Timber look DecoBatten® was integrated into the facade of the home to create a stunning design that delivers a contemporary touch while adding functionality and privacy With the home located close to the shores of Iron Cove a durable finish was required to counter the effects of the ocean air 27 Apr 2025 • 2m read • View Author Designed by Micrah Projects, this stunning boutique Lilyfield home radiates resort-style living with an ultra-modern look. This warm home build is designed with a custom-edge silhouette and has been meticulously crafted with every detail perfectly executed. The façade has been fully fitted in a range of DECO's ever popular DecoBatten™ profiles finished in the DecoWood® natural Curly Birch timber finish, making for a contemporary yet warm and welcoming home. With the ease of installation and design flexibility DecoBatten™ provided, Micrah Projects' builder, Najib Rahme, decided to incorporate the radius DecoBatten™ for the fencing too. This creates a unique feature, which ties the full design together exquisitely. Micrah Projects was able to incorporate DecoBatten® QuickClick™ 50 x 80mm radius batten and 50 x 50mm square battens for a show-stopping design that also incorporates functionality and privacy. With the home positioned just 300 metres from the shores of Iron Cove, a durable finish was required to counter the effects of the ocean air. "This was the first time we have used a DecoWood® product, and it definitely won't be the last. DecoWood® provides an amazing range of profiles that adds flexibility and durability to your project without compromising the natural look of timber," says Rahme. The covered terrace also features DecoBatten® with a completely integrated barbeque station wrapped in the aluminium battens, which offer a safe, non-combustible timber-look option and are a breeze to wipe clean. DecoBatten® is 100% solid aluminium and certified non-combustible, with a reputation for its unmatched brilliance in durability whilst still providing a modern, lasting appearance. Using DecoBatten®’s latest profile on The Seaside Sanctuary Solid Nordic softwood in interior design: Sustainable solutions for joinery, flooring and wall panelling Construction of resort-style clubhouse begins at AVID’s over 50s lifestyle precinct in Fraser Coast Sign up to our newsletter for the latest industry news, products and inspiration. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time After 15 years behind the camera as a director Jeremy Sims is returning to the other side “I’m literally terrified because there’s a whole bunch of different sets of skills so I’ve got great anxiety about learning my lines and all of that stuff Luke Bracey and Zac Burgess will star in season two of The Artful Dodger who has spent the last few years directing Seven’s RFDS has been cast in season two of Disney’s The Artful Dodger along with fellow Australian stars Luke Bracey who has carved a solid career in Hollywood who played the older Eli Bell in Netflix’s hit series Boy Swallows Universe who arrives in Australia looking for a new life “We have such beautiful old buildings here in Sydney and it’s nice to be around the old sandstone,” said Bracey Hacksaw Ridge and the remake of Point Break “I grew up in a house with a sandstone foundation which is set in the 1850s and reimagines the life of Charles Dickens’ infamous pickpocket in the heritage-listed precinct of Callan Park in Lilyfield A Hollywood-style backlot has been created with new sets meaning the majority of the show will now be shot in one place props and production offices will also be located at the park Filming on the Callan Park set of The Artful Dodger in season one Some exteriors will still be filmed at the Darling Point mansion Swifts and on the harbour, but Port Victory hospital, which had previously been situated in a shed in Parramatta A walk around the site on Thursday showed new locations including a market square and the ramshackle port “What’s unique about this project for filmmakers is that they’re getting to practice parts of their craft that on other series shot in Australia you just don’t,” said Jo Porter the show’s executive producer and managing director of Curio Pictures the size of the extra scenes [it’s really unusual] Disney has given us the ability to really tell a story at scale The Artful Dodger, however, is not the most expensive series shot in Australia. That honour goes to the $300 million series Nautlius, which Disney dumped in 2023 as part of aggressive cost-cutting The series then resurfaced on Stan* late last year The new trio of leading men join returning lead Thomas Brodie-Sangster who has reinvented himself as surgeon in Port Victory in Australia while Australian actor Maia Mitchell plays Lady Belle Fox an aspiring surgeon and Dawkins’ love interest Thomas Brody-Sangster (left) as Dr Jack Dawkins and David Thewlis as Fagin in The Artful Dodger The Artful Dodger is the fourth high-profile shoot to take place at Callan Park with Paramount+ series Playing Gracie Darling and Amazon Prime Video’s adaption of Richard Flanagan’s 2014 Booker Prize winner The Narrow Road to the Deep North also calling the site home which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year Season one of The Artful Dodger is Disney’s top local original and has been nominated for seven AACTA awards best casting in television and best production design in television According to Screen Australia’s annual Drama Report Hollywood’s 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes had a delayed impact locally pushing screen production in Australia to its lowest level since the beginning of COVID The sector recorded expenditure of $1.697 billion in 2023-24 which was down 29 per cent on the previous year when $2.385 billion was spent making film and television drama and comedy in this country including both local content and offshore (primarily Hollywood) productions *Both Stan and this masthead are owned by Nine Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Swifts mansion was in Darlinghurst \\u201CI\\u2019m terrified,\\u201D he said \\u201CI\\u2019m literally terrified because there\\u2019s a whole bunch of different sets of skills so I\\u2019ve got great anxiety about learning my lines and all of that stuff who has spent the last few years directing Seven\\u2019s RFDS has been cast in season two of Disney\\u2019s The Artful Dodger who played the older Eli Bell in Netflix\\u2019s hit series Boy Swallows Universe the brother of Port Victory\\u2019s governor \\u201CWe have such beautiful old buildings here in Sydney and it\\u2019s nice to be around the old sandstone,\\u201D said Bracey \\u201CI grew up in a house with a sandstone foundation which is set in the 1850s and reimagines the life of Charles Dickens\\u2019 infamous pickpocket Some exteriors will still be filmed at the Darling Point mansion Swifts and on the harbour \\u201CWhat\\u2019s unique about this project for filmmakers is that they\\u2019re getting to practice parts of their craft that on other series shot in Australia you just don\\u2019t,\\u201D said Jo Porter the show\\u2019s executive producer and managing director of Curio Pictures the size of the extra scenes [it\\u2019s really unusual] is not the most expensive series shot in Australia That honour goes to the $300 million series Nautlius which in 2023 as part of aggressive cost-cutting an aspiring surgeon and Dawkins\\u2019 love interest with Paramount+ series Playing Gracie Darling and Amazon Prime Video\\u2019s adaption of Richard Flanagan\\u2019s 2014 Booker Prize winner The Narrow Road to the Deep North also calling the site home Rebel Wilson\\u2019s directorial feature debut Season one of The Artful Dodger is Disney\\u2019s top local original Hollywood\\u2019s 2023 writers\\u2019 and actors\\u2019 strikes had a delayed impact locally streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. The Roche Group has secured approval for its mixed-use development in Lilyfield, marking a significant milestone for the prime site at 469-483 Balmain Road, opposite Callan Park The approved plans allow for the construction of 89 apartments and 1,200 sqm dedicated to creative purposes on the 6,824 sqm site Five per cent of the residential units will be allocated for affordable housing The development will include six residential buildings The proposal also features the creation of a publicly accessible area situated behind the existing historic bakery building on the site The project aims to enhance the industrial employment offerings in the area and introduce new urban living opportunities Designed by the architecture firm CHROFI the development will blend residential and industrial spaces fostering a community where people can live and work The design includes a 'Super Shed' and a 'Small Shed,' each carefully articulated to ensure good access to outlook along with the retained character buildings from the early 1900s are intended to create a cohesive and vibrant precinct that connects new and old architecture The heritage impact statement prepared by NBRS notes that while the character buildings have undergone significant modifications over the years they remain an important aspect of the site’s history originally constructed for the Pilchers Bakery Company will be preserved as part of the development maintaining a link to the area's industrial past With the approval now in place, the Roche Group's vision of a dynamic mixed-use precinct in Lilyfield is set to contribute to the ongoing revitalisation of the area We're on a mission to radically improve the quality of Urban communities being developed across Australia We aim to showcase every development in Australia to help you find the perfect new home Auctioneer Damien Cooley sells inner west gem at auction A rocky start at an Inner West auction has ended successfully With three registered bidders and two active the auction at 1 Morton St Lilyfield was looking slightly “sketchy,” as a hesitant second bidder began to stall at the $3.36m mark said this was typical of bidder behaviour in the current climate “There is a tendency for buyers to not be so forthcoming to keep their hands in their pocket not wanting to be the first person to make the bid or in this case MORE: ’Game changer’ could solve big housing problem “When we called it on the market at $3.36m that really encouraged both of the buyers who had already competed to put all their cards on the table,” Mr Cooley said After multiple $10,000 bids and a final $5,000 effort the winning bidder who wished to be known as Mr Ali “It was a little bit more than we had hoped to pay but it’s a lovely location so it’ll be worth it in the long-term,” Mr Ali said He and his wife chose the property for their family for the “beautiful view and location,” as the property overlooked the bay and backed onto Leichardt Park MORE: Billionaire chicken heiress sells ‘private sanctuary’ Lead agent CobdenHayson’s Ben Southwell said the auction was “fun,” with “a bit of old Australian charm.” they’re just good people … everyone talked about how much they loved the house and saying they felt like it has been loved,” he said It was an emotional sale for both the owners and the tight-knit street “One of the neighbours burst into tears when they heard they were leaving … and even the cat is almost like a neighbourhood cat “(The seller) is a lovely lady and its great to see good things happen to good people,” he said Vendor Jenny Boller and her daughter Coco Paige although “very sad,” to say goodbye Ms Boller revealed her dream price was $3.5m and she was particularly pleased that it had sold to a family “I really didn’t want to sell it to a developer because we have had so many memories here,” she said MORE: End is nigh for stressed homeowners it’s a real community feel,” Ms Boller said selling was such a big deal we may let the dust settle and rent for a bit as we would like to stay local.” Both Mr Cooley and Mr Southwell revealed that they felt it was a good market at the moment that was levelling out for both buyers and sellers in a lot of cases properties are still getting good prices its not that they’re selling for significantly less its just a little bit harder to find that buyer and get that bid,” Mr Cooley said MORE: UFO cult’s dark history exposed amid $9m plan 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. It’s the rather unglamorous and uncomfortable side of Married at First Sight that the show’s producers don’t want you to know about It’s the rather unglamorous and uncomfortable side of Married at First Sight that the show’s producers don’t want you to know about and the contestants don’t want to talk about In an unassuming corner in Sydney’s Inner West the MAFS stars suffer some of their most awkward and embarrassing moments on the show While the majority of scenes are filmed at stunning country locations beautiful harbourside lookouts and luxury hotels some of the most consequential and controversial moments are shot in an unassuming warehouse in Lilyfield MORE: Nude artist’s $12m problem The commercial space is reserved by Endemol Shine from October through January for a cost of around $7000 a week Through the confines of the small screen the bland Lilyfield warehouse looks like a top notch building for the show’s stars and also the experts viewing all the action from another room But somewhat similar to the art of styling a home for sale or rent it’s the imagination of those working with the space and furniture that make it what it’s good for MORE: Ellen DeGeneres’ $54m Trump fail But it’s also not great for your nerves or comfort apparently the space only has one toilet for all the contestants – so think nightclub toilet queues squared Meanwhile many of the walls are fake so privacy could also be a concern so it can become uncomfortably hot in the warmer months when MAFS is filmed Tenants are advised to bring their own portable air con units at this time All in all it is a rather spartan space on the industrial space – not like something out of the Oscars or Golden Globers sterile space rented for a variety of uses MORE: Mike Tyson blows $21m fight prize and ample space to play in,” promotional material for the space owned by the NSW Government company Legs on The wall “Our studio has been home to arts rehearsals A floor plan for the space notes one ‘private accessible bathroom” located at the top of the stairs The space sits in the old Parachute Regiment building that dates back to the 1940s MORE: Simple task Gen Z can’t do In order to make the 1200 sqm space more aesthetically friendly for TV audiences furniture is hired to create the intimate and romantic scenes desired Soft lighting and clever camera angles also allow the show’s makers to disguise the real nature of the warehouse Parts of the set are built just for the show including the sliding door contenstants enter through at the beginning of the ceremonies MORE: Changes Trump has already made to ‘new home’ realcommercial.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. MORE: Nude artist’s $12m problem and in MAFS’ case – that is dramatic TV MORE: Ellen DeGeneres’ $54m Trump fail apparently the space only has one toilet for all the contestants – so think nightclub toilet queues squared All in all it is a rather spartan space on the industrial space – not like something out of the Oscars or Golden Globers MORE: Mike Tyson blows $21m fight prize MORE: Simple task Gen Z can’t do MORE: Changes Trump has already made to ‘new home’ a result which surprised the selling agent The four-bedroom, 1880s home with modern extensions located at 5 Edna Street sold for almost $1 million more than the guide. Seven registered and three local families bid. $500,000 more than the guide of $3.7 million but the auction slowed at $4.5 million and then edged to the final sale price BresicWhitney Balmain listing agent Jack Parry said they had priced it with its lack of parking in mind; however the final price was similar to properties with parking “It’s almost as though people overlooked [that it lacked] parking and added that it would be possible to park in the street The home last traded in 2007 for $1.18 million The property was one of 785 scheduled auctions in Sydney on the weekend Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 69.7 per cent from 521 reported results Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate Could Sydney ever become the least affordable real estate market in the world How a Melbourne homeowner made the ‘tough decision’ In Edgecliff, a three-bedroom, three-level home at 37 Cameron Street sold for $15,000 above its $3.4 million reserve for $3,415,000. The house featured an outdoor entertaining area which flowed into the kitchen and living areas. Three registered and bid at the auction and the home was guided at $3.25 million. Bidding opened at $3.2 million and $25,000, $10,000 and $5000 bids were placed. 2 Baths1 ParkingView listing McGrath Paddington listing agent Georgia Cleary said the buyer will be living at the property The house last traded for $2.45 million in 2016 In Russell Lea, a three-bedroom house at 13 Bouvardia Street sold for $2,286,000, which was $86,000 more than its $2.2 million reserve. The guide was $2 million. 1 Bath1 ParkingView listing Seven registered and two bid on the home. The opening bid was $2,220,000. Ray White Drummoyne listing agent Mario Carbone said the first bid was “really strategic”. “[The buyer] started with a strong bid to essentially … just blow everyone out of the water,” he said. The auction was over in eleven minutes. Forty people watched the competition in the home’s courtyard. The buyers were a married couple who intended the home to be their first family home. The vendor lived in the home for 36 years. The home last traded for $175,000 in 1988, records show. AMP’s chief economist Dr Shane Oliver Sydney’s clearance rate of 69.7 per cent was a middling result. “It’s certainly not booming, but it’s not that bad either,” he said. 4 Baths4 ParkingView listing Oliver said the clearance rate was normal for May overall when considering the five-year average and excluding the pandemic period “We’re seeing higher-than-normal listings for this time of year which may be a reflection of distressed selling along with people taking advantage of the fact that prices have increased But demand seems to be keeping up with that,” he said a husband and wife on a bicycle ride stopped to watch an auction and later bid Five had registered and three bid on the beachfront building at 17 Ocean Street, which has three units on the title. Bidding opened at $3.2 million and $100,000 bids took it to $4.7 million. A pause in negotiations took the price to $5.3 million. However, the apartment block had a reserve of $6 million. The cycling duo decided to register and placed a $500,000 bid to take the price to $5.8 million. The reserve was adjusted, and it sold under the hammer. Ray White Yamba listing agent Daniel Kelly said the beachfront apartment building would be changing hands between two cattle-farming families. The building was last sold for $1,005,000 in 2000, records show. 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 NRL TV presenter Yvonne Sampson and ex-radio star Chris O’Keefe have just ploughed $3.5m into their next project together Former 2GB Drive show host Chris O’Keefe and his wife have sold in Lilyfield and bought in Balgowlah Heights They pocketed $2.53m for their three-bedroom two-bathroom inner-west property last month and bought a $3.5m three-bedroom two-bathroom bungalow on the northern beaches O’Keefe created his own news story on Friday afternoon when he resigned from 2GB having decided to open a political consultancy business MORE: Inside Hugh Jackman’s $12m Aussie holiday pad Chris O’Keefe and Yvonne Sampson have sold at Lilyfield The couple’s renovated single-level 1920s character home has three bedrooms two bathrooms and an open-plan design opening out to the rear gardens Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the unsolicited talkback callers wishing O’Keefe all the best The company was registered by Maddison Accounting Services earlier this month He began his career in 2008 with an internship at the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader before joining Channel 9 in 2012 as a reporter on the Gold Coast reporting from both Macquarie Street and Canberra and covering four state and federal elections O’Keefe only took on the 2GB Drive show in early 2023 His GfK ratings grew from a 7 per cent share of Sydney’s audience to 7.4 per cent MORE: Surprise locale crowned top Aussie holiday spot and I’m looking at what the next 10 years looks like for me and my family,” O’Keefe told listeners I’m going to open my own political and media advocacy business to help clients navigate their projects or issues through the maelstrom of government and public opinion I have decided to finish up not only in radio but in the media “As much as I have enjoyed my time here at 2GB the time is right for me to make the call to move on.” MORE: Homebuyers set to cop major blow in 2025 the couple’s renovated single-level 1920s character home in a parkside Lilyfield position has an open-plan design opening out to the rear gardens They had initially sought $2.6m to $2.7m for property MORE: Aussies ‘on edge’ as 2025 approaches The eastern suburb billionaires fighting inner west NIMBYsThe Roche brothers are struggling to overcome opposition for an apartment building in a Sydney suburb illustrating how difficult it is to increase the supply of housing SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe One of the reasons building apartments in the inner cities is so challenging is demonstrated by a six-storey project in Lilyfield Greens-voting suburb in Sydney fighting off a couple of billionaire brothers from the city’s east The Roche family – estimated wealth: $1.6 billion – have been trying for seven years to replace a graffiti-blighted former bakery and factory in Balmain Road and rental space for the local arts workers Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. 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Sydney the tides (pun intended) seem to be changing when it comes to cleaning up and reclaiming Sydney’s natural swim spots yet another formerly icky location is set to join the list – but this time it’s going down in the Inner West.  meaning you can do a Bay Run with two epic Sydney swims along the way This 61-hectare heritage park sits next to the Parramatta River and the new tidal pool will be built right on the waterfront rest easy in knowing that the water quality has been through an extremely extensive testing process before being given the tick of approval by authorities floor quality testing and river depth analysis with all us eager swimmers able to expect a plunge in the near future (an opening date is yet to be confirmed).  it’s clear that Sydneysiders of the future are looking at much cleaner waterways and plentiful more swimming spots in the natural waters that fringe this city we call home.  Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterinstagrampinterestAbout us Contact us looking for a property suitable for raising her young family a riverfront suburb tucked behind the better-known locales of Rozelle and Leichhardt “We loved the fact that Lilyfield had wider streets bigger blocks of land and easy access in and out,” she says Lots of families have discovered Lilyfield this way says BresicWhitney Balmain agent Adrian Oddi who regularly introduces Balmain and Rozelle house hunters to the suburb “There’s a lot to like about Lilyfield,” he says it gets you into the city pretty easily with some good transport links It has some bigger properties and the land size can be a little larger than in neighbouring suburbs like Rozelle.” Oddi says while pockets of Lilyfield are heritage conservation small scale developers have built contemporary homes elsewhere This mix of housing styles gives the suburb broad appeal “There can be some really nice surprises with houses here,” Oddi says Dural: The semi-rural suburb attracting new residents from all over Sydney Inside the Nino Sydney-designed Beachcomber in Faulconbridge for sale Manning Valley: The historic region filled with natural wonders and affordable homes “You might get an unexpected view of the Harbour Bridge or rear lane access parking or a lovely tree-lined street Punching above its weight when it comes to outdoor amenities Lilyfield is home to the Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre and is on the route of The Bay Run which snakes along Iron Cove Bay forming the suburb’s north-western border The 60-hectare Callan Park takes up much of the suburb north of Balmain Road and houses the NSW Writers’ Centre and the Sydney College of the Arts Sharrem considers Callan Park one of Lilyfield’s best assets “We love walking around Callan Park,” she says a bit like you’re in the middle of the country It’s a secret place only the locals seem to know about.” The Orange Grove Market is another drawcard held every Saturday on the grounds of the Orange Grove Public School and sells farm-fresh and organic produce alongside flowers The light rail network stops at Lilyfield en route to Central and the neighbouring suburbs offer plenty of choices for dining out and everyday shopping “We can walk to Rozelle and we can walk to Leichhardt it’s so easy and we don’t have the busyness of those villages,” says Sharrem who runs her floristry business from a home studio When we first moved here [in 2006] there weren’t many young families around it’s full of younger families and it feels like there’s a lot of life in the suburb.” This period cottage is brilliantly located within a stone’s throw of Blackmore Oval Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre and local shops and cafes It comes with two living areas and a courtyard facing north-east Planet Properties’ Rosalie Gordon takes the home to auction on March 26 with a guide of $1.8 million. You can walk to Orange Grove Market from this free-standing home which has off-street parking and a generous back garden There’s a galley-style gas kitchen and separate lounge and dining rooms CobdenHayson Balmain’s Benjamin Martin takes the home to auction on April 2 with a guide of $1.85 million. Renovation queen Cherie Barber has pulled her Lilyfield lolly warehouse from sale Renovation queen Cherie Barber has pulled her Lilyfield lolly warehouse from sale as she will remain in residence with her fiance Matt The Virginia Kerridge-designed home was bought from comedian Merrick Watts for $6m in 2020 Its $9m guidance was lifted it to $9.5m during the BresicWhitney marketing campaign MORE: Jerome Luai’s new luxury pad Latrell Mitchell’s new record-busting home From houso to first home at 21 for NRL young guy Mr Watts purchased the warehouse in 2009 for $2.1 million and commissioned architect Kerridge to transform it into a sustainable five-bedroom family home The finished product won multiple awards and features a 500-bottle cellar a suspended fireplace and retractable walls and roof The warehouse is noted for using natural elements Cherie Barber bought the home from comedian and radio presenter Merrick Watts for $6m in 2020 It also blends minimalist touches with original features such as the Oregon roof trusses The warehouse is also noted for using natural elements like plywood instead of plaster or gyprock for internal walls It was something that was important to Mr Watts who grew up in a mud-brick home 400-year-old ship masters were used in construction an edible garden and recycled materials such as 400-year-old ship masts According to PropTrack the median house price in Lilyfield is $2.1m down 16.4 per cent over the past 12 months Comedian Merrick Watts is a former owner of the home MORE: $65k earner’s clever move to get $1.85m in property Miles Teller set to take off from California home New twist in fraudster Melissa Caddicks’ home sell off Comedian and radio presenter Merrick Watts has shattered the Lilyfield property record with the sale of his converted warehouse Comedian and radio presenter Merrick Watts and his wife Georgie have shattered a Sydney property record following the sale of their insane converted warehouse The Lilyfield home with a 500-bottle cellar sold a week out from auction for well above the $6 million price guide While settlement will reveal the actual price CoreLogic confirms that a sale around $6 million will see the warehouse break the Lilyfield property record by nearly $2 million MORE: Best & Less to offload Sydney HQ Sellers are making $500k profits in this hot spot Looking elsewhere: home buyers snub Sydney Merrick Watts purchased the Oh Boy Candy Company warehouse in 2009 There is also a 5m high library wall and a rotating fireplace This eclipses the previous $4.415 million record set by 20 Rayner St in 2017 The identity of the new owner of the five-bedroom warehouse is unknown Phillips Pantzer Donnelley’s Alexander Phillips and Vince Licata were unable to discuss the sale due to a confidentiality agreement RELATED: Inside Merrick Watts’ insane converted warehouse The second floor features an integrated indoor/outdoor terrace and a pool The former Oh Boy Candy Company warehouse was purchased by the Watts family in 2009 for $2.1 million who then enlisted architect Virginia Kerridge to transform it into a sustainable five-bedroom family home The finished product won multiple awards and blends minimalist touches with original features such as the Oregon roof trusses The property is also noted for using natural elements like plywood instead of plaster or gyprock for internal walls something that was important to Mr Watts who grew up in a mud-brick home The kitchen features a stunning 9m long island bench Due to the warehouse being hemmed in by buildings the property looks to the sky to allow natural light to flow through It also features retractable glass walls to keep the weather out The three-storey home has the bedrooms on the ground floor and entertaining on the first floor There is also a master retreat on the second floor that has district views The kitchen has a 9m long island bench crafted from ironbark a dual fuel range cooktop and plenty of storage This space flows to an outdoor area and rooftop pool Recycled materials can be found in the bathroom There is also a dumbwaiter to transport goods between the floors a suspended Domofocus rotating fireplace and hydronic heating The Lilyfield warehouse is the most expensive residential property to sell in the inner west this year SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST NSW REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER Two brothers have purchased 197 Lilyfield Rd Three charities are set for a major financial boost following the epic auction of a rundown house in the inner west All proceeds from the sale of 197 Lilyfield Rd minus the marketing costs will be donated equally ­between RPA Cancer Research MORE: Inside Karl Stefanovic’s waterfront mansion Nicole Kidman leads celebrities moving to this NSW region 18 year-old buys $5m Sydney mansion The $1.825 million sale price has meant the three charity would ­receive a substantial boost after the deceased estate sold $375,000 above the $1.45 million reserve price Fourteen buyers registered for the virtual auction and about half took part in the fast and firey affair Auctioneer Clarence White oversaw the auction of 197 Lilyfield Rd first homebuyers and those interested in a project The two-bedroom semi was purchased by two brothers who were in the market for their first property the selling agents and other bidders with their first bid of $1.6 million This was a $200,000 jump on the previous and opening bid of $1.4 million and saw the auction held on Zoom fall into silence for several moments while buyers worked out how to combat that bid “In a hot market we find buyers will try to place a big bid like today to try to deter the competition,” Mr White said Three charities will receive the proceeds from the sale The bold bid knocked out most of competition and result in three bidders trading several blows over the rest of the auction Bidding mostly rose mostly between $10,000 and $25,000 increments said the eventual sale price was beyond what they thought was possible after a strong campaign “All feedback had been between $1.4 million and $1.5 million so this price was very unexpected,” she said In Dulwich Hill, a two-bedroom freestanding house sold at auction for $1.76 million The result for 25 Union St was $110,000 over the reserve price and was achieved following competitive bidding between four of the seven registered bidders Belle Property Drummoyne’s Antonio Ariola said bidding opened at $1.55 million and sold to a young couple upsizing Six of the seven bidders were young couples “Younger buyers are still having plenty of success in the market despite rising house prices,” Mr Ariola said Another young couple had success in Balmain with 17 Isabella St selling $1.695 million — well above the $1.55 million reserve BresicWhitney’s Andrew Liddell reported a total of eight buyers registered for the deceased estate During the campaign it had a $1.4 million price guide The Roche Group is trying again for its prime Lilyfield site on the fringe of Rozelle opposite Callan Park The Double Bay-based developer has submitted plans for a mixed-use development on their large 6,824 sqm site at 469-483 Balmain Road They're seeking to build 89 apartments and 1,200 sqm reserved for creative purposes Five percent of the apartments will be reserved for affordable housing Part of the application is to develop a publicly accessible square named Bakers Square behind the old bakery building The Urban Design Report prepared by architecture firm Chrofi said the vision of the project is to radically improve the industrial employment offer, revitalise and develop the existing local artistic community within the site, and to establish new opportunities for urban living in Sydney "The proposal will feature a dynamic and unique precinct that leverages the interaction of new and old buildings while combining a variety of employment and residential uses on a large and currently underutilised site in single ownership "At the core of this new community will be a vibrant mix of artists and residents that enjoy an urban lifestyle." They said the outcome will be an engaging blend of residential and industrial spaces that fosters a community where people can live There are six residential buildings proposed Clockwise from bottom left; Residential buildings A & B; Residential buildings A & B; Residential building C; Residential buildings D,E and F. Image credit: Chrofi Chrofi described buildings A and B as "two-of-a-kind designed to be seen in composition with the Super Shed." "These two buildings are detailed in steel to reference industrial materiality." The Super Shed is the part of the refinement of the initial proposal which has been amended since the Roche Groiup initially submitted plans back in 2016 "The design now features a ‘Super Shed’ and a ‘Small Shed’ to compliment the retained Character Buildings with each building being carefully articulated to ensure all tenancies have good access to outlook, daylight, and ventilation," Chrofi noted in their submission "The Super Shed provides large floor plates over three levels interconnected with a central atrium This organising spine provides access and egress if spaces are subdivided into smaller tenancies in the future giving the building a campus feel that will contribute a collegiate culture for tenants within the building and broader precinct "The Small Shed and retained Character Buildings each provide floor space over 2-levels providing a range of spaces for smaller scale businesses These buildings are grouped and connected by bridges to further promote a precinct/campus sensibility to the Proposal." Part of the development will be keeping the buildings that were built in the early 1900's for the Pilchers Bakery Company There were identified by the Inner West Council as 'character buildings' "The character buildings represent the earliest construction phase and comprise two-storeyed face brickwork structures with timber framed interiors and trussed gabled roofs," a heritage impact statement by NBRS stated It added however that much of the physical fabric is heavily modified from its original configuration and the site shows evidence of several periods of unrelated growth and redevelopment Renovated and extended in 2014 with open-plan living downstairs and the addition of a second floor, the property has a compact character facade that belies the family-sized floor plan. There’s not only space for families to spread out, there’s the kind of headspace and natural light that will likely lift your spirits each time you walk in the door. Jordan has given careful consideration to the placement of windows and skylights and hasn’t shied away from quirky choices like the picture window in the downstairs bathroom and the asymmetrical windows in the secondary bedroom upstairs. This kid-friendly space also comes with a built-in cubbyhouse (and there’s access through here to the attic storage). Each of the four bedrooms has a wall of built-in storage and airconditioning and Jordan has had fun using high, unconventional ceiling lines upstairs, which add character to both the upper-level bedrooms. The irregular ceiling lines continue into the upstairs living zone and the two bathrooms. The en suite to the main bedroom has a bold black and white colour scheme with timber highlights and the family bathroom is equally bold with patchwork tiles in blues and terracottas. ‘Absolute masterpiece’: Inside a tranquil architect’s own home in Beecroft ‘Sense of stillness’: Casa Campana on the market with $4m price guide Austinmer: The tight-knit coastal town drawing Sydney buyers to the Illawarra region The main living spaces are on the split-level ground floor. A marble-wrapped kitchen comes with Miele and Asko appliances and there’s extra storage space in the adjoining laundry. Bifolds open the combined living-dining room onto a small, north-facing courtyard, which is surprisingly private. The home is a gift for art lovers, with plenty of space to hang and display your favourite pieces and bucketloads of natural light. It’s also a gift for those looking for sustainability. There’s a solar system that covers all the current owners’ electricity costs and the additions have high levels of insulation, double-glazing and, says Jordan, perfectly calculated shading. “In summer at midday, the sun stops exactly at the bottom of the back bifolds, while in winter the sun streams in and nicely warms the house,” he says. Jordan describes the house as a “delight to live in” with the main bedroom one of his favourite spaces waking up looking out across the trees of Callan Park feels like we could be anywhere Jack Parry from BresicWhitney Balmain takes the home to auction on May 7 with a guide of $2.6 million. Retired Socceroo Brett Emerton has been revealed as the buyer of a block of flats in Lilyfield for $10.2 million Bankstown-born retired Socceroo Brett Emerton has bought a Lilyfield apartment block with Harbour Bridge and city skyline views for $10.2 million Updated property records for a 1970s era block of 18 flats at 31-33 Maida St show a company owned by Emerton and his wife who shared the listing with co-founder Julian Hasemer advised the annual net income from the units was $340,000 per year who resides in a huge home with city skyline views on Denham Court’s prestigious Fox Valley Rd on a 5ha block bought for $1.6 million in 2006 was an important member of Australia’s “Golden Generation” that played in the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups There are city skyline and even Harbour Bridge views from some of the apartments He retired from competitive football in 2014 after a successful career overseas that included 10 seasons with Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League He also spent three seasons at Dutch giants Feyenoord The star midfielder played 95 times for Australia He told The World Game three years ago: “I also have a huge interest in properties in which I invested a lot of money while I was playing and I have spent some time managing them.” Property records the company linked to him and his wife also owns a block of eight apartments a street back from the Bondi Beach beachfront at 17 Sir Thomas Mitchell Rd Some of the apartments have been renovated Some of the kitchens feature modern appliances They sold a commercial warehouse at 3/6-8 Grahams Hill Rd, Narellan having bought it for $258,500 three years earlier could be their most savvy purchase to date It consists of a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments: four of the 12 one bedders were renovated and four of the six two-bedders had been done up which came with 29 carparking spots including 15 lockup garages was part of the deceased estate of Bloch dancewear founder Betty Wilkenfeld The apartments are in a great position close to light rail Emerton with Southern Districts Raiders players Kaleah Gribble and Caitlin Marra last May The estate also included the four-bedroom apartment in the waterfront Wintergarden block at 4/614 New South Head Rd, Rose Bay which had been the home of the late Betty and Gershon Wilkenfeld Caldwell-Eyles and Hasemer had also been the agents for that sale which smashed the suburb apartment record when it sold for $10.25 million to Bellevue Hill mansion owner Antoinette “Popsy” Albert at a closed auction last March The Wintergarden block was developed by the late Sid Londish on the site of the 1920s Wintergarden Cinema Australian artist Jenny Orchard has listed a funky double-fronted home in the highly sought after suburb of Lilyfield The three-bedroom residences features an eye-catching mural on the front wall out there statues and numerous pieces of art throughout MORE: Inside Karl Stefanovic’s waterfront mansion Celebs flock to new hideaway to rival Byron Shed could be Sydney’s highest property sale this year Orchard who is known for her paintings, collages and ceramics, has lived at the Catherine St home for the past 30 years Artist Jennifer Orchard is selling her home at 329 Catherine Street It is now set to go under the hammer on April 3 after Ms Orchard confirmed she would be looking to downsize She has enlisted Adrian William director Adrian Tsavalas to sell the property with his colleague Josh Vela The listing comes at a time when Lilyfield has seen an 11.4 per cent increase to the median house price in the past 12 months to $1,782,500 Ms Orchard said she was sad to be bidding farewell to her long term family home which had changed vastly from when she purchased it The artist studio could be transformed into a green house The rear living space has bright pink walls “I feel the home speaks of a lifestyle that is not as frantic as the one we are experiencing at the moment,” she said “It is the sort of place where you can pick up a paint brush and go for it.” The artist added that while she has loved living there the property was in need of a renovation from the next owner but the homes does need a number of repairs,” Ms Orchard said the home has an expansive balcony at the front two living areas including one that flows out to the deck The only bathroom is off the outdoor entertaining space The home has is located on an above average parcel of land Some of the out there statues Ms Orchard has crafted Ms Orchard has also constructed an expansive glass artist studio at the rear of the property which she said could be repurposed into a green house The property is expected to attract plenty of interest in the run up to the April 3 auction from young buyers families and those looking to completely redesign or renovate the property “It would be nice to sell it to someone who doesn’t have a lot of space and appreciates the home,” Ms Orchard said The property is positioned on a 385sqm block What you will find, says Cobden & Hayson Balmain sales agent Peter Gordon is a growing number of buyers who had previously moved to large family homes on the upper north shore only to realise they preferred the location and lifestyle of the inner west “We’ve sold a number of properties recently to people who had originally left the inner city areas to move to places like Beecroft “They’re coming back while their kids are still at school trading in big backyards and swimming pools to be closer to the city.” Lilyfield is six kilometres west of Sydney’s central business district It has a light rail stop on the Dulwich Hill line Balmain and – in one of Sydney Buses’ wackier routes – Coogee via Newtown When the City West Link was built in the 1990s The northern side is more closely associated with Rozelle and Balmain while the southern side is aligned with Annandale and Leichhardt there’s easy access to the sprawling green spaces of Callan Park “There are really good streets on both sides of the City West Link,” Gordon says “The entry point for a house in Lilyfield is probably around the $1.5 million mark now for an unrenovated three-bedroom cottage on a smallish block or a nice two-bedroom semi or terrace.” On the market for the first time in more than 30 years, a double-fronted weatherboard cottage at 6 White Street, across the road from Whites Creek Valley Park, will go to auction on July 1 with a price guide of $1.675 million. Cobden & Hayson Balmain has the listing For around $1 million, a freestanding one-bedroom townhouse at 5/339 Catherine Street offers low-maintenance living in a strata development of five timber floorboards and heated bathroom floors The house will be sold at auction on July 1 through Belle Property Annandale. at a time when its neighbours have had substantial drops Take a bow, Lilyfield the newly gentrified suburb that once used to be the poor cousin of beautiful Balmain and lovely Leichhardt “It’s very unusual and it’s been hard to work out how this has happened,” says agent Simon Pilcher, of Pilcher Residential “But I think it’s been the popularity of four-bedroom and bigger houses in Lilyfield that have been strongly contested that has dragged the median price up.” prices have gone up around 10 per cent and the overall median has risen healthily too.” Someone who has had first-hand experience of that is Susan Kelly-Thwaites who put her own five-bedroom Lilyfield house on the market last June and ended up achieving $3.5 million – the second-highest price in the suburb’s history you want the space for the kids and visiting parents and there are a lot of multi-generational households “It’s a very family-oriented area and you always have tons of kids skateboarding down the street and the kids all play for local soccer clubs with a blues festival in the local park recently and it’s so close to the city and transport.” with the old Callan Park hospital becoming an arts and writers’ centre and the organic market held in the grounds of Orange Grove Public School The opening of the light-rail station in 2014 boosted home values an estimated 5 per cent The City West Link Road split the suburb in two in the 1990s as that between Sydney city and the north shore and with rivalry maybe just as implacable as that between Sydney and Melbourne “That split has given different areas of the suburb different identities,” says Mr Pilcher “And it’s very rare that people chop and change from one side to the other and don’t understand why anyone would ever want to live on the other.” Its overall median price has shown healthy growth over the last year while Leichhardt’s has dropped by 14.2 per cent Haberfield’s 7.4 per cent and Annandale’s 5.4 per cent 181 Lilyfield Road This two-storey terrace is close to Orange Grove village and would make an excellent family home with its light It has bifold doors to a rear terrace and a sunny backyard Belle Property Drummoyne are quoting a guide of $1.6 million for the April 27 auction 88 Ryan Street In a quiet location with no through-traffic – ideal for families with young children – this free-standing family house has open-plan living and dining and flows out to a balcony with views to the city It’s a short walk to the light rail and has scope to build up The price guide sits at $1.25 million, with the property being marketed by The Agency Inner West. IT SEEMS THE PAGE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HAS GONE ASTRAY GO BACK TO THE HOME PAGE A new Lilyfield home with the integrated circa 1880 Nanny Goat Hill farmhouse has hit the market with a price guide of $2.5 million Simon Pilcher and Trent Conlan of Pilcher Residential Annaandale have the listing Set on a 291 sqm level block, the home at 21 O'Neill Street comprises three bedrooms living and dining opening to deck and garden and rear access parking with motorised gate It had last sold for $1.75 million in 2016 It is located just 450m to light rail, 750m to Orange Grove Public School and just a few minutes's drive to both Leichhardt and Rozelle village A stunning home at 273 Lilyfield Rd in Lilyfield is for sale A property in the heart of the inner west that sold last year for $1.8 million is unrecognisable after returning to market this week The 379sqm Lilyfield property with dual access has been transformed into an architectural masterpiece with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows and luxury contemporary finishes It is a huge difference from the circa 1895 single-storey three-bedroom house with large backyard that previously graced 273 Lilyfield Rd According to Inner West Council development records local builder Robert Kharzoo is behind the transformation The Lilyfield Rd house is on the doorstep of the popular Bay Run and is scheduled to go under the hammer on August 27 in a virtual auction It has a $3.5 million guide and is being marketed by Pilcher Residential director Simon Pilcher and agent Trent Conlan CoreLogic reveals a sale around $3.5 million would see the house claim the second highest price paid for a property in Lilyfield this year trailing behind reno queen Cherie Barber paying a reported $6 million for the converted warehouse of comedian Merrick Watts Before: The living room used to have a fireplace and wooden floorboards Almost everything except for part of the front facade was completely gutted during the renovation and rebuild of 273 Lilyfield Rd The finished product features contemporary stylings on the inside and outside including concrete with most of the houses in the suburb generally full of heritage charm The two-storey home has an abundance of space including a mix of formal and informal living areas a breakfast bar and a hidden butler’s pantry but also windows that go from the first floor right up to the second storey The main bedroom is the size of a small apartment with features including a walk-in wardrobe The garage also has a rooftop garden with some stunning views of the house and of the surrounding district Strong interest from aspirational buyers in the inner west as well as those coming from the north shore and eastern suburbs are expected to take a shine to the Lilyfield home Those with a taste for contemporary homes are also catered for, however, in this suburb at 273 Lilyfield Road – a new build with all the hallmarks of modern living. “If you look at this section of Lilyfield near the bay, you’ll see there’s some really great properties and architecture going on. This area is going to really surprise people in the next five to 10 years in terms of what you’ll need to pay to get into it,” says selling agent Simon Pilcher of Pilcher Residential. The home is the passion project of owners with backgrounds in building and design and more than 10 property renovations under their belt. Having sold properties for the vendors previously, Pilcher introduced them to the highly-regarded local architect Justin Long. The dream team’s expertise is evident in the meticulously considered design of the home, complete with polished concrete floors, granite benchtops, floor-to-ceiling windows and a sophisticated minimalist colour palette. “What we usually do is have a plan of what we want, find a property with a northerly aspect, and then we get our architect. My wife gives the architect a brief and then, with assistance from them, I’ll come up with a design,” the owner says. “The block is a double block, so I did have an opportunity to build a duplex but we like doing something unique, different.” What will wow buyers at inspection is the double-height living room: an airy and light-filled zone. “I love seeing the expressions on buyers’ faces as they enter the main living area at the rear of the property,” Pilcher says. “Most are just mesmerised by the incredible sense of light and space. Others casually hang around in the mezzanine space looking down over the living area as they would in an art gallery, and the lucky few are found chilling out in the sun on the widow seat overlooking the pool.” All four bedrooms have built-in wardrobes and two have study nooks. The main bedroom takes things a step further with a walk-in-wardrobe, en suite with double vanity, street-facing terrace and glimmering Bay Run views. The bathrooms are beautifully finished with brass hardware and tiles from floor to ceiling. Space is reserved for a roomy laundry and a butler’s pantry, and both rooms exemplify the high quality of the sleek timber joinery throughout. The landscaping is a stroke of genius. Bamboo lines the backyard fence to provide future privacy while a garden on the rooftop of the backyard garage offers even more greenery. Lilyfield is a highly sought-after suburb, valued for its proximity to some of the best amenities the inner west has on offer. The home is walking distance from the Bay Run, Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre, Orange Grove Markets and Hawthorne Parade’s dog park. Pilcher says the home will appeal to young families looking to purchase in the area but don’t want to compromise on space. The size and style of the home has Pilcher finding it hard to wrap up inspections on time, especially once buyers discover the main bedroom. “You only get a shot at a property like this in Lilyfield every year or so at best.” A crumbling home at 16A Carrington Street in Lilyfield is on the market The real estate market is so competitive that an unliveable cottage left to rot for close to a decade has sent buyers into a frenzy The Lilyfield house is the very definition of a blank canvas with it completely stripped bare and featuring damaged floors and a ceiling that is a safety risk 16A Carrington Street has had more than 4000 page views on realestate.com.au and yielded over 250 phone inquires in the first 48 hours of coming to market The ceilings are starting to fall apart in patches Elders Inner West agent Sebastian Bonaccorso said he had not witnessed such a frenzy over a property before “I’ve never seen a campaign start this strong and with so much attention in my 37 years of selling property,” he said “Untouched gems like this rarely come up for sale in areas as good as this.” Mr Bonaccorso said the listing on the deceased estate had been a long time coming for he and his clients it has taken eight years for everything to be in order,” he said “With the market the way it is at the moment it is not a bad time to be listing as well.” the dilapidated cottage has three bedrooms there is also a second bathroom that doubles up as a kitchen with a sink and stove Demolition work has already been started too with most of the flooring already pulled up while the shag pile that remains has seen better days There is also a large piece of art hanging below a roof that is falling apart Mr Bonaccorso cautioned buyers that the Carrington Street cottage was not for the faint hearted It has taken eight years for the property to be ready to sell “It is very tired and needs a full renovation and rebuild,” he said “It is not as simple as polishing the floorboards and chucking a coat of paint on.” with the facade shredding in places while the gutters are rusted and both sheds are crumbling there is dirt which also covers the cracked concrete The majority of interest thus far is from local families after a great location to either renovate or build their dream home Mr Bonaccorso said no price guide had been set at this stage due to the uniqueness of the home He added the property was under instructions to sell at auction regardless Sydneysiders will soon be able to splash around at a new pool as the Inner West Council has won approval to build a tidal pool off Callan Park at Lilyfield The Lilyfield spot will join a wide range of new pools across the city including Barangaroo’s Marrinawi Cove and Concord’s Bayview Park.   The 50m pool will feature two floating pontoons and eight swim lanes located alongisde the Bay Run at Lilyfield.  When will this new pool be built and will it be safe for you to swim in?  host Sacha Barbour Gatt spoke to the Mayor of Inner West Council to explore the safety aspect of the plan and whether there will be shark nets or deterrent buoys to protect the pool.  Despite the local council’s assurance that the water is safe to swim We’ve now got approval from the Environmental Protection Authority All agreed that this is a safe location… In terms of the water quality and the sediment,” Byrne told This Arvo that the approval process involved two years of extensive water quality testing river depth and floor quality testing and approvals from Maritime Services and the Environmental Protection Agency He said the project would cost around a couple of million and he hoped the construction would be kicked off soon.  We want people to come there from day one once it’s opened and enjoy it without having to worry about any danger from either the water quality or from bull sharks.” Hosted by Sacha Barbour, This Arvo in Sydney is a 10 to 12 minute daily news podcast made just for Sydney! Listen now on the Listnr app. Get the latest updates direct to your inbox DIEHARD Wests Tigers fans have the chance of a lifetime — to watch every game at Leichhardt Oval live from the comfort of their own home The only catch is they will need to shell out $2.7 million for the home first although the views from the top floor bedroom may be worth it The property is at 11 Chapel St in Lilyfield which is just one street away from the spiritual home of the Tigers The house itself has five large bedrooms and four bathrooms but it is the view of the Tigers Fortress that is sure to catch the eye of buyers ●FOOTY TEAM CAN PREDICT WHERE YOU’LL MOVE ●SUBURB OF ORIGIN: QLD V NSW Fans on the hill during the Round 10 NRL match between the Wests Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval A balcony from one of the bedrooms will give the new owners the chance to soak in the atmosphere and ensure they never miss another moment of Benji Marshall magic again Leichhardt Oval has a long association with rugby league playing host to the Balmain Tigers since 1934 When Balmain merged with Western Suburbs in 1999 to create the Wests Tigers they adopted the ground as one of three home grounds and have played a portion of their home games there ever since Listing agent Adrian Oddi of BresicWhitney Balmain said the views were a bonus for most interested parties “Outside of selling the house next door 10 years ago I haven’t seen anything else with that outlook,” Mr Oddi said The house itself is full of modern luxuries There won’t be enough time for the new owners to get in before the Tigers next home game in round 16 versus the Titans but if you act quickly you could secure it and be on the balcony watching in round 23 when the Tigers take on competition favourites St George in a suburban footy showdown SIGN UP FOR THE REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER HERE breaking suburb recordJonathan Chancellor This incredible Rozelle home has smashed the suburb record Rozelle was among the many suburbs across Sydney that had ­record house sales during the past ­financial year The Harris Partners selling agents Peter O’Malley and Gavin Freidin ­recently secured $6.75 million for The Grays surpassing the prior record set in late 2019 by $1 million 1960s home comes with a domed ballroom ­extracted from the old Wentworth Hotel The 960sqm estate last sold at $650,000 in 1996 MORE: Inside Karl Stefanovic’s modest ‘mansion’ Nicole Kidman leads celebrities moving to this NSW region Rozelle’s brief record holder was former ABC chairman Justin Milne at $4.975 million which was bettered just three weeks later in October 2019 just across Clare St when $5.7 million was paid Other inner west records have included $11 million in Balmain and then $15 million on the Balmain East waterfront when Emma and Angus White the grandson of the late Lady (Nancy) Fairfax and Sir Vincent Fairfax bought a renovated 1880s maritime villa with pool It last traded in 2013 for $8.65 million when pub baron Peter De Angelis sold to Fiona Lansdown The Lansdowns then spent $8.7 million on a record Annandale sale which trumped the suburb’s $5 million record set in 2019 There are record expectations in Dulwich Hill with $5.5 million hopes for the 1880s set to better the 2016 record of another historic home One of the striking features of the boom has been the succession of ­record prices within the same suburb Justin Milne briefly held the Rozelle record Haberfield saw a record $6.25 million for a 2009-built Californian bungalow through McGrath agent Michael Tringali There had been a record $6.03 million just six days prior on the opposite side of Crescent St through Stone Real Estate Now a six-bedroom home on 1000sqm on Tomar St has been sold for an undisclosed higher price through Showcase Realty mother-son sales team Dee Why’s house price record stood at $8 million in January and last week was bettered next-door on Lookout Ave This Carlingford home also broke a suburb record It has also been the case at Pearl Beach on the Central Coast Just last spring there was the $5.805 million sale of Seascape through Stuart Gan at Central Coast Realty Last month Gan upped the record to $8.6 million Renovation queen Cherie Barber is the new owner of a converted warehouse in Lilyfield Television renovation queen Cherie Barber has been revealed as the buyer of an insane converted warehouse that sold last month for around $6 million Ms Barber snapped up the Lilyfield property owned by comedian and radio presenter Merrick Watts and his wife Georgie a week out from auction for the suburb record MORE: Breakfast Point’s last original waterfront home for sale The Sydney region home to NSW’s happiest sellers Australia’s surprise top growth suburb The Lilyfield home shattered the suburb record by around $2 million The property was sold by Phillips Pantzer Donnelley’s Alexander Phillips and Vince Licata who were unable to discuss it due to a confidentiality agreement The purchase of the former Oh Boy Candy Company warehouse follows the sale of Ms Barber’s Birchgrove waterfront home last May for $6.3 million to Julian Parisi Mr Watts purchased the warehouse in 2009 for $2.1 million and commissioned architect Virginia Kerridge to transform it into a sustainable five-bedroom family home RELATED: Merrick Watts shatters Sydney property record Merrick Watts lists insane converted inner west warehouse Cherie Barber sells impressive waterfront property The home has a suspended fireplace and a 5m high library wall Ms Barber sold this waterfront home in Birchgrove last year Ms Barber is the founder of Renovating for Profit and could add her own touches to the warehouse much like she did for her last two properties in Birchgrove that sold for $6.3 million in 2019 and $4.05 million in 2014 She had also been a regular on Network 10’s The Living Room until the show was cancelled at the end of last year Owner-occupiers competing for quality investment properties are being lured to industrial warehouse sites with one asset selling for $1.1m over reserve Spanning three land titles with a 1,485 sqm area, the property at 109-113 Lakemba St in Belmore was bought by a private investor for $4.7m This Belmore industrial site sold for $1.1m over reserve the property received 60 inquiries with three bidders looking to actively compete at the auction It was purchased by a private investor for $4.7m the successful bidder intends to occupy the property in the short-term and develop it longer-term.” “The site is strategically located within the sought-after industrial precinct located within Belmore allowing quick and easy access to major infrastructure including the M5 motorway and minutes from retail and transport amenities.” Other features of the site included a high internal clearance and container height shutters “We are delighted by the extraordinary outcome which highlights a significant disparity between the number of buyers and available opportunities in this market This imbalance has resulted in an exceptional result.” The sale of the Belmore site coincided with a Lilyfield site being listed for sale via Expressions of Interest A potential buyer had the opportunity to invest It consists of three adjoining lots with warehouses and two freestanding homes that boast residential zoning and dual street frontage They are set to be sold in online line via Raine & Horne’s Duarte Figueira and Christian Cirillo Mr Figueira said the residential zoning across the three properties and the increased floor space and height limits made it unique for commercial buyers RELATED: Latest in property values from PropTrack The commercial site at 36 Lonsdale St and 64-66 Brenan St is available via EOI with a guide of $15m “This sale represents a truly rare opportunity I cannot recall such an expansive site so close to the CBD and attractively located near quality transport links with potential that is limited only by the buyer’s imagination.” The warehouse space at 36 Lonsdale St is divided between two units of 570 sqm and 595 sqm separated by a roller door and office area – and is currently being used as a storage facility Proximity to the CBD and ample parking facilities have attracted investors to the Lilyfield site “The site’s proximity to the CBD and the ample parking facilities lends itself to a wide variety of uses such as a storage facility for fishmongers seeking space within a few minutes’ drive of Sydney Fish Markets or a service industry with a CBD or Inner West client base,” Mr Cirillo said “The residential zoning will make this site particularly attractive to developers subject to user rights Only rarely do sites of this scale and position become available for residential development in the highly sought-after Inner West This is definitely an opportunity not to be missed.” Brad Fittler’s $10m Origin loss hide-out Where Sydney home prices have doubled in just two years How you can invest in your own health Spanning three land titles with a 1,485 sqm area, the property at 109-113 Lakemba St in Belmore was bought by a private investor for $4.7m RELATED: Latest in property values from PropTrack Brad Fittler’s $10m Origin loss hide-out Where Sydney home prices have doubled in just two years How you can invest in your own health More than 50 people gathered for the auction of 30 White Street, Lilyfield a newly built home inspired by Mid Century Modern design three-bedroom house was one of more than  609 Sydney properties scheduled to go under the hammer on Saturday Domain Group had recorded a clearance rate of 62.3 per cent from 354 reported results In an increasingly rare start in Sydney’s cooling market it took just seconds for the auction to kick off with an opening bid of $2.25 million with four parties placing the first four bids as the price jumped in $50,000 It was only when bidding stalled at $2.53 million that the fifth and final bidder They traded a series of $1000 and $2000 bids with the underbidder before nabbing the home for $2,541,000 – $91,000 above reserve The result was well above Lilyfield’s median house price of $1,665,000 and the $1.4 million the 309-square-metre block last traded for just under four years ago Vendors Sue and Preston Clothier were delighted with the result but said selling the home they spent 18 months building was a bittersweet moment “We just love Mid Century Modern design,” Mrs Clothier said ‘While the house itself is modest in terms of the proportions the design makes it feel a lot bigger and makes it vibrant.”   they turned to buyer’s agent Brooke Flint of Flint Property who helped them nab the block back in 2014 This time around they were relying on her sales advisory services “We’ve bought and sold and renovated quite a bit ourselves we preferred to do it with a professional adviser,” Mrs Clothier said The couple said they decided to hold off from selling at the start of the year so as not to be competing with the big rush of properties hitting the market after the Christmas break Selling agent David Eastway of Hudson McHugh said it was a fantastic result and noted demand was still strong for good homes in desired locations That was the case at another auction in the inner west with 11 parties registering to bid on a two-bedroom waterfront apartment at Chiswick Eight of the bidders made offers on the top-floor apartment at 6/19 Bortfield Drive pushing the price $135,000 above reserve to $1,685,000 was nabbed by a couple from Queanbeyan who were after a Sydney bolthole Selling agent Ben Horwood of LJ Hooker Drummoyne/Concord said it was the highest number of bidders he had seen in months and said the property’s popularity was down to its blue-chip location It was a different story at an earlier auction he had at Concord on Saturday, with 42 Salt Street passing in without a single offer While buyers held back at the auction of the five-bedroom house Mr Horwood was negotiating with multiple parties on Saturday afternoon and expected the parkside home to sell in coming days not far off the suburb record of $4,030,000 set by a smaller nearby block last year which had the highest number of auctions after the inner west 10 groups registered to bid on a grand Victorian terrace at Crows Nest More than 150 people watched as six of the bidders competed for the keys to 98 West Street It was snapped up for $2,865,000 by a family from Mosman who plan to do some cosmetic upgrades before moving in and making larger renovations later The terrace, which last traded for $1,030,000 in 2005, sold through Brad Rogan of Belle Property Mosman In neighbouring Wollstonecraft a couple bought a two-bedroom garden apartment at 8/38 Shirley Road They beat six other registered to bidders to secure the property for $1,285,000 – $85,000 above reserve. The property was sold through Donovan Murphy of McGrath Neutral Bay Meanwhile in Neutral Bay two bidders competed for a two-bedroom apartment at 2/1 Merlin Street, which sold through Jon Snead of The Agency North for $1,142,250 SOLD $2.7 million Willoughby ​32 Robert Street 3 bedrooms SOLD $3.1million Balmain East 106 Darling Street 4 bedrooms It last traded for $2,545,000 less than four years ago SOLD $2,415,000 Cronulla ​20 Berry Street 4 bedrooms Lilyfield was another recession-proof suburb in Sydney As economists make the dire prediction that Australia could fall into a recession this year a number of suburbs have been marked as safe from any potential downturn Property advisory company Hello Haus looked at markets across the country where house values would either hold steady or increase in the event of a recession Of the top nine locations predicted to weather the storm Hello Haus founder Scott Aggett said there are a number of suburbs across Australia that would withstand the impacts of a recession Hello Haus founder Scott Aggett said the suburbs were broken down into three different price brackets – less than $750,000 Sydney’s property prices have rebounded amid a shortage of stock and returning international workers “Located three hours’ drive from Melbourne nine hours from Adelaide and 3.5 hours from Canberra Albury is positioned within relatively easy access to 75 per cent of the Australian population “There are a myriad of property types available for purchase from contemporary and established dwellings through to attached housing 66 per cent of the suburb’s population are homeowners East Albury was considered to be the most-recession proof suburb in NSW “The median house price of $700,000 would secure a lowset three or four-bed one-bath home on around 800 square metres of land.” There were a number of factors that cemented a suburb as being recession-proof This also meant that the proportion of resident homeowners exceeded 55 per cent of an individual suburb’s total population as well as recording growth figures about 7 per cent over a 10 year period Leichhardt offered a comparatively affordable entry point for the Inner West market Leichhardt ranked seventh on the list as it offers a low-entry level into the Inner West in Sydney’s property market It also has benefited from infrastructure spending and the $750m Royal Prince Alfred Hospital redevelopment the focus shifts to capital growth while maintaining a reasonable level of cash flow with a gross rental yield greater than two per cent.” The south coast town of Bulli also made the list due to its accessibility to the Princess Hwy “All the areas we’ve chosen are within a reasonable commute of a capital city or major population centre We’ve also sought locations where infrastructure spending would help drive the demand for property and inject dollars into the local economy.” Bulli ranked eighth on the list and had the highest compound growth rate over 10 years in NSW It was also popular for its beaches and a strong draw card for new residents MORE: Latrell Mitchell’s controversial farm for sale Byron prices plummet in ‘reverse Hemsworth effect’ $35m Byron Bay celebrity hideaway up for grabs broken floors and a collapsing ceiling weren’t enough to deter buyers from a rundown home in Sydney’s inner west on Saturday Ten groups registered to bid on the three-bedroom Lilyfield home on the market for the first time in almost 30 years The long-held investment property at 239 Lilyfield Road was one of more than 503 Sydney homes scheduled to go under the hammer on Saturday Domain Group had recorded a 70 per cent clearance rate from 324 reported auctions The house was divided into two separate residences I’ve never seen anything like it,” said one would-be buyer as she passed through rooms marked with signs warning people to watch their step and mind their head last home to a hoarder about five years ago Despite the challenges of the home, it took just seconds for auctioneer Craig Marshall of Savills Cordeau Marshall to take an opening bid of $1 million Bidding on the 180-square-metre block jumped up in $50,000 and $25,000 increments until hitting the $1.2 million reserve From there it went up in $10,000 and $5000 jumps with five bidders making offers before the hammer fell at $1.26 million – $60,000 above reserve It was well above the $88,000 vendor David Adams bought the property for in 1988 to get over that is just great,” said Mr Adams “[Prices in Lilyfield] have gone off the charts.” Selling agent Thomas Skelly, also of Savills Cordeau Marshall, said it was an entry-level property for the suburb. Lilyfield‘s median house price He said the effort and cost of the extensive renovations required put off many young buyers interested in the property “People were talking of spending anywhere from $100,000 to $800,000 to fix it up depending on the scope of work they wanted to do to the place,” he said “It was a bit too overwhelming for [young buyers] it’s really for somebody who is not afraid of renovating.” She was delighted to nab the home – which will be her third renovation project – after missing out at several auctions She plans to respectfully renovate it before moving in In nearby Glebe a tightly held three-bedroom terrace owned by the same family for more than a century Despite six parties registering to bid on the 130-square-metre corner block, it came down to a two-man race for 1 Darghan Street After an opening offer of $1.2 million was knocked back for being too low From there bidding jumped to $1.62 million It then dropped to smaller $5000 and $1000 increments until it sold Selling agent Eleanor Fitzpatrick of Ray White Glebe said the buyers were a local family who planned to renovate the original-condition home before moving in In Surry Hills, there were roughly 140 bids for a modern three-bedroom terrace at 619 Bourke Street before it sold under the hammer Bidding on the 158-square-metre block started at $2 million and went up in $50,000 and $25,000 increments as six of seven registered bidders vied for the keys By the time bidding reached about $2.45 million it was down to just two parties who tried to outbid each other with $1000 jumps until the property sold for $2,551,000 – $351,000 above reserve The home, which records show last traded for $454,000 in 1996, sold through Chris Chung of McGrath Edgecliffe to a young family upsizing from Redfern SOLD $2.91 million Manly Vale 87 King Street 5 bedrooms The previous suburb record of $2.9 million was set earlier this year by 50 Sunshine Street SOLD $3.29 million Kingsford  40 Eastern Avenue 4 bedrooms Records show it last traded for $2.15 million in 2010 SOLD $1,085,000 Gymea 96 North West Arm Road 3 bedrooms who showed about 70 groups through the property SOLD $1,705,000 Stanmore 13 Douglas Street 3 bedrooms opening up the opportunity for buyers to snap up a very colourful double-fronted Victorian terrace for the first time in almost 30 years The three-bedroom home at 329 Catherine Street, Lilyfield, is owned by ceramicist Jenny Orchard who has decided to sell it to downsize and be closer to her children and grandchildren. since 1984 and had given it many colour updates since first moving in “It’s been through so many different incarnations and my son painted his room black because he hated the pink colours [I had painted],” she said with a laugh The original Victorian home’s most recent colour scheme includes a blue fence with the word “empathy” painted on it in bright colours while the outside of the home is a vivid purple and green The stairs leading up to the home are black and white the colour scheme includes more muted colours though there are touches of purple and pink said her homeland had influenced her artwork and love of colours I’m always using these lovely coloured glazes so I try to keep it feeling vibrant,” Ms Orchard said “The black and white [and other colours outside] – they’re calming – and what we’ve been through over the past year Ms Orchard has a studio in her home where she creates her ceramic pieces which are shown and sold in exhibitions around Sydney and Australia “I’m still working there and finishing off an exhibition at the moment,” she said The house itself features many of her ceramics one of Ms Orchard’s favourite parts of the home Having lived in the home for almost 30 years Ms Orchards said she would be sad to leave but it was the right time for her to move on Selling agent and Adrian William Real Estate partner Adrian Tsavalas said the home had many original Victorian features, although it also had extensions added to it over the years. For buyers who weren’t a fan of the home’s bright colour scheme, there was plenty of scope to redecorate, Mr Tsavalas said. “If you take away the colours, it’s a double-fronted Victorian home on 400 square metres of land,” Mr Tsavalas said. “It really is a blank canvas, so buyers can personalise it their own way.” Mr Tsavalas said the price range for the home was yet to be set. However, Domain data shows the median house price for nearby Annandale was $1.7 million in December last year. Although with house prices quickly rising across NSW, that price could now be closer to $2 million, he said. The Catherine Street home will be auctioned on Saturday, April 3, at 11.30am. A Lilyfield home with authentic 1950's kitchen with breakfast nook has been listed for 9 May auction The 1900 Federation home on 215 square metre block has three bedrooms There are high patterned ceilings and cornices Its level back garden finishes off the package with lawn and Hills Hoist The 16 Starling Street offering is being offered through Pilcher Residential with price guidance over $1.05 million the house is being sold with its vintage furniture included," listing agent Simon Pilcher said an original 1950s home at fetched $1.52 million for a classic 1950s family home in Eastwood Marketed as a "quintessential Aussie red-brick house," the three-bedroom home on a 778-square-metre block at 205 North Road had 18 registered bidders The last time interest rates were at current levels was in the 1950s and 1960s In March 1960 the minimum interest rate applied on loans accepted by authorised dealers on the short term money market was 2.69% with the maximum rate of 3.38% and an implied weighted average rate of 2.70% Certainly very low interest rates were common through the 1940s the 3-month commercial bank deposit rate was just 0.71 per cent and even in 1956 it had lifted to only 1.25% Housing loan rates held at 5.00% through 1959 and 1960 Trading bank overdraft rates were between 5.00-6.00% in the late 1950s/early 1960s according to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Statistical Bulletins A key reason why interest rates were low was because wages and prices were under control retail prices rose by 2.6% and the consumer price index rose by 1.9% Craig James the chief economist at CommSec once noted Martin and Amber Salter in shock after being the successful bidders ROOM for a trampoline was one of the reasons a Rozelle family dropped almost $2 million on a Lilyfield weatherboard cottage today … and the place doesn’t even have parking said they refused to leave the auction without winning the cute three-bedroom one bathroom home on a 303-square metre block “We have an 11-year old who needs a bigger yard … there’s room for a trampoline,” Mrs Salter said Today was Sydney’s biggest auction day ever on record with 1140 properties scheduled to go under the hammer The Salters’ biggest challenge came from a young Leichhardt family who they beat by only $1000 when both camps overstretched their budgets The Salters had an edge — their confident and jovial bidders’ agent Stuart Jones of Rose and Jones Property who bid on their behalf and unashamedly tried to unnerve the competition Mr Jones said the strong price reflects the lack of supply and proximity to transport get a good price Auctioneer Damien Cooley from Cooley Auctions received an opening bid of $1.68 million from a Lilyfield couple but the Leichhardt underbidders took it to $1.8 million Raises in $20,000 were the trend with the three active bidders until $1.92 million The home ticked all the boxes for the buyers the two last families — who looked nervous — jumped in with $1000 bids attempting to steal the house from the other The Salters pre-sold their Rozelle home on Belmore St on Wednesday that was scheduled to go to auction 30 minutes after the Lilyfield home “We’ve been in our Rozelle home for 16 years ready for a bigger block and our next renovation project,” Mrs Salter said “Our 11-year-old needs more room and we loved it’s charm and potential Amber and Martin Salter with their buyers agent Stuart Jones They intend add a level to capitalise on the city skyline views that can be seen from the grassy backyard but “chop off the dodgy bits” — they were referring to the bathroom and garden shed Likewise for vendors Chris and Kristy Hatherly their children’s needs sparked the decision to move They bought the cottage four years ago but moved to the Hunter Valley three years ago and had been renting the Lilyfield property out but we’re rapt with the result and will celebrate with champagne,” Mr Hatherly said Leichhardt underbidders Jacqui and Kaleb Pearson who have been on the house hunt for six months said the Sydney market is “crazy” and it was $40,000 over what they wanted to spend Selling agent Ben Southwell of Cobden & Hayson Annandale who had 96 groups inspect and issued 15 contracts But that had become a luxury in the inner west a two-bedroom apartment with double garage sold under the hammer for $1,113,000 with a reserve of $1 million Ironically featuring an ebony-coloured wall 8/1 Ivory Lane had four registered parties selling to a young professional from Summer Hill who beat a 20-something Drummoyne resident who was overseas 155 Wilson Street Newtown sold for $2,235,000 Renae Dickey of BresicWhitney Glebe said the property on a 150 square metre block was popular because it was close to Norton Street cafes a three-bedroom home at 155 Wilson St sold for $2,235,000 — $35,000 above reserve — through Jonathan Viewey of Viewey Real Estate The site of a smokestack to be located at Lilyfield Road in Rozelle Link copiedShareShare articleSecret architectural designs show the precise location of six polluting smokestacks planned for construction by the New South Wales Government marked "Cabinet-in-Confidence" include a previously undisclosed location for a controversial smokestack in Lilyfield Rd The smokestacks, as tall as 35 metres, would pump out the exhaust fumes from a six-lane underground tollway, running from Rozelle to the Northern Beaches The designs show plans for a smokestack near North Sydney Bowling Club Diagrams outline the locations of large ventilation buildings and the final layout of pipes leading to ventilation shafts and within 800 metres of Rozelle Public School as well as two childcare centres — Rosebud Cottage and Lilyfield Early Learning Centre The tollway project was announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian last May when she said she was "absolutely committed to building this piece of infrastructure" A smokestack planned for Ernest Street in North Sydney is detailed in confidential documents seen by the ABC and Fairfax The Government has said a detailed proposal is expected next year On Thursday Ms Berejiklian told the ABC that: "it is too early to confirm any design details about the project" and she will "expect a detailed proposal by the middle of next year" Another smokestack would be located at Artarmon The revelation of Rozelle's smokestack plans is likely to anger local community groups Local resident and WestConnex opponent Catherine Gammell said locals already object to three smokestacks planned nearby for WestConnex She said the "cumulative impacts" of the fourth stack would "be devastating for people in this area" A smokestack would be constructed at Judith Street in Seaforth Ms Gammell believes the Government has kept the community "in the dark" over its highly advanced designs "These look like the kind of diagrams you would see in an EIS document It certainly looks more advanced than the concept design provided by Sydney Motorway Corporation for the M4/M5 link," she said Cabinet-in-confidence planning documents also seen by the ABC confirm complex planning to build an extensive "Rozelle Interchange" — where ramps and tunnels will connect the Western Harbour Tunnel tollways to WestConnex and City Westlink The documents state data about pollution dispersal around the Rozelle chimney is unknown and recommend detailed explorations on traffic movements and air quality to model future emissions Do you know more about this story? Email nswnewstips@abc.net.au 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) After all, in 2004 he and his mate from uni Scott Farquhar had only two years earlier started up their fledgling software company Atlassian with the lofty ambition of replicating the $48,000 graduate starting salaries of the big corporations. Twelve years later and the billionaire Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar have recently listed their software start-up on the Nasdaq exchange only to watch its value surge 33 per cent to $8 billion. Questions as to why he is selling his Lilyfield townhouse could just as equally be met with, why not? Consolidation is as good a reason as any given Cannon-Brookes and his wife Annie and their three kids are now Centennial Park locals, where they bought their historic mansion Braelin last year for $12 million. Cannon-Brookes’ first home purchase – a converted warehouse with three bedrooms and a rooftop deck – goes to auction on June 11 for $1.4 million through William Phillips, of BresicWhitney. Cannon-Brookes’ property investments have not been as successful as his business and technology acumen. His second property purchase was an apartment in Surry Hills he bought in 2007 for $1.44 million and sold four years later for $1.5 million, and in 2009 he traded up to a larger apartment in the same block for $1.9 million and sold at a loss in 2014 for $1.75 million. Actor Simmone Jade Mackinnon is packing up her life, her son Madison and their two dogs into a caravan to travel Australia but has been held back with one more loose end before she leaves – selling her Coffs Harbour home. And now, a year after she listed it for $949,000, the Boambee property has sold, freeing the Gold Logie-nominated actor to start her “Wandering Ozzie” tour. There was no disclosure on the price by Joanne Vines, of One Agency Coffs Harbour, but a source put it at more than $900,000. Mackinnon, now boasting dreadlocks as befits her new nomadic lifestyle, bought the Queenslander-style home for $870,000 in 2009, when she was best known for her role as Stevie on the McLeod’s Daughters drama. Former NSW Premier Christine Kenneally. Photo: Ken Irwin Former premier-turned-Sky News presenter Kristina Keneally and her husband, Ben Keneally, the mayor of Botany, have become lower north shore locals, renting in Hunters Hill and buying an investment townhouse in Wollstonecraft. The politico couple sold out of Keneally’s former Heffron electorate a year ago when they scored $2.27 million for their Pagewood home. Earlier this year Ben Keneally bought a three-bedroom townhouse on River Road for $1,383,000, promptly leasing it out for $1000 a week, according to records. Restaurateurs Angela Ioannidis-Potts and Michael Potts have sold their Darling Point home. ​Skander Malcolm, until recently chief of GE Healthcare, made a triumphant return to his Sydney home town on Thursday when he bought the Darling Point home of Bambini Trust owners Michael and Angela Potts. Title Deeds was in the room to watch as Malcolm countered bullish bids from three serious contenders – among 10 registered bidders – sealing the deal at $5.5 million. Skander Malcolm has bought the Darling Point home of Bambini Trust’s Angela and Michael Potts. The result through Raine & Horne’s Martin Maskin was $1 million over the reserve, making a decent return for the Potts and their $3.31 million purchase price of 2012. While Maskin refused to confirm the buyers’ identity, Title Deeds was able to do so with the help of Google images and friends in the healthcare sector. AN UNLIVEABLE Lilyfield deceased estate — in such bad condition that it scared buyers off — has sold $110,000 above reserve The single-level three-bedroom Victorian worker’s cottage on a level 180sqm block with rear lane access at 239 Lilyfield Rd sold for $1.26 million Thomas Skelly of Savills Cordeau Marshall Gordon who had 10 pre-auction offers between $800,000 and $1.1 million said he and the beneficiaries were ecstatic especially since the house was in such poor condition “People were too scared of the work needed “Mainly locals wanted it because they can see the potential — some families were overwhelmed but any smart person can see it’s a freestanding brick home on sandstone Auctioneer Craig Marshall had 10 registered bidders taking a bold first bid of $1 million from the eventual new owner — a 40-year-old local woman who intends to renovate $20,000 and $10,000 increments with almost all parties bidding 8/6-8 Gower St Summer Hill 19 groups registered for a one-bedroom apartment in Summer Hill with a guide of $600,000-$670,000 85sqm unit with parking at 8/6-8 Gower Street sold $45,000 above reserve for $745,000 A swarm of young first home buyers had their hopes crushed by 45-year-old investor a Sydney man working in the Riverina town of Temora as a sonographer and radiographer who will rent out it out initially and move in later down the track was bidding by phone with the help of a friend who attended the auction “I’ve been driving up to Sydney every weekend to inspect properties and I didn’t want to drive the exhausting 4.5 hours again so I’m lucky to have a good friend to bid for me,” he said “I thought the price was very good; I saw a place at Dulwich Hill with no parking that went for $900,000 Three of the four active bidders were first home buyers from the inner west including Strathfield couple Kate O’Carrigan They opened the bidding with a bold figure of $680,000 attempting to knockout competition early with friend “We used Ben to put our best foot forward,” Ms O’Carrigan said “The price was fairly reasonable but over our budget.” Mr Nicola said they were determined to buy local it would be difficult to venture out of the area,” he said Mark Kapterian of Richardson & Wrench Willoughby who had two pre-auction offers of $610,000 and $630,000 said it was a stellar result “First home buyers are out in force but there’s not much stock in the $600,000- $800,000 range,” he said 1 Darghan St Glebe A Glebe rough gem offered for the first time in over 90 years also had a pre-auction offer rejected The three-bedroom Federation terrace with no parking at 1 Darghan St sold at auction for $1,666,000 through Ray White Glebe Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news A stretch of waterfront path in Sydney’s inner west has been treated to a suite of bike-friendly upgrades to make the popular route a safer and even more enjoyable one The Bay Run is a 7km loop around Iron Cove and winds through the suburbs of Lilyfield The flat route and scenic surroundings make the Bay Run a popular recreational path for joggers with an estimated 5000 people making use of it daily has given a busy section of the route an impressive makeover The upgrades centre around a transformation of the Lilyfield Road Bridge which now features improved safety courtesy of freshly concreted separated paths for riders and pedestrians that extend to the UTS Rowing Club 300 metres away The makeover also marks a key milestone for the adjoining GreenWay project a planned 6km environmental and active transport corridor running from Iron Cove to the south A new ramp has been constructed to better connect the two by linking the Lilyfield Road Bridge path with the shared path along the Hawthorne Canal “I believe the Lilyfield Road Bridge upgrade is going to be one of the most popular gathering places in the GreenWay corridor,” says Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne recreational areas and an outdoor fitness hub have been built at the Lilyfield Road Bridge foreshore area to create a spot for people to rest and gather New lighting has been installed on the upgraded section of the path to improve safety for those travelling after dark “The Bay Run is a local icon and a walking and cycling superhighway,” says Transport Minister Jo Haylen “Thousands of people use the Bay Run every week to get out and enjoy the fresh air The new lights mean people can safely use this vital commuter link late in the evening or early in the morning “The transformation of Lilyfield Road Bridge completely repurposes this old road link into the perfect spot to stop relax and enjoy the beautiful views over the bay It now features gym equipment and widens the space available for people walking and cycling eliminating one of the Bay Run’s few remaining pinch points.” Become a Member and help fund our advocacy work Find out more about Bicycle Network and support us in making it easier for people to ride bikes The Great Victorian Bike Ride is set to return in 2025 on 24–28 November offering an exciting new format while keeping the spirit of this beloved event alive Bicycle Network Memberships offer benefits to all kinds of riders The Peaks Challenge Ride2School fundraiser is on again for this year's epic event on Sunday 9 March The City of Adelaide will undertake a speed limit review to understand the need for reducing speeds to support business and residents and create a safer city environment Work on the much-anticipated $38.9 million Sydney Harbour Bridge ramp upgrade has begun the bike lane will link the country's most famous bridge to the bike network in Milsons Point we launched our Affiliate Membership program specially designed for cycling groups and clubs Orange in New South Wales is in line for a nice new stretch of bike path one that will expand the off-road network and improve access to schools Work has kicked off on a key Canberra bike route setting the wheels in motion for safer and more pleasant journeys through the city’s northern suburbs In a submission to the federal government’s draft National Urban Policy Bicycle Network and seven other Australian bicycle organisations have called for active transport infrastructure funding to be increased to 10% of federal transport investment Many of our best bike journeys are along coastlines or up and down the creeks and rivers that meet the sea But with rising sea levels some of this vital infrastructure is at threat of inundation erosion and from changes in groundwater chemistry.