The veteran Melbourne property developer Michael Yates and wife Lou sold their luxury Port Douglas retreat for a reputed $6.8 million after its weekend auction.

Surrounded by tropical flora and towering palms, the house takes its inspiration from the plantation-style British West Indies architecture.

Set on the Wharf Road dress circle, the property was designed as three pavilions by architect Alex Gencur.

The property has been listed through Barbara Wolveridge of Raine & Horne Port Douglas Mossman who advised no formal sale price could be given. 

It was bought from the Juniper development family by Yates who has holidayed at Port Douglas for the last 40 years with 7 Wharf Street being his first house purchase at $6.5 million in 2006.

They sold their South Yarra mansion recently for $11 million as they are building a home on the Murray River at Tocumwal in southern New South Wales, which they have in mind for future retirement.

The former swimwear model Jodhi Meares has snappily sold her Point Piper apartment, just days into its late May auction marketing campaign.

Buyers were being initially told there was a $2.2 million price guide through Raine & Horne Double Bay agents Ric and Christophe Serrao, but this escalated to $2.4 million after the first mid-week open for inspection.

The model turned luxury athletic wear entrepreneur paid $1.23 million for the apartment in 2004, shortly after her brief marriage to casino tycoon James Packer.

The two bedroom, two bathroom apartment in the historic 1907 Danmark building was briefly listed in 2013 with $2 million hopes. It was withdrawn from the market as the fashion designer took up residence with her then beau, former Noiseworks frontman Jon Stevens.

The apartment sits an Edwardian era Wolseley Road mansion which was converted to a suite of individual apartments in the 1930s. 

It comes with separate living and dining rooms a sunroom and a wide terrace with views over the harbour.

The Tigerlily label founder moved out of the apartment early last year having married photographer Nick Tsindos. 

It then became a $1,600 a week rental when the couple headed to a Paddington terrace which Meares sold last month for around $2.5 million.

She co-owned the two bedroom Underwood Street property with her mother Denise Macpherson having bought the two-storey, Victorian-style terrace for $900,000 in 2004.

It was reported Meares, who is mostly Hawaii based, and Nick split earlier in the year.

The former model married casino mogul James Packer in a lavish wedding in 1999 at the Packer family’s compound Cairnton in Bellevue Hill at which Elton John sang.

This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph. 

Madman Entertainment co-founder and film producer Paul Wiegard has listed his Victorian terrace in Fitzroy.

Known as Fitzroy House, the 1870s terrace comes with a state of the art three level extension by Techne Architect.

Wiegard paid $2.1 million for the home in 2008.

Fitted with interiors from Techne Architect's in-house interior designer Virginie Lhermet, the home sits on a 350 sqm plot landscaped by Jenny Smith.

The dining room in the front section of the home opens to an internal courtyard that links the original house to the contemporary extension.

Two bedrooms sit on the second level of the home, while the master retreat with ensuite and balcony occupy the third level.

A roof deck is fitted with a kitchenette, barbecue and dining area.

Kay & Burton South Yarra agents Darren Lewenberg and Grant Samuel have set a June 3 auction date. 

Wiegard is co-founder of Madman Entertainment, a leading independent film and television distribution and rights management company.

This article first appeared in the Weekend Australian Mansion Australia section.

Gas entrepreneur Angus Karoll and wife Sonia have purchased Goodsall House, the 1920s Professor Leslie Wilkinson designed home in Bellevue Hill.

They quietly secured the Victoria Road home for $9.1 million after it had been expected to fetch around $10.5 million. 

Wilkinson was commissioned in 1929 to design the alterations and additions to the bungalow which included a lower ground level.

It is now a six bedroom, five bathroom home privately set amid 1,070 sqm of exotic gardens.

Ray White agent Elliott Placks sold the home to the couple who are the third owners in three years.

Architect Nick Tobias and author wife Miranda Darling paid $6,765,250 for the home in 2006.

They sold the home for $9 million in 2015 to former Man Investments Australia chief executive Jamie Douglas and wife Heather, the current vendors.

Angus and Sonia have just pocketed nearly $11 million from the sale of their 1850s Darling Point apartments known as Prudhoe.

Ray White Double Bay agents Elliott Placks and Ashley Bierman negotiated the deal.

Karoll secured development approval to add a fourth floor to Prudhoe designed by architect Michael Suttor.

This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph.

Just a week before his fate was sealed by the NRL, banned Newcastle Knights halfback Jarrod Mullen sold his Newcastle investment apartment for $640,000.

It had been on the market long before his heavily publicised ban for testing positive for steroids, which was confirmed as four years just this week.

No doubt he's thinking about heading overseas to see out his professional career, with most expecting at 30 years of age he won't be returning to the Australian game after four years out.

It was a happier time for Mullen when he bought the apartment, who shared the one bedroom unit with high school sweetheart Rachael Miller. 

Jarrod and Rachael retain a four bedroom Merewether home that cost $825,000 in 2011.

Mullen has played 211 games for the Knights since debuting in 2005.

Set in the heart of the Honeysuckle Precinct, the first floor apartment has one bedroom, a study and an entertaining deck with harbour views.

It was advertised for lease in January at $590 a week before its recent sale through Ben Robinson at Robinson Property.

He paid $482,500 for the apartment in 2006, a year after signing his first professional contract for the Knights.

Fast forward 11 years and the veteran playmaker, after a string of injuries, has been handed a four year ban by the Australian Sports Anti-doping Authority.

It was suggested he appealed to the fact he wasn't seeking to gain a competitive edge, just repair his body after suffering a number of serious hamstring injuries.

He now has 21 days to appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

He has sold at a buoyant time in the Newcastle apartment market, with many Sydney investors heading north.

Hotspotting's Terry Ryder suggested those who find Sydney a tad rich don’t have to go too far to find major markets with greater affordability and good growth prospects.

Meanwhile Newcastle newbie, Anthony Tupou, who has played three games for the Knights since signing a one year deal, has listed his Maroubra apartment.

The Newcastle born back-rower has $850,000 hopes for the two bedroom unit for its May 20 N G Farah auction.

It cost Tupou $491,000 in 2005. 

This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph.

Businessman and art collector Greg Hargrave has sold his penthouse atop the ultra establishment block, 99 Spring Street in Melbourne.

Encompassing the entire 25th floor, the four bedroom, three bathroom apartment has a home office and an outdoor terrace that offers views over the CBD.

The renovation is not to everyone's taste.

He's owned it since paying $4.08 million in 2013. Dingle Partners agent Anton Wongtrakun had a $7.5 million price guidance this time round.

The building was originally constructed in 1968 as one of the first purpose built residential buildings in the Melbourne CBD.

The penthouse was once owned by entrepreneur Robert Holmes á Court.

Since then the building has been transformed by Kerry Phelan of KPDO. The lift foyer comes with graffiti art by Anthony Lister.

Early last year Hargrave sold Wavendon, the historic 1888 South Yarra trophy for around $18 million.

Hargrave of the Skilled Group had paid $11.25 million for the three level Walsh Street home in 2006 in an off-market deal.

This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian Mansion Australia section.

Wallabies star Israel Folau has taken to the coast, securing an apartment in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

He's paid $960,000 for the one bedroom Little Bay apartment, the third under his Folau Investments Pty Ltd company name that he co-directs with his father, Eni.

They started their property spend in 2010 when they outlaid $773,000 on a four bedroom Kellyville home. Folau was playing rugby league for the Broncos in Brisbane at the time.

Their next purchase was a four bedroom home in Stanhope Gardens that cost $1,005,000 in 2015.

That came just before Folau settled on his own home, a four bedroom mansion in Kenthurst costing $2.1 million and featuring a grand colonnaded entry.

His latest acquisition is an elevated ground floor apartment in the Prince Henry community that comes with a balcony and a study.

Richard Movessian and Viola Troyak at Coastline Agency Maroubra sold the apartment.

It last traded for $730,000 in 2013, having been bought from the developers Stockland for $720,000 in 2008.

Folau began his career when he was spotted by a Melbourne Storm scout and was invited to play his junior football with the Storm's feeder club at the time, Queensland Cup team the Norths Devils.

He was just 17 when he made his debut in the 2007 NRL season for the Storm.

Folau left the Storm for the Bronco's for a season before his first code hop to the AFL where he signed for the expansion team Greater Western Sydney.

He only lasted a season however he is credited with helping to establish the Giants in Western Sydney.

In late 2012 Folau joined the NSW Waratahs. 

This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.

Garvan Institute chief operating officer Philip Knox and wife Marianne have sold Lagoona House, their contemporary Noosa Heads weekender.

The Sydney based couple spent $1.1 million on the property before commissioning acclaimed Noosa architect Chris Clout to redesign the home.

Dowling & Neylan Real Estate agent Dan Neylan secured a record price for a home off the water on Noosa Sound.Knox, who spent eight years working as an accountant for Channel 10, joined the Garvan in 2013.

The couple call Point Piper home, having spent $8,835,559 on a garden apartment in an exclusive Ercole Palazzetti & BKH designed apartment block in 2014.

 This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian's Mansion Australia section.

Former Bulldogs chief Malcolm Noad and corporate high-flyer wife Holly Kramer have sold their Southern Highlands retreat, Big Sky.

The 40 hectare estate in Paddys River fetched $1,795,000 after spending nearly 180 days on the market through Hindmarsh & Walsh agent Frank Walsh.

The four bedrooms, four bathroom homestead with renovated kitchen has a study and formal and informal living areas.

A newly constructed sunroom leads to the palatial sandstone paved terrace, solar heated, self-cleaning swimming pool and mature established gardens.

There are five paddocks and two dams on the property.

The couple paid $1.2 million for the home in 2005. They traded up in the Southern Highlands in 2015, spending $4.1 million on Woodhurst Green in Glenquarry.

Southern Highlands is now home for Noad and Kramer, who sold their Pymble home for $3.9 million two years ago.

Kramer sits on the boards of AMP, Australia Post and Woolworths. She stepped down from the board of Nine Entertainment earlier this year.

The former Solicitor-General of Australia Justin Gleeson SC and wife, academic author Dr Bernadette Brennan, have sold their terrace in Walsh Bay.

They bought the three bedroom Pottinger Street terrace new in 2002 for $2,395,000. 

It came with $4.8 million hopes through Belle Property Pyrmont agents Chervonne Papworth and Caroline Selka had the listing.

An internal lift provides access to each level which includes a whole-floor penthouse master suite with a bathroom, walk in wardrobe and an atrium garden.

Last year Gleeson resigned as Solicitor-General of Australia, the Commonwealth's second-ranking law officer, due to a breakdown of relationship with the Federal Attorney-General George Brandis after three years in the job.

The couple are set for a sea change to the eastern suburbs beaches.

This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.

Film director Stephan Elliott has sold in the white-hot Bondi property market, selling his apartment pre-auction for $1,725,000.

Phillips Pantzer Donnelley agent Mary Cronin had initial $1.3 million price guide before 56 groups inspected the property with 16 contracts issued.

It sold after 16 days on the market.

Elliott, who is one of Australia's leading film directors and screenwriters, paid $886,000 for the two bedroom unit. 

Set in a revived Art Deco block of six, the apartment sits just 100 metres from the famous beach.

Elliott is best-known for 1994 movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert which won a number of awards.

He also directed a segment in Rio I Love You called I Think I'm In Love featuring Home and Away star Ryan Kwanten.

The film is based on the true story of how Stephan met husband Wil Bevoley during the publicity tour for Priscilla. The couple are set to travel overseas.

This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph.

The chief executive director of Treasury Wine Estates Michael Clarke and wife Fiona have sold their modern family home in Brighton for $2,268,000.

The Whyte Street home was expected to fetch over $2 million at its auction through Jason Collie of Marshall White Brighton.

It cost the couple $2 million three years ago.

The state-of-the-art home comes with two decks interconnected by a breezeway dividing the four bedroom home.

It is surrounded by a wrap-around pool.

Clarke previously held senior roles at Kraft Foods, Coca-Cola and Reebok International.

He has been managing director and chief executive of Treasury Wine Estates since 2014.

 This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian Mansion Australia section.

Aussie singer-songwriter Xavier Rudd has listed his retreat north of Byron Bay.

The New Brighton property is on the web as having $2.45 million to $2,695,000 hopes.

The trendy looking home of course comes complete with a recording studio that soundproofed and has acoustic insulation.

There was even his imprimatur in its marketing "as the ultimate professional musicians home."

Rudd had paid $722,500 for the land in 2012 before commissioning Chris Walker Constructions to build the home. 

Sitting on the banks of Marshall's Creek, the 220 sqm home was built with a mix of native timbers, stone and handcrafted features prominent throughout.

Rudd shared the home with new wife, holistic wellness trainer Ashley Freeman. They wed in late 2016 in a Byron Bay Australian Aboriginal Ceremony.

The home was designed to create a connection with nature.

Oversized glass sliding doors open to a large deck that offers panoramic creek views while a second deck sits at the rear of the home.

There are four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a wine cellar, an outdoor pizza oven and additional outbuilding.

Raine & Horne Ocean Shores/Brunswick Heads agents Caitlin Hellyar and Julie-Ann Manahan have the offering.

Rudd has his tour across Europe coming up.

The tour across 13 countries begins at the start of June in Copenhagen in Denmark and ends in Madrid in Spain a month later.

Rudd has always had a love for the Northern Rivers region.

He previously co-owned a home with now ex-wife, artist Marci Lutken-Rudd, in Burringbar before selling in 2007 for $850,000. They paid $595,000 in 2004.

Rudd also had a 20 hectare parcel in Wilsons Creek in the same region. He sold for $785,000, having paid $820,000 a year earlier.

Born near Torquay in Victoria, Rudd grew up in a family of seven children.

Before launching his solo career, Rudd began playing music as part of the band Xavier and the Hum. 

He drew inspiration from artists such as Leo Kottke, Ben Harper, Natalie Merchant and multi-instrumentalist David Lindley, as well as music from diverse sources, such as Hawaiian and Native American music.

He is described as an Australian surf/roots musician on his website. He has released eight studio albums.

This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph. 

Big time comedian turned obscure ABC Melbourne radio broadcaster Libbi Gorr and her TV producer partner Stewart Burchmore secured $3.23 million for their redundant North Bondi home at its auction yesterday.

Around $2.7 million had been tipped for the couple who are now based in Melbourne's upmarket Brighton East where they have a $1.3 million Spanish Mission style home.

The three bedroom Gilgandra Road auction offering, which has been a nice $1350 weekly rental earner over the past four years, cost them $1,605,000 in 2007, so they doubled their outlay. And they are keeping the two chandeliers too.

Phillips Pantzer Donnelley agents Jason Pantzer had four bidders - all above the signalled $2.9 million reserve - on the offering marketed as as having potential to live in, renovate or completely rebuild.

Gorr, growing up in Murrumbeena, got her big break with Andrew Denton's ABC sports comedy program Live and Sweaty, where her satirical character Elle McFeast emerged in 1991.

On the exclusive North Bondi clifftop philanthropist and eco-start-up investor Tanya Carnegie secured North Bondi’s suburb record last week when she sold her clifftop designer home for $10.35 million. It bettered the $9 million high set in February when a duplex on the Ben Buckler headland was bought by Hong Kong-based OCP Asia partner Dan Simmons and his wife Mandy.

Carnegie’s 10 year old Lippmann Associates-designed residence was bought in 2010 for $7.2 million from property developer David Wilkenfeld. It sold mid-week through Ric Serrao and Max Spartalis of Raine & Horne to the Unger family up-grading from Rose Bay.

Just nearby London-based Tomorrow Consulting futurist Mike Walsh secured $5.65 million for his clifftop, again through Serrao, and up on the $5 million paid for in March last year.

The peninsula's well-connected whispers suggest fashion company boss Simone Zimmermann and her husband Michael Redmond are upgrading their North Bondi abode to a $5.5 million house after selling on Elliott Street for around $4 million through Ray White agent Randall Kemp having purchased it in 2010 for $2,475,000.

This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.

Major General Peter Arnison and his wife Barbara are downsizing to an apartment on the Brisbane River and selling their Queenslander in Ascot.

They purchased the home in Yabba Street 24 years ago.

The 86 Yabba St, Ascot property will go to auction on May 17 with Ray White auctioneer Heasley Cush holding the gavel.

The Arnisons moved into the home when Peter retired from the Australian Army in 1996, and subsequently leased it while they were living in Government House during Peter’s tenure as Governor of Queensland for six years until July 2003.

During the first half of 2003, an old extension at the back of the house was demolished and re-built.

“We commissioned heritage architect, Desley Campbell-Stewart with a brief that the new structure was to flow seamlessly from the original house, ensuring as much natural light as possible, including high ceilings with clerestory windows and providing easy access to the garden and pool,” Mrs Arnison said.

“We told our builders, Kevin and Darren Fryer of Fryer Homes that the work had to be completed by July 29, 2003 as a new Governor was to be sworn in, and that we needed to return home to Yabba Street.”

Major General Arnison added that the time was right to sell.

“We have had many happy, enjoyable years living here. For us it’s a downsizing exercise, which we have been thinking about for a few years now. The street is changing, there’s lots of young families returning and it’s a wonderful place to raise children,” he said.

Ray White New Farm agent Scott Darwon commented that this home typified Ascot living at its finest.

Former Socceroo Jason Culina and wife Terri have sold their revamped Putney home.

They were seeking for $3.2 million and secured $3.48 million.

They paid $1.77 million for the Mitchell Street property with old red brick facade before transforming it into an Victorian-style family residence.

Comprising four bedrooms and three bathrooms, the home on 550 sqm features a home office, home theatre and pool. 

The couple have renovated houses for a tidy profit before.

They previously sold their 200 year old colonial mansion at Denham Court for $1,725,000 in 2014, having paid $1.2 million two years earlier.

The couple aren't heading far having paid $2.9 million for a farmhouse in Putney.

This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph.

The Nedlands apartment of Kevin Manuel and Elizabeth Gaines, the newly appointed CFO to Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest's mining company Fortsecue Metals, is under contract. 

The sale comes after the couple upgraded to a luxury three level apartment near Cottesloe Beach that set them back $3.57 million.

The 221 sqm apartment across the road from Charles Court Reserve and the Swan River has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

A semi-enclosed entertaining balcony opens from the living areas.

It came onto the market at $1,695,000 when listed over 400 days ago.

Acton Cottesloe agent Jody Fewster sold the home after reducing the asking price to $1,495,000.

The couple had paid $1,575,000 in 2013.

Gaines and Emmanuel hit the headlines late last year when they sold the North Curl Curl home built by model and Myer ambassador Jennifer Hawkins and builder husband Jake Wall.

The five bedroom home was bought by Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc for $5,235,000.

Their new Cottesloe apartment is set in a block of just four designed by the award winning architect Blane Brackenridge.

It came with interiors from New York designers Al Martinez of Interior Management and Greg Wright.

Gaines stepped down from the board of Nine Entertainment in January.

This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian Mansion Australia.

Former Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser has listed his Hawthorn home he shares with wife Kylie Sutcliffe and their two children.

Fraser, who racked up 200 games for the Pies, spent $610,000 on the classic Victorian home in 2002.

The renovated home with heritage features has a Baltic pine arched hall flows through to the two bedrooms with open fireplaces.

A third bedroom sits opposite at the front of the home.

The open plan living and dining room with exposed brick fireplace and stone kitchen open through French doors to a private garden.

It goes to auction May 27.

Fraser is currently the development coach at Cartlon Football Club and is the senior coach of its VFL-affiliate the Northern Blues.

This first appeared in The Weekend Australian's Mansion Australia section.

Round The Twist author Paul Jennings and actor Mary-Anne Fahey have sold their four-bedroom St Kilda property, in advance of its scheduled auction through Whitefox Real Estate.

The home at 20 Acland St sold for an undisclosed amount between its $1.9 million to $2.09 million asking price, after two early offers had been made.

It is located only one block from the St Kilda beach foreshore.

Built in Art Deco style, the terrace home offered two master wings with their own walk in robe and ensuite.

Downstairs includes multiple living zones with an open fireplace, centrally located kitchen, guest bedroom and bathroom with laundry. An open plan family room opens onto a private courtyard garden which captures the North-East sunlight.

Jennings has sold more than 8.9 million books, including Unreal!, Grandad’s Gifts, The Cabbage Patch Fib, The Gizmo and Round the Twist, which spawned an iconic TV series.

The couple, who originally paid $1.55 million for the house, are looking to downsize to a single-level home.

Our 225 Federal politicians own a staggering $370 million worth of property, but the Liberal Party Queensland political Andrew Laming is getting rid of one of his.

There's now a reduced price on the Mooloolaba investment property just a month into its listing.

It started at $405,000 through First National Mooloolaba agent Suzanne Annabel with the price dipping to $395,000.

The apartment cost Laming $235,500 off the plan in 1999, settling on the one bedroom, fifth floor apartment in the Mooloolaba International building a year later.

The 58 sqm apartment has a north facing balcony looking across the manicured gardens to the Pacific Ocean.

Andrew Laming, who has represented Bowman since winning the seat at the 2004 election, retains a home at Thornlands and a Canberra investment too.