Resort-style Reservoir home with mural wows buyers.
A striking luxury home in Reservoir with soaring 3.5-metre ceilings and a backyard mural inspired by Southeast Asia has hit the market in Melbourne’s northern suburbs with a $1.595m price tag.
The three-bedroom residence at 17B Myrtle Grove has been labelled one of the suburb’s most unique homes, according to a local agent.
Barry Plant Reservoir’s Ross Kontossis said it had drawn strong interest from a broad pool of buyers, including young couples, families and even downsizers.
“We’re seeing strong interest from young couples, growing families and even some middle-aged downsizers who are after something unique and high-end,” Mr Kontossis said.
“This is not your standard home for the area — it’s been finished to an incredibly high standard with details you just don’t typically see.”
Inside Reservoir’s home with soaring ceilings and Bali vibes.
Behind its monochrome facade, the home opens to a grand foyer with polished concrete floors and a sculptural floating staircase — a centrepiece feature under a dramatic pendant light.
Polished concrete and soaring ceilings steal the show.
The gourmet kitchen includes Corian benchtops, an integrated Fisher & Paykel fridge and freezer, and a two-drawer dishwasher.
The open-plan meals and living area flows seamlessly to an enclosed alfresco zone with motorised blinds, ceiling fans, and a built-in barbecue set in Brazilian granite.
But it’s vibrant handpainted mural inspired by the owner’s travels in Southeast Asia, that gives the back yard a striking point of difference.
Southeast Asian mural gives this home’s backyard a twist.
Resort luxury lands in the heart of Reservoir.
“There’s a real sense of creativity and personality here,” Mr Kontossis said.
“The vendor lives overseas and has poured a lot of care and thought into the design.”
Reservoir masterpiece blends art and luxury.
Upstairs, the main suite features a walk-in robe and hotel-style ensuite, while a second bathroom includes a freestanding spa-style bath, dual vanity and heated towel rails.
There are also a home office, hydronic heating across both levels, zoned refrigerated cooling, privacy tinting, a state-of-the-art security system and a secure lockup garage.
Floating staircase and mural set this home apart in Reservoir.
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Homes.com continues to ascend and has become the second-largest residential real estate portal in the U.S., according to CoStar Group CEO Andy Florance, who shared insights during the company’s first-quarter 2025 earnings call on Tuesday.
Backed by sharp increases in both traffic and agent participation, Homes.com reported 104 million average monthly unique visitors in the first three months of this year.
That figure, which is up dramatically from early 2024, signals a fundamental shift in the digital real estate hierarchy and in how agents want to work online, Florance said.
The platform has seen a surge in visibility and effectiveness since its Super Bowl marketing campaign just over a year ago. Unprompted consumer awareness of the brand rose to 36% in Q1 2025, compared to only 4% before February 2024.
The results are translating directly to agent success, Florance said, with CoStar reporting that member agents are winning 61% more listings than comparable non-members.
“Agents don’t want to have their leads sold back to them,” he said. “Homes.com puts agents front and center — with their names, their branding, their listings. We don’t commingle data. We don’t confuse the consumer. And we definitely don’t divert leads.”
Florance added that Homes.com’s demo-to-close rate topped 50% in April, the highest ever for any CoStar sales team. The platform’s dedicated residential sales force has grown to 370 and is expected to hit 500 by the end of June.
Amid commission lawsuits and evolving brokerage models, Florance said the real estate community is asking fundamental questions about who controls listings — and who benefits from them.
“Since the beginning of time in real estate, people have marketed listings off-market,” Florance said. “People have always looked to see if there’s someone they know — in the shop, in the neighborhood, a private client — who wants to buy a property. That’s especially true at the mid and high end. It happens in commercial real estate and across the globe.”
Florance noted that roughly 20% of listings worldwide are marketed privately or outside of public portals. While that figure has remained steady, he said new tensions over MLS rules and lead diversion models may accelerate change in how — and where — agents publish listings.
Challenging the status quo
Florance made it clear that Homes.com’s strategy is designed to contrast sharply with existing models that redirect or sell leads.
“In most countries, lead diversion models don’t exist,” he said. “When people have a choice about where to market their listings, they choose platforms that don’t strip away their leads. They don’t want to pay to win back their own clients.”
He later added, “There’s real anxiety among some firms that, as agents are given more choice, they’ll avoid platforms that exploit them. That positions us very well, because we’re not trying to manipulate the market or regulate how people operate. We’re working with agents, not against them.”
Florance acknowledged that with shifts in enforcement of Clear Cooperation and MLS commingling rules, more brokers are evaluating whether to list on MLSs, private networks or proprietary platforms first based on how these decisions impact their clients and commissions.
CoStar financial performance
CoStar reported companywide revenue of $732 million for the first quarter of 2025, a 12% increase from $656 million in Q1 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA rose to $66 million — a 429% jump — despite a net loss of $15 million due to a $31 million charge tied to the February acquisition of 3D imaging firm Matterport.
“This was our 56th straight quarter of double-digit revenue growth,” Florance said. “CoStar and LoopNet were standouts, with CoStar up 68% in annualized net new bookings and LoopNet bookings up 200% year over year — its best result since Q3 2022.”
Apartments.com also added more than 4,300 properties in Q1 2025, its highest single-quarter gain since 2016.
Looking ahead, CoStar forecasts second-quarter revenue of $770 million to $775 million, along with full-year 2025 revenue of $3.115 billion to $3.155 billion. Adjusted full-year EBITDA is expected to land between $355 million and $385 million.
Florance said the acquisition of Matterport is expected to fuel long-term growth across all property types.
“Matterport is the best way to present physical real estate online and convert it into structured data,” he said. “We plan to scale this across our platforms and dramatically expand the utility of this unique dataset.”
A philosophical shift
Florance views Homes.com not only as a new product but as a philosophical shift in how the real estate industry interacts with digital tools.
“This is not just a product shift,” he said. “It’s a business model shift. The industry is tired of being intermediated by platforms that take their listings and then charge them to access their own leads. We are offering them something very different — something that works with them, not around them.
“We’re giving brokers and agents back control. And they’re responding.”
A sprawling waterfront estate in Naples, Florida, has shattered records with its $225 million sale, making it the most expensive residential transaction in state history and the second-priciest in the country, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
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Discerning downsizers are flocking to a resort-style development in the prestigious Brisbane suburb of Ascot.
They have snapped up 70% of its stage two apartments after the first building sold out.
Bernborough Ascot by Keyton is Australia’s first vertical retirement community within a racecourse precinct.
This prime, leafy location opposite Doomben Racecourse sits just 8km from the CBD.
Featuring a range of architect-designed floorplans and stunning views stretching over the trackside to the city skyline, Bernborough Ascot is the epitome of low-maintenance luxury living.
“At Keyton, we think in terms of rightsizing rather than downsizing,” said Keyton CEO Nathan Cockerill.
“Making the right decision at the right time to move into a home within a community that supports the lifestyle you want to live: secure, connected, active and healthy.
“Bernborough Ascot has a range amenities that offer plenty of options for good health and wellbeing.”
Latest apartments selling fast
Buyers responded to this rare lifestyle opportunity by snapping up all 69 apartments in stage one, Fig Tree House.
Residents there are already enjoying the high life.
Stage two, Poinciana House is currently selling fast with 70% of apartments sold.
First residents have commenced moving into the recently completed building.
Poinciana House offers a selection of luxury apartments.
One-bedroom options start from $665,000, two-bedroom from $895,000 and three-bedroom from $1,415,000.
At Bernborough Ascot sits within the Doomben Racecourse precinct for active, city-based lifestyles.
Redefining retirement living
Featuring an impressive range of resort-style amenities, Bernborough Ascot delivers a truly modern retirement experience.
The building includes a Wellness Hub with a dedicated wellness coordinator.
Amenities include a fully equipped gym, infrared sauna, heated indoor magnesium pool, Pilates and yoga studio, private consulting rooms and a salon.
Residents can get social while enjoying the bowling green – just a short walk from the new Pavilion dining room and Ascot lounge.
They can also enjoy breathtaking views from the rooftop terrace during sunset drinks or leisurely barbecues.
Poinciana Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch Monday to Friday, 7am to 2pm – with plans to expand trading hours to include weekends in the coming months, which helps maximise the holiday feeling year-round.
A dedicated concierge service operates at Poinciana House reception offering personalised support for residents as needed.
These luxury amenities complement the existing features at Fig Tree House.
The building features plenty of high-quality amenities including a resident-only pool.
These include a library, art studio, private cinema and trackside lounge.
Keyton, a leading owner and operator of retirement villages in Australia, creates communities that foster confidence, connection and independence.
With more than 75 villages in urban, regional and coastal settings, the team prioritises choice.
Downsizers can enjoy the lifestyle they want for their retirement.
Residents at Bernborough experience a community-focused, health-led lifestyle.
“At Keyton, we’ve always focused on the health and wellbeing of residents,” said Mr Cockerill.
“That’s reflected in our value, ‘leading with heart’, which illustrates the passion, kindness and care we bring to retirement living.”
The development has a 6 Star Green Star Communities rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).
A future Opal HealthCare residential aged care facility is proposed next door.
Prime location in prestigious Ascot
Bernborough Ascot residents are spoiled for choice outside the development, with the leafy neighbourhood offering all the amenities of Ascot.
Just 8km from the Brisbane CBD, Ascot is a prestigious north-east suburb that features cafes, restaurants, shops and local hubs.
The area also benefits from easy access to public transport, makeing exploring Brisbane and reaching the cruise ship terminal simple for keen travellers.
Bernborough Ascot is in a premium location that’s attracting interests from buyers.
Doomben Racecourse adds further social appeal, being the home to the Brisbane Racing Club and offering more than 35 function spaces for events.
The area has attracted significant interest in recent years with a median house price of $2,312,500 according to the latest realestate.com.au data, up from $1.3 million in March 2020.
Units have a median price of $725,000 in the suburb, prices increasing 18.5% in the past 12 months.
Bernborough Ascot is an opportunity to access this prime location with apartments starting from $665,000 now selling at Poinciana House.
A tri-level home on the shores of Lake Macquarie with its own private jetty has been an idyllic place to bring up a family, says the vendor.
An architecturally designed home on the eastern shore of Lake Macquarie is expected to set a suburb record after receiving an “enormous” amount of interest during its fortnight on the market.
The tri-level waterfront property with five bedrooms and three bathrooms at 95 Dilkera Avenue, Valentine carries a guide price of $6.5 million to $7 million.
“It’s one of the few properties in Valentine with its own private jetty from which to moor a boat or cast a fishing line,” said agent Anthony Di Nardo at Belle Property Hunter Region. “It’ll be a new suburb record for sure. We’re seeing buyers from the Hunter region, Sydney, Melbourne, even Hong Kong.”
Vendors Cheryl and Warren Mossman had the contemporary-style property designed and built in 2009 as a wonderful place to bring up their four children.
“When you drive in, it feels like you’re entering a secluded and tropical oasis,” said Ms Mossman. “When you walk in, there’s so much light thanks to walls of glass, it’s unbelievable. Then when you go upstairs, the water views are just breathtaking.”
The main living and dining area spans the width of the upper level and flows out to a balcony from which to enjoy the sunny northerly aspect, pretty lake views, delectable sunsets and the sound of boat masts tinkling.
The upper level also provides a stylish stone kitchen with premium appliances (including a wine fridge), an island bench and a butler’s pantry; a second living area; and the master, which boasts a walk-in-robe, bath ensuite and a balcony overlooking the park.
Downstairs there are four more bedrooms, a bathroom and a rumpus leading to an alfresco terrace that overlooks a lawn and saltwater pool.
On the lower ground floor, a generous 100sqm boatshed provides ample space for storing watercraft or can be used as a home gym. There’s also a three-car garage at the front of the property – a rarity for the area.
Ms Mossman says the floorplan is ideal for families.
“Upstairs is like an apartment where we had the lounge, dining, kitchen plus our bedroom, and the kids had downstairs, which worked really well with teenage children.”
She says the family shared many beautiful moments around the lake.
“My husband has a boat and we used to go crabbing and fishing. The kids would come home and swim in the pool. It’s been a beautiful family home.”
“We’ve had every Christmas here and you can easily cater for 25 people.”
Mr Di Nardo said key selling features were the home’s beautiful views and elevated aspect from the upper level, plus the depth of water, allowing mooring of even large boats.
“These sorts of opportunities just don’t come up every day,” he said.
Mr Di Nardo sold another waterfront home a few doors down at 45 Dilkera Avenue for $3.6 million in March 2020, though it didn’t have a private jetty, which he says is “really important” for waterfront property seekers.
“There’s a lovely park across the road as well as a row of tiny shops – a butcher, a friendly grocer, a bottle shop, two cafes, two restaurants, a pharmacy and a doctors,” she said.
“This place feels like a little escape from the busyness of everyday life, but you’re still walking distance to cafes and amenities.”
Expressions of interest close on Wednesday 28th May at 5pm.
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Foreclosure auction activity across the U.S. rose to a six-quarter high during the first three months of 2025, fueled by a surge in properties that hit the market after the expiration of post-pandemic protections, according to a report from Auction.com.
Completed foreclosure auctions were up 20% from the previous quarter and up 4% from a year earlier, despite some mid-quarter softening. Scheduled foreclosure auctions, a leading indicator of future completions, also rose 14% quarterly to a five-quarter high.
Foreclosure auction volume remains below pre-pandemic levels — currently standing at 49% of what it was in early 2020 — but is steadily recovering.
While foreclosure volume was up, demand from auction buyers showed signs of weakening amid economic uncertainty. The foreclosure auction sales rate — properties sold to third-party buyers — began the year strong but fell sharply in February to a 26-month low point before partially rebounding in March. Overall, the Q1 2025 sales rate declined compared to a year ago.
Real estate-owned (REO) auction activity, which involves properties that have reverted to lenders, also showed mixed signals. The number of bidders per asset increased slightly from the previous quarter, but the sales rate dropped 16% compared to a year ago.
Half of the major metro areas analyzed by Auction.com posted year-over-year declines in foreclosure auction demand.
Auction.com data shows that price demand — the share of the after-repair value that buyers are willing to pay — flattened in early 2025 compared to the prior quarter and declined from a year earlier.
Foreclosure auction price demand held steady sequentially at 56.7%, up slightly from 55.9% in Q4 2024 but down from 59% a year earlier, the report showed.
Monthly figures reflected steady erosion as price demand fell 2% year over year in January, 4% in February and 6% in March. REO auctions followed a similar pattern, with initial gains in January fading into declines by March.
Of the 76 markets analyzed, 59% recorded annualized drops in foreclosure auction price demand. Cities such as Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia and Dallas saw the sharpest decreases. A few markets bucked the trend, including Minneapolis, where price demand surged 57% annually.
State level recovery uneven
Foreclosure auction volume grew most sharply in Arizona (up 151%), Utah (up 100%), New Hampshire (up 80%), Kansas (up 74%) and Texas (up 73%). Among larger states, trends were mixed. Texas, Illinois and Michigan posted annual increases, while New York and Ohio posted declines.
REO supply also rose modestly, climbing 2% from the previous quarter and 3% from a year earlier to reach a six-quarter high.
Buyer-seller disconnect
The gap between buyer offers and seller expectations remained stable for foreclosure auctions but narrowed for REO auctions.
With foreclosure auctions, the spread held at 7 percentage points, more than double the 3-point spread seen a year ago. Seller pricing increased by 100 basis points compared to the previous quarter, contributing to the wider gap. For REO auctions, the spread narrowed to 10 points, down from 12 points in Q4 2024, which was largely due to stronger buyer bids.
A total of 93,953 properties had foreclosure filings from January through March — an 11% increase from the previous quarter, according to recent data from ATTOM.
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As Australia’s retirement landscape undergoes significant transformation, the demand for modern, purpose-built communities is growing rapidly.
With an increasing number of retirees seeking homes that prioritise social connection, wellness and community, Aveo is meeting the changing market’s needs with its latest development, Bella Vista Haven, in the heart of Sydney’s Hills District.
The new wave of retirees
Tony Randello, Aveo’s Chief Executive Officer, says Australia is experiencing a “silver tsunami” with the Baby Boomer generation representing half of the new residents moving into Aveo communities.
“As a customer base, the Baby Boomers are more adventurous, they’re more financially informed, and they’re ready to explore alternative property options such as apartment living that perhaps previous generations were more conservative about.”
“They expect choice and flexibility, and retirement village operators must adapt to meet their needs,” Mr Randello says.
Bella Vista Haven is a purpose-built retirement community that blends design with resort-style amenities.
Spotlight: Bella Vista Haven, Bella Vista, Sydney
Bella Vista Haven is designed to offer a vibrant, low-maintenance lifestyle in spacious apartments with access to a range of on-site, resort-style amenities.
The development features sustainable architectural design and provides residents with easy access to local facilities including Circa Shopping Centre, Norwest Private Hospital, Bella Vista Metro Station, Bella Vista Farm, and Castle Hill Country Club.
“The community offers a great location with easy access to transport, shopping and healthcare services, making it incredibly convenient for residents,” Mr Randello says.
“It’s designed for low-maintenance living, allowing retirees to focus on enjoying life, not maintaining their homes.”
The Corymbia Residences at Bella Vista Haven is the latest addition to the community.
It offers 83 north- and south-facing, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, including a limited collection of penthouses.
These modern residences feature premium finishes and thoughtful design elements to enhance comfort, style and functionality.
Mr Randello noted that off-the-plan sales of the newly released apartments commenced in April 2025, and the team at Bella Vista Haven have had a queue of retirees who are eager to see apartment floor plans and experience the display apartments in the community.
“We know people are so surprised by what is available within modern retirement living and Bella Vista Haven is a prime example of that.”
“These are spacious homes that offer the utmost attention to design detail and penthouse homes with luxury finishes that address the desires of a successful retiree,” Mr Randello says.
Residents at Bella Vista Haven can choose from a range of apartment layouts to suit their lifestyle.
Focus on wellbeing and connection
Bella Vista Haven offers a variety of amenities designed to support physical, emotional and social wellness including a fully equipped gym, café, residents’ bar and lounge, multi-purpose function room, beauty salon, consultation rooms, community garden, on-site restaurant, and the soon-to-be-completed heated indoor swimming pool, infrared saunas, BBQ area, library, and cinema.
“Retirees today are not just looking for a place to live – they want amenities that foster health, connection and community,” Randello says.
“Modern amenities like gyms, pools and activity spaces allow residents to stay active and connected whether they’re exercising, socialising, or simply enjoying the company of friends and family.”
Wendy Young, a resident at Bella Vista Haven, has found the lifestyle she was looking for in the community.
“I just love the people. We have lunch together and a lot of us go out together,” she said.
“It’s just a wonderful lifestyle. Friends, lunch, city, all of the above.”
New on-site amenities like the cinema will help build connection and community between residents.
Aveo’s 67 retirement communities offer over 10,000 residents the opportunity to foster connection and new friendships.
As Mr Randello explains, many retirees experience social disconnect after stepping away from work and family life.
“Moving into a retirement community helps people reconnect and build new friendships,” he said.
“It opens up opportunities to try new things and form meaningful connections with others in similar stages of life.”
David Thummler, another resident at Bella Vista Haven, enjoys the sense of community there and the group “Opal trips” where each month, residents use public transport to go to events together.
“Whether it’s to the art gallery or an exhibition of some other kind, they’re really good. The fellowship that we’re able to attain by living here is just fantastic. It’s our big family and we look after one another.”
Bella Vista Haven’s new pool and outdoor spaces will encourage an active, community-focused lifestyle.
A vision for the future
Bella Vista Haven is part of Aveo’s vision to build more innovative retirement communities and the company is committed to expanding its portfolio along the eastern coast of Australia.
As part of these efforts, Aveo was recently announced by the NSW Government as the preferred delivery partner of the Manly Health and Wellbeing Precinct development in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
“We’re always looking for new locations to expand our communities,” Mr Randello says.
“We want to integrate our developments into vibrant local areas, where retirees can enjoy easy access to services while living in a secure, age-restricted community.”
Aveo is also continuing to invest in enhancing the facilities and services within its existing communities.
“We’ve already transformed most of our portfolio through renovation initiatives and we’ll continue to do that to ensure they offer the best possible living experience for retirees,” Mr Randello says.
For more information about Bella Vista Haven or to book an appointment to visit the Corymbia Residence’s display apartments, visit the website.
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Mindera is luxurious, contemporary and sustainable — hidden away among the Southern Highlands hills but with a helipad for easy access.
Featuring a helipad, mineral pool, sauna and an enchanting alfresco space for long-table dinner parties among nature, Mindera in the NSW Southern Highlands offers the perfect rural sanctuary for busy Sydney professionals.
The property at 92 Mount Minderoo Lane in High Range, for sale with a guide price of $5.65 million, is less than two hours (by car) from the Harbour City, but a world away.
When the vendors purchased the property in 2020 and moved here from Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, there was just a residential barn on 40 hectares of sloping green hills and bushland.
They have transformed it into a contemporary five-bedroom, two-bathroom residence and added a tiny house plus a huge greenhouse that has evolved to become a dramatic entertainment venue.
“It really is like a country resort in the mountains — and the best place to raise kids,” said the vendor, who didn’t wish to be named. “The property is private, there are incredible surrounding views, and we see kangaroos, wombats and eagles on a daily basis. It’s pretty special.
“Plus at this altitude, we have gorgeous weather rolling though; we love the cool nights during summer.”
The light-filled main residence boasts an open-plan living and dining zone featuring polished concrete floors with hydronic underfloor heating and soaring vaulted ceilings. The space flows to a covered deck and porch that offer vistas of Mount Jellore and beyond.
Down the hill near the trees, the German-engineered 130sqm glasshouse is fully automated to open and close with the temperature. While installed as a traditional growing house, it’s become a breathtaking setting for long-table dining or garden parties.
Sustainability was key for the owners, with Mindera featuring a high-capacity 45kW solar system, a 3L/s bore water system, multiple dams and unlimited purified drinking water. There’s also a high-speed EV charging station, Starlink internet connectivity, and over 24 remote-access cameras.
The large, four-bay work shed provides secure vehicle storage for up to six cars, plus ample workspace.
The vendor, who’s already planning his next development opportunity, described Mindera as the perfect getaway for a Sydney professional seeking luxury, privacy and nothing to do but enjoy.
“With a helicopter pad it’s ideal for someone who’s time-poor. There are so many beautiful properties in the Highlands, but having this home’s features and privacy make it pretty special.”
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Without innovative housing solutions in the regions where this workforce is concentrated, Australians across the country might start to notice a change when they visit the grocery store.
A housing crisis is impacting a vital industry’s ability to do business. Image: Getty
Dairy is the nation’s third largest rural industry and a key sector of the agricultural economy. Victoria is the nation’s biggest dairy producer, with dairy businesses concentrated in the three key regions of Gippsland, south-west Victoria and northern Victoria.
Jenny Wilson, general manager of The Gardiner Foundation, which supports the Victorian dairy community, explained that together those key regions amount to a $3 billion industry with roughly 20,000 associated jobs.
And across those businesses, one of the biggest issues currently impacting business decisions is the ability to attract skilled workers.
The major deterrent to working in Victoria’s dairy producing regions? Access to housing.
It’s why the Gardiner Foundation has just launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to identify innovative housing solutions for Victoria’s dairy regions, calling on developers as well as investors and government bodies to come up with ideas to create new housing in these areas and increase the diversity of stock currently on offer.
A herd of dairy cattle in Victoria’s Gippsland region, where a severe housing shortage is impacting the dairy industry’s ability to attract skilled workers. Image: Getty
According to Ms Wilson, the housing issue is getting so severe for the dairy community that it’s changing the very nature of how the industry does business.
“A dairy farm business might be able to attract a worker, but then the question they are often asked is ‘do you know of any housing or rental accommodation that could be available to me?’” she said.
For both a single worker looking for a small dwelling suitable for one, or a family relocating to the area in need of a three- or four-bedroom house, the challenge is equally daunting.
According to PropTrack’s 2025 Rental Affordability Report, the average rental price in regional Victoria has increased $120 per week over the March 2020 quarter to the December quarter of 2024.
PropTrack’s research on rental prices in March 2025 now puts in the state’s non-metro areas at $470 per week. And that’s if suitable accommodation can be found, with vacancy rates very tight across the key regions.
“It is having an impact on a lot of businesses, and for the dairy industry, we have examples of where they haven’t been able to attract or retain that workforce because of housing, and it’s meant that they’ve either downsized their operation or have looked to install even more technology and robotics. But that doesn’t really solve the problem necessarily. It just shifts the problem to a different type of workforce that you need to then house,” Ms Wilson explained.
A change in how dairy businesses operate could ultimately hit consumers’ hip pockets. Image: Getty
In severe cases, she said that some businesses have looked to exit the industry, while the Gardiner Foundation says there are increasing reports of businesses shouldering the cost of housing for workers, putting a financial strain on their operations and limiting industry growth.
“Just being able to attract skilled workforce does ultimately have an impact on whether or not you have Australian dairy products available to [consumers] or increasing imported products from overseas,” Ms Wilson noted.
While the immediate focus of the EOI is on addressing the strain on dairy production, it’s hoped that practical housing proposals in these regions could serve to bolster the towns and commerce centres that surround these farming businesses, delivering a broader economic impact.
As George Housakos from Cushman & Wakefield, who has been appointed to execute the EOI process for Gardiner Foundation noted, “affordable housing is essential for community sustainability”.
“Gardiner Foundation’s initiative to support innovative housing solutions in Victoria’s dairy regions will not only encourage much-needed housing, but aims to stimulate local economies and foster community development,” he said.
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A luxurious five-bedroom property complete with pink kitchen, slide from the second floor, full bar and beach access has hit the market right in the heart of iconic Sydney suburb, Palm Beach.
Buyers looking for a slice of paradise in the exclusive suburb made famous by Aussie TV soap Home and Away should look no further than 104 Iluka Road, Palm Beach.
The five-bedroom, four-bathroom property is set over two levels and includes a bunk room, butler’s pantry, bar with keg-a haven and roof terrace.
Renovated extensively and curated with mid-century Palm Springs décor, LJ Hooker Palm Beach agents David and Bj Edwards have labelled the home “more than just a residence”.
Upstairs, a main bedroom with ensuite and three other bedrooms are interspersed with a family bathroom, a large living area, storage space, and an even larger bar.
Entertainment opportunities are in abundance in this unusual, bold property, with the upstairs bar equipped with its own beer tap.
An outdoor covered seating space also makes the home the perfect paradise for hosting guests.
The pièce de resistance of the home’s whimsical character, however, is a distinctive, multi-storey slide for those days where taking the steps feels too conventional.
The exclusive waterfront property also has space for four cars, meaning there is plenty of room for family and guests to come and go with ease.
Located just 600m from Palm Beach Wharf, the new owner of this quirky property will have easy access to nearby Ku-ring-gai National Park, as well as the Central Coast region.
An abundance of casual eateries, upscale restaurants, and boutique shops round out the enviable local offerings.
On the market for an undisclosed price, the home’s famous location puts it front and centre in the suburb with a median sale price well over $5 million.
https://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.png00JKentshttps://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.pngJKents2025-04-29 12:11:352025-04-29 12:11:35Come on Barbie, let’s go party! Palm Beach oceanfront dream house is all dolled up for sale
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