carrying candles Ray White Oakleigh’s Jonathon Eaves said young couples and downsizers had been among the main groups who inspected the townhouse prior to the auction which seven bidders took part in – including three buyers who were on holiday overseas and joined the action online A bath and separate shower in one of the bathrooms Mr Eaves said the auction’s final result took him by surprise ”I was gobsmacked and so were the owners,” he said Mr Eaves said the result showed winter was a good time to sell “The market is still fairly strong and there’s not a lot of property out there at the moment,” he said Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: Victorians to get up to $40,000 boost in homebuying power from July 1, 2024 Champion tennis player Ash Barty’s coach Craig Tyzzer and wife Sue sell Melbourne home When will interest rates in Australia fall? third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. Damgar Group’s Rosella apartment development in Murrumbeena is set to bring a new level of architectural design to the area half of which have already been snapped up We recently visited the display suite at 109 Poath Road just a few doors down from the active construction site to get a closer look at what's on offer at Rosella Each apartment has been thoughtfully designed to maximise natural light and livability with spacious balconies and expansive terraces perfect for entertaining or everyday living James Gray from Progresio, the development partner at Rosella, says the idea behind Rosella was to create something Murrumbeena simply hasn't seen before "We brought in the renowned team from Cera Stribley Architects who created something instantly recognisable."  Cera Stribley Architects mirrored the curves of the nearby Hughesdale train station underpasses blending Rosella into its local surroundings the apartments continue this curved aesthetic with unique interior walls setting them apart from more traditional designs Residents can expect high-end finishes throughout and stylish gunmetal grey tapware in the kitchens Rosella's location is a key selling point. It’s a one-minute walk to Hughesdale train station, offering residents a quick 20-minute commute to Melbourne's CBD Nearby, residents can enjoy the convenience of Chadstone Shopping Centre Damgar Group expects Rosella to be completed by late 2025 We're on a mission to radically improve the quality of Urban communities being developed across Australia We aim to showcase every development in Australia to help you find the perfect new home The final design for Hughesdale Station has been released as part of the level crossing removal project in Victoria The station will be rebuilt as an elevated railway station on the west side of Poath Road to create convenient access to shops and connections to public transport The final design takes into account feedback from the community with key changes made to the preliminary design including a reduction in the height of the station canopy improved layout of the station precinct at ground level and improved lighting and security features The new station has been designed with safety and convenience in mind and will be equipped with the following facilities: More than 105,000 homes are set to be fast-tracked following an almost $4.4 million investment from the New South Wales.. New Medium Density Design Guidelines released by the Tasmanian Government are set to reshape urban development across the state Airstrips in three remote NSW communities will receive a major infrastructure boost with the state government committing $15 million to.. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media Rosella, the only new apartment development in Melbourne's Murrumbeena is gathering significant traction in both its sales and construction Over half of the 70 apartments have already sold in the Rosella Street project by Damgar Property Group which is slated for completion in late 2025 Only 100 new apartments were delivered between the 2016 and 2021 census primarily due to a scarcity of development sites Cera Stribley crafted Rosella's facade to feature a combination of rough-cast concrete The idea was to mirror the curves of the underpasses at Hughesdale Station while also using different materials and tones to differentiate the ground-level podium which will be home to several commercial tenancies The curved facade informs the interiors of each apartment with visually appealing curved interior walls a feature more commonly found in higher-end apartment developments living and dining spaces that open to large terraces At seven levels, Rosella will be one of the tallest buildings in the area, so Cera Stribley has created a communal rooftop space with outdoor kitchen and alfresco dining that will offer views over the neighbouring suburbs and back to Melbourne Rosella residents will be on the doorstep of Hughedale Village which has several cafes The O.C Public Bar and Hellenic Depot across the road Within a three-minute drive is Chadstone Shopping Centre Builder Markscon is progressing well with construction Buyers are expected to move in before Christmas 2025 A couple running a salon and barber in Melbourne's south-east say they have crowd-funded financial backing to fight a $10,000 fine for opening their businesses on Saturday against stage four lockdown rules Adam and Weave Barber and Salon in Hughesdale opened its doors to customers for haircuts on Saturday morning with the owners citing "financial ruin" if they were to remain closed any longer Jomana Najem speaking outside her Hughesdale salon on Saturday.Credit: Nine News Melbourne Police were waiting outside Jomana Najem and Rojih Alhallak's business at 8.30am on Saturday morning after Ms Najem spoke about her intention to open her business this weekend in media reports published on Friday made the decision to open after being interviewed by right-wing media site Rebel News earlier in the week Ms Najem said at least six customers received a haircut before police threatened her with arrest and issued her a fine for $9913 Police say at least one other person was arrested and fined at the scene but it is unclear whether that person was a customer "Victoria Police understands the difficulties facing many businesses at the moment and made every effort to see today’s matter resolved without the need for a fine to be issued," a Victoria police spokeswoman said after repeated warnings and consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services the business owner was issued a fine for $9,913." Ms Najem said the nearly $10,000 fine was not a major concern to her stating she had commitment for crowd-funded financial backing for the costs of challenging the fine in court - but would not name which groups or individuals would be paying her fine She also said she had been offered legal representation for free The salon owner stated she had no personal relationship with the found of Rebel News, who is running crowd-funding campaigns for a variety of anti-lockdown legal challenges - including a Supreme Court challenge on behalf of an anti-lockdown protester submitted earlier this week At least one person who went to the salon on Saturday morning was holding a 'Save Victoria' banner the slogan for another crowd funding campaign by Rebel News Ms Najem said she was operating her salon in a COVID-safe way but wasn't requiring every customer to wear a mask but I don't think it's my job to tell people what they should and shouldn’t do," she said "Nearly everyone was wearing a mask today." It comes after a defiant Berwick retailer earlier this week vowed to trade indefinitely despite facing a fine of almost $10,000 after throwing open his menswear store on Wednesday Harry Hutchinson said he was fed up with the state government's compulsory lockdown of retail outlets in metropolitan Melbourne and so had made his own decision to reopen his business Mr Hutchinson has also featured in video reports by Rebel News Premier Daniel Andrews said on Saturday he hoped no more businesses would follow in the wake of the Berwick and Hughesdale examples "This is challenging and yes it’s painful there’s a lot of hurt and there will need to be healing in a budget that will be unprecedented in the scale and the nature of the investments we’ll make," he said Mr Andrews said he felt for business owners who said they “had to open” because they were out of money but they should “ring (the state government assistance lines) and we’ll look after you if we can” “But if you’re wanting to fill your till by opening up against the rules The maths of that doesn’t add up,” Mr Andrews said which only opened three-and-a-half weeks before stage four lockdown began didn't qualify for any business assistance and she felt that without a clear date for retail re-opening from the government we wouldn’t have done what we did," she said She said the family had been overwhelmed with support for re-opening money and presents for her children on Saturday "We were inundated and we told people to come and we would do walk-in appointment for cuts," Ms Najem said "The amount of support has been insane." said they would decide tonight whether they would open again tomorrow and risk further fines or charges from police “We need to weigh up the scales," said Ms Najem The Victoria Police spokeswoman said the force "would like to commend the vast majority of Victorians who continue to adhere to restrictions" A couple running a salon and barber in Melbourne's south-east say they have crowd-funded financial backing to fight a $10,000 fine for opening their businesses on Saturday against stage four lockdown rules Adam and Weave Barber and Salon in Hughesdale opened its doors to customers for haircuts on Saturday morning with the owners citing \\\"financial ruin\\\" if they were to remain closed any longer Police were waiting outside Jomana Najem and Rojih Alhallak's business at 8.30am on Saturday morning after Ms Najem spoke about her intention to open her business this weekend in media reports published on Friday \\\"Victoria Police understands the difficulties facing many businesses at the moment and made every effort to see today\\u2019s matter resolved without the need for a fine to be issued,\\\" a Victoria police spokeswoman said after repeated warnings and consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services the business owner was issued a fine for $9,913.\\\" The salon owner stated she had no personal relationship with the found of Rebel News who is running crowd-funding campaigns for a variety of anti-lockdown legal challenges - including At least one person who went to the salon on Saturday morning was holding a 'Save Victoria' banner but wasn't requiring every customer to wear a mask but I don't think it's my job to tell people what they should and shouldn\\u2019t do,\\\" she said \\\"Nearly everyone was wearing a mask today.\\\" Harry Hutchinson said he was fed up with the state government's compulsory lockdown of retail outlets in metropolitan Melbourne and so had made his own decision to reopen his business \\\"This is challenging and yes it\\u2019s painful there\\u2019s a lot of hurt and there will need to be healing in a budget that will be unprecedented in the scale and the nature of the investments we\\u2019ll make,\\\" he said Mr Andrews said he felt for business owners who said they \\u201Chad to open\\u201D because they were out of money but they should \\u201Cring (the state government assistance lines) and we\\u2019ll look after you if we can\\u201D \\u201CBut if you\\u2019re wanting to fill your till by opening up against the rules The maths of that doesn\\u2019t add up,\\u201D Mr Andrews said didn't qualify for any business assistance and she felt that without a clear date for retail re-opening from the government we wouldn\\u2019t have done what we did,\\\" she said \\\"We were inundated and we told people to come and we would do walk-in appointment for cuts,\\\" Ms Najem said \\\"The amount of support has been insane.\\\" \\u201CWe need to weigh up the scales,\\\" said Ms Najem The Victoria Police spokeswoman said the force \\\"would like to commend the vast majority of Victorians who continue to adhere to restrictions\\\" Malcolm and Leora Hester were both thrilled and a little sad when their Hughesdale house sold for $1.29m over the weekend The husband and wife purchased their three-bedroom, circa-1940s clinker brick home at 10A Dallas Ave a decade ago “This is the house where we brought all our three kids home to when they were born and it’s where they have all grown up for the past eight years so it is a bit sad to be moving on in that regard,” Mr Hester said “But you think about the fun times in the future.” RELATED: Hughesdale: Painstaking ‘house mullet’ renovation results in $2.126m sale Carnegie home auction sailing $141k above expectations brings tears of joy the renovated house has a north-facing front yard high ceilings with decorative cornices and picture rails an open plan living and dining area and fruit trees in the rear garden Mr Hester said the family and were planning to upsize to a new property Their next house would be “our forever home” A large crowed attended the auction to watch Ray White auctioneer Peter Munt in action A Blanco stove and Asko dishwasher star in the kitchen “We aren’t in a hurry as I think the market will decline a bit,” Mr Hester said when there’s a sniff things are on the improve it feels like it’s in a weekend that everyone jumps on board … so we don’t want to sit out of the market too long.” Ray White Carnegie’s Jin Ling said seven buyers took part in the auction for the house which was listed with a $1.05m-$1.15m asking range “The successful buyer had never seen the property before,” Mr Ling said Mr Ling said househunters interested in the property were mainly first-home buyers and downsizers Ray White Carnegie’s Jin Ling said he and colleague Jack Zhang were kept busy running between bidders during the auction leaving them “puffed” after the “cardio workout” The house was inspected by more than 200 groups during its sales campaign Mr Ling said the area had far more buyers than homes for sale “Ninety per cent of buyers are still in the market with about 10 per cent renting and expecting to come back in a few years,” Mr Ling said “Every property we have at the moment has attracted really good interest.” Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: Top 20 property investors in Australia ranked by occupation revealed Homicide squad detectives digging up the backyard of a Melbourne home in their search for missing teenager Gary Adams have uncovered "partial human remains" Police confirmed this morning that they had made the grisly discovery at the home in Dallas Avenue in Hughesdale Police have found human remains at a a house in Dallas Avenue A Victoria Police spokeswoman said an anthropologist had confirmed the remains were human however police have not confirmed that they are those of the teenager who vanished more than eight years ago Forensic police yesterday began excavating a large section of the backyard at the home that Xypolotis is believed to have shared with his mother until recently Officers with shovels and photographic equipment search the property yesterday.Credit: Channel Nine Homicide detectives allege that Gary was murdered on December 5 2003 - the day he went missing - by Xypolotis Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Graham Ashton said the human remains were found yesterday at the Hughesdale property "We can confirm human remains were found at that location and that has led to a person being charged late yesterday with offences associated with that murder," he said "The key message being the victims of these sorts of crimes the families of these sorts of victims of crime it’s certainly important that they get that message." Police outside the house where accused man John Xypolotis is beleived to have shared with his mother.Credit: Joe Armao police in forensic outfits have walked into a lane leading to the back of the property and a police van has been parked near the fence Eric Kendal said he had been friends with Xypolotis since high school Mum Jo-Ann Adams with a picture of son Gary.Credit: Rebecca Hallas He said Xypolotis had lived in the house periodically since high school Mr Kendall said he had heard remains were found on the premises this morning Gary's mother, Jo-Ann Adams, told The Age last night she was grateful for the persistence of police during the investigation of the disappearance of her only child "I'd like to say thank you to Victoria Police particularly Ron Iddles and his staff," she said "And I appreciate everybody's support over the years." Gary had left a half-eaten meal in his bedroom and a backpack that he carried everywhere when he vanished from his home in Raisell Road Xypolotis was arrested yesterday afternoon and faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court Prosecutor Huw Roberts told Magistrate Jack Vandersteen yesterday that police required extra time preparing the case to process forensic evidence sat and listened intently during the hearing The Hughesdale man made no application for bail and will face court again on August 2 The disappearance of Gary was listed as a cold case until it was reopened by Detective Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles in late 2010 after he was approached by Ms Adams Detective Senior Sergeant Iddles said last night he was satisfied he had given Ms Adams some resolution having made a commitment to her that he would ensure the case was at least subject to a coroner's inquest The Age last year revealed that Ms Adams faced financial hardship but had received no compensation from the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal over Gary's disappearance but it is thought it could not pay compensation because a detective from the cold-case taskforce Belier had earlier told the tribunal there was no evidence he was the victim of a crime Follow The Age on Twitter @The Age Homicide squad detectives digging up the backyard of a Melbourne home in their search for missing teenager Gary Adams have uncovered \\\"partial human remains\\\" \\\"We can confirm human remains were found at that location and that has led to a person being charged late yesterday with offences associated with that murder,\\\" he said \\\"The key message being the victims of these sorts of crimes need to know the cases haven\\u2019t closed it\\u2019s certainly important that they get that message.\\\" for the persistence of police during the investigation of the disappearance of her only child \\\"I'd like to say thank you to Victoria Police particularly Ron Iddles and his staff,\\\" she said \\\"And I appreciate everybody's support over the years.\\\" having made a commitment to her that he would ensure the case was at least subject to a coroner's inquest The Age last year revealed that Ms Adams faced financial hardship but had received no compensation from the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal over Gary's disappearance A two-bedroom Hughesdale house scored its vendors a $110,000 premium Sara and Brad Fabiny bought their first home together in 2014 — a two-bedroom unit in Hughesdale “with the charm of a ‘50s home” they’ve scored an extra $240,000 on what they paid back then plus a $110,000 premium on the reserve after it sold under the hammer The couple were reluctant to sell the 1/27 Simmonds St pad they fell in love with but were moving to regional Victoria for a larger block RELATED: Real Estate auction blog: Livestreams and rolling updates from Melbourne’s auction market Sara and Brad were thrilled with the auction result Ray White Oakleigh senior auctioneer Jonathon Eaves The home was fully renovated when the couple purchased it but they restored its original fireplace afterwards A family looking for their first home in Australia won the keys “In a perfect world we’d pick it up and take it with us,” Ms Fabiny said “In all honesty it was going to be our forever home but then Covid hit and we decided we wanted a bit more space … we wouldn’t mind getting a dog.” When they first purchased the unit at an auction it was their first time bidding and no one would take them seriously But they “gave it a crack” and scored it for $620,000 it was an original 1950s commission house and the builders we bought it off gutted it so it was brand new inside,” Ms Fabiny said “So we moved into a perfect renovated house with brand new appliances but the charm of a ‘50s home which was what my husband fell in love with initially.” Over the years the pair also installed a dishwasher and restored the original fireplace Ray White Oakleigh senior auctioneer Jonathon Eaves said the Fabiny’s were thrilled with the auction result Sara and Brad also converted an unused space near the laundry into a study Plus a kitchen with the new inclusion of a dishwasher “It kicked off like a pocket rocket with six very active bidders,” Mr Eaves said “I think there’s some confident bidding today from buyers and one trend we have noticed lately is short settlements as many people want to settle and lock in their rate before the next rise The property sold for $860,000 to a family looking for their first home in Australia with the buyer pool over its campaign mostly comprising young couples and families Ms Fabiny added she loved the abundance of windows and natural sunlight in the home and it’s relatively easy to maintain because it’s not big,” she said “We’ll definitely miss it but we’re looking forward to having a bit of space and enjoying the country air.” MORE: Melbourne blocks of land hit new record as new estate prices surge in 2022 Every now and then a development comes along that is truly distinctive and this striking new project in suburban Melbourne is one of them Set in the heart of Murrumbeena in the city’s south-east, Rosella Apartments offers a bold and sophisticated design that will stand out in the leafy suburb. Situated at Rosella St, the project is already garnering plenty of interest, with apartments starting at $495,000 and construction commenced in November. Rosella will be a landmark apartment development in the village-style suburb of Murrumbeena. The architecturally designed Rosella Apartments will deliver a luxurious, low-maintenance apartment lifestyle in Murrumbeena – not a common offering in the suburb. "There's nothing like it around the area – it's not a square box and bland," says Damian Fraser, Director of Operations at Damgar Property Group. "It's very sophisticated, and I think it's going to be a bit of a landmark for the area." The design takes inspiration from the nearby Hughesdale Station, with a contemporary facade of rough-cast concrete. At seven storeys high, Rosella commands spectacular views back toward the city and the bay. The apartments feature an elevated modern design. There's the rooftop top terraces and gardens that will be beautifully landscaped, creating a little oasis in the sky. At the foot of the building will a range of boutique shops, a trendy wine bar and a cafe serving up morning espressos. Melbourne's real estate market is on the up, and buyers are on the hunt for locations that offer lifestyle and mobility. PropTrack economist Anne Flaherty says Murrumbeena is an area with a lot to offer, 14km from the CBD within the Glen Eira council. "It's a fantastic place to buy a property; it's a very family-friendly suburb and well positioned," Flaherty says. "It's close to major freeways and has two train stations within the postcode. Also, it's very close to Chadstone [the Fashion Capital]." The project is located right on Poath Road, which has a village lifestyle offering cafes, restaurants and various other amenities. Enjoy the peaceful setting in stunning outdoor spaces. Foodies are spoiled for choice in the suburb, with destinations like renowned Middle Eastern grocer and bakery Oasis nearby. Outdoor areas are abundant with sporting facilities, including the Duncan Mackinnon Reserve, Boyd Park, Springthorpe Gardens and Riley Reserve. Flaherty says it can hard to buy into Murrumbeena because residents tend to stay. "There's not much turnover, and it's a place where units are hard to buy because it's pretty tightly held," she says. To appeal to premium buyers, Rosella Apartments features oversized residences that provide room to move. Including one, two, and three-bedroom residences, there are plenty of options to appeal to a range of owner-occupiers, from downsizers and families to professional singles. Gallery (4 images)Style and space abound in the Rosella apartments. "We've kept the interiors light; minimalist but sophisticated," says Fraser. Interior features and finishes include marble benchtops, expansive stone surfaces, sleek cupboards, gunmetal tapware and premium appliances. "The entrance is also really quite spectacular with a large archway," he adds. There's also a dedicated parcel delivery, a beautiful communal rooftop terrace and garden areas, including a selection of herbs. There's also a twin barbecue terrace and lounging area. Fraser says enquiries for Rosella have been "very high" since launching – a testament to being a popular address. He recommends booking an appointment to view as soon as possible, to avoid missing out. Rosella is a landmark new apartment building in Murrumbeena a village-style suburb in Melbourne's desirable south-east two and three-bedroom apartments available from $495,000 The project is developed by Damgar Property Group in partnership with Progressio A prime address for shopaholics teamed with striking architecture and affordable prices have driven high demand for the Hue complex in Hughesdale The five-storey project will house 72 apartments but just 17 remain after a strong initial response the project’s irregular-shaped facade of exposed brickwork glazing and polished surfaces is courtesy of Buchan Group architects Castran Gilbert’s Mark Forytarz said 70 per cent of apartment sales so far had been to owner occupiers which was a nod to the development’s architecture Attractive apartments that blend indoor and outdoor space have also helped with demand Mr Forytarz said interest was also coming from “people who have children who want to stay in the area” cafes and provedores of Eaton Mall and Oakleigh Central shops a short walk away Shopaholics would also appreciate being a few minutes from Chadstone shopping centre And a fully-equipped kitchen is ready if you’d prefer to cook for yourself All the remaining apartments are two-bedroom designs with internal space ranging from about 70-81sq m and balconies from 8-32sq m with full-height windows looking to a private courtyard or balcony Outdoor spaces provide a breath of fresh air to the apartments Timber floors add character to open-plan living areas that encompass a kitchen with pendant lighting and informal dining space at a raised bar Stone benchtops add to the appeal in the cooking space and the bathrooms Construction has started and is due to finish in November stone benchtops and raised basins are showcased in the bathrooms Two-bedroom apartments are priced from $570,000-$675,000 A man who killed his girlfriend and got away with the murder for more than a decade has finally learnt his fate was jailed on Wednesday for up to 24 years for the murder of Melbourne singer Joanne Howell in April 2007 He appeared via video link from prison for his sentencing after telling staff he was too sick to appear before the Supreme Court in person Charlton faced a three-week jury trial earlier this year and collapsed in the courtroom when he was found guilty Howell wanted Charlton out of her home and her life in the days before he killed her They had argued for months and on the day she was killed she had allowed him four weeks to leave her Hughesdale unit Paul Charlton has been found guilty of killing his girlfriend Joanne Howell.Credit: A Current Affair He then took the dog out for a walk for two hours to give himself an alibi and called triple zero when he returned home Charlton tampered with the scene to make it look like someone had broken in through the garage and sexually assaulted Howell He even applied for victim’s compensation after the killing Joanne Howell (right) was killed in her Hughesdale apartment in 2007.Credit: Nine News Charlton got away with murder until he was charged in early 2021 you were able to live in the community without facing the full consequences of murdering Ms Howell,” Justice James Elliott told him on Wednesday “You must now face the full consequences of your crime.” The judge described the murder as “an extreme act of domestic violence” as he jailed Charlton for up to 24 years Charlton closed his eyes and became teary as he learnt his fate while Howell’s family embraced each other in the courtroom Elliott said Charlton took “deceitful steps” to conceal the murder and tried to deflect suspicion from himself in interviews with police The judge could not find on the evidence whether the blow to the head came before or after the strangulation Charlton must spend at least 19 years in prison before he will become eligible for parole and has already served nine months of his sentence Get the day’s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. 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Charlton faced a three-week jury trial earlier this year and when he was found guilty He even applied for victim\\u2019s compensation after the killing you were able to live in the community without facing the full consequences of murdering Ms Howell,\\u201D Justice James Elliott told him on Wednesday \\u201CYou must now face the full consequences of your crime.\\u201D The judge described the murder as \\u201Can extreme act of domestic violence\\u201D as he jailed Charlton for up to 24 years while Howell\\u2019s family embraced each other in the courtroom Elliott said Charlton took \\u201Cdeceitful steps\\u201D to conceal the murder and tried to deflect suspicion from himself in interviews with police \\u201Cwhatever came first is immaterial\\u201D you intended to kill Ms Howell,\\u201D he said entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy her husband Joe (not pictured) and kids Isabelle 6 — are hoping to sell their Hughesdale house of 11 years at auction this weekend MELBURNIANS are the nation’s most settled capital city homeowners with new data showing they’re holding on to houses longer in most suburbs than they were 10 and 20 years ago CoreLogic’s latest figures reveal the average hold period for Melbourne houses is 11.9 years — just trumping Sydney’s 11.7 and Brisbane’s 10.9 The length of time Melburnians are keeping houses has also more than doubled in six suburbs over the past decade Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee said homeowners had become “hesitant to upgrade” in Melbourne’s strong market in which available housing stock was low and stamp duty costs were rising along with skyrocketing property prices Suburbs previously considered pitstops where buyers could enter the market cheaply earn equity and then move on had also gentrified in recent years Melbourne house prices to lead the nation, different story for units Magnificent Hawthorn mansion on the market for first time in two decades Hughesdale — where homeowners are holding on to their houses for an average of 13.4 years The average house hold period in the western suburb of South Kingsville has jumped 73 per cent since 2007 The figure has risen 61 per cent to 11.8 years in nearby Seaholme 53 per cent to 13.4 also holding houses much longer Lower Plenty and Hillside have seen the biggest increases in average hold periods since 1999 Melbourne house owners are sticking around longest in Vermont South But they’re moving on quickest from Brookfield 30 Saltley St is on the market in South Kingsville where owners are holding on to their homes for 11.7 years on average — up from 3.1 a decade ago Barry Plant Oakleigh selling agent Kylie Sirianni said Hughesdale had recently started attracting families priced out of Carnegie and Ormond and keeping them for “10 to 15 years of primary and secondary school” “They don’t leave until they downsize,” she said Sally and Joe Mikhael spent 11 years at their three-bedroom period-style house at 50 Bowen St, Hughesdale which is set to be auctioned at 11am on Saturday October 14 Mr Mikhael said he and his family had hoped to upsize within the suburb but they couldn’t find a suitable house so they’re settling for one suburb over in Murrumbeena and full of families and period houses,” he said Hocking Stuart Williamstown director Anthony Anile said South Kingsville’s affordability compared to nearby Spotswood Yarraville and Williamstown and its closeness to the city were attracting young families Seaholme was a desirable beachside pocket where only a small number of house transactions took place — so once buyers got in samantha.landy@news.com.au AVERAGE HOLD PERIODS FOR MELBOURNE HOUSES The family is selling to move one suburb over Average hold period needed to make a profit: 8.9 years Chris Konstantinidis and wife Tina at their new home in Hughesdale rebuild or relocate all comes down to one thing according to property experts: research adding to what you’ve already got or bulldozing and starting again the most important question to ask yourself is why said there were pros and cons for each scenario “You need to ask yourself why you’re doing this because then it’s easier to look for that next step and take it,” Ms Jacobs said “It’s also important to do your due diligence and do your research “Do you have time to renovate and do you have the funds to do it “Can the property be renovated or bulldozed or does it have heritage overlays “If you’re relocating are you doing it because you need a bigger house for a growing family or are you trying to release equity to give you more cash flow?” Ms Jacobs said there could be financial and emotional benefits to renovating She said elements to consider included the materials used the amount of light in the house and the new design the aspect of the home and the quality level of fittings and fixtures “We’re just coming off a rising market and a lot of people couldn’t find the home they wanted,” she said “As they love their suburb and their street people are looking to renovate or rebuild and build their dream home which could save them the emotion involved with selling of moving and on stamp duty and this can all be put back into the renovated or rebuilt home.” But Ms Jacobs cautioned that homeowners needed to find the right builder and be meticulous in getting their paperwork including building applications and approvals rebuild business had grown 25 per cent in the past four years with 75 per cent of those customers having lived in the home they demolished Director Peter Langfelder said knock down and rebuild offered all the advantages of a new contemporary home “Building from scratch is often more affordable than many people think,” Mr Langfelder said you don’t have to factor in any pre-existing form or structural constraints into your design — this is where the complexity and cost of renovation can quickly add up “A new build means you end up with a home you love without compromises urban suburbs with larger blocks and outdated homes were popular for knock down and rebuild projects with an average cost of about $600,000 excluding land and landscaping “You can build a three-bedroom new home on an existing parcel of land for as little as $300,000,” he said “At the other end of the spectrum we have customers spending more than $2 million.” urged caution when rebuilding to ensure all costs He said homeowners needed to be sure they weren’t overcapitalising “I’m not a great believer unless the numbers really add up,” Mr Winter said He said the benefit of relocating was having a home that was ready to live in immediately and suggested those with a character home keep the original section and consider adding a modern extension Ms Jacobs said relocating at the moment would see house hunters searching in a buyers’ market “The market is flattening and there’s potential in some areas for it to drop off even more,” she said Chris Konstantinidis and wife Tina decided to knock down and rebuild a house in Hughesdale When Chris and Tina Konstantinidis decided the time had come to move into their final home The couple couldn’t bear to leave Hughesdale where they have lived for the past 18 years extending or relocating would not give them the desired results “We had been living just around the corner for 17 years when we bought this property lived in it for a year and decided to knock it down and rebuild,” Mr Konstantinidis said “We looked at extending or renovating and it wasn’t possible due to the cost the way the house was situated and our expectations in terms of what we wanted and what could be achieved didn’t match up.” The couple built a customised Somerset 59 home with Metricon and even with added extras an indoor-outdoor entertainment area encased with bi-fold doors and a pool house the project came in about 30 per cent cheaper than their next nearest quote “We didn’t want to leave Hughesdale as it’s central to our lifestyle,” Mr Konstantinidis said “The whole house was upgraded and our expectations were met.” THE upsurge in on-line movie streaming has claimed possibly the last of the neighbourhood video-hire stores on the Mornington Peninsula Rosebud’s Video Ezy was getting ready to close its doors over the weekend after 10 years in operation said he had stopped hiring out movies on Thursday 21 March and was planning to shut the doors for the last time on Sunday “I think we are the last video store standing on the peninsula although there is a Civic Video at Frankston South,” said Mr Conti who revealed he’d held off telling loyal customers he was closing “It’s just so sad but not completely unexpected,” he said “We knew 12 months ago that there was too much stacked against us “Over the past week many loyal customers have been coming in to say goodbye.” The long-time video man and his wife Jenny sold their Hughesdale store to move to Safety Beach in 2008 and took over the Rosebud store owned by an overseas investor two years later The Chinese owner decided to call time when the lease on the shop came up for renewal was a willing apprentice at Rosebud from the age of 12 having been “brought up in” the family’s Hughesdale shop from boyhood His only job since then has been helping his dad and the “tight group” of staff members: Penny “We lasted a lot longer than the others because of the poor internet reception down here and because most holiday homes didn’t have the internet connected,” Mr Conti said.  Holiday makers and residents flocked to the store for movies they could not access online “We really had no competition for years but that all changed with the NBN and the fact that people can stream their movies now.” Mr Conti said he would take some time off to ponder the future and then perhaps look for some part-time work.  the silly comedies have always been popular “My favourite is True Lies by ‘Arnie’ [Arnold Schwarzenegger].” Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.