A Ringwood North home on a street likened to that of US comedy drama Desperate Housewives’ Wisteria Lane sold for $1.55m at auction on Saturday followed by a tense pause while the vendors deliberated on whether or not to sell the hammer fell on the four-bedroom house with a pool Initially listed for $1.3m-$1.4m, and called on the market at selling price, 9 Parkwood Rise sold to a man who placed the opening bid RELATED: Patience a virtue for Mt Waverley buyers Home buyers’ FAQs answered Buyers splash $1m+ on Kilsyth South property sight-unseen The backyard has a pool and outdoor area perfect for entertaining A large kitchen was also part of the package said they “fell in love” with the home and local neighbourhood almost instantly “At the time we wanted to upgrade and the pool was a big feature for our two teenage children,” Ms Laws said “We do call it Wisteria Lane; our friends call it Wisteria Lane because there’s no through traffic and people walk their dogs down the lane all weekend long Ms Laws said it was a “beautiful safe area” where everyone knows their neighbour “The first Sunday of December we have a Christmas function out on the street and that’s been going since before we were here,” she said Mr Laws added that the property backed onto parkland and a football oval which was essentially an extension of the already well-sized backyard Vendors Fi and Ross Laws outside their home of 16 years Ray White Ringwood agent Reuben Nadarajah said the home was “in the nicest area” “It’s an exclusive pocket … nobody wants to leave,” he said He added that there were “loads of people still wanting to buy” despite the city’s extended lockdown “It’s the narrative of FOMO (fear of missing out),” he said The Laws’ said that while it would be “bittersweet” to leave their long-term family home they were excited for their next chapter after recently purchasing a property in Ballarat They intend to spend Victorian winters in Queensland or Europe as they ease themselves into retirement Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: ‘Gross’ home turned into backyard ‘resort’ Just 41 first-home buyer friendly suburbs left Brighton basement takes luxe down a level 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. Credit: The NightlyRachael Dixon died at a health retreat near Ballarat after consuming a drink that her family believed contained magic mushrooms went into cardiac arrest allegedly after drinking a hallucinogenic drink made at Soul Barn Creative Wellbeing Centre in Clunes at midnight on Sunday Two others were hospitalised after consuming the drink but have since been discharged Get the first look at the digital newspaper curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Tribute from Rachael Dixon's son Credit: Matthew Mountain/FacebookMs Dixon’s son Matthew posted a heartbreaking tribute to his mother on social media on Sunday writing that he wished he could give her “one last hug” I can’t thank you enough for everything you ever did for me and all the support you gave me; words can’t begin to describe how much I will miss you; I wish I could give you one last hug also said the family was heartbroken over the loss Words cannot express the heartbreak we are all feeling,” she wrote It is understood Ms Dixon was a myotherapist and personal trainer Ms Dixon’s son and ex-husband told the media the drink contained mushrooms The investigation into her death is still ongoing with police calling on anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers “It’s believed a woman was at a retreat on Fraser St when she became ill after ingesting a drink about 12pm,” a Victoria Police spokeswoman said and police will prepare a report for the Coroner.” Soul Barn advertised a ‘Slow Beauty Medicine’ event with “ritual skincare and reiki to soothe body and spirit” The death comes after Victorian authorities warned residents earlier this month that poisonous mushrooms were growing across the state. “Do not pick and eat wild mushrooms in Victoria unless you are an expert,” acting Chief Health Officer Evelyn Wong said. “There is no home test available to distinguish safe and edible mushrooms from poisonous mushrooms.” Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page 20244 min readThe Eastern Football Netball League Eastland Team of the Year squads have been selected for season 2024 with the final teams to be announced via social media tonight at the Chandler Medal Lauren Van Der Westhauizen (Croydon North MLOC) Match Footage EFNL Board Staff Junior Committee Senior Clubs Junior Clubs Safeguarding Children & Young People Annual Reports (VIEW MAP) Email: enquiries@efnl.org.au Terms of Service  |  Privacy Policy  comes with ‘murdered-out’ G-WagonEmily Holgate A luxe Ringwood North home with a 14-car basement garage is up for sale A car fanatic’s dream home with a 14-car basement garage is revving up for a mega sale in Ringwood North The luxe six-bedroom house at 3 Djundaly Rise has hit the market with a $3.15m-$3.465m price tag — inclusive of the spacious basement dubbed by the vendor as ‘The Bat Cave’ and featuring polished concrete floors vaulted ceilings and room for up to 14 cars There’s also an internal lift which provides access from the basement to the first floor RELATED: Caroline Springs pad has eight-car basement garage, expects record-breaking sale The swanky property comes with a 14-car basement garage The vendor is also throwing in his Mercedes ‘G-Wagon’ with the sale Listing photos show the vendor’s personal car collection including a “very rare” Lamborghini and a “murdered-out” Mercedes twin turbo V8 G63 or ‘G-Wagon’ The swanky property is listed with Zed Real Estate Hampton East boss Zed Nasheet “The owner is a car fanatic and he told me to chuck the G-Wagon in with the sale,” Mr Nasheet said “The concrete floors (in the basement) cost him $150,000 and because of his car collection he put in a car hoist as well to make sure they were well looked after four bathrooms and a glamorous kitchen with concrete benchtops Gaggenau and Liebherr appliances and a butler’s pantry The property also has a solar heated swimming pool The glamorous kitchen with concrete benchtops Plenty of space for a family with six bedrooms Italian stone-top cabinetry and gas log fireplaces are also found throughout the spacious living and dining rooms while an undercover outdoor entertaining area comes with built-in Klipsch speakers and is set beside a solar heated “I’m getting pretty strong interest so far,” Mr Nasheet added “One of the buyers called me and said the G-Wagon is his favourite car but you have to wait six months if you want to buy it in store.” CoreLogic records show the home last sold in 2018 for $2.125m Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: Cathy Freeman’s former Kew home bolts onto market with $4m hopes A clinker brick home with a pool and tennis court is set to notch a Ringwood North record A CLINKER brick home with permits for an additional nine luxury townhouses is poised to smash Ringwood North’s residential price record The new benchmark of $3.5 million-$3.8 million is expected to be notched by the 3966sq m site at 175 Wonga Rd An artist’s impression of the completed 10-property site at 175 Wonga Rd The updated four-bedroom property last sold in October 2016 for $2.42 million as the new owners put in the hard work to secure approved plans and permits for the additional nine dwellings The additional homes include a mix of two single-level three-bedroom properties and seven double-storey townhouses with a variety of floorplans including two-bedroom two bathroom; and four-bedroom two bathroom The current record holder is the $2.53 million sale of a two dwelling site on a 4,050sq m block at 22 Unsworth Rd in 2016 The current Ringwood North record is the $2.53 million sale of 22 Unsworth Rd Hocking Stuart agent Naiomi Bentley said the developer’s bonanza was a “landmark opportunity” with plenty of demand for the final product “Nothing else has sold like it with that number of dwellings approved,” Ms Bentley said “The benefits for a builder is that it’s all stamped and there’s a lot less risk given that it’s already approved.” Demand for the final product will be high given it’s location Ms Bentley said there was huge demand for new builds in the area with families downsizers and investors all interested in Ringwood North due the suburb’s infrastructure “The demand for the finished product will be there given its location,” she said “The closest development like it is one further up Wonga Rd which has about seven townhouses “The completion of that build is almost done and I think all bar one of them has sold.” Before and after: Northcote house doubles in value after several impressive additions 50 Pine Cres, Ringwood North, was designed by architect John Denton in 1971 A RINGWOOD North home designed by a leading architect has sold for the first time in nearly 25 years The home at 50 Pine Cres was designed by John Denton for graphic designer Garry Emery The following year the architect co-founded Denton Corker Marshall an international firm responsible for several local landmarks including Melbourne Museum Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Philip Webb Ringwood senior sales consultant Rob Forbes said the Ringwood North property had attracted immense interest due to its design credentials “We had a strong offer that was put forward by a buyer that just loved the house and loved the story,” Mr Forbes said Mr Forbes said while the sale price remained undisclosed the property sold for a seven figure sum Exposed timber ceilings and concrete blockwork feature throughout the construction The four-bedroom home incorporates modernist design elements and features natural exposed materials and a flowing layout over varied levels It is on 933sq m surrounded by mature pines in the Loughnan’s Hill pocket Mr Forbes said the home had drawn a strong response upon hitting the market and buyers had been drawn to its significance and “quirky layout.” mostly from people who saw its significant architectural merit,” he said Mr Forbes said the vendors had purchased the property in 1992 and while it remained in good original condition could be revived with attention to several features The Ringwood North area was home to several properties of similar design influence thanks to its elevated and treed characteristics “Particularly in the Loughnan’s Hill area you have a lot of small homes that are almost like contemporary beach houses “The Ringwood location means they are close to facilities but you also have the seclusion of the treed streets The Richardsons Rd area in nearby Croydon North also attracted continued buyer interest with properties of similar design periods and styles SEE SUBURB PROFILE: RINGWOOD NORTH If you A) live east of the city, B) love a good glass of vino and C) have creative flair here's the news for you. On Saturday, October 29, Frida's Sip n' Paint is celebrating the opening of its brand-new Ringwood North studio bust out the BYO drinks and nibbles and get settled in for a stand-out painting experience but not all of us have the confidence to create art with no assistance Some of us prefer to learn by doing — and maybe have a cheeky bevvy while doing so A memorable experience that's all about fun art Frida's Sip n' Paint Ringwood opens its doors on Saturday, October 29. You can book a seat in one of two opening sessions, running 2–4.30pm or 6.30–9.30pm. Tickets and more information can be found on the website This is probably not the page you’re looking for This clever and green Ringwood North property has hit the market and its new owners will never have to a pay a bill again this 9.5 star energy rated luxury home has no bills makes $2000 in profit per year and is controlled from a single app on a smart phone The super green Ringwood North property is one of Australia’s most energy efficient and technologically-advanced homes and has hit the market for $2.15-$2.35 million The five-bedroom home at 1 Williams Rd was designed and built by passive house specialists Arvio hi-tech automation and carbon neutral living The home of the future has hit the market for $2.15-$2.35 million Arvio manager and vendor Paul Wilson said the home was designed to use almost no energy at all and cost next to nothing to run One day houses will be built this way all the time,” Mr Wilson said “A typical house would use 20-30kW of energy per day “You don’t have to use the heating and cooling at all throughout the year the house is warm inside in winter without the heating and cool in summer.” Every detail of the home was considered to ensure it was as energy efficient and as technologically advanced as possible The air tight home has a special heat recovery ventilator that allowed filtered air inside Other environmental features included solar power and electric car charging station Mr Wilson explains that it’s even easy to clean with mould unable to grow inside and dust kept outside “If there is a blackout for a week or a day the home will keep running 24 hours a day because it’s got a large battery,” he said “We have put a very large solar panel array so the house is powerful enough to run about 10 houses up the street.” The house is considered to be ahead of its time Not only will the lucky owners never receive a dreaded electricity bill but will make money from the extra power generated by the home we don’t need to be connected to the grid … but by staying connected we get to sell electricity,” Mr Wilson said “So the home makes about $2000 per year profit by selling electricity and it has no power bills.” Hoskins director John Hoskins said the brand-new home was ahead of its time using features found in Europe but not before seen in Australia “It’s stuff that is going to be quite common in five to 10 years’ time but is cutting edge now,” Mr Hoskins said “The holy grail is an energy rating of 10 and a lot of new homes are five or six star and they are seen as some of the best we build “This house has the highest (rating) of any home in Australia.” MORE: Armadale Victorian mansion facing wrecking ballSticks and Wombat’s The Block pad in Elsternwick up for grabs again Eye-catching Toorak mansion attracts five offers, about $15 million Updated designs have been released for the removal of 2 dangerous and congested level crossings and construction of a new station at Ringwood East in one of the biggest transport infrastructure upgrades for the suburb Both level crossings will be removed by building rail trenches which will carry trains under Bedford Road and Dublin Road easing congestion for drivers and creating safer pedestrian and cycling links The updated designs have been released following community consultation earlier this year and include an additional entrance to the new Ringwood East Station as well car parking closer to the station precinct to make catching the train easier for passengers The station architecture has also been designed to complement the local village feel of Ringwood East including landscaping works that will prioritise native plants upgraded pedestrian and cycling paths in the area as well as 460 upgraded commuter car parks a new walking and cycling path has been added to the design connecting the 19.2km Heathmont Rail Trail to Bedford Park alongside the Belgrave rail line Construction to remove the level crossings will start early next year with both sets of boom gates gone for good in 2025 The project will make Ringwood level crossing free more often on the Lilydale and Belgrave lines About 23,000 vehicles use the Dublin Road and Bedford Road level crossings each day with the boom gates down for up to 23 minutes of the morning peak at each location – removing them will mean ease congestion and make roads safer for local drivers 12 level crossings are being removed on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines making the Lilydale Line level crossing free and the Belgrave Line level crossing free from the city to Ferntree Gully by 2025 9 Ellamatta Rise, Ringwood North and is one of just six homes in the suburb to do so A RINGWOOD North house has sold for more than $2 million and become the sixth multimillion dollar address in the suburb The result from early May for the property at 9 Ellamatta Rise emerged recently marking it as one of the suburb’s elite homes Hoskins Croydon senior sales consultant David Alvares said the property was sold for $2,010,750 after an expressions of interest campaign “We expected around the high $1-millions,” Mr Alvares said “It ended up getting close to 42 inspections five second inspections and we ended up with multiple offers “It sold to a buyer who would have been on our database for over a year.” Mr Alvares said the home had achieved the price without the lifestyle extras some properties at that level typically featured “It didn’t have a pool or a tennis court,” he said the five-bedroom home’s spacious proportions and prized location near schools were key to its appeal “It’s in a cracking Ringwood North location The 1802sq m property has high-end finishes and large indoor and outdoor living and entertainment spaces The property is one of just six in the suburb to top $2 million It was also the second-highest result recorded in the suburb so far this year The Ringwood North median house price was $860,000 as of February Mr Alvares said there was demand in the area for homes around the $2 million mark from local families upgrading as well as buyers from far afield and when you do get them it is a very niche market,” Mr Alvares said “They have generally been sitting on our database for a while they may have missed out on other properties and they are waiting for the right one to come up,” he said “So when they do come up … they are ready to buy.” You can now click/tap WATCH to start the live stream You can now click/tap LISTEN to start the live stream You can now click/tap LATEST NEWS to start the live stream Press PLAY below to hear Emilia’s review in full This restaurant takes family owned business literally The name is a reference to the five Ringwood local siblings that own the restaurant together there’s three brothers and two sisters The family is Calabrian but they have lots of different Italian influence throughout the restaurant as the manager is Sicilian and the head chef is Roman I imagined the menu discussions would get heated between North and Southern Italian dishes but they said it actually makes for a really eclectic menu with all different flavours I took a friend local to the area who tells me it used to be a old bank so the location itself has always been a tight part of the community Cinque is an Italian restaurant in Ringwood North amongst a strip of shops that has recently had a facelift Cinque’s neighbours now include a paint and sip and an upmarket ice creamery columns and light sconces lining the outside of the restaurant There’s an illuminated LED sign that tells you everything you need to know about the place — it says “Mangia che te fa bene” translating to “Eat that it will make you well!” — it’s a classic saying to keep the table Fabrizio Mutta has worked at hatted restaurants in both Melbourne and before that in Italy (Imàgo all’Hassler there’s a fabulous wine shop down the road you can pick up something on the way They also have a combo night and a $3.50 oyster night the pizza and pasta was beautiful and we’ll get into that but I was actually most impressed by the antipasti and secondi offerings There was one clear winner on the menu that I can’t even wait until it’s turn to talk about…it was the slow cooked beef cheek You know when someone politely offers you the last bite of the best dish of the night and you are genuinely so happy because you’ve been staring it off this whole time hoping they wouldn’t finish it It literally fell apart as you stuck a fork into it it was beautifully balanced between rich flavour without being overbearing It was on a bed of parsnip puree which I always love as an earthier I find it really works with a rich meat to cut through the flavour I could not rave about this beef cheek enough would go back there for the beef cheek alone From the antipasti section we also had Baked Cacio Cavallo Cheese and the grilled Whole Baby Octopus with Potato Puree You can’t really go wrong with baked cheese but they did this great balancing act with it by adding the sweetness of the date jam nuttiness of walnuts and topped with little broccoli florets it was smokey and crunchy (on the tentacles where it should be) You have to get the deconstructed tiramisu with frozen mascarpone as the centre dome and chocolate syrup poured over it at the table They were super accommodating in making all the pizza and pasta gluten free: we were lucky to be served by their fabulous joyful manager with a gorgeous Italian accent and a belly that told me to trust his recommendations Cinque what Ringwood needed — it’s a nicer place to go for a date night but there was also the end of a wake being hosted there It was that perfect ‘everyone’s welcome’ kind of place with the food to back it up Plenty of success for the North Ringwood Football Club in 2023 Leading Goalkicker: Patrick Rose (21 goals) A new division for North Ringwood gave the Saints a new lease on life returning to the finals for the first time since 2014 Relegated from Premier Division after last year’s two-win season a young Saints group faced all new opponents Questions were asked with a slow start to the season winning just one of their first four games But North Ringwood responded well and turned their year around from a potential bottom three side to a finals team The Saints had a couple of big performances in the second half of the year including knocking Mooroolbark off by seven-goals drawing with Montrose and beating Bayswater by 14 points in a mini–Elimination Final a finals position was locked by Half Time of their second last game of the season The Saints faced off against Beaconsfield in an Elimination Final at Tormore Reserve The Saints comfortably took home a four-goal win and set up a date with Mitcham in the Semi Final Despite a couple of close losses to the Tigers in the season North Ringwood were blown away early after an eight-goal to zip second term in favour of Mitcham to make it to the second week of the finals series is a great achievement and something that many outside of the club didn’t expect after their start to the year Michael Locco’s year in defence earned himself multiple awards including a club best and fairest and a position in the Team of the Year Jack Whelan had another superb year with the club 7 tackles and 7 clearances per game in 2023 The inside mid playing a big role in leading the Saints to a finals appearance Finishing as the runner up in the best and fairest was Aaron Fenton seven tackles and five clearances per game Fenton was ruled out for the side’s Semi Final clash with Mitcham The club also got plenty from the likes of Jayden and Dylan Van Unen Best Win: Elimination Final – North Ringwood 11.6 72 def A fifth spot finish on the ladder earnt the Saints a finals appearance against the Eagles keeping a two to three goal buffer across each break and forcing them into twelve more turnovers North Ringwood made the most of those turnovers scoring 56% of their winning score from that area 9 clearances and a massive 18 tackles recorded on Premier Data their first finals win since their Division Two premiership win in 2014 A lot to like about North Ringwood and their current list they still struggle to put together big scores they were the eight ranked attacking side of the division Patrick Rose looked to be the answer last year he was solid with 21 goals this season but missed eight games for the year Something they’ll want to look at again over the off-season if they are to go any deeper in a finals series their junior program is the biggest of all junior clubs in the league A big focus that will remain over the next few years is creating that transition from the juniors to senior level footy Leading Goalkicker: Rachel Hoffmann (19 Goals) Another finals series for the Saints in 2023 the senior women’s side making a second consecutive finals appearance in Division One It was a much tougher division to compete in this year with Boronia and The Basin dropping down from Premier B they found themselves in a race with the Knox Falcons for the last spot inside the top four Having lost an early season home game to Knox the Saints had to cover some ground and win a very important rematch against the Falcons later in the year in Round Ten Finishing fourth with an even record of 7 and 7 the Saints faced Park Orchards in the Semi Final at Silvan Recreation Reserve Plenty of momentum shifts across the afternoon North Ringwood bounced back from a goalless first term to kick four of their own in the second They managed to stick with the Sharks for another quarter before a three-goal final quarter from Park Orchards saw them win by 27 points Plenty of upside for the Saints in a difficult and competitive division Ella Rhodes finished as the club’s best and fairest winner She was listed as Full Back in the Division One Senior Women’s Team of the Tear Iaucone had a very consistent year with the Saints ten times listed in the best from her 14 games Rounding out the top five were Eliza Wilson Rice was also selected in the Team of the Year Rachel Hoffmann and Eliza Wilson both had a great impact Best Win: Round Ten – North Ringwood 7.8 50 def The Round Ten clash at Knox Gardens Reserve turned out to be the decider for the final spot in the top four the Saints started well before Knox worked their way back into the game just four points the difference at Half Time a four-goal to one second half saw North Ringwood run away with a 25-point win Rachel Hoffmann starred with 4 goals while Rachel Iacuone was listed as best on ground The club have been busy this off-season announcing many of their re-signings and consolidating their list for the 2024 season In great shape to challenge for a flag in the next couple of seasons It’s no secret that North Ringwood has one of the strongest junior clubs in the competition and will have those junior girls transitioning into the senior side The North Ringwood Veteran Men had a phenomenal year undefeated in the Home and Away season before winning a semi-final and Grand Final on their way to the premiership the Saints earned the right to host their first final at Quambee Reserve The Friday night clash saw North Ringwood thump South Croydon by 64 points as Leigh Mccombe kicked six of the Saints’ 12 goals The Saints met the Waverley Blues in the Grand Final Apart from a third-quarter fight back from the Blues it was a strong performance from the Saints who ran out 25 point winners having previously played 150 senior games with the club Another big year for the North Ringwood Junior Football Club a total of 26 teams competed in the competition The Saints had the most junior teams of any side in the junior comp as well as the most girls teams of any club North Ringwood celebrated multiple junior flags including the Under 12B Girls A dominant Under 15A side also claimed premiership honours as well as the Under 11A side Ryan Smirk finished up as the best and fairest winner of the dominant premiership side Residential zoning and a special overlay could see this Ringwood home turned into a six-storey apartment complex RINGWOOD residents may be hit for six if developers and investors seize an opportunity to secure a classic clinker brick home The 725sq m block could soon become home to a six-storey apartment complex Philip Webb agent William Wong said apartment plans and permits had been granted for nearby sites that were also close to Eastland “More and more apartments are going up in this area because of the location Most residential zones within the Maroondah area have a limit to go up to three storeys the council has zoned it so it can go up a minimum of six levels.“There’s potential there for a high-rise apartment building or maybe an even mixed use building A luxury house or multiple townhouses could also be built on the site The property at 26 Bond St last sold in 2002 for $281,000 and now has $1.46-$1.606 million price hopes ahead of its scheduled August 4 auction The two-bedroom house that occupies the block is “in a pretty good condition” The property has Residential 1 zoning and a Schedule 3 Design and Development Overlay which has a preferred building height and design objectives that allow for a potential six-storey apartment complex The area could see more and more apartments popping up due to nearby amenities most buyers are investors and so they are making a loss.” Ringwood’s median unit price has jumped 39 per cent in five years to $535,000 The figure is on par with Victoria’s median value but is rising at a faster rate outperforming the state’s average 20.9 per cent increase across the five years to April Architect Robin Boyd designed 20 Byways Drive A Ringwood East house designed by famous Australian architect Robin Boyd is on the market for the first time in 25 years Named Hegarty House, the three-bedroom property at 20 Byways Drive was one of the last homes Boyd completed prior to his death in 1971 Boyd was one of the main proponents of modernism in Australian architecture RELATED: Bridgford House: Robin Boyd Black Rock design up for rent Ringwood North: Swanky car collector’s home has 14-vehicle garage He even wrote the liner notes for comedian Barry Humphries’ first commercial recording Jellis Craig Boroondara’s Mark Salvati said Hegarty House featured the signature design elements which Boyd was known for including the use of natural materials in the build; large windows taking in plenty of sunlight; and leafy courtyards “It was the last one Boyd saw finished before he passed away,” Mr Salvati said he went to the house and had drinks with the owners upon its completion.” The celebration would have been one of his last before he passed away from a stroke following surgery aged 52 Courtyards are a signature Boyd design feature The house offers views to the Dandenongs and the surrounding green landscape Mr Salvati said the first-floor’s main bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite “feels like you’re in the top of the trees” The kitchen has been updated with new European appliances while the original study boasts custom storage space and a built-in desk The kitchen contains mostly original materials and new appliances The leafy garden is a central focus for many of the home’s view lines Additional highlights include a second bathroom and powder room Mr Salvati said Hegarty House had just three owners so far with the current residents selling in order to downsize from the 817sq m block sold earlier this month and is another Boyd creation was also designed by the celebrated architect Other Boyd-designed properties which have sold recently include 18 Marcus Rd, Frankston South. the three-bedroom pad sold for an undisclosed sum earlier this month CoreLogic records show a circa-1956 house 41 Koornong Cres, North Warrandyte, known as The Fler Another Boyd creation, a seven-bedroom house at 3 Villa Mews, Vermont, sold for $2,168,001 in March Hegarty House will be auctioned on July 22 with a $900,000-$990,000 price guide Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: Hannan House 2: Artist’s mid-century masterpiece restored to original charm new figures showMikaela Day The leafy east is outperforming bayside’s blue-chip suburbs as buyers look for space and greenery SPACE and greenery are trumping sand and sea with the leafy east outperforming blue-chip Bayside areas for property price growth Median house prices have soared more than 80 per cent in three Maroondah suburbs — Croydon South Ringwood East and Ringwood — in the past five years They have left traditionally popular Bayside suburbs in their wake as buyers search for better value A lavish modern-day marvel at 3 Djundaly Rise is at the top end of the Ringwood North market six-bedroom property is seeking $2.55 million-$2.8 million its median house price jumping a staggering 85.1 per cent to $800,000 Ringwood East and Ringwood also recorded incredible growth up 83.8 per cent to almost $901,000 and 81 per cent to $905,000 saw its median price gain more than $400,000 or 71.8 per cent in five years to hit $905,000 Perry Property Advocates managing director Adam Perry said the outer-east’s multitude of schools larger blocks of land and relative affordability were drawing buyers away from bayside areas “Melbourne’s east has become the go-to region fast outstripping the bayside for growth,” Mr Perry said “The leafy east is now far more sought-after than southern sandbelt suburbs “It seems buyers prefer the ‘green belt’ aspect of the east and the perception of space with parks and playing fields aplenty and the Dandenongs on the doorstep.” The areas are outdoing some of bayside’s most desirable suburbs including Brighton which increased 58.3 per cent to $2.77 million which recorded 66.8 per cent to almost $1.819 million both trailing well behind Maroondah’s top growth performers MORE: Michael Klim’s family home set to make a splash CBD Chinatown building seeing double Apartments that’ll make you green with envy Zoned for elite schools, 45 Gracedale Avenue, Ringwood, has plenty of space for a growing family it’s on the market with a $1.15 million-$1.25 million price guide Noel Jones Ringwood and Croydon managing director Brett Freeman said recent improvements to infrastructure and schools were big drawcards “The last five years we have had a lot of major infrastructure that has been improved or rebuilt,” Mr Freeman said “The schools have been improved and have been really successful in the rankings Mr Freeman said buyers also increasingly valued space over proximity to the city “There has been a bit of a shift back to families wanting backyards,” he said “Kids don’t run around the streets like they used to so they want a backyard to kick the footy in.” Mr Freeman said the market had levelled but demand was still strong we will likely see modest growth for the next 12 months or so but there is still good supply and demand as people want to come and live in the area,” he said There’s Eastland, for one – a shopping centre with David Jones, Myer, Hoyts cinemas and a bevy of high-street brands under one roof. On the other side of the square, you’ll see the fancy, futuristic facade of the space known as Realm, housing the library, a cafe, council service centre, art gallery and “knowledge and innovation centre”. Just beyond that lies the train station, a major hub on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines, which received its own $66 million upgrade at the same time as the rest of postcode 3134’s civic heart. Sitting 23 kilometres east of Melbourne’s CBD, Ringwood is solidly middle-ring suburbia, with a host of brick-veneer homes on larger-sized blocks a reminder of its development in the 1950s and ’60s. The boom of multilevel apartments on and around the Maroondah Highway is changing its face to a more modern mix of home options. And if you’re after a house? A $998,000 median, according to the most recent Domain data, draws in buyers priced out of Blackburn, Box Hill and Glen Waverley. (If they’re feeling flash, Ringwood North hits a median of $1.2 million.) Canterbury: Melbourne’s epicentre of old money Tree-changers are flocking to this Victorian region The bayside pocket preserving its modernist heritage 3 Baths2 ParkingView listing Smart and low maintenance, this brand-new townhouse at the quiet rear of the block has family-sized proportions and a leafy and private garden and terrace. There are two main bedroom suites with en suites, and a handy upstairs study or retreat. 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 Investigation launched after 53-year-old woman and two others became ill in Clunes A woman has died and two other people have been taken to hospital after police say they consumed a drink at a retreat near the regional Victorian city of Ballarat on the weekend. A police spokesperson confirmed that Moorabool detectives were investigating the death of a woman in Clunes, west of Melbourne, on Sunday. “It is believed a woman was at a retreat on Fraser Street when she became ill after ingesting a drink just after 12am,” the spokesperson said. “The 53-year-old Ringwood North woman died at the scene. “Two other people were taken to hospital for observation.” Officers were examining whether the drink contained mushrooms. The retreat describes itself on social media as an alternative and holistic health service. It had no events listed for Saturday night, according to a newsletter and social media posts, but said in a Facebook post that a subsequent event had been cancelled. The retreat’s owner has been contacted for comment. An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson confirmed that paramedics responded to the incident and two people were transported by road ambulance to the Ballarat Base hospital. Police had earlier said they believed woman became ill after consuming the drink on Saturday, but issued a clarification about the time on Tuesday afternoon. 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) Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time The Liberal Party claimed victory in the Warrandyte byelection as about 150 supporters celebrated results on Saturday night the party declared it had retained the seat in north-east Melbourne based on powerful early support for candidate Nicole Werner Nicole Werner is congratulated by the Victorian Liberal leader John Pessuto.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui More than 23,300 votes had been counted by 9.15pm on Saturday with a powerful 56.97 per cent of first preference votes favouring Werner had attracted 18.64 per cent of first preference votes Liberals were expecting the primary vote to settle in the mid-50s Joyous supporters corralled in the bowls club chanted Werner’s name as she walked to the podium with her husband had shared with her: “I want you to be a leader Of her Chinese-Malaysian migrant parents Werner said: “My success is their success.” Pesutto introduced Werner as “the future of this party” on Saturday night describing her as a fighter after failing to pick up Box Hill at the November election and returning to claim Warrandyte I know a thing or two about comebacks,” Pesutto said The Liberal leader said Victorians were sick of cost-of-living pressures “The people of Warrandyte have been the voice of all Victorians tonight,” he said After consecutive poor showings at state and federal polls and rumblings within the state parliamentary team deputy Liberal leader David Southwick declared “a new dawn has risen for the Victorian Liberal Party” sushi and egg salad sandwiches at the Ringwood Bowls Club as they awaited Werner and Pesutto’s arrival Scrutineers from booths were also reporting primary votes above 50 per cent early in the count with Liberals viewing the early resounding results as better than expected Wendy Lovell and Renee Heath were in attendance at the party event in Ringwood after a long campaign Senators James Paterson and Jane Hume, federal MP for Menzies Keith Wolahan, as well as Senate hopeful and outgoing state president Greg Mirabella Pesutto said earlier in the day that the Liberal Party had fought for every vote in its aim of retaining the seat of Warrandyte The byelection had been framed as a test for Pesutto, but Labor’s decision not to field a candidate cleared the path for Werner Werner succeeds former Liberal member Ryan Smith Werner succeeds Liberal MP Ryan Smith, who announced his resignation six months after he was re-elected at the November general election with a 4.3 per cent margin attracted a strong 47.3 per cent primary vote At Ringwood North Primary School voting centre on Saturday morning, Pesutto said the campaign had been tough, with 12 candidates in the running she’s connected with the community she grew up in,” Pesutto said which has been held by the Liberals since 1988 Donvale and parts of Doncaster East and Chirnside Park Voters arrive at a polling booth for the Warrandyte byelection.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui grew up in the nearby suburb of Blackburn North I think we’ve learnt that in recent federal and state elections you have to fight for every single vote,” Pesutto said “We’ve taken nothing for granted in this byelection.” Lightbody contested the seat for the Greens and was the major challenger to the Liberals in the absence of a Labor candidate Greens candidate for Warrandyte Tomas Lightbody seen with the party’s Victorian leader Samantha Ratnam at East Doncaster Secondary College.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Lightbody, 25 years old and a City of Manningham councillor, nominated the cost of living as the key issue governments must address, as the minor party pushes nationally for the introduction of a rent freeze Pesutto also identified the cost of living and state taxes as key community concerns Werner will become the first female MP from an Asian background to represent the Liberal Party in state parliament charity worker and Liberal staffer won preselection in a hard-fought race in June against eight rivals said on Saturday that Werner and her family represented “a great Australian story” “Nicole represents generational change and renewal in the Victorian state parliamentary party a process that was well underway at the last state election and represents a very bright future here in Victoria for our party.” but has been linked to the religious right given she spent time as a youth pastor with Christian Pentecostal megachurch Planetshakers She previously contested the seat of Box Hill at the November state election but suffered an 8.9 per cent drop in the primary vote and failed to take the seat Smith announced in May he would quit state parliament citing a “growing negative tone of politics” The byelection was triggered when he formally stood down in July Almost 20,000 people – about 40 per cent of the nearly 51,000 enrolled voters – cast early ballots Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here Joyous supporters corralled in the bowls club chanted Werner\\u2019s name as she walked to the podium with her husband \\u201COnya Nicole!\\u201D a supporter yelled had shared with her: \\u201CI want you to be a leader and I want you to change the world.\\u201D Werner said: \\u201CMy success is their success.\\u201D Pesutto introduced Werner as \\u201Cthe future of this party\\u201D on Saturday night \\u201CShe doesn\\u2019t give up \\u2026 tonight I know a thing or two about comebacks,\\u201D Pesutto said \\u201CThe people of Warrandyte have been the voice of all Victorians tonight,\\u201D he said deputy Liberal leader David Southwick declared \\u201Ca new dawn has risen for the Victorian Liberal Party\\u201D sushi and egg salad sandwiches at the Ringwood Bowls Club as they awaited Werner and Pesutto\\u2019s arrival The byelection had been framed as a test for Pesutto but Labor\\u2019s decision not to field a candidate cleared the path for Werner succeeds six months after he was re-elected at the November general election with a 4.3 per cent margin At Ringwood North Primary School voting centre on Saturday morning she\\u2019s connected with the community she grew up in,\\u201D Pesutto said \\u201CNo seat is safe in politics these days I think we\\u2019ve learnt that in recent federal and state elections you have to fight for every single vote,\\u201D Pesutto said \\u201CWe\\u2019ve taken nothing for granted in this byelection.\\u201D 25 years old and a City of Manningham councillor nominated the cost of living as the key issue governments must address as the minor party pushes nationally for the introduction of a said on Saturday that Werner and her family represented \\u201Ca great Australian story\\u201D \\u201CNicole represents generational change and renewal in the Victorian state parliamentary party and represents a very bright future here in Victoria for our party.\\u201D citing a \\u201Cgrowing negative tone of politics\\u201D Almost 20,000 people \\u2013 about 40 per cent of the nearly 51,000 enrolled voters \\u2013 cast early ballots Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens bags $11.13 millionMikaela Day A Ringwood family have sold their supersite at 154-166 Maroondah Highway for a whopping $11.13 million A RINGWOOD family has bagged a hefty $11.13 million with the sale of their Maroondah Highway supersite The sale is the biggest to be notched in Ringwood this year Jellis Craig Ringwood director William Lyall said the 8067sq m site had been owned in part by the same family since 1936 Mr Lyall said the site was snapped up by a Melbourne family that had been in the property game for years “It is their first investment in the outer east and they liked the idea that Ringwood was going somewhere and has a bright future,” Mr Lyall said.“That was a common theme with the other (prospective) buyers as well.” The massive 8067sq m site sold to a Melbourne-based family The large strip of shops at 154-166 Maroondah Highway is leased to tenants Carpet Court and Horseland and reaps an annual income of more than $747,000 The site had price expectations of about $10 million when it first hit the market “To get over $11 million was outstanding,” Mr Lyall said interstate and overseas investors all showed interest in the property “Ringwood has been seen as a destination suburb more and more people are seeing it as the place to do business from or live in,” he said “We are well placed in Ringwood for many years to come.” RELATED: Ringwood off-the-plan townhouse’s record breaking capital appreciation Ringwood home likely to be transformed into six-storey apartment block Australia’s greenest home: Never pay a bill again at Ringwood North property that earns you money The leases along the strip rake in $747,000 a year bringing it more in line with where Ringwood is heading,” he said “The plans include mixed-used development with retail offices and residential development to make it more streamlined along the highway.” The buyers had no immediate plans for redevelopment The site falls within the Maroondah City Council Commercial Boulevard of the Ringwood Activity Centre Maroondah mayor Nora Lamont said the policy aimed to establish the area as the outer east’s premier activity centre “Over the last four years Ringwood has experienced a significant transformation with well over a billion dollars of private investment,” Cr Lamont said “These investments have provided a catalyst and a foundation for future investment in office and residential developments in and around Ringwood.” MORE: Business high-flyer parts with Brighton ‘resort’ home Quirky artists’ Reservoir cottage hits market for the first time as developers circle Karl Fender designed Queenscliff abode a lesson in luxury Apparently there’s a tornado on the way in Ringwood North Word on the Street caller Brad checked the weather app on his iPhone and was certainly surprised by the forecast “It doesn’t look like there’s a tornado but apparently one is coming!” he told Tom Elliott “Spinning tornado is on my current app.” The Bureau of Meteorology says there’s certainly no tornado forecast for today They say tornadoes in Victoria are very rare This Heathmont house is one of more than 70 properties that Maroondah Council has proposed putting a heritage overlay on Eastern suburbs’ homeowners have accused their council of “wasting” more than $240,000 on consultants for a controversial proposed heritage reform plan An online petition against Maroondah Council’s plan to apply planning protections to selected post-World War II buildings has been signed by 470 people since October 6 the amendment will apply restrictions to how owners of more than 70 properties are permitted to develop RELATED: Melbourne high-density development vs. heritage Ringwood North: Heritage-listed 1970s-built Emery House for sale Heritage-listed concrete bungalow sells $200K over reserve in Geelong West But residents have said some sites earmarked for inclusion in the overlay are “absolutely decrepit” enclosing a carport with a garage door and building a front veranda will be “practically impossible under this new overlay” “This also includes updating safety railings to protect children or installing ramps to provide wheelchair access,” the petition reads The former Fibremakers Factory in Bayswater North is among the buildings the council has proposed listing under the heritage overlay Local resident and one of the petition organisers said the council received about 60 submissions – including 50 objections – to the proposal during a consultation period earlier this year in August then-mayor Cr Rob Steane said the council had been sent 48 submissions both for and against the plan The council has appointed an independent panel to hold hearings on the amendment from November 27-30 and December 5-6 with residents able to speak on their submissions along with the council’s heritage experts The panel will recommend whether the council should adopt the amendment in part or full have been included in the mooted heritage amendment including this one This Heathmont house has also made the list of planned inclusions Ms Underwood said she would encourage Maroondah councillors to follow the example of Maribyrnong council which overturned a proposed heritage amendment following a community outcry “I’ve not yet met with a single person in our community who considers post-war architecture to be of heritage value “The vast majority of the homes nominated for this overlay are very simple structures “Most of them have major structural issues and some are absolutely decrepit.” A Heathmont house that heritage consultants have recommended for heritage listing Other reasons for objecting include “safety concerns property values and long-term financial security and limitations to residents’ ability to make homes fit for purpose for those who live there,” she added Ms Underwood said one of the impacted residents has a degenerative neurological condition and has been wheelchair-bound for 15 years is becoming unsuitable and needs to be replaced with a new ramp to provide front door access,” Ms Underwood said “This was all clearly detailed in the submission of objection drafted by her daughter “The response from council was that these concerns were irrelevant and not a valid reason to avoid a heritage overlay.” A Croydon North property which is among the homes proposed for protection A September council meeting revealed the council had spent $242,696 on heritage consultants across six years Ms Underwood said many people who signed the petition are outraged that council is “wasting” ratepayers’ money “on bullying homeowners” “They absolutely do not support their rates being spent this way,” she said Another of the Ringwood shopping centre (formerly Ringwood Drive-In Shopping Centre) stores the council wants to heritage list Fellow petition organiser Jacinta Willcocks said after an 18-month search she and her husband purchased their Ringwood East home weeks before the council commenced its community consultation about the proposed amendment “We did not find out about the proposed amendment until May this year as the council had sent original communication to the previous owners,” Ms Willcocks said “If the heritage overlay is placed on our property it will restrict our ability for our family to build a home that we had aspired to live in.” This Heathmont house is another heritage nomination She said many other families were worried about having heritage controls on their property “Under the proposal homeowners will need to apply for permits to install solar panels that can be seen from the street,” Ms Willcocks said “Homeowners will also be faced with expensive repair costs that require custom work to be completed to retain original features of the home and will need to apply and pay for permits to complete any changes or repairs to their home.” Maroondah mayor Kylie Spears said it was expected the council would consider the planning panel’s recommendations in early 2024 Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: Termite-infested home gets $175k premium as top agencies talk up early offers Confectionary factory turned into a grand home for sale in the heart of Collingwood Melbourne real estate: Where to get the most bang for your buck and where to avoid There is substantial accommodation at 67 Loughnan Road – five bedrooms, two bathrooms plus a rumpus room – spread across three levels. The renovation has been a work in progress for around five years, says Robert Ding of Belle Property. While a new kitchen, sparkling bathrooms and a versatile floor plan are all appealing, the stunning lounge is a stand-out. “You’d love sitting in the living room. Views everywhere. You can watch the weather come in.” That incredible second tier has fabulous windows and a wraparound, covered balcony with views to the Dandenongs. Magic. The property has 894 square metres on which to extend or redevelop. With a guide of $1.09 million, offers are invited for this rarity. From daggy neighbourhood to downright cool Inside Toorak’s striking luxury home heading under the hammer People looking to buy a house in Australia’s most in-demand suburbs could potentially save thousands by choosing a neighbouring suburb An analysis of the most in-demand suburbs nationwide for houses reveals which of their surrounding suburbs have a cheaper median price can be found in the bush-surrounded middle-ring and trendy inner-northern suburbs of Melbourne Where are the cheapest suburbs to buy near you [tableau url=”https://public.tableau.com/views/Wheretobuycheaper-Desktop/Desktop-Stacy” width=”100%” height=”800″ mobile=”https://public.tableau.com/views/Wheretobuycheaper-Mobile/Mobile-Stacy” mobile_width=”100%” mobile_height=”800″] was the only non-Victorian suburb to show up on the list of most in-demand suburbs Its cheapest surrounding suburb was Adelaide CBD Australia’s most in-demand suburb for those looking for houses is Warrandyte Twenty-four kilometres north-east of Melbourne on the banks on the Yarra River Warrandyte is a little bit of bush in the ‘burbs – home to artists and creatives escaping from Fitzroy and similar suburbs as well as families who crave a bit more than the quarter acre block Warrandyte has a median house price of $985,000, but just 12 minutes down the road in Croydon Hills the median price drops by $267,500 to $717,500 This four-bedroom home in Croydon Hills sold for $670,000 in June Gary Seaye says the neighbouring suburbs are quite different “To me Warrandyte offers a more rustic alternative for housing – a lot of people come from Fitzroy after the bush lifestyle where as Croydon Hills has more of an estate feel,” Seaye says Croydon Hills was established in the 1980s and is home to mostly contemporary-style three and four-bedroom homes Seaye says the suburb is popular with families because it’s in the catchment zone for some of the best private schools in the outer suburbs including the Rudolf Steiner School and Yarra Valley Grammar He says buyers that look at Croydon Hills are more likely a spillover from Ringwood North the eighth most in-demand suburb around the country than from Warrandyte which has more of a bush feel Ringwood North has a median price of $790,000, so Croydon Hills is cheaper by $72,500. But buyers can go cheaper again if they extend their search to Croydon South “Croydon South is slightly different again I would say your buyers wouldn’t be Ringwood North buyers The spillover would be from Ringwood East,” Seaye says The majority of homes in Croydon South were built around the 1960s when there was a surge in population with “buyers chasing the Australian dream” first home buyers and developers moving in,” Seaye says Houses are mostly 1960s-built cream brick veneer family homes on quarter acre blocks Seaye says the real estate dollar has always been a bit more highly regarded in suburbs north of the Maroondah Highway This perception has led to Croydon South offering great value for money The area received a surge in population when building works on Eastland shopping centre and extensions to the railway line were completed around two years ago “That actually pushed people to the surrounding suburbs They’re seeing properties for about $100,000 less than Ringwood and Ringwood North.” They may not be quite there yet in terms of cafe-cool but the peripheral suburbs of Melbourne’s most in-demand inner-city areas are offering tremendous value for money With a median house price of $895,000, Brunswick is Australia’s second most in-demand suburb but buyers are likely to get a better deal in neighbouring Coburg Those interested in Northcote, the fifth most in-demand suburb, could save much more by searching for houses in Bellfield The price difference between the neighbouring suburbs is an astounding $365,000 Bellfield formed part of the Olympic Village for the Melbourne Summer Olympics After the Games finished the entire district was handed over to public housing Nunzio Sulfaro property consultant and auctioneer for Nelson Alexander Ivanhoe says a stigma followed Bellfield following the 1956 Olympic Games – people were seeing only an entire suburb of public housing the department of housing began auctioning off properties in Bellfield essentially handing them back to the public “We’ve found that it (Bellfield) is gentrifying at a rapid rate The demand has been unrivaled throughout Banyule,” he says Prepared to drive 10 minutes for your latte Then buying a house in Bellfield could save you $100,000s Sulfaro says the buyers are spilling over from Northcote and are willing to sacrifice being “10 minutes further down the road” for a bigger house for less money “People are getting an almost inner-city lifestyle in a suburban setting,” he says “The majority of homes are two and three-bedroom 625sqm will sell for $780,000 in Bellfield Northcote will cost you in excess of $1 million.” Sulfaro concedes Bellfield does not afford the same cafe culture as Northcote but it does have the Darebin Creek and parks to compete with Northcote’s Merri Creek trail “You’ve also got the Austin and Mercy hospital precinct which has done amazing things for capital growth,” he says Families are recognising an opportunity to buy a bigger home for less in Coburg Duncan McPherson says Coburg is a logical flow-on for buyers from Brunswick “Coburg shares all the same amenity as Brunswick It’s just another couple of tram stops or train stations on,” McPherson says “It’s for people that love the area of Brunswick but want more space.” McPherson says there are lots of exciting developments occurring including an expansion of the Pentridge Prison project to include a hotel and recreation facilities In terms of trend-factor – “it’s getting there; it’s not quite there yet but it’s certainly evolving There’s a cafe on O’Hea Street where you have to line up.” “The reality is that we find in the inner north that this flow-on has always been a trend Twenty-five years ago I opened the (Nelson Alexander) Brunswick office Back in those days there was an overflow from Carlton to Brunswick Now there’s an overflow from Brunswick to Coburg.” Listed as the top three most in-demand suburbs for houses in each state by median house price followed by their cheapest surrounding suburb There was insufficient data returned for Northern Territory Suburbs needed to have at least 15 houses listed per month in the past 12 months A map of the four route options for North East Link which would carry about 100,000 vehicles a day Link copiedShareShare articleAfter years of talk and millions of dollars spent on planning, the Victorian Government has released four route options for the proposed long awaited North East Link. The favoured option of both the Government and the Opposition is Corridor A, which is the cheapest and shortest, but we've looked at how each would impact road users and the surrounding environments. With many of the options running through sensitive Victorian electorates, we've also analysed the potential political ramifications of each proposal. An 11-kilometre road and tunnel from Bulleen Road to Greensborough has been identified as the preferred option. (Supplied) The 11-kilometre corridor would follow the Greensborough Highway south and connect with the Eastern Freeway near Bulleen Road. It's the shortest route with the least amount of tunnelling, which would run under Rosanna, Heidelberg and Viewbank. Three interchanges are proposed on the route — the first on Manningham Road, the second on Lower Plenty Road, and the third on Grimshaw Street in Watsonia North. Corridor A is the shortest, most direct and, almost certainly, the cheapest. The North East Link Authority said it was confident the route would provide a more direct alternative to the traffic-jammed roads in the north-east, and would be likely to take trucks off many residential roads such as Rosanna Road, Para Road and Fitzsimons Lane. It's also believed Corridor A would divert trucks from road cycling routes and popular shopping locations. Early planning also indicated the road would be a valuable link to several employment centres in the northern region, including La Trobe University and the West Heidelberg industrial hub. Most of Corridor A's shortfalls are linked to environmental concerns. The authority could not guarantee that cultural and heritage spaces would not be affected by the works and it's likely the corridor would involve some environmental impacts associated with surface works. Works on the proposed corridor, as well as extensive upgrades on the Eastern Freeway, are likely to involve significant disruptions over an extended period. The route runs through the marginal seat of Ivanhoe, which is currently held by second-term Labor MP Anthony Carbines. In the 2014 election, Mr Carbines narrowly defeated Liberal opponent Carl Ziebell on preferences. The proposed corridor would also go through the seat of Bulleen, which is held by Opposition Leader Matthew Guy. Bulleen is one of the safest seats in the state and has never fallen into Labor hands. But John Stone, a planning lecturer at the University of Melbourne, said the road would cut through many sensitive areas that are part of "Melbourne's identity", and that might prove to be a political challenge for both Mr Guy and Mr Carbines. "For a government to put a road through sensitive environmental areas, people will be rightly anxious as to what that will mean. "I'm sure there will be people out knocking on doors saying to people that this road will have a major environmental impact while only reducing traffic for a number of years, so that's something the MPs will have to deal with." Option B would go from Greensborough's east, under Templestowe, Donvale and Eltham, to EastLink at Ringwood. (North East Link Authority) This 24-kilometre corridor would start near Canterbury Road and move north through Donvale and Mitcham, with an interchange at Reynolds Road taking the tollway west through Montmorency, Watsonia and Bundoora. Extensive tunnelling is proposed to protect sensitive environmental areas that the route runs through. The authority said the corridor could provide some opportunities for local businesses to access potential customers and workers in the wider area. But it's believed the road would not greatly improve access for businesses located in emerging employment areas. Long uphill areas on the route are likely to slow down trucks and reduce the road's efficiency. Although the route could reduce traffic on the Eastern Freeway and Manningham Road, it's unlikely to provide any congestion relief to key north-to-south roads such as Fitzsimons Lane. The safe Liberal seats Vermont and Warrandyte would be affected, but the road would also pass through the marginal Labor seat of Eltham, which Vicki Ward narrowly won in the last election. Dr Stone said people in metropolitan Melbourne were becoming more sophisticated in their knowledge of road networks and that the construction of Options A or B might not be as big a political win as the Government would be hoping for. "People may think that initially this could relieve traffic and shorten traffic times but ultimately they may think that I'm still going to be on the Eastern Freeway, still going to be on Hoddle Street, and unless the East West Link is built this doesn't really make a lot of sense." Option C is a 26-kilometre route through Eltham and Warrandyte joining EastLink at Ringwood. (North East Link Authority) Similar to Corridor B, but slightly more direct, the 26-kilometre Corridor C would connect to EastLink and not require any upgrades to the Eastern Freeway. The route also starts near Canterbury Road in Vermont, but has a more direct northerly route through Warrandyte and Eltham before heading west to connect with the Ring Road. The authority said the road would allow for good access to businesses located in major urban centres and wider metropolitan areas. The proposal also has the potential to divert trucks away from cycling routes. Corridor C does offer opportunities to protect sensitive areas including the Yarra River by tunnelling, but would involve some environmental impacts associated with surface works. It would provide the ability to reduce truck travel times, however would likely have long inclines which would slow trucks down and reduce efficiency overall. The road would run through the safe Labor seat of Bundoora as well as the safe Liberal seats of Warrandyte and Croydon. Vicky Ward's seat of Eltham would also be affected by Corridor C. Dr Ward said the construction of the road could provide a short term boost to Labor that carried through to next year's election. "People want to get to work quicker or drop their kids off at school on time, so if the Government announce that a road will reduce all of these issues then there could be some political gain there," Dr Stone said. Option D runs east from Greensborough through Kangaroo Ground and joins EastLink south of Ringwood. (North East Link Authority) The longest and most indirect route, the 40-kilometre Corridor D would connect with EastLink south of Ringwood, and travel east using part of the proposed Healesville Freeway Reserve. The corridor was initially proposed without a tunnel to cater for large trucks, but investigations found that tunnels and bridges would be required to minimise impacts on sensitive areas. The indirect nature of the road could mean minimal construction disruptions to the transport network. The limited amount of tunnelling could mean it has less environmental impact and would also mean it would be relatively easy to construct. The length of the road would actually increase travel times and distances and greatly affect the efficiency of freight movement. The road would extend into an area with low levels of business density and activity, and offer few businesses opportunities to benefit from improved access to customers. It's also believed the road offers no relief to residential areas that are already being inundated with trucks. Although the route is the most indirect, and local mayors have rejected the proposal, Dr Stone said its lack of disruption to the environment and day-to-day traffic could be a safe political move. It would also run through several safe Liberal seats including Bayswater and Croydon. Dr Stone said it's unlikely the option will ever be seriously considered by the Government, but if it was there would be minimal political impact compared to the other options. "This is an option that bypasses a lot of the sensitive environmental areas," he said. "It's more about finding a politically acceptable point where you can cross the Yarra, maybe they're thinking if you push the road out more you might get more political support for it but I really don't think that's a goer." More details are emerging after a woman died from consuming a drink at a retreat in regional Victoria now identified as 53-year-old Rachael Dixon died at Soul Barn Creative Wellbeing Centre in the town of Clunes Detectives from the Moorabool Crime Investigation Unit are now examining whether the drink contained magic mushrooms.  Dixon was a personal trainer and mother from Ringwood North in Melbourne's east Her son has since posted a tribute to her on social media most caring person I've ever known can't thank you enough for everything you ever did for me and all the support you gave me words can't begin to describe how much I will miss you wish I could give you one last hug," he wrote Now the wellness centre has spoken publicly for the first time Soul Barn Creative Wellbeing Centre said Dixon was at a private event hired to external businesses and facilitators "There are no words to express the deep sorrow and shock we are feeling here at Soul following the tragic incident that occurred on April 13th Soul Barn hires out workshop space to external businesses and facilitators The event which took place on April 13th was a private event and those facilitating the event do not work for or represent Soul Barn in any way," the statement read staff or facilitators were present at any point during this event We share the shock and devastation of everyone involved and our hearts are with those families affected." Watch: investigations continue into the death of Rachael Dixon "It's believed a woman was at a retreat on Fraser St when she became ill after ingesting a drink just after 12am," a Victoria Police spokeswoman said "The 53-year-old Ringwood North woman died at the scene Investigations remain ongoing and police will prepare a report for the Coroner." Ambulance Victoria confirmed paramedics were called to the Clunes property at 11.55pm on Saturday and took two other people to Ballarat Base Hospital.  According to the Herald Sun Dixon and her two friends are thought to have consumed crushed up magic mushrooms in a drink at the Soul Barn Creative Wellbeing Centre late on Saturday night The 53-year-old died at the premises in the early hours of Sunday morning while the two others were taken to hospital They were kept for observation until Tuesday when a Grampians Health spokeswoman said both were discharged Victoria Police were called at around midnight Sunday and believe Dixon became ill after consuming a drink The retreat describes itself on social media as an alternative and holistic health service including facials using "wild foraged plants" the retreat hosted an event with a psychic medium during which guests were given a chance to "ask questions of the spirit communicators" A planned event described as "sound healing" was cancelled on Sunday The owner of the retreat has been contacted for comment The death comes less than two weeks after the health department issued an alert that poisonous mushrooms were growing across the state of Victoria including the infamous death cap mushrooms that is almost indistinguishable from safe acting chief health officer Dr Evelyn Wong warned that just a single death cap mushroom was enough to kill an adult and said it was impossible to make poisonous mushrooms safe to eat.  peeling or drying these mushrooms does not remove or inactivate the poison," read the statement greengrocer or other reputable source are safe to eat." The advisory continued: "Unless you are an expert do not pick and eat wild mushrooms in Victoria There is no home test available to distinguish safe and edible mushrooms from poisonous mushrooms "Anyone who collects and consumes wild mushrooms of unknown species is putting themselves at risk of potential poisoning and serious illness." Miner Kurt Hourigan died in a mine collapse in March and the area also experienced bushfires over summer three people died and another was hospitalised for months after allegedly consuming poisonous mushrooms in eastern Victoria died after eating a meal at a Leongatha home in July 2023 A mother of two has since been charged with three counts of murder and five of attempted murder This article was originally published on April 16 and has since been updated with new information A string of warrants across the outer east has resulted in the arrests of nine people believed to be connected to an organised crime syndicate allegedly trafficking firearms and drugs The Basin and Scarsdale were detained after the early morning raid on Tuesday 30 January Detectives from the Illicit Firearms Squad with help from VIPER Taskforce Croydon Divisional Response Unit and the Yarra Ranges Ballarat and Maroondah Crime Investigation Units conducted the operation Officers from the Special Operations Group arrested a 41-year-old Lilydale man without incident in the early hours of Tuesday morning at his Lilydale home were also arrested in relation to separate offending various quantities of cannabis and cash were located at the searched premises Illicit Firearms Squad Detective Inspector Julie Macdonald said anyone in possession of an illicit firearm should use the permanent firearms amnesty to surrender weapons without consequences “The job of the illicit Firearms Squad is to make the community safer through targeted operations regarding offending such as firearms trafficking and manufacture,” Inspector Macdonald said “We will continue to work tirelessly to prevent access to and the use of illicit firearms particularly by groups and criminals involved in serious and organised crime.” Anyone with information about illicit firearms is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au THEY might still be on trial with the Education Department but the verdict from the kids is already in: iPads rock The department has begun testing their usefulness in 10 schools to determine whether a full-scale upgrade from laptops to iPads will improve learning Get the net: Ringwood North Primary School students (clockwise from front) Charlotte Zac and Grant who are taking part in the iPad trial.Credit: Craig Sillitoe Educational experts are yet to be convinced that the iPad can offer more to students - apart from the fun of playing with the touchscreen - than the laptop a lecturer in learning technologies at Melbourne University But if you don't do these trials you're never going to know.'' Professor Chambers said the iPad had at least one standout feature - its very quick start-up time If you're watching TV and you see something interesting you just press an iPad button and you're onto the internet in a second.'' ''you have to go over to your desk boot your browser.'' Even laptops ''don't have the instantaneous factor'' ''[But iPads] are instantly on and they're with you all the time … it's an extension of your body/mind.'' Professor Chambers said it was important for students to have their own iPad Education Minister Martin Dixon said the trial had been ''very positive'' ''The trial is to help schools make choices as to where they'll spend their IT dollar,'' he said ''[iPads] really engage students in their learning and if they're engaged they're going to enjoy school and they're going to stay on in school.'' The chief benefit of an iPad over a laptop was that they were not compatible with the department's ultranet (internal internet) they could not run advanced software such as computer-aided design needed by some senior classes and the touchscreen keyboard might not be suitable for long essays all 138 students in years 5 and 6 have been given their own iPad and the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive ''The kids absolutely love them,'' said assistant principal Adam Brice ''I think the hardest thing is probably parents We've got a lot of kids who are really comfortable with it and what's going on The hardest part is for adults to get our heads around it.'' Year 6 student Olivia McPherson said iPads were ''amazing'' and were very popular ''We're trying to cut down [using them],'' she said ''Some people might be complaining that we don't have enough educational writing and we just type too much on the iPads … that's what some people think Maybe some parents are complaining.'' Year 5 student Cass Potsios said her iPad was ''fantastic'' but she conceded some students ''complain that we use them too often and we should just have a break for a couple of days'' She said the iPad was much more exciting than using a pen and paper But if you don't do these trials you're never going to know.'' If you're watching TV and you see something interesting you just press an iPad button and you're onto the internet in a second.'' boot your browser.'' Even laptops ''don't have the instantaneous factor'' ''[But iPads] are instantly on and they're with you all the time \\u2026 it's an extension of your body/mind.'' Education Minister Martin Dixon said the trial had been ''very positive'' ''The trial is to help schools make choices as to where they'll spend their IT dollar,'' he said ''[iPads] really engage students in their learning and if they're engaged they're going to enjoy school and they're going to stay on in school.'' was that they were not compatible with the department's ultranet (internal internet) ''The kids absolutely love them,'' said assistant principal Adam Brice ''I think the hardest thing is probably parents We've got a lot of kids who are really comfortable with it and what's going on The hardest part is for adults to get our heads around it.'' Year 6 student Olivia McPherson said iPads were ''amazing'' and were very popular ''We're trying to cut down [using them],'' she said ''Some people might be complaining that we don't have enough educational writing and we just type too much on the iPads \\u2026 that's what some people think Year 5 student Cass Potsios said her iPad was ''fantastic'' but she conceded some students ''complain that we use them too often and we should just have a break for a couple of days'' She said the iPad was much more exciting than using a pen and paper.