Northcote Collective stands as a beacon of contemporary living nestled within the tranquil and verdant surrounds of Naremburn This prestigious development offers an array of 1 each designed with meticulous attention to detail ensuring an unparalleled living experience Residents will revel in the seamless blend of urban vibrancy and suburban comfort with Northcote Collective's strategic location providing easy access to the best of both worlds The interiors of Northcote Collective exude sophistication and elegance are adorned with island benches crafted from exquisite stone complemented by stone splashbacks and a suite of premium V-Zug appliances The master bedrooms serve as sanctuaries of rest and rejuvenation and direct terrace access for enhanced openness and ventilation The ensuites are a testament to design excellence all combining to create a spa-like retreat Northcote Collective is more than just a residence; it's a lifestyle destination The development boasts lush communal gardens offering residents a private escape from the hustle and bustle of city life The ground-floor boutique retail precinct provides a convenient daily destination for all your needs ensuring that everything you require is just a stone's throw away Positioned between the St Leonards and Crows Nest precincts Northcote Collective ensures that residents are never far from the action The nearby St Leonards Station and the upcoming Crows Nest Metro Station provide seamless connectivity to Sydney's iconic destinations The development is surrounded by an array of recreational facilities as well as a vibrant brunch scene with cafes like Forsyth Coffee House and The Moody Chef just a short walk away Northcote Collective is brought to life by a team of esteemed professionals known for their forward-thinking approach and commitment to creating lasting spaces and designed by the architectural maestros at Rothelowman the development is a testament to innovation and sustainability ensures that the connection between nature and community is at the forefront adds a touch of international flair to the project Explore the exceptional lifestyle that awaits at Northcote Collective Enquire now to book your private appointment with a sales agent and take the first step towards making Northcote Collective your new home View the privacy policy nestled in the serene environs of Naremburn and 3-bedroom apartments that blend urban vibrancy with suburban tranquillity Developed by Abadeen Group and designed by Rothelowman these residences feature luxurious kitchens with stone island benches The development includes lush communal gardens Strategically located between St Leonards and Crows Nest it provides excellent connectivity to Sydney via nearby transport hubs and proximity to recreational facilities and local cafes Northcote Collective represents a lifestyle destination seamlessly integrating contemporary design 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 of streetscapes and parklands overflowing with lush greenery There’s the welcome shade that tall trees provide on hot days and the opportunities for playing or relaxing on grassy fields and parklands Then there’s the wildlife that suburbs rich in plants attract from bees and butterflies to majestic native birds The lower north shore suburb of Naremburn is indeed leafy Naremburn Park and easy access to Flat Rock Gully and Bicentennial Reserve where remnant bushland meets terraced gardens The reserve also contains the ruins of a pioneer’s cottage and a cave named after the poet Henry Lawson who spent time in the suburb in the early 1900s Naremburn is six kilometres north of the Sydney CBD That means it’s a cinch to hit the road and be in the city in less than 10 minutes Buses connect Naremburn to other parts of Sydney The nearest train stations are at Artarmon and St Leonards which will offer services to Chatswood in four minutes Barangaroo in five minutes and Martin Place in seven minutes Naremburn is the setting for a new collection of 17 three and four-bedroom terraces named for the suburb’s connection to the famous poet. The Lawson Terraces from developer WINIM back onto Flat Rock Gully reserve offering tranquil leafy views and direct access to Bicentennial Reserve’s sports fields Landscaping by LandFX includes a fruit and vegetable garden and plants that thrive without much water Other environmentally-conscious design features range from rainwater harvesting to passive solar design low water-use fixtures and energy-efficient appliances says having direct access to the nature reserve in such a tightly held suburb made the site an appealing prospect “You don’t even have to walk across the road to get to the park and running tracks,” Leahy says Designed by Rothelowman with interiors that meld Japanese style and mid-century modern design the terraces are expected to catch the eye of young professional owner-occupiers and downsizers “Young executives might have one or two children and aspirations to get out of a unit but they can’t afford a $6 million Northbridge house,” Leahy says “And downsizers don’t necessarily want to go straight from a big house into a unit These terraces have a more home-like feel.” Naremburn has a shopping strip that runs along Willoughby Road Castlecrag or Willoughby to buy their groceries Crows Nest is home to an impressive range of restaurants and small bars while Westfield Chatswood is less than 10 minutes away by car Families have a choice of public and private options in neighbouring suburbs Naremburn School is a small public school for high school students with behavioural issues Carla Ashcroft has lived in the neighbourhood for 10 years the florist shifted from a studio-based business specialising in weddings to a shopfront on Willoughby Road “I missed the face-to-face contact,” she says The Ivy League specialises in sculptural floral creations showcasing Australian-grown flowers. Its Instagram feed is a riot of dramatic hanging floral installations, oversized bouquets, simple blooms and other items sold in-store. “Naremburn just has a really nice community feel,” Ashcroft says. “The little local shopping strip connects to the end of Crows Nest, which is a lot bigger. There are a couple of coffee shops here and we have a Lifeline store, which is renowned as a place where you can find good treasures.” 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 The small lower north shore suburb of Naremburn has seen its residential real estate record broken twice in as many months In early March a four-bedroom house in Central St on 748 sqm of land notched up a new suburb record of $5.451m Then this month a large home on 900sqm of land sold under the hammer for $5.625m to a local family upsizing Hemsworth buys $20m mega mansion Isla Fisher’s cheap win from marriage split The home had been extended and renovated more than 20 years ago Cranleigh at 5 Grandview St had a $5m auction guide but only one registered bidder negotiated the sale with the sole bidder and the deal was completed under auction conditions He added that there had been good interest in the house with its five bedrooms and separate apartment and there was a lot of strength in the Naremburn market “It is a quiet leafy suburb close to the city,” he said MORE: Inside Mark Wahlberg’s $100m Aussie mansion MORE: Troubled OnlyFans star’s $12m family mansion for sale One of the brakes on house prices in Naremburn is the size of the blocks Some cottages are on just 200sqm of land and the average block size is around 400sqm “It is hard to achieve more than $5m on those smaller blocks,” he said PropTrack data shows only seven houses in Naremburn have sold for more than $5m and the median house price is $3.04m Vendor Gabrielle Rashleigh had extended and renovated Cranleigh more than 20 years ago and carved out a 1000 bottle wine cellar from sandstone under the house Gabrielle co-founded Young & Rashleigh Wine Merchants in 1992 supplying premium wine in NSW especially to the restaurant trade and it grew into one of the biggest wine wholesalers in the State MORE: Ben Simmons’ risky move to get rid of home Putin’s $2.1bn ‘kleptocrat’ mansion exposed 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. For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link] We responded to over 150,000 incidents in 2023-24 The incidents displayed below are note-worthy incidents that have been published as media releases or tweets Details about incidents may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice North Parramatta | The fire at Dunlop Street, North Parramatta has been contained but is expected to smoulder through the morning. Because there may be smoke in the area, residents and businesses in the vicinity are advised to keep doors, windows, and vents closed. View on X [external link] Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders The Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay and Lower North Shore Parish is seeking a development partner to replace ex-school buildings on a 1.5 acre Naremburn site the R3 zoned parcel also fronting Willoughby Rd and Merrenburn Avenue contains the St Leonards Church which must be retained Part of the balance could make way for a 12 metre tall buildings with Charter Keck Cramer as transaction adviser said “the development partnership will ensure sustainability of the existing parish uses into the future via a renewal of the site and unlocking of underlying land value” The advisory said an ex-church site with similar characteristics at 29-33 Oxford St has recently been replaced by Stockland with a vertical retirement and aged care tower hall and parish offices (story continues below) “The opportunity to develop a premium apartment townhouse or seniors living development in this tightly held location will offer enormous appeal to the development community,” Mr Volz said of his latest listing which is 16 kilometres closer to the city on Sydney’s Lower North Shore “Naremburn is on the doorstep of Crows Nest that is undergoing structural change from suburban village to sub-regional centre with the delivery of the Sydney Metro station only 750m from the site “With major commercial and residential development imminent around the Pacific Highway location of the station the site’s boutique nature with potential for a low scale development in the leafy streets…is sure to hold strong appeal for future residents including the growing number of downsizers that are attracted to the area” The suburb is about six kms north of the city A former property analyst and print journalist Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au Forgot your password? You will receive mail with link to set new password The revamped house of award-winning interior stylist Amanda Smythe has been listed for sale with a price guide of $4.4m When Ms Smythe decided to renovate her Naremburn home in 2018 she proved ahead of the game (and the pandemic) by designing a sanctuary with the concept of wellness at its core The result was a celebration of Australian contemporary living – a house that invited the outdoors in and the family out into the garden to relish the fresh air and enjoy the deck and heated swimming pool MORE: Designer oceanfront paradise up for sale Kyly Clarke expands impressive property portfolio the design was featured in a 2019 Grand Designs Australia article on interior design moving towards the concept of wellness The design inspiration was ‘a touch of Hamptons.’ It makes use of natural light and open spaces “It’s really a style that I consider to be reflective of contemporary Australian living,” Ms Smythe says of the home’s Hamptons feel “This includes a lot of warmth and natural textures with an emphasis on indoor/outdoor flow and making the most of the natural environment with tonnes of natural light Interior designer Amanda Smythe at home in Naremburn “We did a full makeover – it was a top to toe renovation We put in the pool and added a whole new level to create the parents’ retreat.” But it wasn’t just the parents who benefited from the renovation providing more than enough space for a growing family This proved indispensable a couple of years later during lockdown Multiple living areas allow for a sense of separation Selling agent David Benjafield from Belle Property Neutral Bay says the layout of the house and its north-to-rear aspect are some of his favourite features “I love the versatility that the home offers,” he says Ms Smythe says she will miss the neighbourhood’s “village feel” as well as her neighbours “Waking up every morning to the sun rising over the valley is also pretty special,” she says the house has three storeys of designer living space that include three living areas and four bedrooms Features include engineered Oak floorboards double glazed windows and views to Northbridge from the upper level Records show the house last traded in 2012 for $1,290,000 Ms Smythe’s husband Matthew is the principal at Belle Property Neutral Bay MORE: Pandemic hideaway stuns with changing views Top model doubles her money in Pacific Bondi Can this house beat Brad Fittler’s $12m sale? As one of Sydney’s lower north shore’s oldest suburbs, Naremburn is characterised by Federation-style detached cottages built of timber or brick Rarely do new apartments come to the market in the sleepy suburb neighbouring St Leonards and Crows Nest Render inside one of the Northcote Collective apartments Local developer Abadeen, who specialises in boutique developments predominantly in the lower north shore, have just launched Naremburn Collective, their first apartment development in the suburb in partnership with Phoenix Property Investors Located at 2-6 Northcote Street the aptly named building will comprise a mix of one built atop ground floor commercial and retail space Renowned architects Rothelowman are behind the design complemented by customisable interiors throughout Render inside one of the Northcote Collective apartments each of the kitchens will include island benches as well as stone splashbacks and premium V-Zug appliances Paying homage to the area’s unique heritage charm the project will also feature lush communal gardens complete with a pool and alfresco dining amenities Sitting just 270-metres from St Leonards station, residents will be easily connected with the wider Sydney region along with being just moments from a number of schools nature trails and the St Leonards and Crows Nest Villages Render of the Northcote Collective rooftop Abadeen are no strangers to the lower north shore area with a string of projects both completed and in the pipeline across the region They're currently also selling Koyo, also in Crows Nest and designed by Japanese architecture Koichi Takada. They are soon to launch Park Residences in Cremorne, and recently picked up a development site in Mosman Sydney Water Corporation has been convicted and fined $365,625 and have separately agreed to pay $500,000 to environmental projects after around 16 million litres of raw sewage resulted in the relocation of 39 residents in Naremburn in 2020 The incident was a result of the partial collapse of a sewage pipe and maintenance hole which caused a blockage in the sewage system This caused sewage to back-up and overflow at Dawson Reserve and two other locations near Gaza Road and Garland Road NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Acting Executive Director Arminda Ryan said the sewage impacted the waters of Flat Rock Creek and downstream to Long Bay Middle Harbour for up to a week after the incident “The partial collapse of the sewage system at Dawson Street led to a significant amount of raw sewage entering Flat Rock Creek which can cause harm to aquatic organisms exposed to the sewage-contaminated waters,” Ms Ryan said “Local residents were significantly impacted by the incident with reports of sewage odours and 39 people were temporarily relocated from their homes “These waterways are much-loved recreational areas for residents in Northern Sydney and we know the local community expects better from Sydney Water “We want to protect and restore our local waterways and maintaining the infrastructure of our sewage network is integral to this goal.” Sydney Water was fined in the Land and Environment Court for three related offences and also entered into an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the EPA to address concerns regarding the condition of the collapsed sewage pipe and maintenance hole and their failure to immediately notify authorities of the incident The EU commits $500,000 in funding to North Sydney Council Willoughby City Council and the Aboriginal Heritage Office to assist with a variety of environmental projects including works within the Flat Rock Creek catchment Ms Ryan said Sydney Water now has twelve convictions relating to sewage overflows since 2020 The Court ordered Sydney Water to write to local residents outlining the court order and incident and apologise for the overflow and any inconvenience caused as well as pay the EPA’s legal costs and publish details of the conviction in the Daily Telegraph Sydney Morning Herald and on its social media accounts The EPA encourages the community to report potential water pollution incidents to the Environment Line on 131 555 For more information about the EPA’s regulatory tools, see the EPA Compliance Policy at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/licensing-and-regulation/regulation/policies-and-guidelines We pay respect to the Traditional Custodians and First Peoples of NSW and acknowledge their continued connection to their country and culture Naremburn is one of the upper north shore’s most tightly held suburbs thanks to its leafy village-style locale and proximity to the city The four-bedroom Federation home, at 69 Northcote St creating a family friendly blend of contemporary style and original period details It also comes with DA approval for off-street parking and is within walking distance of St Leonards train station said he had been inundated with inquired on the property since he launched it to market a week ago “There’s a lot of interest out there – I think it’s a great family home in a fantastic location,” he said “Only about 50 houses change hands every year in Naremburn so when something comes to market there is always a big response.” He said the home was ideally suited to families but he was also seeing interest from downsizers Features of the home include central living room with ornate fireplace stone kitchen with island bench and 900mm Smeg gas oven outdoor living area with retractable awning overlooking the private lawn Two of the bedrooms are on the upper level The home is open for inspection on Saturday and Wednesday from 10.10.30am There are not too many houses that have skate ramp among their list of features – but 7 Merrenburn Ave, Naremburn is one of them Add a big list of other fun stuff like firepit and you have a house you have to see to fully appreciate MORE: Is this the north shore’s cheapest house? Early sale for Cooper Cronk and Tara Rushton The four-bedroom home goes to auction on July 17 It has a price guide of $3.8 million and is marketed by John McManus It is on a 715sqm block with 15m frontage and rear access from Dodds St The skateboard ramp (top right) at 7 Merrenburn Ave Some of the standout features include a custom-made copper sink new garage and man-cave with loft-style bed and DA-approved plans to extend the home even further It is being sold by Mei Soh and her husband who work in high-end residential construction Ms Soh said they looked for a year to find the house “Having rear-lane access was non-negotiable,” she said we have lots of deliveries so the rear lane has been invaluable.” They renovated the home for themselves to enjoy “We have two sons and with all the surfboards in the man cave and the custom-built skateboard ramp we look like an extreme-sports family,” Ms Soh said love the ramp; it’s a real focal point along with the firepit and the pond This house and its big garden have been brilliant during lockdown “There’s plenty of places to play and yet we’re in the middle of everything here.” The family is planning to look for another project once they sell and have their eye on the northern beaches this time “The boys spend a lot of time surfing so we’ve decided to do another project together,” Ms Soh said SIGN UP HERE FOR THE NSW REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER Disgraced broadcaster Chris Smith had only recently upgraded homes to a more suburban Sydney location before he lost his jobs this week at Sky News and 2GB The disgraced broadcaster Chris Smith had only recently upgraded homes to a more suburban Sydney location before he lost his jobs this week at Sky News and 2GB spent $3.6m at Naremburn during the spring selling season They had spent five months out of the market Dietitian Susie Burrell and former radio and Sky News commentator Chris Smith MORE: Israel Folau makes massive profit on home sale Sydney’s richest and cheapest streets revealed that had been built in 2015 at a $400,000 cost It sold after just nine days on market through McGrath Crows Nest agent Peter Chauncy Their purchase price matched the suburb’s $3.6m median price for four-bedroom houses The suburb median was up 9 per cent annually with just 11 sales in the tightly held lower north shore location Chris Smith and Susie Burrell bought recently for $3.6 million at Naremburn which had previously been a $2000-plus a week rental Their previous tri-level Alexandria townhouse had been bought by the couple in 2013 for $1.15m Smith owned a nearby investment apartment in Euston Rd which was sold this time last year for $540,000 The two-storey home had previously been a $2000-plus a week rental Smith had previously resided with his then wife The Parramatta-born reporter’s first purchase was on Great Western Highway costing $133,500 in 1989 and sold in the 1991 downturn at $132,000 MORE: Jenny and Dylan’s depressing Block reality Has Atlassian boss paid record $150m for waterfront? Music power duo get Love Island Byron Bay home ‘ on the cheap’ A TINY Naremburn property of only 202sq m was snapped up after auction for $2.4 million That’s the equivalent to $11,881 per square metre The vendors of 15 Oxley St who paid $600,000 for an extensive renovation two years ago received more bang for their buck as the property’s value more than doubled since they bought it in 2013 for $1.185 million They are upgrading to the lower north shore Naremburn is on Sydney’s north shore near Crows Nest and St Leonards The buyers are a couple from Frenchs Forest who are downsizing who liked that the home was fully renovated and that they could move straight in brought 160 interested groups through the home for inspection and handed out eight contracts Interest had come from a mix of executive professional couples who were attracted to the proximity of this property to the future Crows Nest metro rail station “A lot of people are starting to consider what that will mean for the values in the area when (the metro line) goes in,” he said there’s a lot more buyers than there are sellers so most of our properties are selling before auction.” A somewhat spooky derelict home on a 607sq m holding at 52 Market St Naremburn has been listed for March 16 auction with $2.9 million guidance one-bathroom weatherboard home with McGrath estate agent Peter Chauncy not allowing internal inspections It was bought by Allan and Elli Chan in 2012 from shop assistant Peter Kontos MORE: Kyle Sandilands ‘revolutionary’ money move “A very rare opportunity to secure a tightly-held parcel of land,” the listing for the home reads Knock down for clean slate and rebuild into dream home (STCA) Conveniently situated just one traffic light from the city “Occupying a near level 607 sqm parcel with a 15.4 metre wide frontage this property offers an outstanding opportunity in a sought-after enclave MORE: $58m home for sale, you can’t live in “It’s nestled on a peaceful street amongst quality homes cafés and well regarded public/private schools.” the median house price in Naremburn on Sydney’s lower north shore is $2,812,500 That’s up 4.1 per cent over the past 12 months MORE: Australia’s next $100m home for sale ‘Millions’: Daniel Johns’ shock Silverchair payday Purple Wiggle Lachlan Gillespie has found a new home Purple Wiggle Lachlan “Lachy” Gillespie has bought back on the north shore market The children’s entertainer spent $1.92 million on a fully renovated semi in Naremburn has two bedrooms and adjoining dining and kitchen Gillespie had been out of the market since 2017 when he and former partner sold their Wollstonecraft apartment for $2.05 million before their split became public They had paid $1,395,000 for the three-bedroom apartment in the 1896 converted English-style manor Ben Ledi in 2014 Watkins bought back into the market recently Emma Watkins and Lachlan Gillespie are still friends The pair have remained good friends as they continue to tour with The Wiggles They head to the US for their first show in Seattle next weekend The tour comes on the back of the release of a new album the Wiggles’ 53rd studio album and the 18th with the current line-up of Gillespie touring with the Dorothy The Dinosaur’s Travelling Show as Captain Feathersword He then became a Wiggly Dancer and Wags the Dog during the group’s regular tour Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe Brisbane-based developer Metro Property Development and Sydney financier Alceon have entered into a joint venture to develop nine luxury townhouses in Naremburn on Sydney's lower north shore The 1320-square-metre site at 155-161 Willoughby Road was acquired for nearly $9 million in October last year at auction under Alceon's name SaveLog in or to save articleShareCopy link Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Read MoreNSW residential property Latest In PropertyFetching latest articles The Shore Financial State of Sydney Report predicts the affluent suburb of Naremburn on the Lower North Shore which boasts a median price of $2.95 million could grow by as much as nine per cent in the next six months While the best-performing low-priced suburbs might only grow two per cent The analysis focused on current inventory levels and the level of sales to predict areas that were ripe for short-term growth is expected to see solid growth of six per cent over the next six months along with Turramurra and Chatswood at five per cent The slightly more affordable suburb of Beecroft is predicted to grow seven per cent While Berala and Belmore are also predicted to see prices increase six per cent in the next six months Blacktown is the only suburb expected to see prices increase two per cent in the next six months Shore Financial CEO Theo Chambers said the upper end of the market is driving growth at the moment “The outlook differs from suburb to suburb,” Mr Chambers said “Our research shows that wealthier suburbs like Naremburn on the North Shore and Fairlight on the Northern Beaches are likely to record stronger growth over the next half-year than less affluent suburbs like Busby and Green Valley in the city’s west “It’s also important to realise that while prices are rising across Sydney as a whole they’re not rising in every single suburb.” He said it appears that the Sydney market has now turned the corner after a period where prices were declining prices were falling in most suburbs across Sydney,” he said we can say with certainty that Sydney is in growth mode.” Mr Chambers said tight stock levels and strong buyer interest have contributed to the turnaround in prices we’ve seen days on market and inventory levels fall in many parts of Sydney,” he said market conditions have swung from buyers to sellers which has been reflected in rising asking prices it’s important not to get carried away because there’s a difference between a rising market He said tight stock levels have been a feature of suburbs experiencing growth “One of the key leading indicators is the low levels of inventory in these suburbs,” he said which is likely to lead to above-average price growth.” News Sitemap The Nines development at 155 Willoughby Road MORE development is on the way on the north shore with a new project to be launched next week in Naremburn The Nines is a boutique project by Metro Property Development Ray White Lower North Shore’s Tim Abbott expects the development to be a hit with professional couples and downsizing owner-occupiers “It will resonate with people who want low maintenance living in proximity to Crows Nest Village but want the individuality of an architecturally designed high-end terrace,” he said The Nines will be developed on a site at 155 Willoughby Rd a short walk from Crows Nest and St Leonards Prices for the terraces start at $2.625 million which puts it at the luxury end of the market Each residence will have its own unique entry and comprises three bedrooms with two bathrooms and includes a balcony lush private gardens and basement parking for two cars Internal sizing for townhouses will range from 135sqm to 157sqm Every townhouse will have its own “unique” entry I started to ride to work in the city on a casual basis when I first moved to North Ryde about ten years ago I was encouraged by the excellent bike path along Epping Road which made it seem safe and a good way to get extra exercise I bought an e-bike and started riding in every day but then stopped because of extra family and education commitments When we started coming out of the pandemic lockdown I was able to hybrid work spreading my days between home and the office With a ‘rest day’ possible between each ride to the office I bought a new e-bike and started riding in again two or three times a week The bicycle infrastructure on my trip is generally very good I am able to take back streets from my house to the Epping Road bike path at Lane Cove Road This path alternates between shared path sections and other sections with two bike lanes and one pedestrian lane although there are streets where I have to carefully look over my shoulder for turning traffic before crossing so I take it slow in case there is a car exiting Taking back streets to the Epping Road bike path at Lane Cove Road on bin day (Photo credit: Graham Marshall) This path alternates between shared path sections and..... other sections with two bike lanes and one pedestrian lane (Photo credit: Graham Marshall) I feel happy about e-biking every time I tackle the peaks riding from Sam Johnson Way in Lane Cove West up to the summit of the pedestrian bridge over the freeway at Naremburn The cycling infrastructure ranges from dedicated to shared pathways at the edge of the freeway to completely off road paths that go under the freeway There are some tricky corners in the off road section so taking it at a safe speed is important Crossing the Naremburn bridge is definitely a high point of the whole ride Shared paths under the freeway at Naremburn Pedestrian bridge over the freeway at Naremburn this section is more challenging to navigate than the dedicated path sections with lots of potential for improved cycling infrastructure There is an option of riding up a path to Merrenburn Avenue then turning right at the traffic lights onto Brook Street to come up the very wide and recently improved cycling lane on the freeway on-ramp Taking that route avoids having to cross the freeway on-ramp which can sometimes take a long time if there is a lot of traffic On the way back the only real route is an uncomfortably narrow path on the edge of the freeway I am not aware of any plans to improve that section which is a multiple personality cycle route In the first section there is a wide cycling lane marked out Further on there is no clearly separated cycling lane I take a zig zag route from West Street to Pacific Highway Pacific Highway feels daunting but is generally low or slow traffic I was very excited when the State government announced plans for a pop-up cycleway in 2020 and disappointed when those plans were scrapped The dangerously narrow and unprotected bike path along the Warringah Freeway near brook Street in Cammeray The newly widened bike lane on Brook Street When I reach the Harbour Bridge I am grateful that the long campaign to build a proper ramp to replace the steps is finally getting traction I take a right onto Upper Fort Street to head down to Argyle Street so I have to take my time making sure no car is coming up unseen I head down Argyle Street towards Circular Quay this bicycle path was made permanent and provides a direct (and beautiful!) route to my office at 1 Martin Place this lane was made permanent with high quality finishes and public realm upgrades such as landscaping and benches Office hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm Email: info@bicyclensw.org.au Phone: (02) 9704 0800 Address: Gadigal Country, Level 9, 66 Goulburn St, Sydney, NSW 2000. Please call before visiting Bicycle NSW acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters of Australia and pays respect to all Elders past and present Bicycle NSW works hard every day to achieve our mission of creating a better environment for all bicycle riders. We thank our key partners for supporting our work While the technology is now being installed into an increasing number of freestanding homes and there is a single-battery system in one student apartment building, this complex of nine terraces in Naremburn on the north shore will be an Australian first. “We decided to put them into our terraces as they all have a roof and space for solar panels, and often the demographic who buy them are downsizers giving up their large family homes who also want to downscale their costs,” said the developer, Phil Leahy. “They don’t want exorbitant electricity bills and they might be looking towards a future where they could be on a fixed income. So with regular houses and some apartments installing solar, we didn’t want to discriminate against terraces. We wanted to make sure their buyers get a good deal too.” Off-the-plan sales of the three-level, three-bedroom luxury terraces in the Metro Property Development’s complex, called The Nines, started in February and already two have been snapped up by buyers, with contracts out on three more. Construction is due to start mid-year with completion around June 2020. The solar system, featuring an individual Sonnen battery in the underground basement parking level of each terrace and panels on the roof of each one, was put front and centre at the display suite. “A lot of people now have awareness of solar power and asked questions about it, and wanted to see the batteries and touch them and feel them and were genuinely interested,” says Chris Williams, chief executive and founder of Natural Solar, which is installing the systems. “These are the first terraces, and they represent a different segment of the market. “As well as the cost savings, people are very conscious now of the efforts to help the environment and when they’re offered these kinds of options, it becomes a real feel-good decision. “In this normalising marketplace, we’re now also getting one or two inquiries a day from developers — representing on average 500 to 1000 homes each — as they’re seeing it as a popular way of differentiating their product from those of their competitors.” Each purchaser of the new terraces, priced between $2.49 million and $2.7 million, is expected to save around $1573 a year on their energy bills, in most cases completely offsetting the costs of the power they use. Their systems feature 360-watt, 20 per cent efficiency solar panels, and a 7.5-kilowatt-hour battery to store the power produced. Each battery has a 20-year lifespan. The batteries also offer an extra level of smart home technology, using AI to react to changes in outdoor temperatures, the time of day and the use of different appliances. They can also connect with home automation devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, as well as electric vehicles. “We’re finding that people are very interested in this aspect too,” says Williams, whose company is now Australia’s largest solar and battery installer. “It’s a feature that buyers of high-end homes really like. “We’re going to be rolling out many more home projects with large-scale developers over the coming months. I think we’re now reaching tipping point.” At an individual level, the solar and battery systems sell for an average $16,000 to $20,000, and generally pay for themselves after six to eight years. with the median in some pockets jumping by more than $1 million Greater Sydney’s median house price hit a record $1,410,133 last quarter, with prices up 24 per cent over the past year the latest Domain House Price Report shows The strongest suburb gains were largely seen across the northern beaches with the steepest spike recorded in the Seaforth where the median house price climbed a massive 39.3 per cent to $3.28 million Sydney has seen its strongest annual house price growth in almost three decades surpassing the boom-time gains seen in both 2015 and 2002 had seen extreme rates of growth over the year with the top-end of the market typically leading both downturns and upswings jumped by more than $1 million over the year while Seaforth was among 13 other suburbs – including Manly and Gordon – where the median climbed by more than $500,000 but had also seen an increase in high-end sales over the past year which would have skewed the median – up 35.8 per cent to $4.8 million – higher said Michael Pallier of Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty “It’s easy for vendors to get carried away with these figures … [but prices have really] probably gone up 10 to 15 per cent which is still a significant increase,” he said Sydney house prices reach record median $1,410,133 – rising more than $1200 a day in just three months The suburb had long been undervalued compared to the likes of Bellevue Hill and Vaucluse and its proximity to Bondi Beach had become more of a drawcard for those seeking a lifestyle change over the past year He added strong demand for homes in the east had continued in the current lockdown with offers flowing in for properties as soon as they were listed Dr Powell said demand for houses and lifestyle locations had continued to be strong off the back of lockdowns and the rise of remote working where the house price median is up 28.5 per cent to $2.64 million McGrath Lower North Shore agent John McManus sees strong demand from families looking to upsize from units and townhouses to free-standing homes Strong demand from upsizers – many of whom had been priced out of other pockets of the north shore – combined with record-low interest rates and a limited supply of homes was fuelling strong price growth in the area “Some buyers I have come across have been looking for six to 12 months; some have taken short term rentals … because they couldn’t find anything in time after selling,” he said The strong demand prompted sellers Mei Soh and Thai Chau to put their four-bedroom Naremburn house on the market with Mr McManus, with the pair hoping to move their family up to Palm Beach, where the median is up 21.2 per cent. “We had agents knocking on our door asking if we’d like to sell, as there are not many properties of our size on the market,” Ms Soh said. “I had another agent come by three times.” While nearby Willoughby and Northbridge had always been popular, more people were starting to realise Naremburn was also in a good position, Ms Soh said. It was close to the city, but without the high density, and in a good school catchment zone. Source: Domain.Embed this tableMore affordable suburbs like Belmore in Canterbury Bankstown, Denham Court in the south-west, and Rouse Hill in the north-west were also among the regions that saw growth of more than 20 per cent. And more than two-thirds of Sydney suburbs recorded growth of at least 10 per cent. While the top end of town led the housing boom, it had likely reached its peak rate of growth, with the middle of the market leading price rises in more recent months, Dr Powell said. Unit price growth has also picked up, with the Greater Sydney median now up 7.4 per cent over the year to $786,175. Little Bay, Milsons Point and Fairlight were among seven suburbs that recorded growth of more than 20 per cent. AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver said it was no surprise that the boom had been concentrated in house prices, as opposed to units, given the increased demand for housing amid the pandemic and the rise of remote working. “The desire for a better lifestyle has seen suburban areas with houses pick up and those areas that offer a good lifestyle,” he said. “People want to move away from the inner city, and to some degree, these areas may also be playing catch up after many years of being overlooked,” he added. “[For instance,] Palm Beach was doing well because it’s a top-end market for people from the east, but between there and lower down on the northern beaches wasn’t really in favour for some time … suddenly people have realised those areas have good lifestyle attributes.” Mr Oliver said prices had kept rising throughout the lockdown so far and noted the pullback in new listings would likely match any slowing in buyer demand as Sydney’s lockdown continues. This would support prices. Even before the latest lockdown, Mr Oliver had expected annual price growth in Sydney to slow down to 5 per cent next year due to deteriorating affordability, the tightening of bank lending standards, rising fixed mortgage rates, and a decline in home buyer incentives. An artist’s impression of Winim’s new project at 37-43a Garland Rd Hot on the heels of the major announcements about more than $1.5 billion worth of new commercial developments in North Sydney come two new residential projects in the area Sydney property fund manager WINIM has been given the green light to develop 17 luxury terrace homes at 37-43a Garland Road The project is the group’s third residential development on the north shore and joins OTTO Cremorne and The Terraces Willoughby WINIM’s joint managing director Josh Leahy said the Naremburn project would be aimed at owner occupiers He said the massive commercial investment in North Sydney and its surrounds as well as the new metro and beaches links would be a major boost for suburbs like Naremburn “Naremburn is a bit of a hidden suburb,” he said “Buyers want to be close to all these things (trains retail and restaurants) but they don’t want to be right in the heart of it.” Prices have yet to be set for the terraces but are expected to start around $2,750,000 An artist’s impression of Winim’s new project at Naremburn Mr Leahy said the company had plenty of confidence in the area “Sydney’s lower north shore is a key part of our residential strategy to develop premium well-conceived owner-occupier projects featuring exceptional design prime tightly held pockets such as Naremburn,” he said “As our third residential project to get underway on the lower north shore significant landmark project which will greatly contribute to the undersupply of premium “These terraces are extremely generous in size with house-like proportions access to basement carparking and additional multipurpose rooms and immediate access to Bicentennial Reserve The bus stop at the end of the street offers an express non-stop service to the CBD.” Mr Leahy said he expected the development would be highly sought after by families resizers or those looking for a luxury house-size property with minimal maintenance and state of the art finishes Colliers International have sold an entire residential apartment block as one mixed-use development site An artist’s impression of a potential concept design for the development of 45 McLaren St reported to be worth more than $55 million Henry Burke and Guillaume Volz facilitated the sale to Podia which is planning a mixed-use residential and commercial/retail development on the 1792sqm site which is located 100m from the future Victoria Cross Metro station An artist’s impression of Lend Lease’s Victoria Cross development in North Sydney Colliers’ national director of development site sales said the sale was structured to a planning outcome that could achieve a substantial result for the strata owners “The sale continues the Colliers success with strata amalgamations that has resulted in representing over 300 owners in the last few years,” he said if owners follow the process they can deliver outstanding results It is not uncommon for owners to more than double the existing market value of their properties.” Podia’s director of property and development “Our vision for 45 McLaren St is to create an exceptional architectural and urban design outcome for a mixed-use residential and commercial/retail building matched with a bold aspiration to deliver Australia’s first mixed-use carbon neutral building,” he said “We have one of Australia’s leading architects in Bates Smart and reputable town planners Urbis working with us and North Sydney Council to help bring this vision to life” A picturesque home complete with white picket fence in Naremburn sold prior to auction The three-bedroom classic weatherboard Federation semi at 34 Slade St sold for $1.99 million Popular with families for its level lawns in the child-friendly yard and light-washed interiors two buyers couldn’t wait before the scheduled auction date Peter Chauncy of McGrath Crows Nest said the property with one bathroom and no parking on 316sqm of land sold to a young Castlecrag family SIGN UP FOR THE NSW REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER HERE The buyer who lost out was a local family looking to invest “Naremburn is a very busy market at the moment with everything selling across all price ranges and demographics.” On the same day he also sold a contemporary three-bedroom property at 60 Northcote St for $2.6 million prior to auction to an eastern suburbs family and a ground-floor two bedroom apartment at 7/9 Ruth St for $1.090 million according to Domain’s September quarter figures But for those keen to buy a patch of this idyllic area there are a handful of locales where prices are less expensive than the rest Lane Cove North and Naremburn are the only suburbs on the lower north shore with a median house price of less than $2 million the priciest of the group with a median of $1.92 million were factors that led Wendy Watkins and her husband to buy in Naremburn in early 2015 The family had lived on the lower north shore When their son reached adulthood and it came time to downsize A Naremburn townhouse proved to be the perfect solution “We did look around at other places outside the lower north shore but we found that we just couldn’t leave,” she said “The value is there when you look at the whole package.” The suburb attracting buyers from the east Ms Watkins said the convenience of Naremburn played a key role in their decision The suburb has a shopping village of its own Cammeray and North Sydney are all close by making for easy access to the city for work About four years on, Ms Watkins and her husband are moving to Melbourne. Their Naremburn townhouse is scheduled for auction on November 30 and has a bidding guide of $1.475 million The close community will make the move more difficult “It’s in a really friendly owner-occupied block of townhouses – we’ve got super neighbours and we will miss that,” Ms Watkins said Brad Cole, of Northside Realtors who is selling the Hamilton Avenue property said smaller housing helped to explain Naremburn’s cheaper prices with larger blocks across the freeway in Artarmon Distance from the CBD and from waterfronts is likely also a factor “You can get a double-fronted home in Naremburn for the price of a semi in Crows Nest He said the market ranged from studios and one-bedders priced at less than $450,000 entry level prices started from about $1.6 million “There’s a demand across every sector due to affordability,” Mr Cole said The suburb was particularly popular with young families looking to live in coveted school catchments and in a quiet neighbourhood with buyers eyeing three-bedroom townhouses closely Gladesville boasts the region’s most affordable median for houses Often overshadowed by its more prestigious neighbour the suburb has increased in value since Sydney’s market boom with prices down by almost 17 per cent year on year Tracey Dixon, of McGrath Hunters Hill, said that entry level family homes could now be bought from about $1.5 million She said homes between $1.5 million and $2.5 million were in hot demand especially among buyers from Mosman and Cremorne looking to upgrade from apartments and townhouses Buyers were also coming from Hills District suburbs like Dural “For some of the waterfront homes in Mosman you’re paying a couple of million dollars more transport and good schools is just as good in Gladesville,” Ms Dixon said “So I think it’s very good value for money.” That’s not to say Gladesville doesn’t have homes with premium prices. Ms Dixon is selling a five-bedroom home on Delmar Parade with a guide of $6 million featuring a full marina berth that can hold a large yacht although they’re likely to save more by looking further north James Bennett, of Belle Property, said entry level family homes in the main part of Lane Cove usually exchanged for between $2 million and $2.3 million. “The low $2 millions normally means it’s a little more outside the box, like that it’s on a busy road or it’s very old and unrenovated,” Mr Bennett said. “You wouldn’t really pay less than that.” In Lane Cove North, the same type of property could cost between $1.8 million and $2 million. He said this was partly because Lane Cove had a more established shopping village, a convenience that can attract high-end buyers. Both suburbs were popular among young families, lured by primary schools nearby. Mr Bennett said that compared with suburbs such as Wollstonecraft, Riverview, Northbridge and Greenwich, they also represented serious money-saving opportunities. “Even though they are only minutes apart, what you pay can be 20 per cent higher and sometimes more,” Mr Bennett said. Like Gladesville, Lane Cove and Lane Cove North were luring upgraders from other regions. The local apartment market was also popular among first-home buyers. The inner-western Sydney suburb of Marrickville, described by John McGrath in 2010 as the “new Paddington”, has been picked as one of four Sydney housing hotspots for 2012 by property group PRDnationwide ''It feels like Paddington in the 1970s. Buy here and double your money in the next six years,'' McGrath famously said two years ago. The multi-cultural suburb, which has strong ties to the Greek and Vietnamese community, is 7 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD It ranked as the ninth most affordable suburb within 10 kilometres of the Sydney CBD which recorded 234 sales during 2011 and a median sales price of $751,000 PRDnationwide puts the median house price at $755,000 “Located in close proximity to the suburbs of Enmore and Newtown, Marrickville has seen a solid increase in the median house price over recent times with a five-year average growth of 7.2% per annum,” says Oded Reuveni Etzioni who picked this year’s list of top-performing suburbs “The expansion of the Marrickville Metro shopping centre is likely to further increase the desirability of the suburb,” he says PRDnationwide’s other Sydney housing hotspots are Redfern, Naremburn and Ryde Marrickville Redfern Ryde Naremburn “Redfern’s location on the fringe of the Sydney CBD allows residents an easy commute to shopping and cultural facilities,” says Reuveni Etzioni “Benefiting from urban renewal projects and a location close to main arterial road and rail infrastructure the suburb exhibits strong long-term growth despite a drop in median price in the 12 months to September 2011,” he says Similarly, Ryde is strategically well placed, located on the intersections of Victoria and Lane Cove roads and close to the employment hubs of Meadowbank and MacquariePark “New development in Meadowbank will see more residential apartments being built on old industrial land and the Ryde town centre redevelopment is set to increase the amenity of area,” Reuveni Etzioni says where prices increased by 13.5% between December 2009 and 2010 but were softer in 2011 gets the nod because it is “strategically positioned to benefit from the development of the Gore Hill mixed-use business precinct which upon completion will become a large regional employment hub” It will also benefit from the expansion of the RoyalNorthShore hospital which will is likely to bring more medical professionals to the area According to Reuveni Etzioni, demand will increase in 2012 for well-located properties in the inner and middle ring of Sydney “During times of uncertainty buyers return to the fundamentals of dwellings close to the CBD with locations that are supported by a good public transport infrastructure,” he says Units rather than houses will again be the dwelling of choice in these locations as more new developments are completed over the next 12 months Other factors that motivated his selection of suburban hotspots include population growth which drives increasing demand for properties and generally puts upward pressure on property prices; infrastructure and investment “to support current and future population increases and development of amenities”; and “employment opportunities and diversity which includes proximity to employment nodes or potential job growth” State-owned corporation expressed ‘genuine remorse’ over the spill in a Naremburn creek in October 2020 The discharge of about 16m litres of raw sewage into a northern Sydney suburb has resulted in a fine of more than $365,000 After a sewerage system owned and run by Sydney Water partially collapsed sewage containing urine and faeces backed up and overflowed at Naremburn in late October 2020 playground and walking track were affected by the spill The state-owned corporation pleaded guilty to three offences of polluting waters contrary to environmental law and was sentenced on Wednesday in the New South Wales land and environment court. Read moreJudge Sarah Pritchard found that between 26 and 30 October 2020 around 16m litres was discharged and entered Flat Rock creek a considerable volume of sewage,” she wrote provided temporary accommodation to affected residents and improved the maintenance and reporting of its sewage system Sydney Water expressed genuine remorse over the incident telling the court it had “fallen short” of what it was required to do I express remorse and contrition on behalf of Sydney Water for the incident and for the resulting impact on the environment and our customers,” he wrote in an affidavit “Sydney Water recognises and accepts that the pollution is not acceptable.” but discounted this by 25% due to the organisation’s early guilty pleas The maximum penalty it could have faced was $3m Free daily newsletterOur Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day telling you what’s happening and why it matters The judge found Sydney Water’s conduct was “inadvertent and not deliberate” and that it was not negligent or reckless The collapsed section of sewer had been constructed between 1916 and 1930 Sydney Water could still have taken active steps to investigate and repair its ageing infrastructure The state-owned corporation has been convicted nine times for prior environmental offences including five incidents in which millions of litres of sewage polluted other waterways While Pritchard could not say that Sydney Water would not reoffend in the future she found the steps taken to improve its sewerage network reduced that possibility A spokesperson from Sydney Water said it would work with the state’s environmental protection agency to make further improvements to its network “Sydney Water’s top priorities are the safety of the community and the protection of the environment.” Jo and Clint Bratton at their new home in Naremburn The lower north shore property market has a record of starting the selling year off with a bang and this year is shaping up to be no exception Last year the first property to sell for over $20 million held onto its crown right to the end and this year it looks like history will repeat itself privately held waterfront holding of about 4240sqm at Kurraba Point The property is under contract to a mystery buyer It is expected to exchange within a matter of weeks 186-188 & 190 Kurraba Road and part of 23 Baden Road The agents are remaining tight-lipped about the sale although industry sources have revealed it is likely to be bought by one buyer for around its $60 million to $65 million price guide All signs point to another strong year of sales for Mosman and the lower north shore The prestige market not only weathered last year’s COVID storm according to the latest Pain and Gain Report from CoreLogic The report shows 94.6 per cent of residential sellers from suburbs in the Mosman local government areas (LGAs) made a profit when they sold in the September 2020 quarter The median value of the profit was an impressive $650,000 And when you take into account the median hold period for these properties was 6.9 years considering the median annual household income for the LGA is close to $128,000 Mosman saw a 19.1 per cent growth in the median house price to $4,287,500 according to the latest realestate.com.au Market Trends report Upsizers are tipped to lead the action in the market this year thanks to low interest rates and a COVID-inspired trend towards bigger houses with more features Downsizers are also expected to make a strong showing It’s hard to believe that less than 10 months has passed since we were introduced to the concept of international and state border closure household lockdowns and mandatory quarantines Life as we knew it before then has radically changed as we adjust to a world with COVID in our midst Last year became the year that we threw away the real estate market handbook And it was also the year that many homeowners took stock of where and how they lived and decided big changes were needed NSW Parliament passed the so-called “COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement” law which limited public gatherings to two people and ordered people not to leave their homes without a “reasonable excuse” Of course COVID had been on Australian shores for more than two months by then the first confirmed case identified in Victoria largely accepted as ground zero for the international pandemic that has caused more than 2.05 million deaths Confirmed cases edge closer by the day to 100 million As non-essential services closed their doors overnight back in March politicians warned of the tough times ahead doomsters were quick to predict that the property market would crash and burn however there is no question the property market took it hard in the first few weeks of lockdown auction clearance rates fell to their lowest in years Public open houses and auctions were banned replaced by private and virtual inspections many were faced with the grim prospect of laying off staff or even closing their doors In May the ban on auctions and open homes was lifted After 13 years running his successful business he was at a loss in the early days of the pandemic “In March and coming into April I thought I was going to be closing my business “But then in May I sold three properties and had a few good auctions in June and July and I started to think things might be okay.” Spring arrived without the usual fanfare and flurry of buyers One thing was crystal clear — this was a market like no other Rather than the seasonal ebbs and flows of a typical market Throw in a recession and record low interest rates and the market was like a yoyo By December though the lower north shore market was clearly favouring the seller combined with pent-up demand from buyers kept agents busy right up to Christmas Eve And many were back showing properties immediately in 2021 Jo-Anne Bratton and her husband Clint are among those looking to sell. They are also upsizers, and bought a home in Naremburn in October last year. COVID played a big part in wanting to move their young family from their three bedroom apartment at 10/110 Bay Rd, Waverton into a house They were unperturbed about buying before selling – a move once regarded by many as a no-no in the book of real estate golden rules “Waverton is such a hot spot and we just know and love that property so much we just know it’s going to sell,” Ms Bratton said The couple have owned the apartment for 10 years and during that time done significant renovations including opening up the living/dining and kitchen “There’s nothing else we can do to this apartment and we really needed some more space another bedroom and an extra living space,” she said but we love Naremburn – we have a park across the road and grand plans for the house.” Mr Scarpignato is planning to take the apartment to auction on February 6 About 40 groups inspected the home at its first open and within days he was fielding offers stock is a bit tight but the buyers are out there,” he said “Barring a lockdown I think the market is going to go from strength to strength this year.” As one of the lower north shore’s most experienced agents of Ray White Lower North Shore has seen his share of tough times But he is a strong believer in planning ahead for almost any contingency and in the resilience of the prestige market Mr Smith and business partner Richard Harding took advantage of the lockdown to take a hard look at their business “We stripped everything back and looked at our operations and we’ve come out the other side as a better business,” he said “Our team has become a lot tighter as a result.” It also saw Mr Smith — who looks after most of the high end sales while Mr Harding manages the business — take a back seat. Although he did find the time to negotiate some impressive sales, including 1 Pretoria Ave, Mosman for about $11 million “This year his role has been more important than mine – Richard has done a phenomenal job,” he said Mr Smith is quietly confident the market will be strong this year after ending on a high note despite the COVID cloud “There’s nothing to say that 2021 is going to be any different but I think people are better able to handle it the right way,” he said sold the most expensive house in Mosman last year — 28 Ruby St for $22 million — and has started the year strongly with two Mosman trophy homes on the market 13a Elfrida St has a guide of $18 million and 16 Iluka Rd has a guide of $35 million He said he has a mix of other properties priced from $5 million to $20 million coming up “I reckon February-March is going to be really strong and then I think we will continue with a steady market,” Mr Coombs said Realestate.com.au’s chief economist Nerida Conisbee said the north shore market was shaping up for a big year of sales and the upper north shore had a very good year last year,” she said “COVID has definitely led buyers to look for bigger homes on bigger blocks and the north shore has become very sought-after.” Ms Conisbee said data from searches on realestate.com.au showed a 150 per cent increase in the number of views for properties with price guides of $10 million or more “The way that people are working now has fundamentally changed and they are focusing on lifestyle rather than proximity to work particularly if they only have to go into the office a couple of days a week,” she said Realestate.com.au’s chief economist Nerida Conisbee She added there was no doubt this was a seller’s market and cautioned sellers against automatically thinking off-market deals were the way to go “Make sure you go through a competitive selling process – auctions are the way to go in a hot market,” she said Auctioneer Vic Lorusso has been a regular face at north shore auctions for more than 10 years and agrees it is a seller’s market at the moment “I think there’s going to be a big shortage of good quality stock on the market and there’s a plethora of buyers,” he said “I talk to a lot of agents and there’s 50 and 60 people at opens and it’s still very early into the year Fear of missing out is definitely back in the market.” He has already held a number of auctions on the north shore and strong turnouts give him confidence in this selling process He believes prices are definitely on the rise “If you’re not out there telling everyone about your home before offering some advice to bidders wanting to edge out the competition be the loudest bidder and let everyone know you are out there to buy the property,” he said “And if you are ready to go and the property ticks most of the boxes go for it – you’d hate to be sitting back in June/July and thinking you should have bought at the start of the year when it looked cheap.” Where to Find Australia’s Best Inner-City Bakeries By Katya Wachtel By Katya Wachtel By Matheus Karl Riseborough's long-time home-brewing hobby officially got out of hand in December 2012 That's when he opened Flat Rock Brew Cafe in Naremburn transforming what was an old fruit and veggie shop into a brewery Downstairs is the 200-litre brewery where Flat Rock's own-label beers are made backed by a wall of green beer bottles salvaged from Riseborough's home-brewing days Flat Rock has six traditional beer taps and two hand pumps The choices rotate regularly but usually feature a mixture of Flat Rock's own brews (which could be anything from an English bitter to a bière de garde) The large bottle selection of Australian and international beer numbers around 70 There's also a sizeable cider range and a mostly Australian wine list the kitchen serves up solid fare such as steaks Seasonal dishes include pies and curries in winter; and salmon and salads in the warmer months which tells you exactly what sort of a drinking environment this is Phone: (02) 9460 6696 Website: flatrockbrewcafe.com.au We do not seek or accept payment from the cafes bars and shops listed in the Directory – inclusion is at our discretion Venue profiles are written by independent freelancers paid by Broadsheet Charcoal Chicken and Rosewater Desserts: A Local’s Guide to Merrylands Where Chefs Eat: Peter Gilmore Really Knows Crows Nest Ex-Tradies Grill Hard-to-Find Mexican Street Snacks First Look: Berta’s Deli Knows “Everyone Loves a Sandwich” When COVID reached Australia in early 2020 and the country was plunged into lockdown the uncertainty of the economy had both buyers and developers wanting to see how the next few months Not the diversified property developer WINIM who used the time to reassess and refine their business strategy The decision to turn unknown into opportunity is now paying them back in spades Justin Kuiters, who set up WINIM in 2011 alongside Josh Leahy after working together on Top Ryde Australia's largest mixed-use project "We didn't believe the doomsday reports and acted probably in the opposite direction" Kuiters deliberately staying clear of some of the larger scale middle and outer ring areas and totally focusing on our key 10-15 suburbs "Now we have 12 projects either in market or nearly ready to submit." Nine of the 12 projects are premium Lower North Shore residences WINIM Joint Managing Directors Kuiters says they identified a chronic undersupply of boutique, large apartments and mid-sized residential which target both the rightsizer and the downsizer. The majority of buyers are those who want to stay in the area that they've always called home, but there are many who are looking at the style of apartment WINIM develop as their best bet to move into the affluent North Shore rarely do they want to leave," Kuiters suggests "It was a case of developing residences that resonated with buyers who couldn't find something that suited both their lifestyle and budgets." While securing sites over 2020 and 2021, WINIM were also seeing success selling their projects WINIM are currently working on projects in NEUTRAL BAY, Mosman, Cremorne, Gordon, Lane Cove and Kirribilli Arguably the most striking is set to be their Cremorne project at 15 Allister Street The original building was constructed in 1913 and was designed by the prominent architect Clifford Finch, who later, alongside renowned architect John Burcham Clamp, designed Sydney's Tattersall Club and the heritage-listed Lawson House on Cumberland Street in the CBD. Renowned architecture firm Rothelowman will be retaining the facade Kuiters says the company have worked on a number of adaptive re-use projects recently a development approach which the local council's are favouring The Allister Street, Cremorne plans by Rothelowman "We've secured a number of sites which aren't heritage-listed we are wanting to come up with a clever and creative way of bringing these grand building's into the 21st century," Kuiters adds "The community and council are favouring adaptive reuse and architectural detailing that complements the street. "They're more challenging, but you come out with a more bespoke, unique product, catering for two types of buyers, those who are keen on the historical features (cornicing, high ceilings, brickwork etc) , and those who want the more contemporary finishes." 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! ABC News News HomeAnglican rector recovering after bashing outside Sydney churchShare Anglican rector recovering after bashing outside Sydney churchTopic:Assault Canon Rick Smith was bashed outside his Sydney church. (Naremburn Cammeray Anglican Church) Link copiedShareShare articleAn Anglican rector who was a candidate to become the Sydney archbishop is recovering after he was bashed at the weekend. The Rector of Naremburn Cammeray, Canon Rick Smith, has told his congregation he was held on the ground and stomped on by a group of drunk young men in front of St Cuthbert's Church on Sydney's north shore on Saturday night. Canon Smith was intervening in the robbery of a pizza delivery driver at the time. He says one of his sons attempted to defend him while another called police. An Anglican church spokesman says Canon Smith is now on sick leave recovering from his injuries. 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) Units are making a comeback ahead of the Spring home selling season The Sydney auction scene was far from quiet in the lead up to the Spring home selling season there was plenty happening across the Harbour City Auctioneer Clarence White, from Menck White Auctioneers, led an fiery auction for a two-bedroom apartment at 3/143 Willoughby Rd in Naremburn It was held in the apartment complex’s communal pool area due to the large crowd keen on the location near Crows Nest’s entertainment scene and the appeal of two parking spaces Auctioneer Clarence White in action in Naremburn The apartment was in the complex at 143 Willoughby Rd Bidding opened at $1m with an initial flurry of bids taking it over $1.2m It eventually came down to two bidders – a family and a couple – out of the five registered who did not want to back down The tension mounted as bids dropped to increments of $1000 before another $5000 bid with strategies well and truly being executed It took $4500 to knock out the couple before the apartment sold under the hammer for $1.385m to the family as their two children enjoyed cupcakes nearby Raine and Horne agent Lorinda Mansfield said more than 100 people viewed the apartment many interested in local health services and proximity to all the action in Crows Nest She also said there had been a lot of interest from the Strathfield and Hills District area Mr White said he had noticed an “energy” around unit sales a segment of the market which was dormant in 2022 “Competition for units has steadily risen this year by way of stark contrast to last year and through most of the pandemic era where they were harder to sell,” he said “We are getting a lot of unit auctions and they are competitive.” The auction of a unit down the road in Crows Nest, at 10/140-144 Alexander St The unit at 10/140-144 Alexander St in Crows Nest sold under the hammer MORE: Larry Emdur’s shipping container house sells for big discount Ray White Lower North Shore Group’s John McManus said five of the six registered bidders were active Mr McManus said the previous owners were over the moon with the sale “The auction campaign saw great interest from approximately 200 people visiting the property during inspections,” he said The property was sold to a woman from Chatswood planning to keep the property as an investment and consider occupying the home in a couple of years Other strong results included a “complete knockdown rebuild” in Hurstville that sold $360,000 above reserve A local buyer snapped up the deceased estate at 53 Smiths Ave for $1.66 million This knockdown rebuild in Hurstville generated huge interest Ray White Kingsgrove agent George Boghos said the sellers were “extremely happy” “There was a lot of interest from builders at least 15 out of 60 groups through,” he said A semi-detached corner home at 93 Simmons St, Enmore sold well over its price guide for while Ray White Eastern Beaches sold a five bedroom home at 62 Sackville St Maroubra with sea views under the hammer for $5,475,000 Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy Sydney without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Sydney Don’t underestimate the little loop of road tucked up against the Warringah freeway and Willoughby Road It may look like so many other leafy pockets on the North Shore but slotted in amongst a Thai takeaway joint a liquor store and a patisserie is a trump card in the form of a family-friendly craft beer bar Narremburn has gone and got itself a local Out the back there is a quiet room lined in black banquettes The stairwell leads to a nano brewery downstairs And up front they have somehow shoehorned in fridge space for 80 bottled craft beers amid the booths and a dramatically backlit wall of recycled bottles The beer list is curated by bar manager Oliver Neilson who did time behind the bars at the Local Taphouse and Harts Pub before heading into the not-so-deep north I wanted to have all the best beers from around the world but at something closer to bottle shop prices to make it more accessible for people.” In saying that you can definitely drop $32 on a Rogue double choc imperial stout from the US though there’s plenty of craft action to be had for a tenner If they still have a bottle of Ballast Point Sculpin on the menu crisp IPA that tastes like the promise of a summer but its popularity can make it a tricky find there are three house brews on tap: a pale ale co-owner and home brewer Karl Riseborough took care of in-house production but with a full-time job and four kids something had to give Luckily Vincent De Soyres from Wicked Elf is set to join the team as a fulltime brewer a green tea-infused IPA from Rocket Science a Moo Brew stout and Stone and Wood’s jasper ale keep the Flat Rock brews company on tap There are also eight ciders if you like fruity ferments and they even stock a non-alcoholic beer – but we pass in favour of the refreshing rhubarb and ginger lemonade they keep on tap The bar snacks mix up the usual spread with some sub-continental additions like stuffed naan onion bahjis and tender tandoori chicken wings And you may want to book a table on Thursdays for their curry night when fifteen bucks gets you a seriously buttery chicken and spinach saag that keeps the heat kid-friendly but their first offering is a friendly bar doing seriously interesting beers and a decent feed And for that they've earned a shiny gold star Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitter instagram pinterest About us Contact us Belle Property today announced the opening of its new office in Crows Nest under the leadership of Lower North Shore real estate veterans we’re focused on adding our premium offering to select lifestyle locations and Crows Nest is undoubtedly one of Sydney’s most desirable places to live and invest.” Mark Jackson and Matthew Smythe have more than 50 years of combined experience and are celebrated for going over and above to yield record real estate results on the Lower North Shore,” Peter said “They have already achieved big milestones and made an impact with their nearby Neutral Bay office and we’re looking forward to supporting them to expand their reach and achieve great things in the Crows Nest market.” Principal Mark Jackson explained the decision for the expansion “Through our established offices in Neutral Bay and Cammeray we have been seeing ever-increasing interest and activity from buyers and investors in the Crows Nest area” “Situated only five kilometres north of Sydney CBD and a lifestyle highly sought-after by people of all ages and life stages And with the suburb set to welcome a new Sydney Metro station in 2024 along with plenty of surrounding development we’re expecting to see the local market continue to go from strength to strength,” Mark said “We’re looking forward to working with the community to shape the future of this sought-after Sydney enclave by offering boutique real estate services that deliver consistently premium outcomes,” added Mark work and breathe the Lower North Shore market – we’re hyperlocal and highly accessible to the community providing tailored and personal customer service and coverage via our three offices and the wider Belle Property network.” “As firmly established local property experts with plenty of runs on the board we’re committed to bringing our extensive experience and in-depth market knowledge to Crows Nest to help buyers and investors maximise their next property move,” Matthew said Belle Property Crows Nest is located at 3/29 Holtermann Street, Crows Nest Source: Belle Property Australasia not far from where ex-wife Emma Watkins recently settled on a property Wiggles watchers will already know that Yellow Wiggle Watkins split from Purple Wiggle Gillespie in August last year slightly over two years after their much publicised April 2016 marriage Watkins and Gillespie had sold their apartment in the harbour-side suburb of Wollstonecraft before they announced they were going their separate ways after a five-year relationship Last month Watkins bought back into the Sydney property market spending $1.35 million on a 1960s home overlooking bushland in East Ryde in the city’s northern suburbs Now Purple Wiggle Gillespie has bought back on the North shore market spending $2 million on a fully renovated semi in Naremburn which last traded at $1.39 million in 2013 Gillespie had been out of the market since selling the Wollstonecraft apartment In 2014 the couple had paid $1.45 million for the three-bedroom apartment in the 1896 converted English-style manor Ben Ledi Watkin’s new East Ryde home is set on a sprawling 1330 sqm block Described as having a beach house-like style sold the Ryde family home they owned since the 1980s for $1.66 million to make a tree-change to the Southern Highlands The pair has remained good friends as they continue to tour with The Wiggles embracing their split “as a very positive change in our relationship” and citing their incredible friendship after seven years of touring together before their marriage The group heads to the US for their first show in Seattle next weekend The tour comes on the back of the release of a new album the Wiggles’ 53rd studio album and the 18th with the current line-up of Gillespie