The property has a grotto and waterslide that looks like it was lifted from Disneyland and deposited in Melbourne’s outer suburb of Warrandyte South. With a price range of $3.2 million to $3.4 million, the elevated, five-bedroom estate at 7 Fadaro Crescent is playtime paradise. A deck meanders out to the pool, spa, waterfalls and a slide, set in a rockery to add a dash of adventure. Ground-floor decks on three sides of the home and an upper-floor observation deck provide plenty of spots for chilling out after a dip. Listing agent David Alvares of Hoskins Maroondah says the first owner, who built the home, designed the one-of-a-kind outdoor space. “They had a young family, and vendors moved in with their young family and they loved the lifestyle,” he says. “There have been a lot of other young families enquiring, attracted by the outdoor entertaining and the continuity and flow between outdoors and indoors.” Unassuming weatherboard comes with a unique addition out back An eight-month reno added a $1m price hike to this old cottage 'Extreme renovation rescue': Abandoned farmhouse could be yours for $325k The modern house, on more than 4000 square metres, is a handsome addition to a part of the suburb known for luxury homes on large blocks. “There has always been high demand for family homes in this particular pocket,” Alvares says. “People like the privacy and the peace here.” A curved staircase at the entry leads to four of the five bedrooms and glistening bathrooms (one with a deep soaking tub). The main bedroom – a “retreat”, Alvares says – is positioned to capture leafy district and Mount Dandenong views. On the ground floor are multiple living zones, a glossy kitchen with a servery window and a rumpus room with a soaring stone fireplace and an outlook to the trickling waterfalls. “The rear is north facing so it gets a lot of natural light in the home,” Alvares says. The property is for sale by private negotiation. 6 Baths19 ParkingView listing Far from an ordinary swimming pool, this freshwater “swimming pond”, for bathing and snorkelling, is a one-of-a-kind inclusion. 5 Baths8 ParkingView listing The colossal pool and waterfront pavilion is just one of the many highlights of the $15 million listing on the Gold Coast’s Main River. 5 Baths6 ParkingView listing Enjoy a poolside powder room and terrace, in what is undoubtedly one of the suburb’s high-end homes. 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 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. Two wild German Shepheards have attacked up to 100 livestock in the Warrandyte area as residents urge the local council to deal with the worrying issue. The local Manningham Council is reportedly aware of what is taking place, with several animals have to be euthanised as a result of the shocking injuries. Several local residents spoke to Jacqui Felgate on Monday, with Fiona telling 3AW Drive she was concerned by the lack of action taken by the council. Click PLAY to hear the full story + Jacqui speak with local Warrandyte residents “It’s really horrific,” she said. “I’m just worried the council doesn’t have the will or ability to act.” The death of a man has triggered a call from a coroner for more signage along a stretch of the Yarra River in Warrandyte warning of the dangerous conditions, paired with alcohol or drug use. Frank Mellia, 39, was found dead after an extensive two day search of the river when friends reported him missing from Taroona Reserve on 14 January 2023. Coroner Paul Lawrie found Mr Mellia’s death to be an unfortunate case of misadventure, mixed with a very high blood alcohol level resulting in his drowning. Mr Mellia, who was living in Derrimut at the time, travelled to Warrandyte to meet friends around 2pm. Given the warm, high 30 degrees celsius temperature, the group had planned to swim. Having packed a bag to stay with his friends that night in Ferntree Gully, when Mr Mellia arrived at Taroona Reserve he handed the bag to his friends to put in the car. Mr Mellia walked to the river bank on his own and 15 minutes or so later, his two friends went in search of him but were unable to find him. Given the warm summer day, it was said that there were around 40 people in and around the water “with some people standing in chest-deep water and others jumping into areas of deeper water”. Searching both water and land for about an hour, Mr Mellia’s friends made their way to the Warrandyte Police Station to make a missing person’s report around 5.10pm. It was picked up by Constable Watson at Doncaster Police Station and Mr Mellia’s friends disclosed that he may have been intoxicated and that he had a history of drinking and depression. Earlier that day, at around 3.30pm, a separate report had been made by two members of the public who had witnessed a man struggling in a section of rapids. “They had seen a male wearing a cap floating downstream treading water approximately 100 metres from where they were sitting on the riverbank in a secluded area,” the coroner’s report said. “A short time later, he drifted into a section of rapids where they observed him go under the water and re-appear several times before going beneath the surface and failing to re-appear. “They subsequently saw a cap floating along the river which they believed belonged to the man they had sighted but they were not sure whether he had exited the river at a spot they could not see.” A search and rescue effort was established soon after, with police, airwing and SES volunteers patrolling around Taroona Reserve and Pound Bend Reserve, riverbanks and local bars and restaurants in Warrandyte. Two days later, on 16 January, Mr Mellia’s body was found by an SES volunteer, near the entrance to the Pound Bend tunnel and approximately 650 metres downstream from the point he is thought to have entered the water. A post-mortem examination and toxicological analysis confirmed drowning in the setting of a very high blood alcohol level was the cause of Mr Mellia’s death. Mr Mellia had never had formal swimming lessons and was identified as not being “a strong or confident swimmer”. “[The alcohol concentration] would have grossly impaired his judgement and his ability to properly coordinate his efforts to swim, or to get to safety once he found himself in faster flowing water. His latent swimming ability was limited and only exacerbated these dangers,” Mr Lawrie said. Referencing the Royal Life Saving Society Australia’s National Drowning Report 2023, Mr Lawrie said rivers and creeks continue to be the lead drowning location across Australia, with 27 per cent occurring in this category of open water. The Victorian Government ‘Water-Safety’ website stated in July 2024 that the “Yarra River is one of the top five river drowning black spots across Australia”, as referenced in the coroner’s report. “Rivers are notorious for hidden dangers. Riverbeds are often uneven with difficult footing, deep holes and underwater obstructions. Stretches of difficult banks may make exit impossible,” Mr Lawrie said. “Currents can be unpredictable, and the force of flowing water is often underestimated. The relevant stretch of the Yarra River at Warrandyte is no exception.” As a response to Mr Mellia’s death, Mr Lawrie made the recommendation that Parks Victoria “review the signage warning the public of river hazards in the Warrandyte River Reserve” particularly warning of the “danger of alcohol or drugs in combination with use of the river”. Watch 28sVision by the Warrandyte CFA who was responding to a bushfire in Melbourne’s outer-east overnight. 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) This is probably not the page you’re looking for Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Photo: Melissa Meehan/AAP PHOTOSA report into the death of a man who drowned in the Yarra River says more signage is needed to warn of the dangers of swimming under the influence of drugs or alcohol All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFrank Mellia was reported missing two days before his body was found on January 16 The 39-year-old Derrimut man met friends at Taroona Reserve January 14 with plans to swim in the river met his friends in the car park and handed his suitcase for them to put in their car as he planned to stay with them overnight Coroner Paul Lawrie found the cause of Mr Mellia's death was a result of misadventure and that he had a very high blood alcohol concentration when he entered the water "This would have grossly impaired his judgment and his ability to properly co-ordinate his efforts to swim or to get to safety once he found himself in faster flowing water," Mr Laurie found The Warrandyte reach of the Yarra River is a popular swimming spot and dominated by rock reefs shallow and deep pools of water and large woody debris There are warning signs of strong currents submerged objects and sudden drops at other areas along the river where it's believed Mr Mellia entered the water Mr Lawrie recommended Parks Victoria review signage particularly at Warrandyte River Reserve and Taroona Reserve warning of the river hazards as well as the danger of using alcohol or drugs while using the river Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy · 53-point win against Kew Comets in the Qualifying Final 56-point Elimination Final win against Banyule 29-point win over Kew Comets in the Preliminary Final We caught up with Eden Ferguson (C) & Heidi Pinder from Warrandyte who are both very excited about the prospect of winning this Sunday’s Youth Girls GF “We’re pretty confident & we back our players to play hard & strong on the day which I think will hold us in good stead” Eden then backed this up by saying “We’re going into the game with an open mind & a trust/belief feeling that we can get the job done in the big moments” The girls both had teammates in mind when asked about who they think would be an influence on the day Heidi said she expects Rose Rostron to have a big game while Eden has high hopes from Sophia Davey who was supposed to be going to Queensland has decided to stay & try & help her teammates win When asked about key players from the opposition to keep an eye on both didn’t hesitate to say Jessica Fragomeni’s name from the Lions due to her power up forward Best on Ground Tip – Eden Ferguson said Heidi Pinder & Heidi Pinder said Eden Ferguson Match Prediction – Warrandyte by 20 points we had their Co-Captains Jade Williams & Pamela Ercolano join us for a chat about the big game on Sunday When the players were asked about how they plan to bridge the gap from when they last played Warrandyte the answer was as simple as being better for longer “We were going really well towards the 3rd quarter where they were able to run away with it in the end But if we can keep that pressure up then I am confident we can give it a really good crack” Pamela echoed this statement by saying “Warrandyte are a really good team and we know how they like to play so if we can go with them for longer periods then I’m confident we can pull the victory off” When asked about players from Warrandyte to look out for both players answered by saying “their whole team” alluding to the fact that Warrandyte have some excellent players across all lines on the field Best on Ground Tip – Jessica Fragomeni (Fitzroy #3) 63-point win against Beverley Hills in the Qualifying Final 31-point Elimination Final win against Surrey Park 12-point win against Beverley Hills in the 1st Semi Final Fitzroy player Rory Dance is confident his side can use their ball movement & attacking play through the corridor to get an advantage on the game “We know how to play fast but we also know when to slow down the tempo which I have full faith in my team mates that we can get things on our terms” Rory said that they have some strong players to look out for Best on Ground Tip – James Geles (Fitzroy #15) Kew Bears Skipper George Tondello was full of praise for his team mates as well as Fitzroy but believes his side can get the ball going on the outside & just run “We think we have a really dominant midfield who we think can get the job done Our big key forward Ned LaMotte will be crucial as well as our key backs” When asked about who from Fitzroy they need to keep tabs on George said his side need to be wary of the pace the Lions have in the midfield along with keeping a close check on their big power forwards Best on Ground Tip – Aaron Sharkie (Kew Bears #3) Heading out to Warrandyte is always a treat. The river rushing beside you, the hills glowing green, and the crisp winter air are bracing and restorative. Seeing an original Merchant Builders home in that singular setting, one given a sparkling update by a family of creative thinkers, just sends interest and anticipation soaring. Six years ago, when Phoebe Bell and Chris Monahan saw an open for inspection at Pigeon Bank Road, they took the turn, and so did their lives. “We weren’t in the market, but we drove past and decided to have a stickybeak,” says Bell. After walking through the front door to face the floor-to-ceiling living room windows, their course was set. “I thought, ‘How is there a view like this?’” says Bell of the verdant scene across the valley and up all the way to the Dandenongs in the distance. With “beautiful bones” and excellent zoned spaces, the couple had a brilliant template from which to launch their own reimagining of the home. “We wanted to lean into the mid-century feel,” she says of the features. V- groove panelling, iconic lighting designs, and vintage finds kept things looking authentic. The terrazzo bench jauntily angled across the kitchen was added, along with updated appliances and fixtures. Why David and Yuge Bromley fell in love with this modernist home 'at first sight' Inside a whimsical Surry Hills apartment that once housed a secret gambling den Inside a colourful Fitzroy North home that was once a horse stable While it was taking fine shape up here, an 80-metre retaining wall down below partially blocked the view, so when it collapsed under storm damage, serious thought had to be given, not just to updating the house but also the land. “Getting the wall fixed was going to require big machinery and earth works, we didn’t want that so we decided on proper landscaping, doing all the things we really wanted.” That job alone took 18 months, but the results are spectacular. Local company Indigenous Design embraced the gradient, ingeniously inserting stone-walled space for garden beds and embedding boulders to create an organic, natural look. The “rough-edged” crazy paving that rings the home beautifully evokes that rustic, authentic ethos. “Warrandyte is not a straight-lined, manicured kind of place,” says Bell. “I really didn’t want hard corners, but curves to be more sympathetic to the native landscape.” That explains the pool. One of the most lush, lovely things we’ve seen in a while, the green-tiled mineral pool is a perfect circle in a perfect setting. Partly raised out of the ground to meet compliance but minimise fencing, Bell got the inspiration from something she’d seen at Hepburn Springs. “It was quite spectacular, round and white and it stayed in my mind.” The exteriors are crucial to the feel of the whole here, given that the fine original building rests so proudly in its seat. Inside, though, the feel of something special is immediate; it’s in the way the interiors enfold you, the timber-beamed ceilings conferring an instant sense of brawny, warm sanctuary. Those irresistible floor-to-ceiling, timber-framed windows would likely look good anywhere, but they are positively exquisite here with that superb natural garden spilling into the surrounding greenery. The central balcony – a broad, beautiful thing – recesses in, tucking itself against the house, further franking the feel of fortification. This elevated entry-level section, with its dual lounge rooms, kitchen and bedrooms, is where most of the living is done, says Bell. Down below is a whole other section with more brilliant space to entertain, host, accommodate, and escape. “Downstairs in summer is great. You can get straight out into the garden and the pool. When guests come to stay they can have the run of the place here.” You’d imagine the guests might have to form an orderly queue. “We feel like the house has a lot of soul and when people come here, they get that vibe too. It’s a calming place.” That serenity is in no small way enhanced by Monahan and Bell’s eye for decorative, convivial textures and tones throughout. Their Sage X Clare collection of cushions, rugs, art and smashing bed linens give the home singular verve. Bell admits the decision to leave has been quite hard, but a mud brick house in Research has come calling, just as this one did six years ago. “It’s equally as beautiful,” she says. No doubt there’ll be soul and sanctuary in some good measure there, too. 04 Sep 2024 • 3m read • View Author Introducing-Australia-s-newly-crowned-pool-of-the-1732001197.png TLC Pools took home the prestigious ‘Victoria's Pool of the Year 2024’ award along with the Gold Medal for ‘Best Concrete Pool & Spa Combination,’ both accolades awarded for their Warrandyte project. TLC Pools was also honoured with two significant national awards: ‘Australian Pool of the Year’ and ‘Australia's Best Concrete Pool & Spa Combination,’ further solidifying their status as industry leaders. The journey to bring this award-winning Warrandyte project to life began in April 2020 and culminated with the completion of the garden in 2022. It was a slow and complex process, as owner, Scott Wynd of TLC Pools and MINT Design, was not only the builder of the house, pool, and landscape but also continued his work responsibilities during this period. The project showcases the seamless integration of the home and landscape, which was a core aspect of the design brief. The Warrandyte project is a new build situated on a challenging site with a consistent westward slope. The location's rocky, hard ground presented difficulties reminiscent of Warrandyte's gold mining past. The site, previously an open paddock purchased in September 2018, was chosen for its tree-lined views and proximity to local amenities, making it ideal for the family's lifestyle. The design of the home was a collaborative effort between Scott, his partner Dani, and local draftsperson Jon Colenso from Dwelling on Design, focusing on a contemporary and open-plan layout that connects with nature. The practical brief for the garden emphasised creating a pool and garden area that seamlessly connects with the house, with the pool as a central feature visible from both storeys. The aesthetic brief aimed for a contemporary look with strong forms and a calming yet sophisticated atmosphere. The pool’s height was calculated to minimise the need for fencing, allowing for unobstructed views and a strong connection between the water and the surrounding landscape. Key elements of the hardscaping include polished concrete floors, rammed earth walls, and limestone paving, which flow effortlessly from the interior to the exterior of the home. The use of curves in the garden design, especially around the pool and firepit area, adds a playful element while enhancing the connection with nature. The garden's softscaping features a blend of exotic and native plants, with significant plantings including Ligularia reniformis, Pyrus nivalis, and Teucrium. These were chosen for their form, foliage, and ability to blend with the bush backdrop, creating a harmonious and cohesive landscape. The project was not without its challenges, including the steep slope and limited access. The complex construction details, especially the curved pool and spa walls, required precise execution to achieve the desired aesthetic and functionality. Despite these challenges, TLC Pools delivered a masterpiece of craftsmanship and design. TLC Pools was crowned 2024’s Gold Medal Winners by the Swimming Pool & Spa Association of Australia for Victorian Pool of the Year, Victoria’s Best Concrete Pool & Spa Combination, Australian Pool of the Year and Australia’s Best Concrete Pool & Spa Combination. Rooted, resilient, resonant: Off-grid family living amongst the rugged Australian landscape Using DecoBatten®’s latest profile on The Seaside Sanctuary Solid Nordic softwood in interior design: Sustainable solutions for joinery, flooring and wall panelling Construction of resort-style clubhouse begins at AVID’s over 50s lifestyle precinct in Fraser Coast Sign up to our newsletter for the latest industry news, products and inspiration. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Warrandyte is now technically an outer suburb of Melbourne located 30 km from the city centre and 112 m above sea-level being situated on the Yarra River and surrounded by the remnant natural bushland of Warrandyte State Park it retains an element of the rural village and a number of craftspeople and artists have taken up residence in the area which has something of a reputation for its conservationist values Some speculation about the origins of the town's name relates to the Wurundjeri willam Aborigines who occupied the area prior to European settlement 'Warrandyte' is thought to be derived from the Woiwuring word 'warin' although another etymological theory explains the word as meaning 'to throw at a target' A pastoralist named James Anderson established a run here in 1839 after overlanding cattle from Sydney Thus the area became known as Anderson's Creek An Aboriginal reserve of 445 ha was established in 1841 at Pound Bend (now in Warrandyte State Park) the year that a punt service across the local section of the Yarra River was established (it was replaced by a bridge in 1861) Warrandyte developed as something of an artists' colony from the late 19th century was one of the first to take up residence at Warrandyte The heavy clay of the district was exploited early on by European settlers and this orientation has intensified over the years was also a popular hang-out for artists and nearby Montsalvat was specifically created as an artists' village and intellectual centre at the instigation of Justus Jorgenson who died in 1975 The Warrandyte Markets are held on the first Saturday of each month (except January) adjacent the Yarra River at Stiggants Reserve in Yarra St (the main thoroughfare) Tourist Information Information Warrandyte is located in the Warrandyte Community Centre at the corner of Yarra St (the main thoroughfare) and Webb St They have plenty of brochures outlining craft shops in the area (of which there are many) The Post Office Museum The museum is situated in the old Warrandyte post office adjacent the Grand Hotel in Yarra St It has items pertaining to local history and is open weekends and public holidays from 1.00 p.m Warrandyte State Park Gold was first discovered on Anderson's Creek in 1851 by Louis Michel It is thought to be the first gold strike in what is now Victoria and was certainly the first goldfield in the Port Phillip District Goldmining relics remain scattered throughout the park (particularly at Fourth Hill) Situated around the Yarra River the park contains one of the few remaining remnants of natural bushland in the metropolitan area of Melbourne and it is an ideal area for picnickers Most of the land is situated along the banks of the Yarra River wildflowers in springtime and many bird species such as the azure kingfisher regent honeyeater (endangered in Victoria) and wedge-tailed eagles Adventure Canoeing (tel: 03 9844 3323) hire out canoes and other equipment and organise canoeing trips on the river There are a number of visitor sites in the park which are listed below For further information ring the park office on (03) 9844 2659 or Parks Victoria on 131 963 Fourth Hill A signposted earthen road leads off the southern end of Yarra St alongside Andersons Creek to the carpark for the Fourth Hill site where there are old mine shafts Visitors should come prepared and enter at their own risk.There are also excellent wildflower displays in season Whipstick Gully A sealed and signposted road leads off the northern end of Yarra St to the Whipstick Gully carpark This reserve retains some old mining sites and relics such as the poppet head near the information shelter which provides details on the area's history A self-guided walk is part of the broader Gold Heritage Walk a family walk and horseriding is permitted It is situated adjacent the Warrandyte-Research Road just north of Warrandyte Pound Bend Reserve The Pound Bend Reserve is popular in summer a walking track along the river which supplies access to koalas and a variety of flora swimming and horseriding opportunities and a nature walk The Pound Bend Tunnel was created in 1870 by a goldmining company in order to divert the course of the Yarra River thereby enabling the exploitation of the old riverbed Pound Road is a signposted surfaced road which heads north off Warrandyte Road (which heads west from Warrandyte to Templestowe) The entry gates to this site are closed of an evening (times are posted on the park entrance signs) Normans Reserve Normans Reserve offers excellent views of the Pound Bend Tunnel entrance a family walk and canoeing and swimming opportunities It is also one of the few areas in the park where dogs on leads are permitted To get there head off Yarra St along the Research-Warrandyte Rd and there is a turnoff on the left into Bradleys Lane (initially surfaced) which leads to the reserve Black Flat Black Flat is an area of open woodland with old mine diggings a picnic area and a riverside walking track It lies at the end of Tills Drive (an earthen road) which leads off the Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd (an extension of Yarra St) about 1.3 km beyond the turnoff to Whipstick Gully Jumping Creek Reserve Another kilometre south along the Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd is a turnoff on the left into Jumping Creek Road About 1.5 km along Jumping Creek Road is another turnoff (signposted) on the left into a surfaced road which leads to Jumping Creek Reserve - a noted bushwalking spot An explanatory leaflet (available at the carpark) is designed to accompany the nature trail disabled facilities and swimming and canoeing opportunities Yarra Brae and Homestead Road and Homestead Road Canoe Launch About 5 km along Jumping Creek Rd is a turnoff on the left into Dudley Rd (surfaced) When you reach the road junction turn right into Fulford Rd which leads into Clifford Rd This leads to Yarra Brae which is a more remote spot in the park The tracks are rough in parts and there are no facilities but some excellent views of the river and the surrounding terrain It is one more kilometre to the end of Jumping Creek Rd This sealed road becomes surfaced then earthen When it reaches the river there is a parking area and canoe launch The Common and Timber Reserve If you continue south along the Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd 250 metres beyond the turnoff into Jumping Creek Rd is another turnoff on the left into Johansons Rd which leads to The Common where there are opportunities for family walks and horseriding Another 500 m south along the Warrandyte-Ringwood Road is a turnoff on the right into Harding Rd which leads to Timber Reserve where there are also family walks and a horseriding trail features an extensive collection of pottery It was established by a group of artists in 1958 and Potters' School was set up in 1969 and Friday and Saturday evenings and is located a short distance along Jumping Creek Rd (which runs off the Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd) Kellybrook Winery and Restaurant Kellybrook Winery every day but Sunday when it opens at 11.00 a.m The restaurant is open for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights and for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays To get there turn off the Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd into Jumping Creek Rd After about 5 or 6 km you will find yourself in Wonga Park Turn left into Fulford Rd which leads to the winery The Kellybrook Cedar Festival is held at Wonga Park on the first weekend in May Yarra Valley Hills Winery To get to the Yarra Valley Hills Winery continue south-east along the aforementioned Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd Turn left into Croydon Rd which becomes Wonga Rd From Wonga Rd there is a turnoff on the left into Delaneys Rd The restaurant is open for dinner from Thursday to Sunday and for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays Aumann Family Orchard Head south-west out of Warrandyte along the Warrandyte Rd for about 2 km then turn left into Harris Gully Rd chutneys and mustards are available all year round From December to April they are open from 8.00 a.m from Wednesday to Saturday only (closing at 5.30 p.m.) Heidelberg School Artists Trail This route is designed to take interested parties to the approximate sites depicted in the paintings of those associated with the Heidelberg School (i.e. There is a guiding brochure which can be obtained from Banyule Council (tel: 03 9490 4222) or the project's organiser Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Warrandyte is now technically an outer suburb of Melbourne, located 30 km from the city centre and 112 m above sea-level. However, being situated on the Yarra River and surrounded by the remnant natural bushland of Warrandyte State Park, it retains an element of the rural village and a number of craftspeople and artists have taken up residence in the area which has something of a reputation for its conservationist values. Some speculation about the origins of the town's name relates to the Wurundjeri willam Aborigines who occupied the area prior to European settlement. 'Warrandyte' is thought to be derived from the Woiwuring word 'warin', meaning 'wombat', although another etymological theory explains the word as meaning 'to throw at a target'. A pastoralist named James Anderson established a run here in 1839 after overlanding cattle from Sydney. Thus the area became known as Anderson's Creek. An Aboriginal reserve of 445 ha was established in 1841 at Pound Bend (now in Warrandyte State Park). Eltham, to the west, was also a popular hang-out for artists and nearby Montsalvat was specifically created as an artists' village and intellectual centre at the instigation of Justus Jorgenson who died in 1975. The Warrandyte Markets are held on the first Saturday of each month (except January) adjacent the Yarra River at Stiggants Reserve in Yarra St (the main thoroughfare). Tourist Information Information Warrandyte is located in the Warrandyte Community Centre at the corner of Yarra St (the main thoroughfare) and Webb St. They are open from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. on Fridays. They have plenty of brochures outlining craft shops in the area (of which there are many), bushwalks, river walks and goldmining sites, tel: (03) 9844 3082. The Post Office Museum The museum is situated in the old Warrandyte post office adjacent the Grand Hotel in Yarra St. It has items pertaining to local history and is open weekends and public holidays from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. or by appointment, tel: (03) 9844 3662. Most of the land is situated along the banks of the Yarra River. There are eastern grey kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, platypuses, wombats, marsupial mice, brushtail and ringtail possums, sugar gliders, snakes, wildflowers in springtime and many bird species such as the azure kingfisher, powerful owl, regent honeyeater (endangered in Victoria) and wedge-tailed eagles. Adventure Canoeing (tel: 03 9844 3323) hire out canoes and other equipment and organise canoeing trips on the river. There are a number of visitor sites in the park which are listed below. For further information ring the park office on (03) 9844 2659 or Parks Victoria on 131 963. 1. Fourth Hill A signposted earthen road leads off the southern end of Yarra St alongside Andersons Creek to the carpark for the Fourth Hill site where there are old mine shafts. These can be dangerous. Visitors should come prepared and enter at their own risk.There are also excellent wildflower displays in season, a picnic area, information boards, family walks and a horseriding trail. 2. Whipstick Gully A sealed and signposted road leads off the northern end of Yarra St to the Whipstick Gully carpark. This reserve retains some old mining sites and relics such as the poppet head near the information shelter which provides details on the area's history. A self-guided walk is part of the broader Gold Heritage Walk. There is a picnic area, a family walk and horseriding is permitted. It is situated adjacent the Warrandyte-Research Road just north of Warrandyte. 4. Normans Reserve Normans Reserve offers excellent views of the Pound Bend Tunnel entrance. There is a picnic area, a family walk and canoeing and swimming opportunities. It is also one of the few areas in the park where dogs on leads are permitted. To get there head off Yarra St along the Research-Warrandyte Rd and, after about 700 metres, there is a turnoff on the left into Bradleys Lane (initially surfaced) which leads to the reserve. The entry gates are closed of an evening. 5. Black Flat Black Flat is an area of open woodland with old mine diggings, a variety of birdlife, a picnic area and a riverside walking track. Horses are not allowed at this site. It lies at the end of Tills Drive (an earthen road) which leads off the Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd (an extension of Yarra St) about 1.3 km beyond the turnoff to Whipstick Gully. 7. Yarra Brae and Homestead Road and Homestead Road Canoe Launch About 5 km along Jumping Creek Rd is a turnoff on the left into Dudley Rd (surfaced). When you reach the road junction turn right into Fulford Rd which leads into Clifford Rd. This leads to Yarra Brae which is a more remote spot in the park. The tracks are rough in parts and there are no facilities but some excellent views of the river and the surrounding terrain. It is one more kilometre to the end of Jumping Creek Rd. At this point turn left into Reserve Rd. After 300 m turn right into Homestead Rd. This sealed road becomes surfaced then earthen. When it reaches the river there is a parking area and canoe launch. 8. The Common and Timber Reserve If you continue south along the Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd, 250 metres beyond the turnoff into Jumping Creek Rd, is another turnoff on the left into Johansons Rd which leads to The Common where there are opportunities for family walks and horseriding. Another 500 m south along the Warrandyte-Ringwood Road is a turnoff on the right into Harding Rd which leads to Timber Reserve where there are also family walks and a horseriding trail. Kellybrook Winery and Restaurant Kellybrook Winery, established in 1960, is open from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. every day but Sunday when it opens at 11.00 a.m. It produces table wines, sparkling wines, cider and apple brandy. The restaurant is open for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights and for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays, tel: (03) 9722 1304. To get there turn off the Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd into Jumping Creek Rd. After about 5 or 6 km you will find yourself in Wonga Park. Turn left into Fulford Rd which leads to the winery. The Kellybrook Cedar Festival is held at Wonga Park on the first weekend in May. Yarra Valley Hills Winery To get to the Yarra Valley Hills Winery, continue south-east along the aforementioned Warrandyte-Ringwood Rd. Turn left into Croydon Rd which becomes Wonga Rd. From Wonga Rd there is a turnoff on the left into Delaneys Rd. The winery is at no.4. The cellar door is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on weekends. The restaurant is open for dinner from Thursday to Sunday and for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays, tel: (03) 9876 4044. Heidelberg School Artists Trail This route is designed to take interested parties to the approximate sites depicted in the paintings of those associated with the Heidelberg School (i.e., Arthur Streeton, Walter Withers, Louis Buvelot, Tom Roberts, Clara Southern, David Davies, Emanuel Phillips Fox, Charles Conder, Tudor St George Tucker, Eigene Von Guerard, May Vale and Jane Price). but prices in some suburbs have become a bit more affordable after a period of exceptionally strong growth New data from PropTrack has revealed the suburbs where prices declined over the past year after surging in value the year prior highlighting the previously-booming areas where homes may now be selling cheaper Comparing changes in median sale prices over the past two years shows prices soared by hundreds of thousands of dollars in one year in some suburbs before coming back down to earth the next year Jump ahead to see the suburbs offering buyers a window of opportunity. and contrast with trends seen in the property market over the past few years A broad downturn was triggered by interest rate rises starting in May 2022 eventually pushing prices to record highs in many areas But a different trend can be seen in some suburbs with strong growth recorded during the trough in the market before a pullback in prices at the time when most areas were recovering Many of the once-booming suburbs with the biggest declines were highly desirable hotspots with multi-million price tags to match which may have since lost a bit of their lustre An example is Noosa Heads where surging property prices fuelled by waves of sea-changers pushed unit prices in the exclusive Sunshine Coast enclave up by $550,000 in the year to May 2023 – a whopping 41% increase the suburb’s median sale price fell by about 17% Property prices in sea change hotspot Noosa have swung up and down over recent years The swings in pricing in popular coastal hotspots could reflect a shift in the balance of supply and demand, PropTrack senior economist Eleanor Creagh said “In some sea-change and holiday destinations we have also seen an uplift in properties for sale,” she said This two-bedroom Noosa Heads unit sold for $1.565 million just below the suburb's median unit price the ability to travel internationally and restrictions on Airbnb have weakened demand to purchase from the heights reached during the pandemic boom.” “This has seen median sale prices in some of these destinations falling over the past year.” Prices have also gone through ups and downs in leafy suburbs on the urban fringe, such as Glenorie on Sydney’s northwest The median house price in the semi-rural suburb rose $450,000 in the year to May 2023 to reach $2.8 million This four-bedroom home on a large leafy block in Glenorie recently sold for $1.975 million. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold The rise and fall of prices in these suburbs reflects trends stemming from the pandemic, when buyers sought lifestyle changes, bigger properties or both as a way of escaping or coping with lockdowns. But with the pandemic behind us and interest rates much higher, demand has normalised. Track your property's value and unlock insights and data tailored for property owners. In leafy Warrandyte in Melbourne’s northwest the median house price fell about 15% over the past year after rising about 11% the year prior Local real estate agent Traci Stella of Marshall White Manningham said the suburb’s popularity had boomed since the pandemic “We saw a big shift post-Covid for Warrandyte because everyone wanted to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city and they wanted big spaces for the kids,” she said “Many years ago you couldn’t sell anything out here particularly with a lot of the younger generation coming from the inner city markets.” This older-style three-bedroom Warrandyte home recently home sold for just under $1 million Ms Stella said prices plateaued over the past year as high building and borrowing costs affected the kinds of properties buyers were targeting “We’re finding the homes that are renovated or well-presented are still selling well with multiple offers,” she said “Some people love the mid-century feel and those properties can go nuts too.” “But properties that are really old and needing a lot of work buyers are steering clear because of the cost of renovating Interest rates are still scaring people a bit.” Many regional suburbs where house prices came off the boil were relatively affordable areas with most having a median sale price below $1 million In Tocumwal a small town in the Murray region of NSW near the Victorian border the median price shot up 42% to $615,500 in one year before falling 22% to $477,500 in the next Local real estate agent Jonathan Graham of Kerr Estate Agents said the initial surge was driven by buyers escaping the city but prices pulled back as the cost of living rose This three-bedroom Tweed Heads house sold for $1.195 million in May a little higher than the suburb's median house price He said prices in the area did plateau for a period of time but the lack of stock had prevented significant price falls as interest rates rose with median sale prices now more than 20% lower than a year ago Ms Creagh said a pullback in median prices could sometimes indicate a softening in market conditions which could stem from buyers having more choice and the supply of properties for sale outweighing demand The median unit price in Caulfield South is $772,000, which is 17% lower than a year ago. This two-bedroom unit sold for a little higher than that “The apartment market held up better when prices were falling in 2022 with city living having resumed and the relative discount units offer buoying demand as interest rates quickly rose “Since then some inner city regions have seen a large uplift in the number of new listings hitting the market increasing choice for buyers even though housing affordability has deteriorated significantly as interest rates have risen and the apartment market offers a relative discount some suburbs have seen median sales prices fall.” Ms Creagh said big swings in median sale prices could also reflect the different types of properties sold over the 12 month period a greater proportion of one-bedroom units selling in one year could cause a suburb’s overall median unit price to be a little lower 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. 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 American Craftsman vibes at home that’s described as a “place of little frogs”Alesha Capone A resort-style entertainer’s paradise is bringing a slice of Palm Springs’ cool to Melbourne’s north east Diana and Chris Lang’s house at 11 Pygmalion Rise, Warrandyte, once hosted more than 100 guests for a Cancer Council fundraising event The couple have also held many Christmas and Easter gatherings in the undercover area featuring a built-in barbecue next to their swimming pool and spa RELATED: Palm Springs renovation earns handsome return in Newtown Mid-century Warrandyte property boasts its own gold mine, stables, and wet bar North Warrandyte meets ‘Bali resort’ at incredible high-end home A recreation and media room is fitted with a bar and home theatre while a separate glass-walled entertainment space – which can be opened up during warmer weather – comes complete with a grill it doesn’t matter if it’s raining or sunshine there is always a place for our relatives and friends to go,” Ms Lang said an integrated dishwasher and a fridge and freezer Owners Diana and Chris Lang’s beloved dog Chilli takes in the serenity The Palm Springs-style garden can be seen from through large windows the block provides plenty of room for their dog There’s even a freestanding studio complete with a bathroom sauna and walk-in wardrobe where visitors can stay the garden featuring palm trees and cactus in a tribute to the Palm Springs’ landscape contains a floodlit mod grass tennis court and a central firepit courtyard with reclaimed wooden seating which means “place of little frogs” in honour of an amphibian they used to hear croaking in the garden billiards table and home theatre offer plenty of fun who runs boutique building company PrecisionTech Building Concepts has gradually renovated and extended the house since he and his wife purchased in 2011 The four-bedroom home’s transformation incorporated elements of not only Palm Springs but American Craftsman and Eastlake architecture “Inside we have given it a bit of a contemporary twist,” Mr Lang said The circular driveway leads to the facade with its stonework and a portico Or stay warm by the outdoor firepit surrounded by reclaimed timber seating He particularly enjoys spending time in the kitchen living and meals area measuring about 90sq m “The sun just pours in here and it’s very quiet and peaceful,” he added A formal living and dining area contains a soaring vaulted ceiling and fireplace and a gas fireplace makes the family room extra cosy Nangkita’s exterior is adorned with natural sandstone imported from Morocco while the main bathroom has “beautiful French-pattern marble” and the ensuite a wall of green-coloured Sukabumi-brand natural stone the main bedroom suite also includes a dressing room double-glazed windows and a double garage add to the appeal Marshall White Manningham’s Traci Stella Warrandyte’s “great community” offered Yarra River walking trails “cool coffee shops” and close access to the Eastern Freeway Nangkita is for sale with a $4.4m-$4.6m asking range Expressions of interest close at 3pm on February 27 MORE: Surfer architect Harry Gesner’s unique Sandcastle home for sale with $33m+ hopes Canterbury: Luxe mansion for sale comes with swanky home theatre, pool, and gym Sorrento: Beach house designed by famous Aussie architect comes to market he drives from Croydon North to Warrandyte and sits down with his Kindle for breakfast at a local cafe The 54-year-old has been making weekend trips to the “dogwalker’s paradise” for roughly eight years “It’s a fairly relaxed place and there’s lots to see and do,” he says of the suburb that lies just 24km northeast of Melbourne’s CBD Brimming with neighbourly cheer and plenty of local anecdotes the former greyhound owner paints an idyllic picture of Warrandyte as a suburb where strangers talk to one another residents take up active roles in protecting the local environment and the baristas know you like your latte with one sugar there are regular buses that go to Ringwood Jeffrey’s far from the only Australian to hold a high opinion of the rural suburb Warrandyte was the country’s most in-demand suburb with local properties on realestate.com.au boasting an average of 11,716 views per listing significantly more than in neighbouring suburbs Eltham (9,915 views per listing) and Park Orchards (9,455 views per listing) realestate.com.au meets Jeffrey at Now and Not Yet a cafe on Yarra Street that reinvests its profits into housing and employment for asylum seekers It’s 11am on a Saturday and the cafe is a hive of activity older couples and large groups of friends roar with laughter as they tuck into corn fritters and local free range eggs or read the papers while indulging in thick slices of carrot cake and creamy flat whites three or four kids in the corner of the room can be heard getting down to some very serious business indeed: debating whether or not a colourful toy dinosaur should be allowed inside a miniature The cafe’s slightly busier than usual today as it’s the first Saturday of the month which means that the Warrandyte Riverside Market has set up shop on the banks of the Yarra Selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to soaps made from goat’s milk and olive oil the artsy bazaar offers a glimpse of the vibrant hippiedom that has been a hallmark of the leafy suburb since the 1970s a Senior Sales Consultant at Jellis Craig North East who grew up in Warrandyte the suburb’s “thriving arts culture” and “small town feel” are some of the major reasons why so many people want to move here “What we hear from buyers who are looking in the area is that they’re attracted by the sense of community,” says Chapman which includes the Yarra River and State Park.” High demand has seen the suburb’s median house price increase from $629,000 in 2013 to $1,103,500 today Another stunning property in Warrandyte on the market is 355-359 Ringwood a house in Warrandyte still represents fairly good value for money when compared with those found in its neighbouring suburbs A square metre of land sets you back $988.57 in Warrandyte while in neighbouring Eltham and Ringwood North it costs $1,110.29 and $1,222.93 respectively the suburb’s bucolic charm and reasonable prices are proving increasingly attractive to young urbanites in search of a tree-change most of the people buying were locals,” says Chapman “But now there’s a big trend of young couples moving out from suburbs closer to the city to start their families… and The desire to have a family was one of the main reasons why 29-year-old Sasha Courtot and his 27-year-old partner, Nikki Robinson, recently purchased a four bedroom, two bathroom property in North Warrandyte Nikki and Sasha love the space their Warrandyte home has on offer They bought the house on 21 July after a months-long search for a home within their budget that “had at least two bathrooms and three bedrooms some sort of shed or garage and a sense of privacy” “I personally really liked all the space and the shed out the back “I might make it into a bit of a man cave – maybe build a microbrewery,” he adds with a chuckle Warrandyte was the couple’s “go-to pick” primarily because it offered a country lifestyle within touching distance of the city who grew up in a small regional town on the border of New South Wales and Victoria the suburb held an altogether more emotional appeal “You walk past people in Melbourne and they just look at their phone people who you’ve never met before stop and say hello,” she says “It was the first place we visited during our property search that felt like a home away from home.” One of Robin Boyd’s most famous designs is for sale on 1.03ha in North Warrandyte The iconic mid-century Melbourne architect’s The Wright House at 84 Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Rd is priced at $2.25m-$2.45m Jellis Craig Boroondara agent Mark Salvati said The Robin Boyd Foundation considered the property one of his best works “It was one of his later designs and the spaces inside are quite generous; the use of local rock is beautiful right throughout the home The views out to the east are fantastic,” he said RELATED: Robin Boyd: Renowned architect’s Melbourne igloos for sale in Ashwood Robin Boyd: Modernist dream home one of Beaumaris’ best Robin Boyd Olinda masterpiece bags multimillion-dollar sum A stone fireplace beneath a void is the centrepiece of the design “There’s some good passive heating and passive cooling going on with the natural light coming in and the orientation keeping out the hot westerly sun.” with those from the city seeking more space and a “statement home” and others from further out wanting to “scale back a bit” “The general thread is loving the Robin Boyd architecture and the history behind the home,” Mr Salvati said Boyd designed five houses in the Warrandyte area aside from his family home and the heritage-listed Wright House was built for graphic artists Joyce and James Wright between 1962-63 according to the Robin Boyd Foundation.A void soaring above the main ground-level living area with a focal-point stone fireplace is the striking centrepiece of the three-bedroom pad’s design The vendors returned the interiors to a more neutral colour palette The vendors have been there for about 11 years and have preserved the home while returning the interiors to a more neutral colour palette in keeping with what was originally intended Mr Salvati noted the resurgence of mid-century architecture’s popularity in recent years “People have become more appreciative of the design elements and factors such as natural light and a home’s orientation,” Mr Salvati said “And there’s a bit of nostalgia as well kicking in Many of the people looking at these homes have grown up in one is Robin Boyd’s most well-known work and is now home to the Robin Boyd Foundation Expressions of interest offers close this Saturday Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox MORE: Victorians sell instead of renovating amid building crisis Jordan Lewis: Hawks premiership star lists Glen Iris family home Docklands price record: Double-storey penthouse on another level Labor has weeks to decide if the party will contest next month’s crucial byelection in Warrandyte with Premier Daniel Andrews feeling pressure from MPs and local branches to set up a must-win test for Opposition Leader John Pesutto following Ryan Smith’s resignation More than 50,000 voters will be forced back to the polls in Melbourne’s outer northeastern suburbs on August 26, lower house Speaker Maree Edwards announced on Friday, when Smith formally resigned after 16 years in the Victorian Parliament Ryan Smith announced his retirement in May.Credit: ABC Liberal candidate Nicole Ta-Ei Werner, a former youth pastor and Liberal staffer, has already started campaigning since she was preselected last month and will easily retain the seat for the party if Labor abstains from the race But a contest between the major parties would be hard fought after Smith’s margin was reduced to 4.2 per cent despite a healthy primary vote of 47 per cent and the shock Liberal loss of the federal seat of Aston at the April byelection Labor MPs were privately pressuring the party to contest the byelection but after Aston you’d have to think anything is possible,” one Labor MP speaking to The Age on the condition of anonymity said Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto with the Liberal Party’s Warrandyte candidate Nicole Werner this week.Credit: AAP Another also speaking on the condition of anonymity said the premier’s office had reservations “but there’s a fair bit of pressure coming from the branches” Views were still mixed among key figures and Labor was unlikely to rush into a decision while some were on holidays for the parliament’s winter break The Victorian Electoral Commission won’t set a date for the close of nominations until the writs are issued next Thursday but Labor could have another month to decide The party has been cautious of spending up to $400,000 to run a serious campaign in a Liberal-held seat more than eight years into government Labor already has a powerful majority in the lower house and has recently delivered a thin budget in an attempt to cut debt Even so, the Liberal Party’s statewide popularity has dropped to a low primary vote of just 23 per cent in the latest Resolve Strategic survey for The Age that increased to 26 per cent compared to the Labor Party’s 41 per cent A Liberal loss could be terminal for Pesutto’s leadership with several MPs privately warning he would not survive Pesutto has dismissed suggestions his leadership was on notice but has said the campaign was not going to be easy Pesutto on Friday expressed his gratitude to Smith a minister in the former Napthine government who caught the leader off-guard when he announced his resignation “Victorian Liberals will join me in wishing Ryan the best of success in his future endeavours and thanking him for his many years of dedicated and professional service,” Pesutto said in a statement on Friday “With the date of the upcoming Warrandyte by-election now set the Victorian Liberal team is fully focused on listening to the needs of communities across Warrandyte and ensuring local residents continue to have the strong local advocacy that Ryan provided.” would be a strong voice and effective local member who ran for the state seat of Box Hill in November where the Liberal Party went backwards on first preferences by 8.9 per cent is the daughter of Malaysian-Chinese migrants and has previously criticised her party’s engagement with migrant communities who received the backing of key conservatives lives south of the seat in Blackburn North but attended Chinese school in Doncaster East Smith had signalled his intention to run for the Liberal leadership after last year’s November election but pulled out to support unsuccessful candidate Brad Battin He backed the ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming when she was expelled from the parliamentary party in a saga that damaged Pesutto’s leadership The Greens last week announced Manningham deputy mayor Tomas Lightbody would contest the byelection after the minor party attracted 11.7 per cent of first preference votes at the November state election Preferences from the Greens would be key to Labor if the party enters the race “Support for the Victorian Liberals is currently in freefall and with Labor potentially not even standing a candidate at all this by-election will be incredibly unpredictable,” Lightbody said in a statement last week I understand the preciousness of our local communities and environments in this seat and feel the urgency with which we need to protect them.” Pesutto has sought to portray the byelection as a fight to relieve the cost of living crisis and development in the outer suburban seat Donvale and parts of Doncaster East and Chirnside Park Get the day’s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter here. Labor has weeks to decide if the party will contest next month\\u2019s crucial byelection in Warrandyte, with Premier Daniel Andrews feeling pressure from MPs and local branches to set up a must-win test for Opposition Leader John Pesutto following Ryan Smith\\u2019s resignation. More than 50,000 voters will be forced back to the polls in Melbourne\\u2019s outer northeastern suburbs on August 26, lower house Speaker Maree Edwards announced on Friday, when Smith formally in the Victorian Parliament. Liberal candidate Nicole Ta-Ei Werner, a former youth pastor and Liberal staffer, has already started campaigning since she was and will easily retain the seat for the party if Labor abstains from the race. But a contest between the major parties would be hard fought after Smith\\u2019s margin was reduced to 4.2 per cent, despite a healthy primary vote of 47 per cent, and the shock Liberal loss of the federal seat of Aston at the April byelection. Labor MPs were privately pressuring the party to contest the byelection, viewed as winnable. \\u201CI can\\u2019t understand why we wouldn\\u2019t run. There\\u2019s no expectation we\\u2019ll win, but after Aston you\\u2019d have to think anything is possible,\\u201D one Labor MP, speaking to The Age on the condition of anonymity said. Another also speaking on the condition of anonymity said the premier\\u2019s office had reservations, \\u201Cbut there\\u2019s a fair bit of pressure coming from the branches\\u201D. Views were still mixed among key figures and Labor was unlikely to rush into a decision while some were on holidays for the parliament\\u2019s winter break. The Victorian Electoral Commission won\\u2019t set a date for the close of nominations until the writs are issued next Thursday, but Labor could have another month to decide. The party has been cautious of spending up to $400,000 to run a serious campaign in a Liberal-held seat more than eight years into government. Labor already has a powerful majority in the lower house and has recently delivered a thin budget in an attempt to cut debt. Even so, the Liberal Party\\u2019s statewide popularity has dropped to a low primary vote of just 23 per cent in the latest. With the Nationals, that increased to 26 per cent compared to the Labor Party\\u2019s 41 per cent. A Liberal loss could be terminal for Pesutto\\u2019s leadership, with several MPs privately warning he would not survive. Pesutto has dismissed suggestions his leadership was on notice but has said the campaign was not going to be easy. Pesutto on Friday expressed his gratitude to Smith, a minister in the former Napthine government, who caught the leader off-guard when he announced his resignation. Smith formally finished up on Friday. \\u201CVictorian Liberals will join me in wishing Ryan the best of success in his future endeavours and thanking him for his many years of dedicated and professional service,\\u201D Pesutto said in a statement on Friday. \\u201CWith the date of the upcoming Warrandyte by-election now set, the Victorian Liberal team is fully focused on listening to the needs of communities across Warrandyte and ensuring local residents continue to have the strong local advocacy that Ryan provided.\\u201D He said Werner, if elected, would be a strong voice and effective local member. Werner, who ran for the state seat of Box Hill in November where the Liberal Party went backwards on first preferences by 8.9 per cent, is the daughter of Malaysian-Chinese migrants and has previously criticised her party\\u2019s engagement with migrant communities. The 32-year-old, who received the backing of key conservatives, lives south of the seat in Blackburn North but attended Chinese school in Doncaster East. Smith had signalled his intention to run for the Liberal leadership after last year\\u2019s November election, but pulled out to support unsuccessful candidate Brad Battin. He backed the ousted Liberal MP Moira Deeming when she was expelled from the parliamentary party in a saga that damaged Pesutto\\u2019s leadership. The Greens last week announced Manningham deputy mayor Tomas Lightbody would contest the byelection after the minor party attracted 11.7 per cent of first preference votes at the November state election. Preferences from the Greens would be key to Labor if the party enters the race. \\u201CSupport for the Victorian Liberals is currently in freefall, and with Labor potentially not even standing a candidate at all, this by-election will be incredibly unpredictable,\\u201D Lightbody said in a statement last week. \\u201CHaving grown up a Donvale local, I understand the preciousness of our local communities and environments in this seat, and feel the urgency with which we need to protect them.\\u201D Pesutto has sought to portray the byelection as a fight to and development in the outer suburban seat, which takes in Warrandyte, North Warrandyte, Wonga Park, Warranwood, Warrandyte South, Parkwood, Ringwood North, Donvale and parts of Doncaster East and Chirnside Park. Get the day\\u2019s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Play Duration: 7 minutes 4 seconds7m Brought to you by the bush retreat in Melbourne's north-east is "so multi-layered." Drive listeners recall Warrandyte's long history as an Indigenous meeting place and Gold Rush site D recalls growing up in Wonga Park in the early 70's: "We used to go to Warrandyte all the time Also swam and kayaked in the quiet parts of the Yarra Also used to ride my push bike from home to Warrandyte along the then very skinny and pot holed Jumping Creek Rd." Angela was also there in the 70's: "I remember as a child swimming in the river and splashing around in the rapids near the bridge to Eltham and Kangaroo Ground We lived in Wattle Glen and it was the closest river to swim in Back in 1977 I performed the role of Alice in "Alice in Wonderland" with the Warrandyte Theatre Company in the Warrandyte Mechanic's Institute It was directed by Judie Irving and the venue is still in use today and some 30 years later I ended up back in Warrandyte as part of a community performing arts group that produces musicals there annually." Sasha paints a beautiful picture: "I love driving through Warrandyte back road from Eltham when the fog is floating through the gums and sun rays warming up and shifting through too Tracey told us of the elusive dunny can man: "Kangaroos drinking from the dam climbing the double story chook & hay sheds Dad and my brother fighting the numerous bushfires and the elusive dunny can man - Main Road memories!"Sarah shares this pivotal moment with her now-husband: "We went to Warrandyte to a jeweller He wanted to buy me a ring that we both loved but didn't realise it was real diamonds and rubies and so back tracked Very simple and not expensive but special to us." Joy's parents had a special time in the area: "My parents had their honeymoon in the bush in a folding caravan about 75 years ago at Warrandyte We now walk the dog on the bank of the river and visit the community Cafe Now and Not Yet." Helen in Mitcham had her "first boyfriend We were LIVE FACT CHECKED across the program after hearing this tip from Mel: "Visiting my great aunt on Grandpa Hemsworth's property the actual Hemsworth family is attached to Warrandyte I now live here and my great aunts house still stands."Georgie has this recommendation: "Can't go past the wood fired bakery on the Yarra bank in Warrandyte Mary and enjoy the calm of the river and of course the steak & mushroom pie." Drive with Raf Epstein wants to uncover in to the 'real' history of iconic Melbourne spots by hearing your stories. If you have a great suggestion of a location for us to delve in to, email us. The Yarra River, pictured here at Warrandyte, Victoria, is the focus of renewed efforts to restore its health and protect its future.(ABC News) Download the ABC listen app to text and call your favourite live radio CFA alongside FRV attended house fires in East Doncaster North Warrandyte and Warrandyte over the last month. CFA responded to a two-storey brick house fire in East Doncaster on 10 March Around half of the home was damaged. CFA supported FRV crews at a two-storey house fire in Park Orchards. CFA was then called to a house fire in North Warrandyte Around 35 per cent of the house was destroyed. on 5 April CFA responded to a house fire in Warrandyte which destroyed the single storey brick home. Warrandyte Captain Will Hodgson said it was rare to have significant fires in separate incidents over a short period of time. “My first message to the community is make sure you have a working smoke alarm and home fire plan we need to be safe when lighting fires indoors it can cause significant injury or worse. and it’s a good idea to have them switched off when not at home.” all occupants of the homes evacuated safety. View all stories View more contacts Tweets by CFA_Updates We are currently experiencing issues with our embedded Twitter feed We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land Copyright 2025 CFA (Country Fire Authority) A spectacular labour of love is poised to become the concrete king of the Warrandyte jungle in what could be a huge suburb price record Developed by married building industry professionals as their family home, 9 Bellbird Place was recently listed with a price guide of $4.7-$5.17 million Even the lower end of that is more than $1 million above the suburb’s residential price record of $3.25 million Feature walls with black concrete capture attention Over 1200sq m of interior space set across four levels — prepare to get lost elements of the prodigious home include exposed concrete walls and polished floors galvanised steel balustrades and exposed interior pipes Having met at trade school and both worked in the building industry vendors David and Felicity Campanaro were inspired to create a project unique to Warrandyte backlit quartz feature wall and a full butler’s pantry You might say this home has elevated the level of minimalism design in Warrandyte The vendors said the six-bedroom home was also designed to suit the local landscape “We wanted to keep it natural — we just put both our ideas together and we both liked the rawness of concrete and steel and that’s how we wanted this built,” Mr Campanaro said The open-plan kitchen and dining space easily extends to an outdoor terrace with glorious green views “Me and my wife absolutely love it here — it’s been a long long journey for us and it’s going to be sad to see it go,” Mr Campanaro said The Formed Constructions director said the couple’s next project would have “probably a bit less concrete” grey and precast panels were all used in the build Four living areas are spread across the home with double-glazed windows keeping out the cold A spectacular home theatre is simply Marvel-lous Former project manager Mrs Campanaro said a huge amount of thought went into the project from the very start “The agony that’s gone into making this a reality was six years in the making,” she said “Everything has been designed backwards to give it the most aesthetically pleasing outcome.” With additions such as hydronic underfloor heating that goes up through the towel rails and internal rainwater pipes Mrs Campanaro said it had been a huge source of pride to see the ambitious build come together A huge den in the Shaynna Blaze-designed interiors “Despite all the setbacks and the time and energy that went into it Creating something that I think is beautiful — I know it’s not everybody’s taste but I love it,” Mrs Campanaro said “It was more like a commercial build than a residential build in so many ways — you don’t normally have a core driller in a domestic product.” The couple said they were excited to spend time with their four boys while they planned their next project Vendor David Campanaro loves to play sports in the massive garage with the kids when its raining A terrace is serviced by an outdoor kitchen Barry Plant Doncaster East agent Adele Kocuk said the minimalist home had already attracted significant interest.“There’s definitely a lot of interest and probably because it is so different,” Ms Kocuk said “If you’re looking for the French provincial type of thing — this is not that.” The home is for private sale by set date of June 11 The sleek facade gives little away about the home’s size Italian Bisazza tiles adorn the five bathrooms The impressive house at 521-527 Ringwood Warrandyte Rd A luxury lifestyle property that wouldn’t look out of place in the mountains of Aspen has hit the market in Warrandyte South It only took one trip to Colorado for vendor builder Darren Bailey to fall in love with the architecture of the ski resort town leading him to replicate it for his family home years later “I travelled there 20 years ago and I was really drawn to that style,” Mr Bailey said RELATED:Kew house price record: Spectacular ‘fairytale’ mansion smashes suburb benchmark ‘Very Warrandyte’ house has trees growing through its rear deck Warrandyte South dream home poised to smash suburb record Warm timber materials are paired with stone throughout so the log work and the rock work really caught my eye But his dream home quickly become an intensive “labour of love” when it came time to design and build the sprawling 521-527 Ringwood Warrandyte Rd residence about 16 years ago Mr Bailey and his team at Darren Bailey Builders paid close attention to detail in the construction even flying out a team from Germany to create the extensive slanted roofs He assessed eight different stonemasons before selecting one to collaborate with who ended up working on the project for about 16 months “We would go down and spend a day or two hand-picking the stone from the quarry for consistency,” Mr Bailey said “I did a lot of work on the property myself after hours It took about two years to build and it’s been an amazing home for us it feels like everything sort of washes away.” The striking facade features timber log trusses at the grand entrance Towering 8m ceilings and timber columns welcome guests into the open space where a fireplace enveloped in stone helps bring a cosy “chalet” feel to the five-bedroom pad a huge wall of glass offers an abundance of natural light and lush views of the backyard There is also a hidden 1080-bottle wine cellar that “pops up” through the solid blackbutt timber flooring The wine cellar is hidden below the living room “One of the best things about the home is when someone comes over for the first time,” Mr Bailey said but you can see their jaw drop when you show them around While the alpine-inspired 9800sq m property is primed for entertaining during winter it also features a resort-style outdoor area influenced by the Baileys’ trips to Bali a large fire pit with built-in seating and a fully automated day bed round out the impressive offering Mr Bailey said his family had reluctantly listed the home with a $4.8m-$5.1m price guide to move closer to his daughters’ horses “We will look for a new site for our next property but I’m not sure if we will be able to build something like this again,” he said Barry Plant Doncaster East director Theo Politis agreed the home was “irreplaceable” “It’s timeless and not many people would build to this spec,” Mr Politis said He said the “massive” garage and workshop was another highlight And its location near some of Melbourne’s elite private schools had already drawn a number of family buyers to the “landmark” home 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 READ MORE: What an interest rate rise means for every Melbourne suburb Balwyn home of artist Paul Fitzgerald and actor wife Mary for sale Where to get a beach house for less than $350k in Victoria 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 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 A former youth pastor is on track to become the next state member for Warrandyte after winning Liberal preselection on Sunday beat a field of eight other candidates that included former Institute of Public Affairs boss John Roskam former KMPG director Sarah Overton and 22-year-old law student Antonietta Di Cosmo Former Box Hill candidate Nicole Werner will contest the Warrandyte byelection for the Liberals Werner had campaigned on her strong community ties having grown up on the border between the Box Hill and Warrandyte electorates as well as her willingness to hit the ground running Outgoing Warrandyte member Ryan Smith announced he would quit state parliament last month citing a “growing negative tone of politics” and sparking a byelection Warrandyte has been a Liberal seat since 1988 The byelection is a high-stakes contest for Opposition Leader John Pesutto Three frontbench Liberal MPs have told The Age that Pesutto will face an immediate spill motion should Warrandyte fall to Labor Pesutto said Werner represented the future of the Liberal Party “Nicole is a very talented young woman with a strong connection to the electorate,” he said “My colleagues and I look forward to campaigning with Nicole in what will be a hard fought by-election.” The Liberal leader had previously expressed his preference for a woman to be preselected for the seat More than 100 Victorian Liberal Party members about two-thirds of which were locals and the remainder from the party’s state council cast their ballots at Chirnside Park’s Yarra Valley Lodge on Sunday evening City of Manningham councillor Andrew Conlon and former Pakenham candidate David Farrelly were knocked out in the first round of voting Former Matthew Guy staffer Jemma Townson was defeated out in the third round former John Howard staffer Allison Troth and past Eltham candidate Jason McClintock were knocked out Overton was eliminated in the fifth round of voting Roskam and Werner made the sixth round but were tied on votes which put the former IPA boss out of the race Most of Roskam’s votes then went to Werner resulting in her winning the final round against Di Cosmo Her final hurdle will be a vote of the Liberal administrative committee she said: “The past 14 months in Victoria has taught us that we cannot afford to take the seat – or a byelection – for granted For the sake of the last two remaining federal seats we hold in metropolitan Melbourne – ultra-marginal Menzies and Deakin – Warrandyte must be defended at all costs The brochure included an endorsement from Victorian Liberal senator Jane Hume who lost against Labor’s Paul Hamer in the battle for Box Hill at the last state election Her parents migrated to Australia from Malaysia in the 1980s Resolve Strategic polling, conducted exclusively for The Age and published on Wednesday, found the Victorian Liberal Party’s primary vote was sitting at just 23 per cent statewide Labor has not yet declared whether it will run in Warrandyte, which has been in Liberal hands since 1988. However, Labor MPs are privately urging party officials to contest the seat The party conducted its own research into Warrandyte earlier this month Smith received 47 per cent of primary votes in Warrandyte in last year’s state election He retained the seat with a 4.2 per cent margin on the back of preference flows He has been in parliament for 16 years. He cited the “growing negative tone of politics” while announcing his decision to quit politics last month The Liberal MP had signalled his intention to run for the party’s leadership after the November election but pulled out of the race to support Berwick MP Brad Battin citing a \\u201Cgrowing negative tone of politics\\u201D and sparking a byelection \\u201CNicole is a very talented young woman with a strong connection to the electorate,\\u201D he said \\u201CMy colleagues and I look forward to campaigning with Nicole in what will be a hard fought by-election.\\u201D about two-thirds of which were locals and the remainder from the party\\u2019s state council cast their ballots at Chirnside Park\\u2019s Yarra Valley Lodge on Sunday evening Most of Roskam\\u2019s votes then went to Werner she said: \\u201CThe past 14 months in Victoria has taught us that we cannot afford to take the seat \\u2013 or a byelection \\u2013 for granted For the sake of the last two remaining federal seats we hold in metropolitan Melbourne \\u2013 ultra-marginal Menzies and Deakin \\u2013 Warrandyte must be defended at all costs I\\u2019m ready to take up that fight.\\u201D who lost against Labor\\u2019s Paul Hamer in the battle for Box Hill at the last state election conducted exclusively for The Age and published on Wednesday found the Victorian Liberal Party\\u2019s primary vote was Labor has not yet declared whether it will run in Warrandyte which has been in Liberal hands since 1988 Smith received 47 per cent of primary votes in Warrandyte in last year\\u2019s state election He cited the \\u201Cgrowing negative tone of politics\\u201D The Liberal MP had signalled his intention to run for the party\\u2019s leadership after the November election entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy Labor MPs are pressuring their party to contest the Warrandyte byelection the Greens have entered the race and minor conservative parties are weighing up whether to deny the Liberal Party crucial preferences An exclusive survey conducted by Resolve Strategic for The Age puts Labor’s primary vote 15 points clear of the opposition statewide due to a dramatic drop in support for the Victorian Liberals, who recorded a primary vote of just 23 per cent despite the Andrews government’s tough budget Liberal MP Ryan Smith is resigning from politics.Credit: ABC Labor minister Ben Carroll said on Thursday his colleagues would “no doubt” be having a close look at the polling while the party considered whether to field a candidate in Warrandyte speaking to The Age on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal party matters reported widespread support from branch members and backbench MPs to run in the byelection But a senior Labor source said the party wouldn’t decide before the Liberal Party conducted its preselection on Sunday Labor conducted its own research in the seat late last week the Liberal candidate and financial constraints will help determine whether the government chases an electorate that has been in Liberal hands since 1988 Retiring Warrandyte MP Ryan Smith last year received a healthy 47 per cent of primary votes and retained the seat in the November election with a 4.2 per cent margin off the back of preference flows which assisted Smith’s win with 4 per cent of the primary vote One Nation and the United Australia Party are still considering their options UAP Senator Ralph Babet said he and the party executive would have more to say once the byelection was officially called “The Andrews government have created a mess they are not a true opposition,” Babet said The Greens on Thursday confirmed the party would contest the outer suburban seat after attracting 11.7 per cent of first preference votes in November Most of Warrandyte sits within the federal seat of Menzies, where Labor benefited from a 6 per cent swing at the May 2022 election, and which has been identified as a target by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the next federal election party officials estimate the cost of running a “serious campaign” would be $400,000 some of which will be returned through public funding administered by the Victorian electoral commission With the Liberals days away from selecting a candidate through a ballot of members another senior Labor source told The Age the party’s national executive would be expected to select a candidate should the ALP contest the seat Nine candidates are vying for Liberal preselection and there is no clear frontrunner There is strong support for former Institute of Public Affairs executive director John Roskam former Eltham candidate Jason McClintock and KPMG director Sarah Overton Champion rower and law student Antonietta di Cosmo and former Box Hill candidate Nicole Ta-Ei Werner – who has the support of federal La Trobe MP Jason Wood – are also well-liked former John Howard staffer Allison Troth and Manningham councillor Andrew Conlon are also in the running Opposition Leader John Pesutto has declared his preference for getting more women preselected and on Wednesday acknowledged Warrandyte would be a “tough fight” needing the “strongest possible candidate” Meanwhile, long-serving federal Liberal MP Russell Broadbent will also endure a preselection challenge in coming months for his Gippsland seat of Monash a respected professional who is head of government relations for Asia Pacific at Fujitsu and the daughter of former federal MP Ken Aldred confirmed she would seek preselection for Monash when nominations close on Monday An exclusive survey conducted by puts Labor\\u2019s primary vote 15 points clear of the opposition statewide due to a dramatic drop in support for the Victorian Liberals who recorded a primary vote of just 23 per cent despite Labor minister Ben Carroll said on Thursday his colleagues would \\u201Cno doubt\\u201D be having a close look at the polling while the party considered whether to field a candidate in Warrandyte But a senior Labor source said the party wouldn\\u2019t decide before the Liberal Party conducted its preselection on Sunday last year received a healthy 47 per cent of primary votes which assisted Smith\\u2019s win with 4 per cent of the primary vote \\u201CThe Andrews government have created a mess they are not a true opposition,\\u201D Babet said which would boost Labor\\u2019s confidence Most of Warrandyte sits within the federal seat of Menzies where Labor benefited from a 6 per cent swing at the May 2022 election and which has been identified as a target by Prime Minister in the next federal election party officials estimate the cost of running a \\u201Cserious campaign\\u201D would be $400,000 another senior Labor source told The Age the party\\u2019s national executive would be expected to select a candidate should the ALP contest the seat and former Box Hill candidate Nicole Ta-Ei Werner \\u2013 who has the support of federal La Trobe MP Jason Wood \\u2013 are also well-liked and on Wednesday acknowledged Warrandyte would be a \\u201Ctough fight\\u201D needing the \\u201Cstrongest possible candidate\\u201D long-serving federal Liberal MP Russell Broadbent will also endure a in coming months for his Gippsland seat of Monash Victorian Liberal MP Ryan Smith has announced he is resigning from politics and will step down from state parliament on July 7 triggering a byelection in his electorate north-east of Melbourne the member for Warrandyte says the “growing negative tone of politics” played a part in his decision to quit Victorian Liberal MP Ryan Smith is resigning from politics.Credit: ABC Smith signalled his intention to run for the Liberal leadership after last year’s election in November, but eventually pulled out of the race to support unsuccessful candidate Brad Battin “After over 16 years serving as the Member for Warrandyte I have decided it is time to bring this chapter of my life to a close,” Smith said in a statement “I have been privileged to hold this role and believe that many who choose this career do so with their communities’ best interests in mind I have become increasingly uncomfortable with the growing negative tone of politics The MP’s resignation will trigger a byelection and be a test of Opposition Leader John Pesutto’s leadership The Liberals hold Warrandyte by a 4.2 per cent margin Pesutto addressed the media on Wednesday morning and said he learned of Smith’s resignation like the wider public “ I think we all need to respect the way Ryan wanted to own the way he wanted to make these announcements,” he said The opposition leader added that the Liberals will “throw everything” at Warrandyte to retain the seat with the membership and the leadership of the organisational side of the party to make sure we choose the strongest candidate I would very much like to see a woman in amongst the candidates.” The Liberals expect the byelection to be held in mid to late August The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here. the member for Warrandyte says the \\u201Cgrowing negative tone of politics\\u201D played a part in his decision to quit Smith signalled his intention to run for the Liberal leadership after last year\\u2019s election in November but eventually pulled out of the race to support unsuccessful candidate \\u201CAfter over 16 years serving as the Member for Warrandyte I have decided it is time to bring this chapter of my life to a close,\\u201D Smith said in a statement \\u201CI have been privileged to hold this role and believe that many who choose this career do so with their communities\\u2019 best interests in mind The MP\\u2019s resignation will trigger a byelection and be a test of Opposition Leader John Pesutto\\u2019s leadership Pesutto addressed the media on Wednesday morning and said he learned of Smith\\u2019s resignation like the wider public \\u201C I think we all need to respect the way Ryan wanted to own the way he wanted to make these announcements,\\u201D he said The opposition leader added that the Liberals will \\u201Cthrow everything\\u201D at Warrandyte to retain the seat I would very much like to see a woman in amongst the candidates.\\u201D The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories A sprawling Warrandyte South property described as “once in a lifetime” has sold for a record price The 1 Hillcrest Rd home includes six bedrooms six paddocks and a tennis court across 4.05ha It sold on January 27 for an undisclosed amount understood to be close to its $8.5m-$9.35m asking price Hoskins Maroondah agent David Alvares would not be drawn on the price but said the sale had set “a new benchmark for the area” RELATED: Hawthorn great lists Peninsula home Melbourne Cup winner trades up Portsea pads Toorak $25m mansion a slick design statement The idyllic home was on the market for the first time in 35 years Mr Alvares said his vendors were pleased a new family was taking the reigns after 30 years at the property “They’ve loved the home but it’s time for their new chapter,” he said “They’ve had three kids grow up and now the person who has bought it has three kids The buyers were an “inner-city family relocating for that lifestyle change” “They have two daughters who have just started riding and getting into horses,” the agent said indicating they would use the equine facilities Mr Alvares previously described the home as a “landmark property” perfect for intergenerational families “It’s like a private oasis,” Mr Alvares said “The views from all parts of the property are simply breathtaking You can see the tops of the city and there’s expansive views of rolling green hills and the natural bush setting … it’s a once in a lifetime offering.” MORE: How much more you pay for a house in top school zones How overseas students’ return will hit real estate ‘Lungs’ bring fresh air into $13m marvel 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 integrated South Warrandyte Fire Station officially opened on 24 April. The state-of-the-art station is fully equipped to serve the community 24-hours a day South Warrandyte is one of CFA’s 35 integrated stations with 25 career firefighters and 40 volunteer members making up the brigade Over 100 people came out to witness the official opening including Minister for Emergency Service James Merlino Member for Eastern Metropolitan Shaun Leane and friends and family of firefighters and the local community CFA Chair Greg Smith attended the event and spoke about the benefits of integrated brigades as they can alleviate the pressure on volunteers “Having career firefighters based at the station 24 hours a day takes the pressure off South Warrandyte’s 40 volunteers “An integrated brigade is a united force of professional emergency responders and this new facility offers better training and development opportunities for members of South Warrandyte and surrounding brigades.” Operations Officer Jamie Hansen said the with increasing demand on the volunteers the concept of integrating the fire station was approved under Project 2016 Infrastructure Program “This is a brigade that in the true spirit of CFA has evolved over time to meet the changing needs of the community,” he said “I want to recognise the efforts of the station opening committee the district staff and Acting OIC Chris Hall for putting the day together.” South Warrandyte Fire Brigade respond to approximately 200 calls a year and with the addition of career firefighters CFA expects that number to rise to around 400 “With the addition of career firefighters the brigade has been able to turn out to more jobs including Emergency Medical Response,” he said “I commend the brigade on such a great transition into integrated operations “South Warrandyte has led a great example of how well this can work The surrounding brigades have also supported this since day one.” The $6.8 million building includes three drive-through bays for trucks Police on inflatable paddle boards have joined the force’s air wing and the State Emergency Service in the search for a man missing at a section of the Yarra River in Melbourne’s outer east Investigators have been told the 39-year-old man was with friends at Taroona Reserve Warrandyte on Saturday when he walked down a path toward the river by himself about 3pm His friends later tried to find him before contacting police to report him missing The area is part of the Warrandyte State Forest One side of the river is a popular walking track for locals and the other is covered by dense bushland Acting Sergeant Will Calleja was unable to answer questions about whether the man was a local or visiting the area He said a large search effort was underway with the air wing “We’ve searched an area of four kilometres across the river,” Calleja told media at the scene on Sunday Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here. Police on inflatable paddle boards have joined the force\\u2019s air wing and the State Emergency Service in the search for a man missing at a section of the Yarra River in Melbourne\\u2019s outer east. Investigators have been told the 39-year-old man was with friends at Taroona Reserve, Warrandyte on Saturday when he walked down a path toward the river by himself about 3pm. His friends later tried to find him before contacting police to report him missing. The area is part of the Warrandyte State Forest. One side of the river is a popular walking track for locals and the other is covered by dense bushland. Acting Sergeant Will Calleja was unable to answer questions about whether the man was a local or visiting the area. He said a large search effort was underway with the air wing, police divers, foot patrols, boats and the SES taking part. \\u201CWe\\u2019ve searched an area of four kilometres across the river,\\u201D Calleja told media at the scene on Sunday. Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. . A “once in a lifetime” Warrandyte South property with an infinity pool and Olympic-size equestrian facilities is poised to break the suburb’s house price record after being listed for $8m-plus The sprawling 1 Hillcrest Rd is on offer for the first time since it was built 35 years ago and is comprised of six bedrooms RELATED: Sunbury record falls again as wealthy buy up Incredible art gallery home one of a kind Famed architect’s Blackburn gold standard The idyllic home is on offer for the first time in 35 years the hilltop home has an $8.5m-$9.35m price guide If sold anywhere near that range, it will become the suburb’s most expensive recorded sale, easily surpassing 6 Green Ridge’s $5.6m sale in 2016 Hoskins Maroondah agent David Alvares described the dream home was a “landmark property” Take working from home to the next level in this elegant office You can see the tops of the city and there’s expansive views of rolling green hills and the natural bush setting Mr Alvares said the gardens were “second to none” and the separate parents and children’s quarters made it ideal for growing or intergenerational families He said the vendors were looking to downsize after raising their family at the property including two daughters who had been competitive horse riders The property had extensive horse riding facilities including stables … “Everyone in the family has enjoyed the home and it’s been very tightly held for 35 years,” Mr Alvares said and now they have grandchildren who have had birthdays at the home It’s never been offered to the market before; it’s a once in a lifetime offering.” The agent said the house was close to elite local private schools Eastland and within striking distance of the CBD “It’s hard to find something so close to town that feels away from the rest of the world,” he said The property is to be sold via an expressions of interest campaign 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: Auction numbers surge as lockdown end looms Top 30 homes with the best views in Victoria Geelong house and land could soon hit $1m The Warrandyte mansion sold for an undisclosed sum Warrandyte’s concrete king of the jungle has sold after almost a year on the market After being listed in mid-May last year with an asking price of $4.7-$5.17 million, the spectacular property at 9 Bellbird Place sold on March 14 for an undisclosed sum Its most recent price reduction saw it on the market for $3.6-$3.9 million Jellis Craig Doncaster director Daniel Broadbent declined to comment on the sale price of the six-bedroom mansion which vendors David and Felicity Campanaro last year told Manningham Leader was a labour of love six years in the making Warrandyte’s highest recorded residential sale was achieved when 236-240 Tindals Rd exchanged hands for $4.3 million in November 2018 The kitchen features integrated appliances backlit quartz feature wall and a butler’s pantry “It’s an extraordinary house — it was probably too good for where it was,” Mr Broadbent said of the Bellbird Place property “The time and effort that went into it was obviously amazing.” Mr Broadbent said the couple were unsure what their next step would be following the sale of their Warrandyte “experiment” The ambitious and commanding project features concrete throughout grey and precast panels all used in the build Mr Broadbent said the private buyers were a young couple “They really appreciated the nature of the build and the style.” Cliff Green at the studio he wrote the screenplay of Picnic at Hanging Rock in Screenwriter Cliff Green is selling the Warrandyte home where he wrote one of Australia’s most well-loved films The 84-year-old writer and wife Judy, 82, recently listed 23 Webb St with a price guide of $740,000-$790,000 The 1213sq m property contains a striking angular studio where Mr Green wrote the screenplay for Picnic at Hanging Rock “It was a great writer’s retreat really,” Mr Green said “When I got stuck on something and wouldn’t know quite what to write next I’d go for a walk around the garden and by the time I got back I’d have the answer.” who also produced screenplays for Boy Soldiers and I Can Jump Puddles said he and Judy had bought the property as a vacant block 49 years ago after nine years teaching in the bush Cliff Green’s work station in his striking studio with angled cathedral ceilings Mr Green used to walk through his gardens for inspiration “I started to develop my work as a screenwriter so I had to come back to Melbourne — it was no good living in the country,” Mr Green said “We knew Warrandyte was the closest we’d get to a country town and still be close to Melbourne.” most notably long-running police drama Homicide when he was commissioned to write the screenplay to Joan Lindsay’s 1967 book Picnic at Hanging Rock and Jane Vallis in Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) Picturesque green views at the four-bedroom home “We had no idea that it would be such a successful film — it’s still Australia’s best film,” he said Jellis Craig Eltham director Chris Chapman said the single-owner home was a comfortable entry-level home for Warrandyte “The house is immediately comfortable but certainly provides scope to do some updates,” Mr Chapman said “It feels like it’s on a bigger block than it is — it’s got a very nice outlook onto the trees and a lot of character for sure.” The four-bedroom home goes to auction on June 29 The Warrandyte property has a price guide of $740,000-$790,000 North Warrandyte top listNews Corp Australia Viewbank has been crowned Melbourne’s speediest property market with houses typically flying off the shelves in less than three weeks Houses sold in a median of 17 days over the past year in the popular suburb which agents say is being buoyed by leafy streets and top schools Realestate.com.au data shows North Warrandyte and Seddon houses were also snapped up at rapid rates notching sales at a median of 18.5 and 19.5 days respectively North Warrandyte was snapped up earlier in July Properties in Melbourne’s northeast dominated the list of the city’s fastest-selling suburbs with speedy deals also recorded in Watsonia Jellis Craig Eltham director Aaron Yeats credited Viewbank’s quick transactions to the area’s top-quality schools “Viewbank College is particularly very sought after and even the local primary school is highly regarded,” Mr Yeats said “It definitely is selling a little faster than the suburbs surrounding and I think the reason is the suburb and the school zone are quite tight Agents say the areas are increasingly popular for families Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee agreed noting the fast-selling suburbs pointed towards strong interest in family homes “Particularly with the suburbs in the northeast – they are all areas that are leafy and have great access to public transport but also offer great affordability,” Ms Conisbee said Viewbank houses have a $980,000 median sale price While she expected Victoria’s stage four real estate restrictions to extend the time properties spent on the market because we can see people are still looking at houses,” she said “It’s just increasingly difficult to make that transaction at the moment.” Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee Sunbury scored the fastest sales of the past year in a median of 22 days followed by Clifton Hill and Elwood at 27 days Blackbird and Wren Real Estate director Ben Roberts said demand had been strong for several years for Sunbury units which were attracting first-home buyers and those looking to downsize “It’s not unheard of for a well-placed unit in Sunbury to sell after just a few days or a week on the market,” Mr Roberts said He said the market might see an upswing in fast-paced sales after lockdown as budding first-home buyers who had been forced to put their purchasing plans on hold flooded back into the market Warrandyte medians jumpCharlotte Durut 31 Oakland Drive, Warrandyte has a price guide of $2.3 million-$2.53 million MANNINGHAM’S most affordable suburbs are also its star property performers Wonga Park and Warrandyte have notched the biggest house price gains in the past year with their median marks tipping over the million-dollar mark for the first time Wonga Park’s median house price jumped 16.7 per cent to $1,061,750 and Warrandyte’s grew 12.4 per cent to $1.046 million Doncaster and Templestowe houses continued to haul in the area’s top prices their medians were among the lowest for growth A median priced Park Orchards house now costs $1,520,028 after a 5.6 per cent increase in the 12 months to June Doncaster’s median house price rose 4.4 per cent to $1.405 million and Templestowe’s nudged up 2.6 per cent to $1.37 million Barry Plant Doncaster East agent Mitchell Etherington said rampant demand for Wonga Park and Warrandyte’s entry-level houses was pushing up prices “These suburbs are in a highly sought-after area with low-maintenance living,” he said “Warrandyte in particular is diverse and caters for a large slice of the market It performs really well and we’ve had strong numbers through open homes Mr Etherington said he and agency director Theo Politis were listing a property at 31 Oakland Drive, Warrandyte which The five-bedroom house on 4442sq m includes a tennis court golf putting green and a pool with a spa and water feature A covered entertainment area has wine fridges and a built-in bar and a formal living and dining room has a central open fireplace Warrandyte includes a pool with a spa and water feature The home has a price guide of $2.3 million-$2.53 million Jellis Craig Doncaster agent Traci Stella said demand was also outstripping supply in Park Orchards There were fewer than 30 sales in the past year A 4000sq m property at 137-139 Knees Rd recently sold for more than $1.8 million in a busy three-week campaign covered entertainment area and machinery shed 137-139 Knees Rd, Park Orchards sold for over $1.8 million “We had 58 groups through as well as 12 second inspections nine requests for a contract and four offers on it,” Ms Stella said She said while prices were higher in the suburb buyers enjoyed a “lot more bang for their buck” due to the large landholdings on offer The suburb was attracting young families looking for a change of pace “You come home to Park Orchards and you can feel your heart rate lowering,” she said “It’s a hidden treasure with a real sense of calm