For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link] We responded to over 150,000 incidents in 2023-24 The incidents displayed below are note-worthy incidents that have been published as media releases or tweets Details about incidents may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice North Parramatta | The fire at Dunlop Street, North Parramatta has been contained but is expected to smoulder through the morning. Because there may be smoke in the area, residents and businesses in the vicinity are advised to keep doors, windows, and vents closed. View on X [external link] Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders The tightly held property, which is owned in Katrina’s name, is set on 1828 square metres. The beautifully kept circa-1918 built double-brick house has five bedrooms and three bathrooms, and the expansive parcel of land comes with its own swimming pool and tennis court. Michael worked at Commonwealth Bank for almost two decades in a range of senior roles, including leading the corporate banking business. He also had a decent stint as a director of Aussie Home Loans. The 57-year-old is now chief financial officer of Helia, a lender’s mortgage insurance company, as well as president and board member of Gordon Cricket Club. Meanwhile, Katrina was a director of Pymble Golf Club until 2022. The Cants purchased the elegant upper north shore property for $1.27 million in 1999. It is now being sold through an expression-of-interest campaign through Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty, whose Scott Farquhar declined to comment. Melbourne-based Stephen Hains, of the billionaire Hains family, has emerged as the buyer of orthopaedic surgeon Dr Stephen Rackemann’s Wategos Beach house. It sold around the $17 million price guide, with a sold sticker going up last week, local sources said. A caveat was lodged on the Byron Bay beach pad by Swood Properties No 2 Pty Ltd, of which Stephen Hains is sole shareholder of the ultimate holding company. The luxury ‘creature comforts’ some homeowners can’t live without The ritziest Sydney suburbs home owners never want to leave Rates fall, house values lift and rents start to ease Stephen, a 2024 Rich Lister who is the son of the late engineer-turned-financier David Hains, continues to run his Portland House family office. David died in 2023 and was best known for restructuring US steelmaker Wheeling-Pittsburgh in the 1970s and for breeding champion horses from his Kingston Park Stud, including 1990 Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule, reported The Australian Financial Review, which estimated the Hains’ family wealth at $2.98 billion last year. Stephen purchased it from Rackemann, who owned the home for 16 years. Rackemann, who is also owner and director of Hill View Aged Care, an aged care provider on the Gold Coast, purchased the oceanfront for $4,475,000. The stunning four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Byron Bay with breathtaking ocean views was sold by Will Phillips of Sotheby’s Byron Bay who declined to comment. David Hains’ family home in Melbourne sold for about $40 million last year. It was once home to Keith Murdoch, father of Rupert Murdoch, and dubbed by a local buyer’s agent as the “prettiest house in Toorak”. Hasan Kanji, of steel manufacturer Metroll, has finally sold his stunning three-bedroom, two-bathroom unit in the Opera Residences after a sold sticker went up on the listing. It had been guided at $13.5 million, and Kanji had been looking for a buyer since last year. While it is one of the highest apartment sales for the year so far, the 49-year-old purchased the unit in the landmark Tzannes-designed block only in 2021, for $13.5 million. It was one of few upper-floor apartments with its own private terrace, decked out in high-end appliances and finishes, including oak floors, an exquisite marble kitchen and custom cabinetry. It sold through Martin Ross and Darren Curtis of Christie’s International, who both declined to comment. However, it looks like Kanji has levelled up within the building. He purchased the sub-penthouse for $16 million earlier last year with the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms but a better and more bird’s-eye view of Sydney Harbour. Kanji is involved in a long list of companies, including as secretary of Gunnersen Allen Metals, a steel distribution and processing service located in Alton North, Melbourne, the company’s website says. In Balmain East, the estate of the late celebrated costume designer Wendy Dickson is being sold with a price guide of $2.4 million. Well-loved and admired in the arts community, Dickson had worked with Charlton Heston, Sam Neill and Meryl Streep among others. She contributed to numerous theatre and screen productions, including some at the Sydney Opera House, costume design on the set of Antony and Cleopatra and production design on The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith. She died last year. The Broken Hill-born Dickson purchased the charming two-bedroom, two-bathroom inner west terrace for $905,000 in 2007. With breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and sitting up against Peacock Point Reserve, the light-filled terrace has tall ceilings, sandstone walls and is within a short stroll of Balmain East cafes and village shops. It is being sold through Cindy Kennedy of McGrath Balmain and is scheduled to go to auction on March 22. The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate After years of delays, this week the Yarra Valley community received the long awaited news that the Maroondah Highway and Killara Road intersection upgrade is planned to commence next year. Representatives of the Department of Infrastructure and Transport confirmed in Senate Estimates on Monday 4 November that construction is expected to start in mid-2025. The answer came in response to questions submitted by federal Casey MP Aaron Violi around the proposed timeline for the project. Mr Violi said this news was welcomed by the community that has long been waiting for these vital safety upgrades. “The former Liberal Government funded this project in 2019. Both state and federal Labor Governments have continuously delayed and failed to get started on the project, so it is fantastic to have Labor finally confirm construction is expected to begin mid-2025,” he said. Mr Violi also recently wrote to the Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety seeking an update on the commencement of the project. The Victorian Government confirmed the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) has been engaged in preconstruction activities on the project, including a detailed assessment of scope elements, determination of site impacts and work on the delivery strategy for the project. Preconstruction activities also include development of the project program, which is expected in early 2025. The program will include details on the timing of community consultation, and the commencement and completion of project construction. Mr Violi urged the government to get on with community consultation as a priority. “It is disappointing that Coldstream and Yarra Valley residents, community organisations and and business owners are yet to be consulted on this project,” he said. “The Coldstream CFA Fire Brigade has been instrumental in advocating for this upgrade for the safety of all residents. It is vital the CFA and local community is consulted as a priority and I will hold the government to account to ensure a proper consultation process occurs. “If the Labor Government is going to meet its own deadline of mid-2025 for construction, they must begin consulting with the community immediately.” after learning he must spend 17 months in jail for attacking a man inside a Killara home in September 2022 File picture An intruder who bashed a man inside a Killara home has been jailed for at least 17 months with a judge noting Joel Mathew Spilsbury hadn't shown any remorse for his violent actions All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSpilsbury had entered the victim's house with Shaun Ian Guthridge after a 2022 AFL grand final day gathering nearby. Mr Watson told a trial the heavily built Spilsbury had come at him "like a freight train and took me out". He was forced to the ground and copped a flurry of punches and kicks A police crime scene photo shows where Mr Watson was thrown through a bathroom shower screen Picture suppliedMr Watson was kicked in the face while on the floor heard Spilsbury and Guthridge went to leave and Mr Watson followed them pushed the victim down the length of a hallway Mr Watson required surgery for facial fractures in Melbourne Picture suppliedThe trio and others had been drinking at Guthridge's home on Hanson Street about a kilometre away before the September 24 incident Spilsbury's partner told Mr Watson she thought she had seen him on Tinder Mr Watson asked her why she would be on Tinder if she was with Spilsbury and she said it wasn't a romantic relationship Picture suppliedThe court heard Mr Watson was asked to leave and walked to the Callus Street house "The assault that followed was prolonged and violent and resulted in significant injuries to Mr Watson," Judge Kevin Doyle said "Your actions included multiple blows to his face when he was on the ground effectively unable to defend himself "He needed surgery for the facial fractures he sustained." The judge told Spilsbury he had shown a "high level of aggression towards Mr Watson" and his offending had had a significant impact on the man Spilsbury, who had been working as a real estate agent at the time, lost his job and had to leave Wodonga when his offending became public. The 36-year-old found work in disability support but may not be able to continue in the sector following his sentencing Picture suppliedHe has a 2008 conviction for recklessly causing serious injury stemming from a drunken fight Spilsbury contested the grand final day assault incident at a trial but was found guilty and taken into custody. "I'm not satisfied you have any significant remorse for the offending in this case," Judge Doyle said "I simply cannot form a view that you have any genuine remorse." Spilsbury dropped his head as he was ordered to remain in jail for at least 17 months with a 34-month maximum term imposed on charges including aggravated burglary and intentionally causing injury Guthridge, who had worked with the victim, was previously fined for his minor involvement, on a charge of trespassing. Today's top stories curated by our news team. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. 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Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe When Sydney home owners Nicky Dhillon and Elise Lee decided to sell their house in East Killara they knew they would be selling in a slower market But they also knew the softer demand would make it easier for them to buy a bigger property “I think the market is a bit weak at the moment but it’s certainly a good time to buy a bigger house because you have less competition from other buyers,” Mr Dhillon SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. I understand and agree that my personal information will be collected, stored and used, in accordance with the PGA of Australia's privacy policy A timely lesson with good friend Andrew Welsford has propelled Scott Barr to a one-stroke win at the David Mercer Senior Classic at Killara Golf Club in Sydney The legacy of David Mercer draws icons of Australian golf to Killara each year three-time Australian PGA champion Peter Senior Mike Harwood and Peter O’Malley just some of the big names to tee it up on Thursday the now West Australian converting recent good form into a rewarding win at the richest one-day event on the PGA Legends Tour calendar “This is the crown in the jewel for our one-dayers Barr had seven birdies in his bogey-free round of 7-under 65 to finish one clear of Senior (66) Lonard sharing third with Adam Henwood and David McKenzie with rounds of 5-under 67 Back-to-back birdies at his second and third holes was the ideal start for Barr who began his round with a par at the par-4 11th He went back-to-back again with birdies at 18 and 1 and “Had a great ball-striking day today,” said Barr “I holed a couple of nice putts but I hit all the par 5s in two “I’d been playing well for a while but a nice little tune-up there was needed “I’d been playing well but just couldn’t get it done I got close at the New South Wales Senior Open but didn’t hole any putts “Got it going today and then just full steam ahead.” LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN1          Scott Barr                     652          Peter Senior                 66T3        Peter Lonard                67T3        Adam Henwood          67T3        David McKenzie           67T6        Nigel Lane                    68T6        Murray Lott                  68T6        David Bransdon           68 The PGA Legends Tour is at Roseville Golf Club in Sydney Friday and Saturday for the Roseville Golf Club Mashie & Pro-Am For the latest news and scores on Australian golf Subscribe © 2025 PGA of Australia | Powered by Advertise with us Several blocks of north shore homes have had development applications submitted to build apartments. (ABC News: Jo-Yi Hsu) Developers are circling Sydney suburbs marked for high density development as part of a plan to improve housing stock by rezoning areas around metro and train stations.  The rezoning is set to radically change the character of upper north shore town centres. Some neighbours in impacted suburbs have already banded together to sell to developers.  Link copiedShareShare articleOn Sydney's leafy north shore, developers are circling. The state government's rezoning of land around 39 train and metro stations last year to increase housing density is set to radically change the character of the upper north shore's town centres. It will deliver 138,000 homes across Sydney and regional areas over 15 years. Around Roseville, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon stations, six-storey apartment blocks are set to spring up among the heritage homes that characterise this part of Sydney. Some neighbours are banding together to sell, but others are worried the character of their neighbourhood will be destroyed. The local council's legal action against the NSW government has been paused while it comes up with an alternative plan to preserve heritage and the tree canopy. The rezoning of land on the upper north shore has prompted a bonanza of sales deals as neighbours join together to cash in and sell to developers. While not all of the developers will exercise their option to buy the properties at a future date, several have already submitted development applications to build apartments where large family homes now stand. These include three homes on Reid Street and two on Woodside Avenue, Lindfield, which will become 89 apartments, and nine homes on Lord Street and Roseville Avenue, Roseville, which will become 267 apartments. Guillaume Volz, national director of residential at real estate agent Colliers, said the new zoning and housing targets that allowed "uplift" to six storeys provided the impetus for home owners to sell. Guillaume Volz said the new zoning and housing targets provided the impetus for home owners to sell. (ABC News: Monish Nand) "They're all happy to come together and and I suppose the catalyst was there was sufficient economic return to sell their houses," he said. However, he said Ku-ring-gai Council's legal action against the state government's rezoning last year had created uncertainty for developers and the community. Under court-directed mediation, the council has until May to come up with alternative zoning for the area that will allow the required number of homes to be built. Much of the rezoned area in the four suburbs had previously been designated by Ku-ring-gai Council as heritage conservation areas. However, only homes with a heritage listing are protected from development. Janine Kitson, vice president of community group Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment, lives in an apartment in the rezoned area in Gordon. Janine Kitson, vice president of Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment (ABC News: Andrew Whitington) She has organised walks around the suburb's heritage homes, including Eryldene, a heritage-listed property. "That's only walking distance from here that could be covered, in their next door neighbours, by six-to-eight storeys that will completely destroy that heritage value of that property," she said. Owners of heritage-listed homes in the area who did not wish to be named told ABC News they were worried about their neighbours being "picked off" for apartment development, leaving them isolated. Eryldene Historic House and Gardens in Gordon, a heritage-listed property. (ABC News: Marcus Stimson) While Ms Kitson recognised the need for more housing in the area, she is worried about the loss of trees that drew her to Gordon in the first place. "The neighbourhood will simply disappear. It will be concrete. It will be hard surface," she said. The government's guidance on rezoning states that local councils need to consider likely environmental impacts of the development on the natural and built environment. In a bid to rescue large swathes of heritage conservation areas from the government's rezoning, Ku-ring-gai Council has come up with four alternative planning scenarios. Each aims to intensify housing density around the town centres, while protecting between 30 and 100 per cent of the heritage neighbourhoods. Depending on the scenario chosen, apartment buildings up to 45 storeys could be built in Gordon to achieve the required number of homes. Lindfield resident Andrew Sweeney said some of the local housing needed to be given up for new homes to maximise the government's targets. Andrew Sweeney, a founding member of community group Support Lindfield. (ABC News: Monish Nand) "It's probably best to put more concentration of those houses within the town centres," he said. Mr Sweeney, a founding member of community group Support Lindfield, said the "sensible centre" should intensify apartment development between the North Shore railway line and the Pacific Highway between Gordon and Lindfield stations, where there were already a number of apartments. Turramurra resident Parsia Abedini is a fan of the rezoning around train stations on the upper north shore. Parsia Abedini described north shore residents as "lucky". (ABC News: Marcus Stimson) The 20-year-old, who stood as a Labor candidate in the seat of Wahroonga in the 2023 state election, was not happy that Ku-ring-gai Council had spent money taking legal action against the state government. "The biggest obstacle to having more homes has always just been planning controls that these councils in these areas always just say no to housing," he said. A spokesperson for Ku-ring-gai Council said it had received over 500 submissions on the alternative planning scenarios. The preferred rezoning scenario will be revealed in March and put on public exhibition. According to the court mediation, the council and planning department have until May to implement a new proposal. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) If it’s a top-notch public education you’re looking for, Killara High School ranks in the top five non-selective high schools across the state. “I know people who move specifically to the area just to get into Killara High,” says long-term local Karen Collinson. Browse Domain’s property and lifestyle magazines. The excellent schools were definitely a drawcard for Collinson and husband Michael when they bought into the area, as were the incredibly leafy environs. “I just love the green,” says Collinson, a keen gardener. “It’s such a nice area to walk in. People are walking their dogs or in the garden and everyone is so lovely.” Killara is truly immersed in nature, with Lane Cove National Park forming the suburb’s south-western border and trees lining the hilly streets, but it’s also surprisingly convenient for shoppers, being located mid-way between Macquarie Centre and Chatswood’s sprawling retail amenities. While Ku-ring-gai Council is frequently labelled anti-development, new apartments have sprouted close to the Pacific Highway and there are more to come. Yet the suburb remains a leafy oasis, and host to plenty of gorgeous period homes. The western Sydney suburb that's transformed into a vibrant hub There's more to this north shore suburb than 'good restaurants and bars' This suburb is the 'epitome of the leafy north shore' “I didn’t know anything about the area before we moved here but I’m definitely sold now,” Collinson says. “I can’t imagine moving anywhere else.” The Greengate Hotel, a heritage-listed Federation gem, is the social heart of Killara, where locals gather for a menu packed with pub favourites, Tuesday-night trivia and Friday-night meat raffles. Across the road, the unassuming First Choice Seafood Restaurant serves yum cha staples including terrific homemade dumplings, while the Marian St. Cafe gets the thumbs up for its bacon and egg rolls. Persian restaurant Divan has a range of barbecued kebabs and saffron ice cream on the dessert menu, and you’ll find more eateries in neighbouring Lindfield. Connect with nature in Lane Cove National Park, where you’ll find walking and biking trails, picnic grounds and toys to take out on the river. Studded with hundreds of majestic trees, Killara Golf Club is not only home to one of Sydney’s premier championship courses, but also gives members access to tennis, bowling, squash and snooker. Swain Gardens claims 3.4 hectares on the Lindfield-Killara border and is a top spot for a picnic or to access the Two Creeks Track that winds all the way to Middle Harbour. This third-floor apartment has been given a stylish, top-to-toe makeover with fresh paint and floorboards, a new kitchen and on-trend bathrooms. Set within walking distance of the station, it has a north-west-facing balcony and lift access. 2 Baths1 ParkingView listing Price guide: $3.3 million Agent: Belle Property Lindfield, Geoff Dean 0404 016 015 Newly built with floating timber floors, high ceilings and landscaped gardens, this split-level property comes with an open plan, eat-in kitchen and two living rooms, one facing north and the other opening onto a compact court-garden. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time When Debbie Levien and her husband bought their Killara home last year they “stretched” their budget to make a dual investment: in a property in a prized school catchment zone and in their children’s education Now a large swath of top-performing Killara High School’s catchment parts of Killara and Lindfield will fall into the catchment of Lindfield Learning Village a K-12 school which supports non-traditional autonomous learning With her children guaranteed a spot at Killara High — thanks to her oldest daughter’s attendance at the school — Levien who said she would not send her children to Lindfield Learning Village faces the possibility of falling property prices “People won’t be buying into our area because Killara High School is what you pay for,” Levien said “You pay for a house knowing that catchment is there to go to that school “Living in Killara you’d think you could send your kids to Killara High School The median price in Killara for a four-bedroom home is $3.3 million who will be able to attend only Killara High because of their sister’s enrolment.Credit: Steven Siewert a real estate agent from Ray White Upper North Shore said buyers had “very mixed” feelings about Lindfield Learning Village Cao said that the rezoning would probably bring down property prices as buyers saw Killara High’s catchment as the “biggest drawcard” in the area She said buyers were concerned that Lindfield Learning Village did not have an established track record and that it employed a “different concept” of education Students at the school call teachers by their first name, learn at their own stage rather than their age group, and forgo bells, timetables and uniforms. Last year the school’s entire leadership team unexpectedly departed While the two schools are closely ranked in HSC results — Killara came seventh among comprehensive schools in NSW Lindfield Learning Village came 10th — the latter has had only one graduating class while Killara has long maintained top results year 7 students at Lindfield Learning Village underperformed against students with a similar background in every category but were equal to them for year 9 Last year Lindfield was running at 62 per cent capacity while Killara High and Chatswood High were enrolled at 102 per cent and 108 per cent capacity respectively The rezoning is a byproduct of the unpopular conversion of Asquith Girls High and Asquith Boys High into two separate co-ed campuses with distinct catchment zones the department said the rezoning was informed through “a consultative process” in which public transport school size and student populations were considered Neither Levien nor local MP Matt Cross were aware of any community consultation Following complaints from “several constituents” Cross wrote a letter to Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car on Monday calling for a joint enrolment area covering Killara High The Department of Education was contacted regarding the impetus for the rezoning and the criticisms of Lindfield Learning Village’s methods The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here they \\u201Cstretched\\u201D their budget to make a dual investment: in a property in a prized school catchment zone and in their children\\u2019s education Now a large swath of top-performing Killara High School\\u2019s catchment With her children guaranteed a spot at Killara High \\u2014 thanks to her oldest daughter\\u2019s attendance at the school \\u2014 Levien \\u201CPeople won\\u2019t be buying into our area because Killara High School is what you pay for,\\u201D Levien said \\u201CYou pay for a house knowing that catchment is there to go to that school \\u201CLiving in Killara you\\u2019d think you could send your kids to Killara High School but that\\u2019s clearly not the case.\\u201D said buyers had \\u201Cvery mixed\\u201D feelings about Lindfield Learning Village Cao said that the rezoning would probably bring down property prices as buyers saw Killara High\\u2019s catchment as the \\u201Cbiggest drawcard\\u201D in the area and that it employed a \\u201Cdifferent concept\\u201D of education Students at the school call teachers by their first name learn at their own stage rather than their age group While the two schools are closely ranked in HSC results \\u2014 Killara came seventh among comprehensive schools in NSW Lindfield Learning Village came 10th \\u2014 the latter has had only one graduating class the department said the rezoning was informed through \\u201Ca consultative process\\u201D in which public transport Following complaints from \\u201Cseveral constituents\\u201D The Department of Education was contacted regarding the impetus for the rezoning and the criticisms of Lindfield Learning Village\\u2019s methods The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories A controversial change to the catchment zone of one of Sydney’s top-performing comprehensive schools has been delayed after the Department of Education altered zoning maps on the School Finder website by Tuesday morning which would have resulted in families in large parts of Killara and Lindfield being placed in the catchment for the alternative school Lindfield Learning Village from next year After a report by this masthead into community frustration at the change maps have been altered to show no change between this year and next year parents will have a two-year transitional window in 2026 and 2027 during which they can send their children to Lindfield Learning Village or Killara High The proposed catchment changes are expected to come into effect in 2028 The alteration blindsided many families that had purchased homes in the affluent area to access Killara High’s catchment zone Killara High was the fourth-most searched-for school district in the state for home buyers last year One concern for residents was the teaching style employed at Lindfield Learning Village, which differs from the “traditional” method employed at Killara High, as well as the departure of the school’s leadership team last year Debbie Levien with her children Oliver and Emilia who have had a “stressful” week dealing with the uncertainty of changing catchments Both schools perform well academically among comprehensive schools in the HSC – Killara came seventh last year Lindfield Learning Village came 10th – though the latter opened in 2019 and has had only one graduating class of 47 students a mother of three who bought in Killara last year to live in the catchment zone said it has been “a stressful few days” as her property had moved in and out of the catchment “That shouldn’t have happened in the first place There needs to be a lot more community consultation before things are implemented that people are completely unaware of,” Levien said “We’re a bit sceptical of the whole change; taking it away and putting it back “There should be more consultation and there should be more transparency into why it’s been changed so quickly Local member for Davidson Matt Cross welcomed the change but said he was frustrated the government was making “life-changing” decisions for residents “on a whim” These decisions deeply impact families,” Cross said Cross wrote to Education Minister Prue Car on Monday calling for a joint catchment zone between Chatswood High Killara High and Lindfield Learning Village Cross said he would continue to pursue this A department spokesperson said the changes were made to meet the “educational needs of all students in the area” and the delay in rezoning would allow “Lindfield Learning Village to provide families with additional information about its academic programs” The spokesperson also said the department was “confident that Lindfield Learning Village will meet the evolving needs of the surrounding community” Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. A controversial change to the catchment zone of one of Sydney\\u2019s top-performing comprehensive schools, Killara High, has been delayed after the Department of Education altered zoning maps on the School Finder website by Tuesday morning. The rezoning, which would have resulted in families in large parts of Killara and Lindfield being placed in the catchment for the alternative school Lindfield Learning Village from next year, has been pushed out to 2028. After , maps have been altered to show no change between this year and next year. Instead, parents will have a two-year transitional window in 2026 and 2027, during which they can send their children to Lindfield Learning Village or Killara High. The proposed catchment changes are expected to come into effect in 2028. The alteration blindsided many families that had purchased homes in the affluent area to access Killara High\\u2019s catchment zone. , and the fifth most popular among renters, according to data from Domain. One concern for residents was the teaching style employed at Lindfield Learning Village, which differs from the \\u201Ctraditional\\u201D method employed at Killara High, as well as the departure of the school\\u2019s last year. Both schools perform well academically among comprehensive schools in the HSC \\u2013 Killara came seventh last year, Lindfield Learning Village came 10th \\u2013 though the latter opened in 2019 and has had only one graduating class of 47 students. Debbie Levien, a mother of three who bought in Killara last year to live in the catchment zone, said it has been \\u201Ca stressful few days\\u201D as her property had moved in and out of the catchment. \\u201CThat shouldn\\u2019t have happened in the first place. There needs to be a lot more community consultation before things are implemented that people are completely unaware of,\\u201D Levien said. \\u201CWe\\u2019re a bit sceptical of the whole change; taking it away and putting it back, it still shows uncertainty. \\u201CThere should be more consultation and there should be more transparency into why it\\u2019s been changed so quickly, what the decision behind that was, what the future will look like.\\u201D Local member for Davidson Matt Cross welcomed the change, but said he was frustrated the government was making \\u201Clife-changing\\u201D decisions for residents \\u201Con a whim\\u201D. \\u201CThe community welcomes the news, but it\\u2019s no way to run a school system. These decisions deeply impact families,\\u201D Cross said. Cross wrote to Education Minister Prue Car on Monday calling for a joint catchment zone between Chatswood High, Killara High and Lindfield Learning Village. Cross said he would continue to pursue this. A department spokesperson said the changes were made to meet the \\u201Ceducational needs of all students in the area\\u201D and the delay in rezoning would allow \\u201CLindfield Learning Village to provide families with additional information about its academic programs\\u201D. The spokesperson also said the department was \\u201Cconfident that Lindfield Learning Village will meet the evolving needs of the surrounding community\\u201D. Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. . File pictureA man is standing trial over an alleged assault inside a Killara home in September 2022 All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueJurors in the Wangaratta County Court were told of the evidence they were expected to hear during Joel Mathew Spilsbury's trial Prosecutor Carmela Pezzimenti said the accused man was 33 at the time Ms Pezzimenti said the 35-year-old complainant were watching the 2022 AFL Grand Final at Guthridge's home on September 24 The court heard Mr Watson and Guthridge had an argument about 10pm and Mr Watson fell over in the front yard and left Mr Watson walked to a Callus Street home and arrived about 10.30pm Ms Pezzimenti said the jurors would hear that Spilsbury and Guthridge attended the home and the accused man "applied force" to the door three times with three loud bangs heard on CCTV footage Ms Pezzimenti said the jury would hear that Spilsbury grabbed Mr Watson by the throat and kicked him in the head while he was on the floor and was shoved in a hallway causing a hole Ms Pezzimenti said the accused man and Guthridge were captured on CCTV getting into a car with the jury told Watson went to Albury hospital and had injuries including a nose fracture The court heard Spilsbury attended the Wodonga station on September 28 and was charged Lawyer Martin Kozlowski said the charges were in dispute but aspects of the case weren't contested He said it wasn't in dispute that there was a gathering at Guthridge's home with multiple attendees and that there was some tension Mr Kozlowski said Guthridge had pushed or punched Mr Watson and he fell to the ground and it wasn't in dispute his client and Guthridge attended the Killara home A charge of aggravated burglary is being contested and injury-related allegations are also disputed Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords Information about working in or operating early childhood education services including outside school hours care information for parents including how to choose a service and supporting your child for their transition to school Skills NSW helps post high school students find courses in vocational training across a wide variety of industries and course providers The NSW Department of Education is committed to employing the best and brightest teachers who can teach and make a difference in NSW public schools NSW Department of Education's information on curriculum taught in NSW schools Aboriginal education and communities & personalised support Students at Killara High are getting a taste of university study while still at school Students in junior secondary classes at a Sydney high school are getting a taste of tertiary education through real-world learning and a swag of microcredentials to prepare them for life as well as exams More than 200 students in Years 7 to 10 at Killara High School will this year participate in the 20-week co-curricular program at the innovative ‘Killara Academy’ Principal Robin Chand said Killara Academy was developed as a response to the aspirations of local parents in northern Sydney who expect their children will attend university "We wanted to provide our students with the best possible experience preparing them academically as well as equipping them with real-life skills to thrive in the world beyond school,” Mr Chand said "We believe in preparing our students not just for exams students can study microcredential courses as well as attend practical workshops as varied as financial literacy automotive maintenance and helping the community at Bondi’s Our Big Kitchen This means students are leaving Killara High School with more than the HSC as they “study university while at high school” as well as gaining skills such as barista training at TAFE NSW Killara Academy students can obtain microcredentials in artificial intelligence The academy has also established partnerships with leading organisations such as Google Qantas and Tesla to provide students with firsthand exposure to cutting-edge technologies and career pathways including Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Cathy Foley; NSW Senior Crown Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi; neurosurgeon Dr Gemma Olsson; heart and lung transplant surgeon Dr Emily Granger; and Qantas A380 pilot Wayne Daly Students have also learnt from real estate agent Katheryn Purdy on how to buy property in NSW A key goal of Killara Academy is to encourage a growth mindset teaching students about resilience and perseverance in the face of challenges “We ask our guest speakers to share their experiences to talk about where they have experienced setbacks and how they have dusted themselves off and kept moving forward,” Mr Chand said “We want to emphasise that success is built on overcoming setbacks and that there are no shortcuts to success.” The Killara Academy has been running for three years and has proven to be a winning strategy with the local community “We're finding a lot of parents are choosing to enrol their children into Killara High School because they want their children to experience the Killara Academy program,” Mr Chand said Students participate in hour-long workshops on Tuesday mornings at 7.30 and often finish the day with a guest speaker that afternoon at 3.30pm Local primary schools attend some of the afternoon presentations with the talk by the team from Tesla Chatswood a particular recent hit for public school students from Lindfield We recognise the Ongoing Custodians of the lands and waterways where we work and live We pay respect to Elders past and present as ongoing teachers of knowledge We strive to ensure every Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander learner in NSW achieves their potential through education easier and more convenient travel for all passengers Passengers are able to use the station’s three new lifts and improved accessibility features.  Transport for NSW would like to thank the community for their continued support and cooperation during the upgrade Although the main upgrade work is complete minor finishing work will continue until March 2024 landscaping and work on the deflection walls in the rail corridor.  Transport for NSW would like to thank the community for their feedback during the planning process Please visit the Killara Station web page for information on station facilities and transport services Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present Commonwealth Bank’s former head of retail banking Michael Cant and his wife Katrina are selling their family home of almost 26 years in Killara with a price guide of $12 million The beautifully kept circa-1918 built double-brick house has five bedrooms and three bathrooms and the expansive parcel of land comes with its own swimming pool and tennis court The elegant character home of the Cant family in Killara.Credit: Michael worked at Commonwealth Bank for almost two decades in a range of senior roles including leading the corporate banking business He also had a decent stint as a director of Aussie Home Loans The 57-year-old is now chief financial officer of Helia as well as president and board member of Gordon Cricket Club Katrina was a director of Pymble Golf Club until 2022 The Cants purchased the elegant upper north shore property for $1.27 million in 1999 Michael Cant had a long-running career at Commonwealth Bank.Credit: Louie Douvis It is now being sold through an expression-of-interest campaign through Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty has emerged as the buyer of orthopaedic surgeon Dr Stephen Rackemann’s Wategos Beach house It sold around the $17 million price guide A caveat was lodged on the Byron Bay beach pad by Swood Properties No 2 Pty Ltd of which Stephen Hains is sole shareholder of the ultimate holding company Stephen Rackemann sold his Byron Bay home at Wategos Beach for circa $17 million.Credit: a 2024 Rich Lister who is the son of the late engineer-turned-financier David Hains continues to run his Portland House family office Stephen Hains runs Portland House with brothers Richard and Michael.Credit: Eamon Gallagher David died in 2023 and was best known for restructuring US steelmaker Wheeling-Pittsburgh in the 1970s and for breeding champion horses from his Kingston Park Stud including 1990 Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule which estimated the Hains’ family wealth at $2.98 billion last year who is also owner and director of Hill View Aged Care two-bathroom home in Byron Bay with breathtaking ocean views was sold by Will Phillips of Sotheby’s Byron Bay who declined to comment David Hains’ family home in Melbourne sold for about $40 million last year and dubbed by a local buyer’s agent as the “prettiest house in Toorak” has finally sold his stunning three-bedroom two-bathroom unit in the Opera Residences after a sold sticker went up on the listing and Kanji had been looking for a buyer since last year While it is one of the highest apartment sales for the year so far the 49-year-old purchased the unit in the landmark Tzannes-designed block only in 2021 Kanji sold his Opera Residences unit but has kept a sub-penthouse in the same building.Credit: It was one of few upper-floor apartments with its own private terrace decked out in high-end appliances and finishes an exquisite marble kitchen and custom cabinetry It sold through Martin Ross and Darren Curtis of Christie’s International it looks like Kanji has levelled up within the building He purchased the sub-penthouse for $16 million earlier last year with the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms but a better and more bird’s-eye view of Sydney Harbour Kanji is involved in a long list of companies including as secretary of Gunnersen Allen Metals a steel distribution and processing service located in Alton North the estate of the late celebrated costume designer Wendy Dickson is being sold with a price guide of $2.4 million The estate of the late Wendy Dickson in Balmain East.Credit: Well-loved and admired in the arts community, Dickson had worked with Charlton Heston, Sam Neill and Meryl Streep among others. She contributed to numerous theatre and screen productions, including some at the Sydney Opera House, costume design on the set of Antony and Cleopatra and production design on The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith. She died last year. Commonwealth Bank\\u2019s former head of retail banking Michael Cant and his wife Katrina are selling their family home of almost 26 years in Killara with a price guide of $12 million. The tightly held property, which is owned in Katrina\\u2019s name, is set on 1828 square metres. The beautifully kept circa-1918 built double-brick house has five bedrooms and three bathrooms, and the expansive parcel of land comes with its own swimming pool and tennis court. The 57-year-old is now chief financial officer of Helia, a lender\\u2019s mortgage insurance company, as well as president and board member of Gordon Cricket Club. Meanwhile, Katrina was a director of Pymble Golf Club until 2022. It is now being sold through an expression-of-interest campaign through Sydney Sotheby\\u2019s International Realty, whose Scott Farquhar declined to comment. Melbourne-based Stephen Hains, of the billionaire Hains family, has emerged as the buyer of orthopaedic surgeon Dr Stephen Rackemann\\u2019s Wategos Beach house. It sold around the $17 million price guide, with a sold sticker going up last week, local sources said. David died in 2023 and was best known for restructuring US steelmaker Wheeling-Pittsburgh in the 1970s and for breeding champion horses from his Kingston Park Stud, including 1990 Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule, reported The Australian Financial Review, which estimated the Hains\\u2019 family wealth at $2.98 billion last year. The stunning four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Byron Bay with breathtaking ocean views was sold by Will Phillips of Sotheby\\u2019s Byron Bay who declined to comment. David Hains\\u2019 family home in Melbourne . It was once home to Keith Murdoch, father of Rupert Murdoch, and dubbed by a local buyer\\u2019s agent as the \\u201Cprettiest house in Toorak\\u201D. It sold through Martin Ross and Darren Curtis of Christie\\u2019s International, who both declined to comment. However, it looks like Kanji has levelled up within the building. He purchased the sub-penthouse for $16 million earlier last year with the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms but a better and more bird\\u2019s-eye view of Sydney Harbour. Kanji is involved in a long list of companies, including as secretary of Gunnersen Allen Metals, a steel distribution and processing service located in Alton North, Melbourne, the company\\u2019s website says. Well-loved and admired in the arts community, Dickson had worked with Charlton Heston, Sam Neill and Meryl Streep among others. She contributed to numerous theatre and screen productions, including some at the Sydney Opera House, costume design on the set of Antony and Cleopatra and production design on The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith. She . following the theft of his high-powered black Mercedes Adam Perez's prints were later found on stolen plates attached to the car File pictureA man whose fingerprints were found on stolen plates on a stolen high-powered Mercedes taken during a Killara break-in says he wasn't involved in the thefts Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe victim's 2012 black Mercedes Benz C63 AMG was stolen from his Davenport Street home on October 4 The V8 vehicle was found dumped at the Moonee Ponds train station It was towed by police and forensically examined Picture suppliedPolice found Adam Perez's prints and he was interviewed by police He denied having anything to do with the vehicle Perez said he could have accidentally touched the stolen plates Magistrate Amina Bhai said it wasn't alleged that Perez stole the car or plates She noted the scaffolder had a criminal history Teacher Jenna Hubbard is preparing to start her first day of her new teaching role at Killara Primary School in Sunbury this week and joining her for their first day of prep will be her twin children With term one beginning at the school on Wednesday Ms Hubbard said this week is an “exciting time” for the whole family and the twins are looking forward to “playing on the playground with their friends … being stimulated in the classroom She said the decision to teach at the same school her children attend will make life easier in regards to commuting Ms Hubbard said her advice would be to always put in your best effort and to be yourself while being respectful “Try not to compare yourself to other students because we all have our own strengths and weaknesses – we are all different Killara Primary School principal Sue Muir said other teachers also have children who attend the school She said starting prep can be a tiring time for children “It does take time for children to settle in … that they will be very tired when they get home especially in the first term when the weather’s warmer … so support that they get plenty of sleep at home,” Ms Muir said “We’re really excited for such a positive year ahead.” A major Anytime Fitness franchisee has spent nearly $15 million on two double storey standalone buildings to occupy Momentum Group has paid $8.75 million for 692B-694 Pacific Highway it contains a 966 square metre showroom over 47 basement car parks The 1092 sqm site is exposed 30 metres to the busy road where some 40,000 vehicles pass a day according to buyers agency Costi Cohen director Coincidentally the agent sold the property to the vendor following a public campaign in 2021 – for $6.6m Momentum is one of Anytime Fitness’ largest franchisees Killara is 14 kilometres north west of town Meanwhile Momentum has paid $6.1m for a building in the heart of a Lindfield retail strip about two kilometres north west of Killara (story continues below) 330-332 Pacific Hwy contains 462 sqm of office retail space formerly occupied by Commonwealth Bank the 670 sqm block also facing Woodford Lane is the subject of a planning change which could see the allowable height extended to 24 metres Ray White Commercial’s Victor Sheu and Tao Shi were the marketing agents Mr Costi again acted for the buyer – snapping it up ahead of a December 5 auction was 20pc lower than the original asking price Retail overtook industrial as the top performing sector in the 2024 financial year Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page A former property analyst and print journalist Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au Forgot your password? You will receive mail with link to set new password Back to login Picture suppliedA jury has found a man guilty of forcing entry to a Killara home after 2022 AFL grand final celebrations and severely bashing a man inside with the man flung through a shower screen and kicked in his head after the guilty verdict was delivered in the afternoon on charges including aggravated burglary Shaun Guthridge had earlier pleaded guilty to his involvement in the incident Spilsbury flung Mr Watson through this shower screen at a Callus Street home in Killara Picture suppliedThe trio had been drinking at a gathering at Guthridge's nearby home during the day and cocaine was used There was a dispute later in the night and Mr Watson walked to the Callus Street property The front door was kicked in and Spilsbury and Guthridge entered the house about 10pm Mr Watson was inside and was captured by a nearby security camera swearing and screaming as he was attacked by Spilsbury He said Spilsbury had hit him "like a freight train" "Joel's come through like a freight train and taken me out," he told the jury The victim said he was forced into an ensuite Shaun Ian Guthridge was fined for trespassing following the assault of his friend Kyle Watson Picture suppliedHe said Spilsbury "launched" him through a shower screen which caused it to explode "It absolutely just exploded," he said in his evidence He said Spilsbury had kicked him in his face and said "from my recollection The court heard the victim was also pushed into walls He was hospitalised after the incident and required surgery Spilsbury will return to court on December 16 Guthridge, who played a far lesser role in the incident, was fined for trespassing earlier this year. who bid two separate $1,000 bids against himself has come out on top at a North Shore auction on Saturday morning The renovated East Killara home at 14 Redfield Rd sold for $2.711m $111,000 over its reserve and $300,000 more than its price guide Listing agent Jessica Cao from Ray White said the home was considered entry level for the area Winning bidder Oscar Wong and his partner had just welcomed their first child exactly 56 days earlier MORE: Sydney’s grim reality: Now a $220k wage can’t buy most homes When asked about the $1,000 bids Mr Wong revealed he didn’t come in with a tactic Mr Wong jokingly tried to start the bidding at $1 which auctioneer Jason Keen jovially offered him a leaf in exchange for the bid There were two separate occasions where Mr Wong confidently bid against himself with a $1,000 bid throwing in a couple of $1000 bids against himself you don’t see that everyday,” Mr Keen said MORE: Surprise rate cut call as Aussies pushed to the brink The couple were upsizing and were drawn to the location for the good schools and proximity to the beach A bidders interesting bidding technique helped him score the home “The draw back is there is no train station “I wish the council would upgrade the Killara train station car park but the upper north shore really misses out and the traffic is ‘choc-o-block’ on week days,” he said Despite his dismay with the council and traffic The home was completely renovated and the vendor Claire Williams Property records show it last sold for $1.65m in 2016 all which were active and young families except one developer The beautifully renovated home sold for $2.711m Mr Keen had 21 other auctions scheduled that day and said “stock levels are rising sharply there’s definitely a lot more out there,” he said Spring selling season was attracting more buyers too and the auction was one of 1,017 scheduled across Sydney this week A dated Hurstville home has sold at auction for $2.73m “a couple hundred thousand dollars over reserve,” attracting eight bidders The corner block at 147 Gloucester Rd was popular with developers and four of the eight registered bidders were active said the corner block was rare so developers jumped on it The winning developer planned to knock down the old home divide the block and build two separate stand-alone homes after renting the property out “Our stock levels are still high but new listings are slowing down,” Mr Curtis said “(The area) sits in that medium range between $1.6m-$2.5m Another property popular with developers has sold in Rooty Hill for $1.136m attracting 15 registered bidders and selling almost $200,000 above its reserve Out of the 15 bidders that registered for 72 Victoria Rd The tired home sat on a large 702 sqm block with development potential Ray White’s Peter Diamantidis said the winning bidders were looking to knock down the existing home and rebuild their dream family home on the site “It’s a great block with a lot of potential we’ve been smashing suburb records and there’s more stock than this time last year.” a home has sold to a local upgrader for $2.37m selling more than $300,000 over its price guide Property records show the home last sold in 2010 for $770,000 The home sold to a single gentleman planning to renovate the property Listing agent James Sarzano at Stone Real Estate said some interested buyers wanted to knock down and rebuild The home sat on a generous 556.4 sqm block with a large backyard it started really strong,” Mr Sarzano said “Good properties that are renovated and able to be lived in with minimal work are doing really well.” MORE: Hillsong bosses’ secret millions revealed US cuts interest rates: Will Australia be next? 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. By Lucy Carroll When Robin Chand guides parents on tours through Killara High there is one topic he is almost always quizzed on: What is the school’s policy on laptops in class parents breathe a sigh of relief,” he says “Students must bring traditional stationery – exercise books but it needs tight monitoring,” explains Chand now in his fourth year as principal at Killara High one of NSW’s top-performing public comprehensive schools Recess and lunchtime in playground spaces at Killara High are laptop-free As classrooms become increasingly crowded with digital devices a trend turbocharged by Kevin Rudd’s Digital Education Revolution the latest global test surveys reveal Australian students spend more time on screens during the school day compared with most other OECD nations Students clock up about four hours a day on technology “It’s an issue parents are concerned about,” Chand says “They don’t want their children glued to screens all day Our playground spaces are laptop-free during recess and lunch.” A veteran English and legal studies teacher Chand believes laptops should not be used as a “core tool” in class but rather to enhance learning or for a specific purpose “I might ask students to look up a new piece of legislation or law reform issue online in a class and they cannot replace books and handwriting,” he says At top-performing private school Reddam House in Bondi classrooms are laptop-free in English lessons from years 7 to 9 says the use of digital devices is minimised in primary grades students take a 50-minute lesson once a week in a designated computer lab to practise typing and research skills Year 6 students in class at Reddam House in Bondi.Credit: Edwina Pickles The private school moved away from using e-textbooks on iPads in 2019 and laptops became the preference under its bring-your-own device (BYOD) policy “Laptops are used only when called on by the teacher but we need to police it quite rigidly,” says Dave Pitcairn Laptop-free English lessons mean students are less distracted and can focus on note-taking by hand to build comprehension skills NSW schools set their own technology policies Some ask parents to buy students laptops or tablets under BYOD policies Some public schools ask students to bring their own iPad from as young as nine years old and ask parents to load them with more than a dozen apps But the rise of technology in Australian classrooms and concerns about distractions and overuse has prompted some schools to question – and audit – the time students are on devices High-performing public school Ashfield Boys High conducted a major survey of its school community about the issue in 2016 “It found most teachers and parents thought students should spend a maximum of 25 per cent of the day on screens,” says principal Dwayne Hopwood Ashfield Boys doesn’t have a BYOD policy and limits time students spend on laptops.Credit: Louise Kennerley “We looked heavily at the research on the connection between distraction and devices Children don’t have the executive functioning to manage them well.” which outranks some selective schools in HSC English advanced limits how much time students spend on laptops and keeps a bank of devices that teachers can book said it was reassuring to know her child attends a school “where they aren’t looking at a screen all day” “My other child went to a different high school that used laptops a lot We did not want to go down that path again,” she says “We feel so fortunate to be at a school where the principal really is ahead of his time.” The school invested in mobile phone lockers last year before a statewide ban on phones in public schools was rolled out in late 2023 Students drop their smartphones into lockers at the start of the day and collect them after last period “The impact on the playground has been extreme even just the sheer amount of active play,” Hopwood says At selective private school Sydney Grammar screens are kept out of class is considering weaving tech-free periods into the timetable One teacher at a regional public high school who spoke anonymously to speak freely about the issue said technology in class has become “a huge problem” with students distracted by gaming and videos in class Students misuse department-approved games such as Minecraft Education and can bypass blocks on websites by tethering hidden mobile phones to laptops “I’m starting to think we just need to start over It’s also concerning how many need help with basic literacy and numeracy when they get to high school.” She said BYOD policies meant those students without a laptop would borrow one from the school Other teachers say they are forced to run classes from the back of the room to monitor the work students are doing on screens Chand says while Killara High uses both laptops and hard-copy books if technology is used in an unstructured way it can pose huge challenges for teachers in managing the classroom says technology can be especially useful when accessing certain online tools such as three-dimensional environmental models in science classes Students at Killara High School.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone The NSW curriculum embeds information and communication technology across primary and high school and students need to use computers at school to access online resources and materials Teachers say access to digital devices is useful for running online tests adaptive quizzes and assessments which can give immediate in-depth feedback to help improve learning leading educational psychologist Paul Kirschner in Urban Myths in Education declared new technology was unlikely to revolutionise education because the essence of learning would remain with the teacher It is not the medium that decides how well a student learns But Kirschner is firm early primary school students have “no need” for laptops or iPads at school English teacher Kyra Maya Phillips taking a year 9 class at Reddam House Years 7 to 9 English lessons are laptop-free.Credit: Edwina Pickles “Not many things in lower elementary school require the use of technology to do it well They need to use fine and gross motor skills as much as possible “There’s also a keeping up with the Joneses effect It’s a competition between schools to have the newest technology to draw in as many parents as possible.” Kirschner prefers students take notes by hand “Students can often type as fast as a teacher speaks It means they need to paraphrase information And summarising is one of the eight generative learning strategies “Problems appear when students have multiple programs and websites open which provided laptops for students in year 9 and up many schools looked for ways to fill the gap via BYOD schemes a London-based former teacher and author of three books on education said schools rushed to add screens to the classroom out of pressure to be seen as modern and advanced but have not necessarily considered how they would improve learning “There is growing evidence that screens and social media distract from learning,” she says “We read differently on screen than on paper – we skim Taking notes on screen is also different to writing them out by hand there is evidence that handwriting can be very beneficial for learning “There are some educationally sound websites and apps out there But I would be happier if students were accessing them on desktops rather than on phones and tablets And I would be happier if there were significant chunks of school time that were screen-free.” While several schools are scrutinising their policies some teachers have questioned the proliferation of educational apps and if they were being driven by commercial interests Online game ABC Reading Eggs has been condemned by learning difficulties experts as mimicking a video game rather than being an educational tool The most recent Programme for International Student Assessment survey revealed four in 10 Australian students were distracted by devices in class Spending more than an hour a day on screens at school was negatively correlated with achievement maths teacher and deputy principal at Ballarat Clarendon College said laptops were helpful for class quizzes or tests “We can get immediate feedback – they are also good for practising particular types of questions and for recall activities if all students are doing is copying and pasting text and from the internet into a PowerPoint When Robin Chand guides parents on tours through Killara High, there is one topic he is almost always quizzed on: What is the school\\u2019s policy on laptops in class? \\u201CWhen I answer it, parents breathe a sigh of relief,\\u201D he says. \\u201CStudents must bring traditional stationery \\u2013 exercise books, rulers, pens \\u2013 to school every day, for every subject. We use laptops for specific tasks, but it needs tight monitoring,\\u201D explains Chand, now in his fourth year as principal at Killara High, one of NSW\\u2019s top-performing public comprehensive schools. As classrooms become increasingly , a trend turbocharged by Kevin Rudd\\u2019s Digital Education Revolution, the latest global test surveys reveal Australian students spend more time on screens during the school day compared with most other OECD nations. Students clock up about four hours a day on technology. \\u201CIt\\u2019s an issue parents are concerned about,\\u201D Chand says. \\u201CThey don\\u2019t want their children glued to screens all day. Our playground spaces are laptop-free during recess and lunch.\\u201D A veteran English and legal studies teacher, Chand believes laptops should not be used as a \\u201Ccore tool\\u201D in class, but rather to enhance learning or for a specific purpose. \\u201CI might ask students to look up a new piece of legislation or law reform issue online in a class. But laptops need to be used judiciously, and they cannot replace books and handwriting,\\u201D he says. At top-performing private school Reddam House in Bondi, classrooms are laptop-free in English lessons from years 7 to 9. The head of Reddam\\u2019s primary school, Dee Pitcairn, says the use of digital devices is minimised in primary grades. Instead, students take a 50-minute lesson once a week in a designated computer lab to practise typing and research skills. The private school moved away from using e-textbooks on iPads in 2019, and laptops became the preference under its bring-your-own device (BYOD) policy. \\u201CLaptops are used only when called on by the teacher, but we need to police it quite rigidly,\\u201D says Dave Pitcairn, principal of the senior school. Laptop-free English lessons mean students are less distracted and can focus on note-taking by hand to build comprehension skills, he says. NSW schools set their own technology policies. Some ask parents to buy students laptops or tablets under BYOD policies, while others supply them. Some public schools ask students to bring their own iPad from as young as nine years old, at a cost of up to $800 with headphones, case and a keyboard, and ask parents to load them with more than a dozen apps. But the rise of technology in Australian classrooms and concerns about distractions and overuse has prompted some schools to question \\u2013 and audit \\u2013 the time students are on devices. High-performing public school Ashfield Boys High conducted a major survey of its school community about the issue in 2016. \\u201CIt found most teachers and parents thought students should spend a maximum of 25 per cent of the day on screens,\\u201D says principal Dwayne Hopwood. \\u201CWe looked heavily at the research on the connection between distraction and devices. Children don\\u2019t have the executive functioning to manage them well.\\u201D The school, which outranks some selective schools in HSC English advanced, limits how much time students spend on laptops and keeps a bank of devices that teachers can book. One parent at Ashfield Boys, Susan Terravecchia, said it was reassuring to know her child attends a school \\u201Cwhere they aren\\u2019t looking at a screen all day\\u201D. \\u201CMy other child went to a different high school that used laptops a lot. We did not want to go down that path again,\\u201D she says. \\u201CWe feel so fortunate to be at a school where the principal really is ahead of his time.\\u201D The school invested in mobile phone lockers last year before a statewide ban on phones in public schools was rolled out in late 2023. Students drop their smartphones into lockers at the start of the day and collect them after last period. \\u201CThe impact on the playground has been extreme, even just the sheer amount of active play,\\u201D Hopwood says. At selective private school Sydney Grammar screens are kept out of class, while another all-boys school, Waverley College, is considering weaving tech-free periods into the timetable. One teacher at a regional public high school, who spoke anonymously to speak freely about the issue, said technology in class has become \\u201Ca huge problem\\u201D, with students distracted by gaming and videos in class. Students misuse department-approved games such as Minecraft Education, she said, and can bypass blocks on websites by tethering hidden mobile phones to laptops. \\u201CI\\u2019m starting to think we just need to start over. It\\u2019s also concerning how many need help with basic literacy and numeracy when they get to high school.\\u201D She said BYOD policies meant those students without a laptop would borrow one from the school, \\u201Cbut often they\\u2019re not charged, or are broken\\u201D. Other teachers say they are forced to run classes from the back of the room to monitor the work students are doing on screens. Chand says while Killara High uses both laptops and hard-copy books, if technology is used in an unstructured way, it can pose huge challenges for teachers in managing the classroom. Killara\\u2019s deputy principal, Craig Date, says technology can be especially useful when accessing certain online tools such as three-dimensional environmental models in science classes. The NSW curriculum embeds information and communication technology across primary and high school, and students need to use computers at school to access online resources and materials. Teachers say access to digital devices is useful for running online tests, adaptive quizzes and assessments which can give immediate, in-depth feedback to help improve learning. Almost a decade ago, leading educational psychologist Paul Kirschner in Urban Myths in Education declared new technology was unlikely to revolutionise education because the essence of learning would remain with the teacher. It is not the medium that decides how well a student learns, he says, but the quality of instruction. \\u201CI\\u2019m not anti-laptops. I\\u2019m for using technology at right moment, for the right things,\\u201D he told the Herald. But Kirschner is firm early primary school students have \\u201Cno need\\u201D for laptops or iPads at school. \\u201CNot many things in lower elementary school require the use of technology to do it well. They need to use fine and gross motor skills as much as possible. \\u201CThere\\u2019s also a keeping up with the Joneses effect. It\\u2019s a competition between schools to have the newest technology to draw in as many parents as possible.\\u201D Kirschner prefers students take notes by hand. \\u201CStudents can often type as fast as a teacher speaks, but writing is slower. It means they need to paraphrase information. And summarising is one of the eight generative learning strategies, so it helps with remembering. \\u201CProblems appear when students have multiple programs and websites open. It\\u2019s a constant battle for attention. A student might hear things, but they aren\\u2019t processing information.\\u201D When the Rudd government\\u2019s policy, which provided laptops for students in year 9 and up, ended in 2013, many schools looked for ways to fill the gap via BYOD schemes. Daisy Christodoulou, a London-based former teacher and author of three books on education, said schools rushed to add screens to the classroom out of pressure to be seen as modern and advanced, but have not necessarily considered how they would improve learning. \\u201CThere is growing evidence that screens and social media distract from learning,\\u201D she says. \\u201CWe read differently on screen than on paper \\u2013 we skim, scan and skip information. Taking notes on screen is also different to writing them out by hand. Again, there is evidence that handwriting can be very beneficial for learning. \\u201CThere are some educationally sound websites and apps out there. But I would be happier if students were accessing them on desktops rather than on phones and tablets. And I would be happier if there were significant chunks of school time that were screen-free.\\u201D While several schools are scrutinising their policies, some teachers have questioned the proliferation of educational apps and if they were being driven by commercial interests. Online game by learning difficulties experts as mimicking a video game rather than being an educational tool. The most recent Programme for International Student Assessment survey revealed four in 10 Australian students were distracted by devices in class. Spending more than an hour a day on screens at school was negatively correlated with achievement. Greg Ashman, maths teacher and deputy principal at Ballarat Clarendon College, said laptops were helpful for class quizzes or tests. \\u201CWe can get immediate feedback \\u2013 they are also good for practising particular types of questions and for recall activities. They can be really useful,\\u201D he said. \\u201CBut in a history lesson, for example, if all students are doing is copying and pasting text and from the internet into a PowerPoint, and faffing around with animations, that\\u2019s not helping students learn.\\u201D File pictureThe alleged victim of a Killara home bashing has told a trial of being taken out by the accused man "like a freight train" then receiving a flurry of punches and kicks Mr Watson told the jury in Spilsbury's County Court trial he had heard loud bangs moved from the ensuite to the bedroom of the home and saw Spilsbury and Shaun Guthridge in the house "Joel's come through like a freight train and taken me out," he said on Tuesday Mr Watson said he was forced into the ensuite then received "multiple punches to the head" He said he was thrown around and was "launched" through a shower screen "It absolutely just exploded," Mr Watson said Mr Watson said once on the ground "I remember quite vividly getting kicked to the face" by "Joel" He made a statement saying he was "bamboozled" by the incident I was not expecting them to come around and two they weren't invited inside the house," Mr Watson told the court Security camera footage from a neighbouring home was played in court Loud bangs were heard and Mr Watson identified his voice on the recording Swearing could be heard and Mr Watson repeatedly stating "I haven't done anything" Mr Watson denied he had opened the door for the pair and disagreed that he was "off his face" He said he went to hospital and was instructed to go to a Melbourne facial clinic to have his cheek bone reconstructed She said there were three footprint marks on the front door and "you could tell it'd been kicked in" scuff marks and the shower screen was smashed with the rollover caused by Tristyn Thompson pulling on his mate's handbrake while he drove File photoA man who pulled on the handbrake of his mate's car while he drove Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe new driver who had held his licence for less than 24 hours before the November 28 crash at Killara last year Tristyn Thompson's actions landed the vehicle in a ditch The driver wasn't at fault and had resisted calls by Thompson to perform handbrake fishtails before Thompson yanked the brake on himself he's won it," Leading Senior Constable Les Hare told the Wodonga court pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless conduct endangering serious injury "You're lucky you're still here," magistrate Peter Dunn said Mr Dunn recalled some of the cases he had been involved in or heard about over the years through safe driving courses including that of a CFA captain who found his son's car "split in two around a big tree" after drink-driving "I know of another case where a young man drove out his front gate on a rural road "There's not much traffic on his road and he didn't look "She's still got him and she's happy to have him." Mr Dunn put Thompson on a two-year good behaviour bond where the late mining magnate Lang Hancock momentously married his former maid Rose Lacson The Georgian revival residence on 7500 square metres with a swimming pool and tennis court is one of the Upper North Shore’s most significant estates which goes some way to explain its record price aspirations far and above the region’s $15 million record – set last year by the Bremon estate in Warrawee – and the $16.3 million exchange on a Killara residence that is expected to settle in the new year Lang Hancock and Rose Lacson on their wedding day in 1985 Wharncliffe was built in 1939 at a cost of £600 for metal merchant William George Wright to a design by architect Clifford Finch featuring its grand sandstone facade with a columned portico But beyond the marble foyer and circular staircase is an ornate ballroom where history was made when it was owned by Hancock’s lawyer Carnegie Fieldhouse and who converted what was then an indoor pool into a temporary ballroom in preparation for the Hancock-Lacson nuptials Hancock’s daughter Gina Rinehart never made it to the happy event in 1985 but among Hancock’s friends and business associates who were in attendance was Perth land developer-turned real estate agent William Porteous who watched Fieldhouse walk his future wife down the makeshift aisle In 1986 Fieldhouse sold the property for $2.6 million to developer Paul Petersen who filled in the pool and turned the ballroom into a more permanent structure a property developer from China and a director of Chinese-backed property developer Qiantang Investment Group and his wife Jia Yan were drawn to Wharncliffe because it was of a similar character and scale to their home in Hangzhou The ballroom in the Wharncliffe mansion was originally an indoor pool Having bought it in 2010 for $7.8 million, the couple made headlines five years later when their DA to demolish the ballroom was knocked back prompting council to heritage-list the property all of which coincided with the telemovie House of Hancock that aired on Nine A few years later a new DA was approved for alterations and additions to build above the ballroom and enclose the outdoor pool leaving the ballroom as it was when it last traded Given Lu and Yan’s plans to downsize to the eastern suburbs harbourfront (Boomerang anyone?) they have listed it with The Agency’s Steven Chen and Michael Chen Actor Rose Byrne and her partner Bobby Cannavale have packed up and left their recently rented Woollahra home freeing it for a sale campaign and a December 4 auction The 1868-built Attunga Lodge is owned by Cranbrook School board member Craig Carroll and wife Kathryn The historic 1868-built residence is just the digs for visiting Hollywood stars thanks to the lavish Bill Shipton renovation of the mid-1980s meandering garden paths and a waterfall - all of which was brought up to contemporary high-end standards by the current owners fintech founder and education investor Craig Carroll and his wife Kathryn Rose Byrne has moved on from Attunga Lodge.Credit: Zach Hilty Byrne’s return to her Sydney hometown was nicely timed to coincide with an influx of fellow Hollywood superstars this year placing her a few doors away from Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky when they were renting Woodlands although a fair hike from the Vaucluse digs where Natalie Portman and Isla Fisher were staying at the same time Attunga Lodge was purchased by the Carrolls soon after their return from the United States in 2012 paying $4.6 million to Clemenger Group chairman Robert Morgan and his wife Vanessa has listed it with The Agency’s Ben Collier given talk the couple are relocating to Britain son of prominent Perth property tycoon and Emerald Oil and Gas chairman Simon Lee has bought into Sydney’s high-end housing market – sight unseen – paying $11.5 million for contemporary digs in Dover Heights The ultra-contemporary residence designed by YSG Studio was listed for more than $10 million with PPD’s Alexander Phillips Lee inspected it via FaceTime only to exchange on it three hours later The award-winning YSG Studio design was commissioned by Jason Johnson and Portia Thomson Lee’s purchase was revealed on settlement this week indicating a potential move to Sydney for the head of boutique investment company Meritus Capital and trustee of the family’s philanthropic Simon Lee Foundation the family home in Perth’s upmarket Nedlands has sold for more than $7 million Recruiter Jason Johnson and Portia Thomson – who purchased the Dover Heights home for $5.76 million in 2018 and commissioned a high-end renovation – have since moved to North Bondi, forking out $11,235,000 for the home of EverBlu dealmaker Adam Blumenthal and his wife Annabelle Shamir Shamir and Blumenthal have done even better on their capital gain of recent years given they did virtually nothing to the North Bondi digs in the two years since they bought it for $6.3 million cashed out of Sydney’s high-end market this week when he sold his Point Piper sub-penthouse for $7.35 million – far above the $6 million guide The Point Piper block of apartments is next door to the $100 million Fairwater estate Sir Bob wasn’t in attendance to see seven registered bidders slug it out from an opening bid of $6 million by buyer’s agent Simon Cohen but after the hammer fell 19 bids later he was overheard on loudspeaker saying “well done The colourful billionaire and prolific author has reason to be chuffed: he bought the three-bedder in 2002 for $3.37 million Sir Bob hasn’t always done well from Sydney property He purchased the Vaucluse trophy Carrara in 1990 for $11.5 million and sold it three years later for the recession price of $8.5 million to Chinese entrepreneur James Peng Caldwell-Eyles – the husband of Survivor contestant Cara Atchison – wouldn’t reveal the buyer but did say they were from North Bondi which doesn’t sound like a euphemism for acquisitional next-door neighbour Mike Cannon-Brookes As Byron Bay-based former journalist and diplomat Julie Meldrum hits the hustings in the lead up to the December 4 local council elections there is another looming deadline that is no doubt weighing on her mind are set to auction their home in Ewingsdale for $8 million Meldrum is on the ticket behind Byron Shire Action Group’s Bruce Clarke running on issues such as local infrastructure A December 7 auction has been set for the Ewingsdale home of electoral candidate Julie Meldrum and Murray Millsom Meldrum’s own housing is no slouch in the local high-end stakes The 1.1-hectare Aamari Estate was developed by Meldrum and Millsom with a Bali-style main residence set in landscaped gardens with a pool and cabana a self-contained studio and a separate villa with a private outdoor spa Kollosche’s Kim Jones and Karin Heller have the listing The ranks of eastern suburbs identities buying weekenders at the furthest reaches of the Sutherland Shire in Bundeena continue to swell with a settlement this week heralding the arrival of Irina Melnikoff wife of actor-turned-developer Ilya Melnikoff The Little Gunyah Beach house was listed with a guide of $5.5 million The Rose Bay-based couple – Ilya is the nephew of fellow developer Harry Triguboff – paid $6 million for a six-bedroom house on Little Gunyah Beach after it was put to the market for $5.5 million by PPD’s Debbie Donnelley Donnelley isn’t known as the “Queen of Bundeena” for nothing She has sold weekenders to a long list of her eastern suburbs neighbours in recent years former publican Susie Carleton and Lisa Rothner to Dr Kerryn Phelps and her wife Collette Dinnigan may not have taken out the Celebrity MasterChef winner’s trophy this week but she did sell her historic Milton farmhouse The Federation cottage has sold after a three-week campaign Fellow former ragtrader-turn-selling agent Craig Cooper but he had a $4 million to $4.5 million guide before it sold The sale ends Dinnigan’s ownership in the South Coast township which goes back to 2006 when she purchased the 2.4 hectare property for $830,000 That leaves her South Coast interests to the Rosedale beach house that was burnt down two years ago and which she is currently rebuilding have bought a converted industrial warehouse in Annandale for $6.625 million The converted industrial warehouse was previously home to the late artist Fred Cress This is the 1910-built warehouse that was home to the late Archibald Prize-winning artist Fred Cress redeveloped it before he moved to Melbourne in 2018 who sits on the board of the Australia Day Council of NSW bought it from Cress for $4.27 million in 2018 sold it to the Satchcrofts well ahead of a planned auction The Georgian revival residence on 7500 square metres with a swimming pool and tennis court is one of the Upper North Shore\\u2019s most significant estates which goes some way to explain its record price aspirations far and above the region\\u2019s $15 million record \\u2013 set last year by the Bremon estate in Warrawee \\u2013 and the $16.3 million exchange on a Killara residence that is expected to settle in the new year Wharncliffe was built in 1939 at a cost of \\u00A3600 for metal merchant William George Wright to a design by architect Clifford Finch featuring its grand sandstone facade with a columned portico But beyond the marble foyer and circular staircase is an ornate ballroom where history was made when it was owned by Hancock\\u2019s lawyer Carnegie Fieldhouse Hancock\\u2019s daughter Gina Rinehart never made it to the happy event in 1985 but among Hancock\\u2019s friends and business associates who were in attendance was Perth land developer-turned real estate agent William Porteous when their DA to demolish the ballroom was knocked back Given Lu and Yan\\u2019s plans to downsize to the eastern suburbs harbourfront (Boomerang anyone?) they have listed it with The Agency\\u2019s Steven Chen and Michael Chen Byrne\\u2019s return to her Sydney hometown was nicely timed to coincide with has listed it with The Agency\\u2019s Ben Collier given talk the couple are relocating to Britain has bought into Sydney\\u2019s high-end housing market \\u2013 sight unseen \\u2013 paying $11.5 million for contemporary digs in Dover Heights The ultra-contemporary residence designed by YSG Studio was listed for more than $10 million with PPD\\u2019s Alexander Phillips Lee\\u2019s purchase was revealed on settlement this week indicating a potential move to Sydney for the head of boutique investment company Meritus Capital and trustee of the family\\u2019s philanthropic Simon Lee Foundation the family home in Perth\\u2019s upmarket Nedlands has sold for more than $7 million Recruiter Jason Johnson and Portia Thomson \\u2013 who purchased the Dover Heights home for $5.76 million in 2018 and commissioned a high-end renovation \\u2013 have since moved to North Bondi cashed out of Sydney\\u2019s high-end market this week when he sold his Point Piper sub-penthouse for $7.35 million \\u2013 far above the $6 million guide Sir Bob wasn\\u2019t in attendance to see seven registered bidders slug it out from an opening bid of $6 million by buyer\\u2019s agent Simon Cohen but after the hammer fell 19 bids later he was overheard on loudspeaker saying \\u201Cwell done Sir Bob hasn\\u2019t always done well from Sydney property Caldwell-Eyles \\u2013 the husband of Survivor contestant Cara Atchison \\u2013 wouldn\\u2019t reveal the buyer but did say they were from North Bondi which doesn\\u2019t sound like a euphemism for acquisitional next-door neighbour Mike Cannon-Brookes Meldrum is on the ticket behind Byron Shire Action Group\\u2019s Bruce Clarke Meldrum\\u2019s own housing is no slouch in the local high-end stakes Kollosche\\u2019s Kim Jones and Karin Heller have the listing The Rose Bay-based couple \\u2013 Ilya is the nephew of fellow developer Harry Triguboff \\u2013 paid $6 million for a six-bedroom house on Little Gunyah Beach after it was put to the market for $5.5 million by PPD\\u2019s Debbie Donnelley Donnelley isn\\u2019t known as the \\u201CQueen of Bundeena\\u201D for nothing Collette Dinnigan may not have taken out the Celebrity MasterChef winner\\u2019s trophy this week The sale ends Dinnigan\\u2019s ownership in the South Coast township Macquarie\\u2019s senior managing director Course Reviews · New South Wales there’s plenty of cause for celebration at one of Sydney’s iconic golf clubs A refurb of the golf course a couple of years ago has worked wonders Now the north shore club is looking at improving their clubhouse as well with a multi-million dollar refresh certain to be well received by membership Besides celebrating with a special series of red and white wines to commemorate the Quasquicentennial (125 years) the club has also been studiously preparing to launch a special beer to mark their anniversary A group appointed as ‘tasters’ have taken their task very seriously too and when they do decide the beer will have a special name connected with one of the club’s legends That’s another story though as the club has plenty of special celebrations planned One exciting thing members can look forward to is a major refurbishment of their clubhouse which although charming and well-maintained will be updated to make the most of some special views over the golf course A recent refurbishment of the Killara course has it in superb condition Killara’s recently-appointed general manager Josh Madden has proven a great addition to the club with a background steeped in golf and spending his past six years at Wembley Golf Club Madden is excited about the future of a club that is so steeped in tradition and offers so much more than golf Killara has the lot and its no idle boast that those who have joined Killara Golf Club over the years find it a happy home and they usually stick around Even their resident professionals like the late great Dave Mercer and his former apprentice Greg Hohnen have become part of the fabric of this great club a win in the Saturday afternoon competition can be an expensive exercise That’s because the winners of the three grades usually shout the bar – yes but for winning a competition that is difficult to win at the best of times “We’ve had members who have waited years for this privilege,” says Madden “They are more than happy to stand up and buy everyone in the house a drink while they boast about their win “It’s just a terrific experience to be involved in.”  Club president Rob Crittenden agrees:  “It’s a great course – and it’s even better now,” he said “But the thing that makes Killara great is definitely the camaraderie “Being in the bar for the presentation after golf on a Wednesday or a Saturday is just an amazing experience “The good will and the camaraderie is something special “A lot of people say that is what they rate most highly about our club they love playing the course – but really Killara has the whole package The Killara clubhouse is soon to undergo a multi-million dollar refresh a Killara member for 32 years endorsed Crittenden’s comments: “There must be something special keeping me here,” Wood told Inside Golf “Even when my kids were little they would come here and Greg Hohnen (50 years as club pro at Killara) knew them by their first names and that even made them feel pretty special “I think that carries over through the whole club “We’re very welcoming and we try hard to make it like that “We’ve been running women’s beginners’ program since 2008 You get a group of women who start their golfing journey together early and they form really strong friendships “And that carries through for the rest of their time at the club “A lot of the members also have family connections to the club you end up with a lot of connections through other areas well “We have an excellent junior program which includes cadets and a variety of scholarship holders who play regularly “There’s special events – both golf and social – and opportunities to represent our club in the junior inter-club competitions “Some of our local schools do golf lessons here “There’s a mixture of people of different ages and abilities and that’s centred around the club “Sundays is now our busiest day – husbands and wives and friends and groups and our Friday twilights are also busy when we play nine holes and have a barbecue afterwards “Those sorts of things make a difference to everybody – they’re all a part of something bigger.” Wood says one of their favourite lines at Killara is “a club for life” “There’s a lot of bridge played here as well as the tennis courts bowling green and the progression is there as you go through the various stages “The snooker table and squash court are also used regularly.” Wood is excited about the proposed changes to the clubhouse “This will make it easier to look over the course,” she said “It is an old-fashioned design and we are not planning to knock it down and start over again It is basically a refurbishment but will open it [the club] up to the course a bit more and make the rooms more adaptable to have different functions here “Besides making things easier on staff and everybody – it will be more user-friendly.  “It will take some time but will be fabulous once we get it all done The recent course changes have been well-received The greens are bigger but that doesn’t necessarily help you,” said Wood “We hosted Division I grade here last week and they were glowing in their praise for the course “When you get feedback from people who haven’t played here or haven’t been here for a few years we found their feedback was wonderful “We widened the fairways a little; we cleared some growth around the greens and opened them up a bit “The course now looks wonderful – and it’s a tough challenge.” IT is widely regarded as one of Sydney’s premier golf clubs yet Killara Golf Club had the humblest of beginnings According to a special book printed when the club turned 100 the Killara seed was ‘germinated’ in 1899 when a small group of people gathered beneath a canvas cover spread between two trees in what was then an outlying suburb of Sydney A year later this group had purchased land in Killara and with a perfect blend of friendship enthusiasm and sound business sense that became the hallmark of the club the club and the course have seen many changes since then orchards and sheds sprung tree-lined fairways The official opening of the Killara clubhouse in 1909 What began as a nine-hole course on 14 dusty hectares grew to 18 holes on 50.5 hectares of parkland with substantial buildings and facilities This was not simply natural progress but the result of careful planning and a lot of dedication and hard work by members and staff golf was a relatively new game to Australia so this club has played its part in our storied golfing history Killara was the first club to own its own land remains the oldest golfing event on the Golf NSW calendar was the first such association in Australia and the annual Killara versus Newcastle golf match is believed to be the oldest continuously held inter-club event in the world it was the Killara ‘associates’ who became founding members Killara has a new suburb record with the close to $20m sale of a seven-bedroom house that has earned its vendors more than $56k for every week they have owned it The owners of 31-33 Springdale Rd paid $16.3m for the Springdale Rd estate in July 2021 and it has now sold for just under $20m in the 62 weeks since they bought the property it has grown in value by at least $3.5m Which at a conservative calculation means the house has earned its owners more than $56,000 every single week The house has sold for a Killara price record of around $20m MORE: Inside Margot Robbie’s Byron Bay ‘dream home’ said there have been no changes to the home on a double block with tennis court and heated pool It did set the suburb record when it last traded but that was overtaken by a $16.5m sale in Stanhope Rd in November 2021 until now The Killara property also sold four days before expressions of interest closed Lisa said there were multiple offers made on the property but the vendors took an early offer with attractive settlement terms It is believed to have been just shy of the $20m price guide MORE: Kyly Clarke’s rental woes revealed Fashionista offloading $4.5m Byron Bay classic Beachfront home hit with $20m price drop “We had a lot of interest from locals and from overseas There are new buyers landing in the country looking for prestige property on the north shore … we are hoping the sale brings a few prestige homes to market The Springdale Rd estate was completed in 2016 under the Bregenhoj family ownership and has Peter Fudge gardens According to PropTrack, the median house price in Killara is $3.9m Divorce! Fashionista sells in Byron Bay after just one year Exclusive home of Ita Buttrose’s troubled relative for sale at the turn of the century some enterprising enthusiasts secured a parcel of land around the burgeoning settlement and cleared it as a field on which to enjoy the emerging sport of golf thus forming what would become Killara Golf Club From those early dusty paddocks would emerge what we now characterise as Sydney’s distinct form of parkland golf; A type of golf played across ridgelines and rocky escarpments through valleys with dark soils and old sandstone hills covered in eucalypts exotic specimens and lush warm-climate grasses With its recent remodelling by architect Harley Kruse Killara now presents a more evolved and sustainable expression of Sydney golf in which parkland is giving way to native woodland and bush demonstrating a more biodiverse approach for other clubs on Sydney’s leafy North Shore to follow Killara formed in 1901 but was originally known as the Lindfield Golf & Recreation Club in part because visitors would mistakenly alight the train at Lindfield when Killara station was in fact closer to the course The old name was appropriate in one sense: Killara is much more than just a golf course – with tennis snooker and even bridge it is a multi-sport recreation facility only surpassed by Royal Sydney Golf Club and unique among Sydney’s North Shore clubs "The course has been given a more flattering profile and a richly toned golf experience that highlights the dramatic landforms of the North Shore’s golf terrain ..." – Adrian Logue There was an abundance of land in those early days and Killara gradually expanded from nine rudimentary holes on a rough clearing to its present day 6,100m 18-hole par 72 extending into the peaceful surrounding suburbia across three “paddocks” a small property but with architect Kruse’s changes it may now have evolved into what Alister MacKenzie describes as “finality” where all the greens tees and playing corridors can be found in their optimal position giving those elements a sense of permanence that suggests they were always meant to be there The course prior to Kruse’s appointment was largely a remnant of the 1965 design by prominent Sydney-based architect Prosper Ellis whose name is attached to numerous other courses in the area The club also engaged famous English architect Commander John Harris to validate Ellis’ plans and add various embellishments from his vast experience Coinciding with the creation of the Ellis/Harris design was a well-intentioned tree-planting program that ultimately did more than Ellis or Harris ever could to define Killara’s character as a tree-lined parkland course and would shape the agronomy of the course in even more permanent ways Killara was considered a winter course with a mix of couch Parramatta grass and paspalum that struggled to thrive from a lack of water in the summer months leaving the course firm The grass continued to suffer as the tree canopy expanded prompting the club to invest in securing a water supply and a formal irrigation system But with better conditions for turf growth came another double-edged sword as kikuyu began to invade and choke out the sportier couch playing surfaces Various chemical and labour-based solutions failed to hold it back and the club eventually acquiesced to kikuyu’s relentless march The kikuyu did however help ensure the course played a bit longer but it also resulted in a monoculture of manicured turf on the playing surfaces under the trees and through the rough from boundary fence to boundary fence upgrades to the irrigation system and advances in agronomy Killara evolved into a tranquil environment that could provide year-round consistent green parkland presentation that became a signature of Sydney inland private clubs In recent years the inevitable effects of age had become apparent with the greens noticeably shrunk from the aggressive kikuyu and the bunkers smoothing out into non-descript shapeless ovals The bunkers had become a significant maintenance and cost issue Every time the course received heavy rain the sand would wash off the faces and inefficient drainage and clay soils would leave standing water behind taking the bunkers out of play It was with these problems in mind that Killara appointed Kruse Golf to fix up the bunkers and re-model all 18 greens But Kruse saw untapped potential in the property and advocated for a more wholistic solution to fix some routing problems and address the vegetation issues With the club’s blessing he went to work reversing two holes re-wilding areas and freeing up space to move some greens and tees and create more strategy and interest Kruse lives locally and spent an unusual amount of time on site supervising the works and hand shaping contours with rakes and boards With 30 years’ experience as an associate for prominent design firms including Thomson Wolveridge & Perrett and Greg Norman Golf Course design Kruse had worked on more than 25 new courses throughout the Asia Pacific region "With the improved flora it is anticipated Killara will also become an even more important habitat for bird insect and animal fauna to emphasise the role that metropolitan golf courses can serve in maintaining the biodiversity of wildlife in a suburban setting." Killara was hardly taking a chance on selecting Kruse but as it was to be the first significant project under the banner of his own company – Kruse Golf he approached the task as if he had everything to prove Not settling for just the green re-modelling gig Kruse set out to elevate every aspect of the property; reducing mown turf in favour of naturalised areas using them to tie the playing surfaces into the surrounding landscape hiding paths and structures with strategic landscaping as well as improving sight lines and employing various strategies to visually screen out the surrounding suburb and give the new holes a natural backdrop to create a more immersive golf experience The re-wilding of the non-playing surfaces included identifying and propagating plants that are indigenous to this area of Sydney including species such as Native Bluebell (Wahlenbergia) and grasses such as Microlaena and Brown-top bent These choices have resulted in reduced inputs and costs for the greenkeepers freeing them to lavish attention on the playing surfaces while also providing the golfer with interesting texture and colour contrast to break up the otherwise featureless carpet of green turf With the improved flora it is anticipated Killara will also become an even more important habitat for bird insect and animal fauna to emphasise the role that metropolitan golf courses can serve in maintaining the biodiversity of wildlife in a suburban setting For the playing surfaces the robust and practical kikuyu was retained for the fairways while the small-leafed Sir Grange zoysia was introduced in the green surrounds and tees to create a firm and fast base on which to encourage the ground game and make use of the subtle feeding and repelling shapes around the new green complexes The introduction of zoysia was perhaps the most controversial decision of the renovation as it is unproven as a golf course turf in Sydney’s climate with several seasons of growth and play under its belt it has proven beneficial not just for the aforementioned ground game but also for its similar colour to the new Pure Distinction bentgrass greens Extending out beyond the greenside bunkers it lends the new green complexes a grander scale while also serving as a barrier to keep poa and kikuyu from invading the pristine new putting surfaces All the bunkers at Killara have been replaced and here too the club has shown an appetite for innovation The landforms are the main feature of Killara so the bunkering of the new design was an exercise in restraint with barely any fairway bunkers and the remaining greenside bunkers placed to be of strategic value while also styled to create a visual illusion of more sand than is actually there In addition to using modern capillary liner for drainage the introduction of the EcoBunker product was the key innovation that gives Killara’s bunkers their dramatic look with sand faces and sharply defined dark top lines EcoBunker is a revetting sod created using artificial turf repurposed from old soccer and tennis courts in the United Kingdom It is extremely durable and retains its form even after years of use The EcoBunker edges at Killara have had a season or two to develop some grassy moss and it is virtually impossible to identify the revetting as an artificial product Killara is an intriguing layout for being spread out among three “paddocks” separated by suburban roads “Home” is the main paddock containing the clubhouse a dam and six holes including the opening three holes as well as the final two Then comes the smallest of the three paddocks – “farm” contains four side-by-side par 4s that zig-zag down a large rectangular slope One of the best holes on the new course is a product of Kruse’s recommendation to reverse the former 5th hole which played from the western most tip of the property alongside an overgrown hazard to a raised green that was often in shade Playing now as the reversed 4th hole it is downhill and shorter than its previous incarnation but while that hole was a tedious uphill slog this new one is all fun with a tee shot into a generous landing area with interesting contours that reward a well-directed tee shot with a better angle into a charming green in front of a backdrop of dark Blue gum forest “Bradfield” is Killara’s largest paddock with eight holes from the 9th through to the 16th and the most varied terrain The previous par-3 11th was a weak hole and its removal made space for the par-5 10th green to dominate the beautiful clearing at one of the highest points of the course and a much more interesting par-3 14th was found in the bowl of land behind the 13th green Throughout the three paddocks there is a new feeling of width and scale that is all tied together with attention to detail and consistent theming in every aspect of the presentation Such grand features on a small property like Killara might have resulted in an uncomfortable But as with a portly gentleman in a too-tight suit the hand of a skilled tailor was needed to let out the seams in just the right places The course has been given a more flattering profile and a richly toned golf experience that highlights the dramatic landforms of the North Shore’s golf terrain in a sustainable setting of indigenous woodland that redefines what it means to be a Sydney parkland course WEBSITE: www.kgc.com.au DESIGNERS: Prosper Ellis (1965); Harley Kruse (2019) Sir Grange zoysia (greens surrounds and tees) VISITING GOLFERS: Killara is a private club but interstate and overseas visitors can contact the club regarding tee times MEMBERSHIP: Killara offers membership options to suit all golfers as well as those interested in a non-playing membership ACCOLADES: Debuted at No.85 in Golf Australia magazine’s Top-100 Courses for 2022 could be topped againJonathan Chancellor This incredible Killara estate has sold for a record price Killara has been a very active ­market amid Sydney’s mild winter The highlight was this week’s whisper quiet record price but a bullish $16 million plus was being sought through Knight Frank Prestige Residential agent Adam Ross Nothing had challenged Killara’s record price since 2012 with its nearby $11.5 million sale by tech entrepreneur pioneer Daniel Petre to Anita Cunliffe the ­former UBS managing director who is now the Barrenjoey Capital executive chair was a 5533sqm heritage-listed estate with an expanded 1920s bungalow-style house MORE: Inside Karl Stefanovic’s waterfront mansion Nicole Kidman leads celebrities moving to this NSW region 18 year-old buys $5m Sydney mansion The six-bedroom home is one of the North Shore’s best The Stanhope Road home could break the record again This week’s sale at 31 Springdale Rd was a six bedroom which was marketed as one of the North Shore’s most impressive contemporary ­estates with Peter Fudge garden rooms plus tennis court and pavilion the 1903 Arts and Crafts Federation home on a 3048sqm Springdale Rd holding had been the highest sale in the interim at $11 million last November when offered through Ray White for the first time in 85 years Just how long the record holds will be interesting as Black Diamondz Property has put an $18 million asking price on its Stanhope Rd seven bedroom seven bathroom offering (see Best Homes opposite) with strong Versace-style interior decor on the 2020 national top 10 of strongest price growth suburbs and that came without any overseas migration International-style listing sell through Di Jones North Shore agent David Howe for $2.97 million Designed by architectural pioneer Sydney Ancher on Maytone Ave the cube-style Hamill House sold in just 13 days denying architectural aficionados the chance to inspect The home on 765sqm had last traded in 2005 for $940,000 Ancher pioneered modern domestic architecture A grand East Killara estate where the late iron ore mining magnate Lang Hancock famously married his housekeeper has come to market with a guide of more than $20m the home was owned by Mr Hancock’s lawyer Carnegie Fieldhouse who hosted Mr Hancock’s controversial 1985 wedding to Rose Lacson now Australia’s richest person with an estimated fortune of more than $31bn They had a glamorous and tumultuous marriage that lasted until his death in 1992 Some three months later his widow married Hancock’s long-time friend William Porteous MORE: Mystery behind mid-century time capsule Shock time it takes to save a home deposit Businessman Lang Hancock with wife Rose at their Dalkeith Home in Perth in 1987 Rose and Lang Hancock in kiss in a photo believed to be taken at their wedding House Of Hancock stars Sam Neil as Lang Hancock and Peta Sergeant as Rose Hancock The love affair between the head of the Hancock dynasty and his former housekeeper formed the basis of a fictionalised television series called House of Hancock that screened in 2015 on Channel 9 If only the walls of Wharncliffe could talk Steven Chen and Michael Chen, of The Agency, have been appointed to sell the property by the current owners, who have held 78a Springdale Rd for more than 10 years Steven Chen says the owner loves the history of the home and has meticulously preserved it The lavish ballroom (pictured left) where the Hancock-Lacson wedding took place is identical Wharncliffe came to market on the weekend and he says they received about 80 inquiries within the first few days of listing It has been viewed on realestate.com.au more than 2700 times the sandstone home is certain to shatter its own suburb price record – set in 2010 when it traded for $7.8m Mr Chen says the home is a magnificent estate on about 7500sq m of land The house offers some 1400sq m of internal living space and there is an approved DA plan to add another 6000sq m of living space and accommodation You’re buying plenty of history with this home He says the additions are sympathetic to the grand 1930s Georgian architecture of the existing home.Mr Chen says there have already been a number of inspections on the property and there are at least two very serious local buyers looking at it “I don’t think it will stay on the market for long,” he says “The market is nice and strong and there are a lot of local buyers looking to upsize.” Other features of the estate include a championship-sized tennis court with clubhouse MORE: From £4,450 to $4m: Bronte beauty finally for sale Blue chip waterfront sells $3m over guide Great Bondi sell off: Owners band together for max impact The Weekly SOURCE is published by DCM Media This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page This cracking northern Sydney home combines old world charm with new world needs including a wine cellar that would make Dan Murphy blush A grand masterpiece is located in Killara’s Golden Triangle and has arrived on the market with a price guide of $9.5m Brought to market by LJ Hooker real estate agent Jing Peng, the five-bedroom, four-bathroom property at 34 Arnold St Killara was initially constructed in the 1930’s – and has since been upgraded and extended “The 1930s home has the classic frontage and a rear extension which is an architect masterpiece It is the perfect blend of modern and conventional – both features are very impressive,” Ms Peng said “It has a north aspect with a panoramic outlook across the beautiful grounds From the rear balcony you can see the tennis court and swimming pool – it is an incredibly private setting.” Another stunning feature of the property is the 600-bottle wine cellar which offers glass finishes and an area for private entertaining or wine tasting The home attracted a high number of enquiries when it arrived on the market a prospective buyer can really get a feel for the space in the property,” Ms Peng said Your local bottle-o looks a bit ho-hum by comparison “A family could stand on the balcony and look out over the lush gardens behind the home and feel like they are the Royal Family waving to the public.” “Killara’s a nice family suburb and an ultra modern home like this is unique with all its luxury offerings.” the home features top of the range finishes and fixtures The signature of the residence is the design of the rear pavilion that contains vast living and entertainment spaces in addition to floor-to-ceiling windows It also offers a stunning escape from the outside world presenting total privacy with an oversized dressing room with bespoke wardrobes and shelving the home offers easy and private access to the front patio for undisturbed business meetings Harley Kruse has completed a comprehensive renovation project at Killara Golf Club The Sydney club has introduced sandbelt-inspired bunkers All eighteen green complexes have been rebuilt Kruse’s project involved the reconstruction of all eighteen green complexes rebuilding some fairway bunkers and the elimination of a par three while bringing a spare hole into the normal rotation “Greens were suffering; the rootzone wasn’t good and they were all poa,” said Kruse We have increased them to an average size of 500-550 square metres with lots more interest; we’ve also taken out 300 big trees and opened up the vistas.” The bunker style created by Dr Alister MacKenzie and his collaborators Alex Russell and Mick Morcom for Melbourne sandbelt courses such as Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath They wanted to introduce a similar bunker style but the clay soil at Killara meant that was going to be difficult course manager at Ellerston Golf Club Rod Hinwood provided a solution after he demonstrated the successful results that Ecobunker was delivering on his bunker edges which had previously been vulnerable to erosion “It occurred to me that we might be able to do something similar at Killara and thus be able to get the edging treatment that we wanted,” said Kruse The bunkers are now lined with Capillary Concrete and feature a 40-centimetre-high lip constructed using the Ecobunker Advanced synthetic bunker edging system The sand is flashed up the Ecobunker wall – held in place by the Capillary Concrete – and the bunker surrounds can be mowed right to the edge because of the strength the Ecobunker and Capillary Concrete underpinnings provide “Ecobunker was designed from the outset to give architects the maximum freedom to create the bunker shapes they wanted,” said Ecobunker CEO Richard Allen “The work that Harley has done at Killara is a classic example of that the principal reason was to see the sandbelt bunkers up close; the fact that our product has allowed a great architect to create similar bunkers on unsuitable soil is fantastic This style of bunker has long been something of a ‘holy grail’ for a lot of golf courses that simply haven’t been able to implement it because of their soil conditions they can see a proven solution that will allow them to do so.” Kruse said: “If we had tried to do that edge using the site soils Getting that stable lip in clay soils is very difficult to achieve which landed it on the national top 10 list of strongest price growth suburbs for 2020 On Saturday, a stunning c1920 Arts and Crafts estate on 1429sqm at 8 Nyora St topped the upper north shore’s sales results selling under the hammer for a whopping $7.1 million MORE: Surf legend rides high on massive sale Family with 16 kids pays $1m over reserve The result was well over the guide of $6.25 million to $6.75 million said there were three bidders – all local families – chasing the home “It’s such a beautiful home and it deserved to get a good outcome,” he said “The owners have really cherished the home and it was one of those homes that was a privilege to represent.” Mr Farquhar said it was the highest under the hammer sale in Killara since 2017 east-side quality character homes in this area are highly sought-after and don’t last long,” he said “The depth of demand from purchasers is phenomenal.” He is seeing this demand first-hand. Just days after he listed 43 Greengate Rd, Killara on the internet which has a similar price guide to 8 Nyora St to even make it to its first open house this weekend “I would expect I will be putting the sold sign up before then,” he said The property sold on May 5 for an undisclosed price The Nyora St property might be the top reported result, but 50 Stanhope Rd, Killara also sold this week for an undisclosed price The identity of the buyer has also been kept hush hush The home had a price guide of $6.5 million to $7 million and settlement will reveal whether it sold in this vicinity The latest realestate.com.au’s Market Trends report reveals Killara’s median house price has grown by an impressive 27 per cent in the past three months and 22 per cent in the past 12 months The early 1930s home at 50 Stanhope Rd is a feast of Neo-Georgian style with Spanish influences and hints of Art Deco detailing then that would be because it has features in many of the top home magazines The home has been meticulously restored and rejuvenated by renowned designer Brendan Wong “It was a great privilege to restore the grandeur and grace of this Killara jewel and complement its classically handsome bones with contemporary comforts,” Mr Wong said “I am unable to comment further on the sale but it was an honour to sell such a stunning home,” she said Latest data from realestate.com.au’s Market Trends Report shows this demand is continuing to push prices up in Killara The median house sale price now sits at $3.3 million which represents a three-month growth of 27 per cent and a 12-month growth of 22 per cent Sale stock is still tight – according to realestate.com.au there are just 22 houses on the open market SIGN UP HERE FOR THE NSW REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER This controversial estate is soon to be re-auctioned in Whitebridge An incredible sprawling manor with a contentious history will soon go to auction in Newcastle after sitting on the market for over three years The Killara Estate in Whitebridge was the home of failed James Estate wine entrepreneur David James and his estranged wife Trudy James (nee Douglas) The estate has been on the market for over three years The original asking price for the property at 30 Burwood Rd was said to be around $8 million when it was listed back in 2016 It was passed in at auction in 2017 with a rumoured sale taking place sometime afterwards that did not proceed due to legal battles over the negotiated price of $4.2 million which the owner said was well under the value of the property The estate then went back on the market in February 2018 with reports from the Newcastle Herald saying that the guide had been readjusted to$6.1 million Selling agent Andrew McGrath from First National Blacksmiths did not respond to inquiry as to whether the guide had changed in recent times The property overlooks the beautiful Dudley beach Like something from an episode of Downton Abbey It appears that the owners are now giving an auction another crack with the ad listing showing a new date set for Friday The 8631sqm home at 30 Burwood Rd needs to be seen to be believed Set on a secluded escarpment that overlooks Glenrock State Conservation area and the pristine Dudley Beach the Old World home includes 20 ft handcrafted ceilings five custom-sourced fireplaces and 32 French doors Enter the property via a private circular driveway lined with manicured gardens to arrive at a charming wraparound veranda and double doors that lead to another world Inside there is a formal lounge and banquet hall Further inside there are five-bedrooms with cedar built-ins 10-car garage and a huge pool overlooking the spectacular bush and coastline Killara is for sale with Andrew McGrath from First National Blacksmiths and will go to auction on Friday but only after topping their own bid by $50,000 The five-bedroom house at 2 Jindalee Place, which had an auction guide of $3 million, attracted five registered buyers, including upsizers and first-timers who had help from the Bank of Mum and Dad. and rose in mostly $25,000 increments as four active buyers competed But it stalled at $3.4 million when the auction turned into a protracted negotiation between the top bidder who bid against themselves by another $50,000 who eventually reduced their reserve to $3.5 million to meet the market where the hammer eventually fell The successful purchasers have owned elsewhere before who declined to reveal the initial reserve said the market has changed again and sellers need to adjust their expectations Anyone who wants to sell needs to be realistic The crazy sales from the beginning of this year I don’t think is there anymore We are seeing the market changing,” Cao said “I haven’t had a tough auction like this for a while The result is still strong compared to last year but to get there I had to work really hard to meet the reserve.” The best homes for sale in Sydney right now Vaucluse: One of Sydney’s most expensive suburbs where prices keep rising Kingscliff: This ‘burb does beach better than Ken The home last sold for $1.62 million in 2014 The East Killara auction was one of 729 scheduled in Sydney on Saturday Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 75 per cent from 432 reported results Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate In Ryde, a new duplex at 15 Providence Road sold to a young professional couple for $2,502,000. 3 Baths2 ParkingView listing The five-bedroom three-bathroom house was guided at $2.3 million and had five registered buyers Bidding started at $2.2 million and increased as three parties fought it out who had missed out several times elsewhere outbid a family downsizing from Hunters Hill Developers bought the property in 2021 for $2.4 million It sold through Peter Grayson of Bresic Whitney Hunters Hill A Tamarama house with stunning ocean views has sold for $13.55 million more than tripling in price in less than a decade The four-bedroom home at 12 Thompson Street had a price guide of $12.5 million to $13 million. 3 Baths1 ParkingView listing A crowd of about 30 watched the action and three buyers registered to bid All were locals looking to upsize in the same suburb with spirited bidding from two buyers pushing the price higher than the reserve which selling agent Ben Collier of The Agency Eastern Suburbs declined to disclose after last trading for $3,605,000 in December 2015 It certainly helped that on a day like today when it was clear skies,” Collier said two units in Crown Gardens have sold as part of a deceased estate for a total of $2,897,000 A one-bedroom unit at 24/63 Crown Street, was guided at $800,000 and drew seven registered buyers. They were a mix of first-home buyers, owner-occupiers and investors. Five of them were active during the auction. 1 Bath1 ParkingView listing It sold for $962,000 to an owner-occupier who will use it as their home and an investment Meanwhile, the two-bedroom unit at 303/63 Crown Street was guided at $1.75 million and attracted three registered buyers. But only two – both downsizers – were active. It sold for $1,935,000 to an out-of-area couple. The reserve was $1.85 million. 2 Baths1 ParkingView listing The home last sold for $830,000 in 2005 The $973,000 sale price difference was attributed to 303/63 Crown Street being more than twice the size and having an extra bedroom and bathroom. 2 Baths1 ParkingView listing Selling agent of Morton Woolloomooloo Amanda Clement said the building was popular among buyers due to its location and amenities. “It does appeal to a lot of people in the area. There’s a lot of people who have it as their Sydney pad. The second home was about two times larger, and it had a bigger wrap around balcony,” Clement said. She said while first home buyers were more sensitive to mortgage rates, downsizers were not. “We’re just lucky that today most people weren’t relying on finance. But for anyone in the market like the first-home buyers, it’s not easy.” It took the Olympic sprinter all of 17 days to flip his newly purchased mansion in Killara but at a cost to his bank balance given a hefty $720,000 stamp duty bill Tudor-style house in Killara resold this week for $11.6 million Former Olympic sprinter Matt Shirvington has his Mosman home for sale for $12.5 million.Credit: Getty Images The Seven sports presenter bought the heritage-listed Tudor-style residence with tennis court and pool author Jessica Shirvington for $11.2 million exchanging on it in May and settling on it on November 1 The six-month settlement no doubt gave the couple time to sell their Mosman home currently on offer for $12.5 million with Atlas’s Michael Coombs Sotheby’s Ben Cohen looks to have had a buyer ready to pay $11.6 million for the Shirvingtons’ Killara house which will at least cover a good slap of his stamp duty who is trading up from a Roseville house bought just two years ago for $5 million Barford was built in 1931 for Sir Warwick Fairfax and last traded in 1988 when bought by Ian Joye.Credit: Tech billionaire Scott Farquhar is by all accounts happily ensconced in the Bellevue Hill trophy home Barford as a renter but would take it off the hands of businessman Ian Joye for the right price Atlassian co-founder and co-chief executive Scott Farquhar.Credit: Oscar Colman judging by rumours that Joye wants $130 million and Farquhar would prefer to pay something more modest and Farquhar’s spokeswoman hasn’t clarified matters saying only that “he does not comment on rumours” which translated might mean just that the Atlassian co-founder hasn’t completely walked away from a deal Farquhar has a predilection for Fairfax family trophy homes. He paid $71 million in 2017 for another Fairfax family member’s home, Elaine, in Point Piper, which has been left languishing since 2020 when he withdrew his partial knock-down-rebuild of the property Marine Parade at Wategos Beach is arguably the state’s most expensive street north of Sydney so when one of the dozen houses that front the beach come up for sale high-end house shoppers tend to get excited There are 12 houses (and two hotels) that front Wategos Beach on Marine Parade one of which one is owned by John and Ilone Small (indicated) Retired graziers John and Ilone Small have owned their classic beach shack there since 1997 paying $1.225 million from the family of the late Eric Gilchrist granddad to near neighbour and F45 co-founder Adam Gilchrist McGrath’s Will Phillips has teamed up with his eastern suburbs-based brother PPD’s Alexander Phillips to take buyers through it amid talk it will hit the market officially in the new year There’s no guide at this stage, but the $22 million purchase in 2020 by Ripcurl’s Brian Singer a few doors away will no doubt set expectations Good news on the home front for Hillsong’s Brian Houston and his wife Bobbie with a sold sticker plastered on their Glenhaven home of the past almost 30 years Hillsong founder Brian Houston resigned as pastor earlier this year.Credit: Getty Louis Carr’s Paul Woolford had a $4.5 million guide but it will be left to settlement to reveal the result given no disclosures on the price The couple purchased the gated estate in 1993 for $165,000 Houston has been touring the US since he resigned as the church’s Global Senior Pastor earlier this year returning recently to face allegations he concealed child sexual abuse crimes committed by his late father currently on offer for $12.5 million with Atlas\\u2019s Michael Coombs Sotheby\\u2019s Ben Cohen looks to have had a buyer ready to pay $11.6 million for the Shirvingtons\\u2019 Killara house There\\u2019s no sign a deal has been struck and Farquhar\\u2019s spokeswoman hasn\\u2019t clarified matters saying only that \\u201Che does not comment on rumours\\u201D which translated might mean just that the Atlassian co-founder hasn\\u2019t completely walked away from a deal Farquhar has a predilection for Fairfax family trophy homes He paid $71 million in 2017 for another Fairfax family member\\u2019s home which has been left languishing since 2020 when he withdrew his partial Marine Parade at Wategos Beach is arguably the state\\u2019s most expensive street north of Sydney McGrath\\u2019s Will Phillips has teamed up with his eastern suburbs-based brother PPD\\u2019s Alexander Phillips to take buyers through it amid talk it will hit the market officially in the new year but the $22 million purchase in 2020 by a few doors away will no doubt set expectations Good news on the home front for Hillsong\\u2019s Brian Houston and his wife Bobbie with a sold sticker plastered on their Glenhaven home of the past almost 30 years Louis Carr\\u2019s Paul Woolford had a $4.5 million guide Houston has been touring the US since he resigned as the church\\u2019s Global Senior Pastor earlier this year If you are looking for the perfect property in which to self-isolate it’s hard to go past the Williams’ family home at Killara Not only is it an impressive home with five bedrooms MORE: Buyers get upper hand at auctions Best suburb to be a homeowner The $60,000 solar and battery storage system includes two home battery storage solutions that have helped the family slash their power bills by thousands of dollars every year It’s been a labour of love for Mr Williams who is also the CEO and founder of Natural Solar the family’s power bill was on average about $2000 a quarter “We are for the most part entirely self sufficient now,” he said “Our electricity bills are often in credit and the most we have had to pay is $150.” The system is useful in times of neighbourhood power outages and has already been tested a few times this year “The whole street goes out and our lights are still on,” Mr Williams said Another major bonus of the system is that it is built to last decades He expects it will pay for itself in six to seven years have also undertaken extensive renovations to the home which they have owned for about seven years He said the home was designed to be family friendly The home had definitely been put to the test during the current coronavirus lockdown The level yard and pool have been great for keeping them active and there is plenty of room inside to spread out and a space for their eldest son to keep up with his school work has a northeast-to-rear aspect and is located in a quiet cul-de-sac but still within easy reach of Chatswood and Macquarie Park The property is for sale by negotiation, though Scott Phillips, of McConnell Bourn and inspections are by private appointment SIGN UP HERE FOR THE NSW REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER