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Mission: Impossible Sydney mansion sells for eye-watering price

One of Sydney's most iconic properties, known as the Boomerang in Elizabeth Bay, has sold for $80 million. The mansion is featured in the second instalment in the Mission: Impossible franchise, with the 2000 movie starring Tom Cruise being set and filmed in Sydney. It was the first house to officially sell for above $1 million in 1978, before setting another record in 2002 when it fetched $20.7 million. Now, multiple sources have confirmed it has been snapped up by a purchaser, originally from Asia, for four times what it last sold for. The property has long been rated as one of Sydney’s Top 50 homes, and has been in the name of Katrina Fox, the daughter of Melbourne-based billionaire trucking magnate Lindsay Fox, since 2005. The impressive home was put up for sale by Ray White in 2017 with hopes of selling for $60 million and then again with Brad Pillinger of Pillinger for $80 million in 2021 — the last agent to have it listed. Pillinger couldn’t be contacted ahead of publication, but other sources have confirmed the property has sold for the $80m asking price, while speculation from other sources that the result was $105 million have been dismissed. Boomerang sits on 4233 square metres of waterfront land, and features 25 rooms including a private cinema modelled on the State Theatre. Image credits: realestate.com.au / Paramount Pictures

Real Estate

Lisa Wilkinson's fears over losing her home

Lisa Wilkinson's fears over losing her multi-million dollar mansion to cover her legal fees have been detailed in a series of court documents. The former host of The Project entered into a bitter legal battle after being sued for defamation by Bruce Lehrmann, and decided to hire top defamation lawyer Sue Chrysanthou SC and her own legal team to fight the charges. In a series of emotional emails and documents tendered by the Federal Court, Wilkinson was allegedly "almost hysterical" and "sobbing" over the notion of losing her home in Cremorne to pay the hefty legal fees. In a briefing note prepared for Ten’s legal team, Network Ten CEO Beverley McGarvey detailed a “challenging” call she had with the network star on June 7th 2023. McGarvey had called to ask how Ms Wilkinson was going in the wake of Channel 7’s Spotlight program and the leaking of audio provided to police and lawyers but never tendered in court. “Lisa was very upset and emotional and it was a very challenging call,” MsMcGarvey wrote. “She was almost immediately upset and started talking about legal fees and how she would have to sell her house." “I would say her tone was almost hysterical.” McGarvey then did her best to ease Wilkinson's concerns, reminding her of her secure financial position. “She is being paid by us on full salary, and lives in a lavish multimillion dollar home with a pool and a tennis court and harbour views so I hope this is not a real risk,” she said. “She asked if we would pay for her fees and this came up over and over again in the conversation. I told her to talk with Nick, her manager." “But she had chosen her own legal team against our advice and chosen a team we objected to. “She said if I actually cared about her, I would make sure we pay their legal fees.” The documents were released by the Federal Court on Friday after Ms Wilkinson won her legal battle to force Network Ten to pay for her legal fees that are estimated to amount to up to $2 million. The exact amount Ten will pay has not yet been determined. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Flower tycoon pays $76 million in CASH for epic mansion

A Sydney businessman and flower mogul has expanded his real estate portfolio, snapping up one of NSW's most prestigious properties. Leo Lynch and his wife Christina have bought a Federation mansion in Sydney's Bellevue Hill, with the eight-bedroom eight-bathroom property boasting impressive views of Sydney Harbour. The mansion, which was built in the 1890s, also showcases a pool, tennis court, and endless luxury amenities for the well-off buyers. "Designed by architect Walter Vernon," read the listing for the property, "the home is considered his most significant residence. Other heritage buildings designed by Vernon include the Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Central Railway Station. A truly rare offering to earn a piece of Australian history." While securing the house seems like a huge feat in itself, the Lynch's decided to take the purchase to the next level, buying the home for $76 million in cold hard cash. Despite paying the whopping eight-figure for the mansion, the home needs work and is set to undergo renovations. The purchase of the property, named Leura, comes just after the Lynch's sold their former home for $52.4million more than he bought it. The same night he made the enormous purchase for the Leura estate, he sold his mystery home, just blocks away, for $61.5 million after rebuilding the property he had bought for just $9.05 million in 2014. Leo Lynch, 60, is a third generation of the wholesale flower family's company, founded in 1915 and for which private equity group Next Capital took a majority interest in 2015, before it was publicly listed in 2021. Image credits: Domain

Real Estate

James Packer's insane $132-million mansion up for grabs

Aussie billionaire James Packer has put up his $132-million mansion up for sale. The 12-bedroom Beverly Hills home was previously owned by Hollywood star Danny DeVito, before Packer bought it off him in 2018 for $93-million, according to realtor.com. Dating back to the 1930's, the luxury estate has been named “Beverly Hills at its finest," as it sits on 2260 sqm and boasts a three-storey accessory dwelling, a separate maids quarter and a guesthouse. “Boasting living space across multiple structures, enjoy an unparalleled gem in one of the most coveted neighbourhoods in Southern California," the listing read. It's the embodiment of luxury and "iconic L.A. living", with a home theatre that's fully equipped with a bar, a game room, wine cellar, resort-style pool and cigar lounge. The primary suite has a fireplace, sitting room, dual bathrooms, and access to a terrace. With 18 bathrooms you don't need to worry about whether they are occupied as the master suite itself features two master baths, double vanities, a linen closet, powder room, and the option of a shower or a sub and steam shower. Not only that, the private balconies allow you to take in the magnificent views of the estate's lush yard, but also the surrounding canyons, so there's never a boring day in the multimillion dollar mansion. According to The Daily Telegraph, the billionaire is selling the home because he has no desire to live in LA if his kid's won't be visiting, after his ex-wife Erica Packer and their three kids moved to London earlier this year. Images: realestate.com.au/ Getty

Real Estate

Kmart and Target join forces to create mega discount stores

Two of Australia’s favourite retail giants are about to get better in a huge merger creating a $10 billion discount giant. Wesfarmers is set to fold Target into Kmart with hopes that it will improve sales, provide better value for customers, and allow both stores to share backend technology. Ian Bailey the Managing Director of Kmart Group has said that there will be “no impact” to stores, and that the move was an "internal reorganisation". "With customers now demanding value more than ever, this new operating model will unlock a new level of scale and productivity across both brands, so we can deliver even greater value to our customers in the future," he said in a statement. "For store networks and 50,000 store team members – it's business as usual – as we continue to focus on providing the best value products to the thousands of customers in Australia and New Zealand who choose to shop at Kmart or Target every day." The move comes as the cost of living crisis is forcing more and more Aussies to be mindful of their spending habits. In a statement to the The Australian Financial Review, Bailey said that there would likely be “a handful of redundancies" but more jobs overall by next year. He added that one of the benefits of tighter integration and better technology is the ease in which the prices of products can be reduced. He said that the price drop on 1000 Kmart products this month was assisted by merchandise planning tools and a self-navigating inventory scanning robot. "Kmart and Target are both strong businesses. I don't see us doing this from a position of weakness. It's quite the opposite,” he told the publication. “I'd say we're strong, but I think there's an opportunity to really capitalise on this time and find ways to continue to deliver better value for customers." "What we found was that running two businesses it was very, very difficult to get the tech into Target, and to get those benefits. This is really why we decided to push the two businesses into one." Images: Getty

Money & Banking

Ricky Ponting sells long-time beachside mansion

Cricket star Ricky Ponting and wife Rianna have sold their breathtaking beachside property. The 1920s Brighton trophy home was listed in May and is believed to have sold within the range of the $14.8 million-$16 million price guide. The former Aussie cricket captain, who’s currently trading barbs with Kevin Pietersen after Australia emerged victorious in a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/ice-in-his-veins-stunning-result-in-first-ashes-test" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stunning first Ashes Test</a>, obtained the sale through Forbes Global’s Mike Gibson in partnership with Andrew Smith of BuyerX. Gibson said it was the second property that his firm had sold in Brighton's golden mile, with another eight-figure sale at 12 Dudley St. The Herald Sun understands that the home went for more than $20 million. “It’s very interesting that both properties sold to local families,” Gibson said. “Brighton people love their suburb.” The two top-end sales in the affluent Bayside port were indicative of the market’s strength. “That market is alive and well,” Gibson said. However, he did highlight there would be lesser options for sellers as premier listings dropped away for winter. According to PropTrack records, the Pontings bought the seven-bedroom Brighton home for $9.25 million in 2013. “We’re thrilled with the sale of our house, especially to such a lovely family,” the couple told AFR. “It’s a beautiful family home, and we hope they love living here as much as we do.” The sales comes as the pair purchased a $20 million property in Toorak to be closer to their three children’s sporting activities. What drew the Pontings to the suburb was proximity to friends, including former teammate and longtime Brighton resident the late Shane Warne. Ricky retired from full-time cricket in 2012 and soon after sold the family home in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire and went down to settle in Melbourne’s Bayside area. “Landmark residences like this, especially in such a recognised blue-chip address, have a really broad appeal,” Gibson said of the home when it was listed. “Shandford is already one of Brighton’s landmarks but it could evolve from here to become one of Australia’s true residential trophies.” Although the Ponting’s next home in Toorak is smaller than the grand Shandford, it still covers an expansive 1,900 sqm of land. The dimensions and historic detailing are what makes Ponting’s former Brighton home one of the most significant in the neighbourhood. Beyond the elaborate foyer, it includes formal rooms, a timber-panelled study, a modern kitchen with a butler’s pantry and a mammoth home cinema. Outdoors showcase a full-sized tennis court, pool and private laneway to the beach. The Pontings also own a stunning weekender in Portsea, which they bought in 2019 for $3.52 million. Image credit: Getty/Realestate.com.au

Real Estate

Rod Stewart lists $105 million LA mansion

Legendary rocker Rod Stewart has put his mega mansion on the market. The listing comes just days after the star’s former Malibu home was listed for an asking price of $49.5m (AU$74.2m), with the Wall Street Journal first reporting his current Los Angeles compound is asking for $70m (AU$105m). With a European style, situated in the gated enclave of North Beverly Park, the property spans 3,065 sqm with a pool and a soccer field. Although a soccer field is a rarity in LA, it’s no surprise Stewart, 78, is an avid soccer fan. The 78-year-old was even spotted in Malibu playing football with the Scottish national team on the beach after inviting them to play there. The Journal noted that according to sales records, Stewart purchased the property in 1991 for $12,08m. He also owns a home in Palm Beach, Florida. Images of the home showcase Old World-style finishes such as ceiling mouldings and medallions, Corinthian columns, crystal chandeliers and stunning marble floors in various patterns. The main house boasts nine bedrooms, one being the primary suite with a sitting room and a terrace that looks over the pool. The main wardrobe is also found in the primary suite — one large enough to store the rocker’s massive show collection. Elsewhere offers entertaining areas, including a flashy speak-easy with eye-catching jade green-painted walls. A main-floor great room showcases a bar and a loggia to spend time with guests outdoors. The listing also includes a three-stories-tall guest house with two gyms. Michelle Oliver of Douglas Elliman has the listing and declined to reveal why the British icon has decided to sell. She noted it is suitable for owners who are seeking “a return to maximalism” and for “something that looks different and stands out.” Image credit: Getty / Realtor.com

Real Estate

Alan Joyce preparing to sell controversial $20 million mansion

Outgoing Qantas CEO Alan Joyce is saying goodbye to more than his long-time role at the airline as he prepares to sell his controversial harbourside mansion. The veteran airline boss purchased the gorgeous North Shore home for a staggering $19 million in May 2022. Soon after he was forced to launch a fierce defence of his excessive spending habits after Qantas announced a whopping $1.9 billion loss. The airline came under fire for poor customer service, extended wait times for flyers, and drama over lost bags and late flights, amid legal action over its move to lay off workers that lead to Joyce launching the defence of his own record as airline boss. He said he was tired of being forced to justify his professional and personal decisions. “Why is it relevant what I do in my private life? I’m not a public figure. People regard the CEO of Qantas as like a politician and it definitely shouldn’t be. It’s a business figure,’ Joyce told The Australian in 2022. “It’s been well reported over the years how much I get paid, so I do have the money because Qantas went to record profits and had a record share price.” According to reports, Joyce is set to sell his short-term blue chip pile in Mosman, overlooking Mosman Bay and move into a generous penthouse in The Rocks. It is understood that Joyce has undertaken some refurbishments on the Mosman home. That paired with the competitive market for prestige homes in Sydney means the home could sell for more than $20 million. The luxe home has been previously owned by former foreign exchange dealer Alison Ethell and her sister, Jane, since 1993 when it cost $1.25 million. Image credit: Getty / Realestate.com.au

Real Estate

Aussie version of The Great Gatsby mansion set to break real estate records

This property is nothing short of spectacular and it’s set to break a record in Brisbane real estate. Australia’s interpretation of The Great Gatsby mansion at 685 Musgrave Road, Robertson, has a price guide of $25 million and the eye-watering cost has not deterred potential buyers. The historic estate boasts cinematic quality and several parties have offered the agent more than $20 million, with interest currently sitting at more than $22 million. A contract for $25 million was proposed but never finalised, leaving the property open to entice the multimillionaires who would take up the offer never before seen in the Brisbane housing market. The current price record for Brisbane is believed to be $20.5 million paid for a New Farm address. The overall Queensland record is $42 million, which was snatched up at auction in 2023 in Tallebudgera. The Gold Coast estate was the second most expensive home to be auctioned off. At the luxurious Robertson address, water fountains in the boundless grounds are controlled by Bluetooth. A flick of a switch will allow for a blissful ambience. It features bespoke chandeliers, a “championship” size tennis court, a pool house that has a kitchen for parties, and “his and her bathrooms”. Buyers are spoilt for choice if they fancy a dip as there is a 25-metre pool with three lanes, a spa and a cold plunge pool. Paths and driveways surround the flourishing grounds, reminiscent of Jay Gatsby’s remarkable estate in Baz Luhrmann's 2013 movie with Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as his love interest Daisy. The exterior shots for the film featured St Patrick’s Seminary in Manly, Sydney. The Robertson estate is on the books of Place Estate Angents’ Patrick McKinnon and welcoming negotiations. Speaking to Nine, he said the refined grounds are one of the reasons house hunters have been drawn to the property. He added that he has received multiple offers of more than $20 million and a $22 million offer is on the table, atop the previous $25 million claim that was staked was not finalised. McKinnon previously told Nine the level of seclusion and privacy that comes with the property - which he called “Brisbane’s best-kept secret - is what held “huge” appeal for prospective buyers in this level of the market. Image credit: Domain

Real Estate

Margot Robbie eyeing up incredible Byron Bay mansion

Dubbed as “Australia’s most beautiful home” this remarkable Byron Bay property certainly fits Margot Robbie’s criteria for a dream house. The beloved Aussie actress and husband Tom Ackerley have flown back to Australia and have taken the time, in between visiting friends and launching a new spirits label, to go house hunting in beautiful Byron Bay. Robbie and Ackerley were spotted walking through the stunning “Cedar Hill” home in Newrybar, which sits around 10km south of Byron Bay. Property records state the 8-bed, 8-bath home that offers over 2 hectares of land has been on the market for two months. In its marketing campaign, it is described as a “Malibu Aspen Love Child”. “The perfect property is a place where calmness calls, fusing relaxed luxury with picturesque tranquillity,” the listing reads. “Such a rare destination does indeed exist with “Cedar Hill”. “Revered as one of Australia’s most beautiful homes and boasting lush hinterland and ocean views, it is a spectacular showcase of international design and unique architecture. “Cocooned within five acres of absolute peace and paradise, two sprawling premium hardwood residences rise up from this elevated, northeast-facing estate. “Linked by a glass-lined walkway that nicely separates social and sleeping quarters, elegance blends skilfully with cutting-edge design, including retractable glass walls, soaring ceilings with exposed timber beams and polished concrete floors. Brought to life by award-winning designer, Jase Sullivan, these globally inspired interiors are a textural triumph. “Recycled timber, blackbutt wall panelling, chic bohemian textiles, grass-cloth walls and natural stone combine to create an earthy ambience, pairing perfectly with custom furniture. “Likewise, the galleries of glass invite an abundance of natural light to cascade in, creating sumptuous and serene spaces to enjoy.” The property was last sold in 2019 for $2.415 million but has since been significantly upgraded. According to development records, around $4 million has been spent on the redevelopment of the home. If Robbie was to purchase Cedar Hill it would only serve to enhance Byron’s reputation as a home of the rich and famous. The area’s biggest star and longer-time resident is actor Chris Hemsworth, who bought in the area about five years ago before building his $20 million mega mansion. While his brother Liam owns upwards of $13 million of real estate in the area. Hollywood star Zac Efron also purchased a significant piece of land in the Byron hinterland region in 2020, after filming there. PropTrack reported just four houses have been sold in the tightly-held Newrybar market over the last 12 months. There is currently no price guide for Cedar Hill but is said to be worth around $20 million. Image credit: Instagram/Realestate.com

Real Estate

Aussie mansion of royal family patriarch hits the market

An Australian mansion with a rich royal history has hit the market for a staggering eight-figure sum. The sprawling property, named Jenner House and situated at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/2-macleay-street-potts-point-nsw-2011-2018408777" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2 Macleay Street</a> in Sydney's Potts Point, was once the Aussie residence for the future King George V of Britain when he was Prince of Wales. King George V is King Charles' great-grandfather, and was the first Windsor monarch. The royal family today are direct descendants of King George V and his wife, Queen Mary. The six-bedroom, six-bathroom home will go to auction on April 4th, and has an eye-watering $34 million price guide. The home was first built in 1871, and was home to the Prince of Wales prior to his ascension to the British throne in 1910. “It’s such a versatile house, and over the past 150 years, its rich history includes the family abode for the Hordern family, a stint as a private hospital, a residence for a prominent British Royal, and it was even used for a time by the Australian Navy,” listing agent Samuel Schumann says. The impressive property, which has already had strong interest from potential buyers, occupies 1970 square metres and boasts sweeping views of Sydney Harbour. Interiors are regal with soaring ceilings, French Oak Versailles parquet floors, Australian Cedar joinery and original 19th Century fireplace mantels made of white Carrera marble. Standout design features are the professional-grade kitchen with its top-notch appliances, the gym, wine cellar and tasting room, and self-contained garden studio. Image credits: Domain / Getty Images

Real Estate

Resistance to mega-tourism is rising in the South Pacific – but will governments put words into action?

With COVID-19 travel restrictions largely a thing of the past for Australian and <a href="https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/travel/2022/12/fiji-more-popular-with-kiwi-tourists-than-it-was-pre-covid-19.html">New Zealand tourists</a>, Pacific destinations are enjoying the return of visitors – albeit at a <a href="https://devpolicy.org/the-pacific-emerging-from-covid-slowly-20221019/">slower pace</a> than in other parts of the world. Tourism in Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands was <a href="https://www.imf.org/-/media/Files/Countries/ResRep/pis-region/small-states-monitor/pacific-islands-monitor-issue-17-october-2022.ashx">hit hard by the pandemic</a>, but <a href="https://www.massey.ac.nz/about/news/pacific-islands-resilient-as-covid-19-topples-tourism/">patience and resilience</a> are starting to pay off. Foreign dollars are once again circulating in those small economies. Recently, <a href="https://www.mvariety.com/business/kiribati-welcomes-first-cruise-ship-visit/article_30ca4be0-b0f7-11ed-9b9d-93619a4dfba6.html">Kiribati welcomed</a> its first international cruise ship since 2020. But this isn’t a simple case of returning to normal. The past three years have allowed time for reflection, leading to a rising awareness of <a href="https://southpacificislands.travel/pacific-sustainable-tourism-leadership-summit-calls-on-pacific-leaders-to-work-together-to-build-resilient-futures/">possible alternatives</a> to pre-pandemic tourism models. From senior levels within governments to grassroots tourism operators and citizens, there has been serious discussion about the resumption of business as usual, including several <a href="https://southpacificislands.travel/2021-ends-on-a-high-with-pacific-islands-tourism-research-symposium/">regional symposiums</a> hosted by the South Pacific Tourism Organisation. Issues of sovereignty and future resilience have been very much to the fore – quite untypical in a global tourism industry largely focused on <a href="https://etc-corporate.org/news/europes-tourism-rebound-predicted-to-continue-into-2023/">boosting numbers</a> as soon as possible. Questions remain, however, about the gap between rhetoric and reality. <h2>Flipping the narrative</h2> The <a href="https://southpacificislands.travel/2022-pacific-sustainable-tourism-leadership-summit/">Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leaders Summit</a> in November 2022 brought together tourism ministers and industry stakeholders to discuss the future of regional tourism. This led to a <a href="https://southpacificislands.travel/pacific-sustainable-tourism-leadership-summit-calls-on-pacific-leaders-to-work-together-to-build-resilient-futures/">regional commitment</a> signed by 11 countries focused on promoting sustainable tourism. Essentially, the aim is to flip the narrative: rather than Pacific nations being seen as dependent on tourism, regional tourism itself depends on the Pacific and its people surviving and thriving. Accordingly, Pacific countries are calling for fairer and more meaningful relationships with tourism partners. Cook Islands’ associate minister of foreign affairs and immigration, Tingika Elikana, urged other Pacific leaders at the summit to rebuild tourism in a way that was <a href="https://www.fijitimes.com/inclusive-pacific-summit-calls-on-regional-leaders-to-work-together/">equitable and inclusive</a>, "[it] is crucial that lessons are learned from recent crises and that steps are taken to embed long-term inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience into our tourism offering as it faces evolving challenges and risks." Vanuatu has been heading in this direction since early in the pandemic, when it made “destination wellbeing” <a href="https://www.traveldailymedia.com/vanuatu-tourism-adopts-well-being-approach-for-covid-19-recovery/">central to its tourism recovery</a>. The aim of “moving beyond solely measuring visitor arrivals and contribution to GDP” then fed into the country’s <a href="https://tourism.gov.vu/images/DoT-Documents/Presentations/Vanuatu_Sustainable_Tourism_Strategy_2020-2030-2020_.pdf">Sustainable Tourism Strategy</a>, launched at the height of the pandemic. <h2>Push-back on resorts and cruise ships</h2> This reappraisal of scale and priorities has perhaps been most evident in Fiji where there has been <a href="https://www.fijitimes.com/project-unoriginal/">strong opposition</a> to a US$300 million mega-project proposed by Chinese developers. The hotel, apartment and marina complex would be built in an area containing one of the last remaining remnants of mangrove forest near the capital, Suva. Conservationists and local residents have been critical of the <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/484141/conservationist-calls-on-fiji-govt-to-preserve-rare-mangrove">environmental</a> and <a href="https://www.fijitimes.com/how-can-fiji-supply-water-to-project/">infrastructural</a> impact of the proposed development, as well as the <a href="https://www.fijitimes.com/project-unoriginal/">authenticity of its design</a>. There is <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/484710/costly-development-of-suva-forest-may-now-not-happen">now doubt</a> about whether the government will renew the developer’s lease, due to expire in June. The minister for lands and mineral resources has said “there’s been a lack of transparency” from the developers, and that he “will continue to monitor the remaining conditions of the development lease”. A leading opponent of the project, Reverend James Bhagwan, <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/484710/costly-development-of-suva-forest-may-now-not-happen">told Radio New Zealand</a>, "we'’re not anti-development, but what we’re saying is we need to look at development from a perspective that places the environment at the centre, not at the periphery. There is a precedent here: approval for a multi-million-dollar resort and casino development on Malolo island was revoked in 2019 after another Chinese developer, Freesoul Investments, destroyed part of a reef, dumped waste and disrupted traditional fisheries. In 2022, the High Court fined the company <a href="https://www.newsroom.co.nz/resort-developers-found-guilty-over-fiji-island-disaster-1">FJD$1 million</a>. It was the first time a developer had been punished for an “environmental crime”. Environmental concerns are also causing other Pacific countries to resist a return to mass tourism. In Rarotonga, Cook Islands, annual visitor numbers before the pandemic were ten times the island’s local population. The ability to cope with that level of tourism has since been <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/443141/cook-islanders-considering-how-much-tourism-is-too-much">seriously questioned</a>. And in French Polynesia, the government has <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/french-polynesia-the-latest-country-to-ban-mega-cruise-ships/RXY2PDLCWPAIZRVNENLHJ6Z2N4/">banned port calls</a> for cruise ships with a capacity greater than 3,500 passengers. The decision was based on concerns about air pollution, stress on the marine environment and social impacts. Daily cruise arrivals to Bora Bora are now restricted to 1,200 passengers, much to the <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/407885/bora-bora-calls-for-ban-on-large-cruise-ships">relief of locals</a>. <h2>A new kind of tourism?</h2> In the face of uncertainties due to climate change and geopolitical tensions in the region, it’s encouraging to hear local voices being heard in debates about the future of Pacific tourism – and political leaders appearing to respond. The Pacific Island Forum leaders’ retreat in Fiji late last month discussed the tourism industry. The forum’s signature <a href="https://www.forumsec.org/2050strategy/">Blue Pacific Strategy</a> for regional co-operation recognises tourism is an important component of national development, and the need to balance economic pressures with environmental and cultural protection. But despite the apparent political will and regional focus on building resilience, tourism development will undoubtedly continue to challenge the desires and initiatives of Pacific peoples seeking more sustainable futures. While the policy rhetoric sounds good, it remains to be seen whether Pacific governments will remain steadfast and united under mounting pressures from major cruise operators, Chinese commercial interests and large hotels looking to maximise occupancy rates. Many Pacific people reported the natural environment – along with social, spiritual, physical and mental wellbeing – <a href="https://www.internationaljournalofwellbeing.org/index.php/ijow/article/view/2539">improved during the pandemic pause</a> in tourism. But the reality of putting local wellbeing ahead of profits and increased tax revenue is yet to be fully tested as tourism bounces back. Images: Getty <em style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; background-color: #ffffff;">This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/resistance-to-mega-tourism-is-rising-in-the-south-pacific-but-will-governments-put-words-into-action-201071" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

International Travel

Inside Matt Shirvington’s massive Mosman mansion

Matt Shirvington’s stunning 7-bedroom, 5-bathroom home on a huge 1,334 square metres of land sat languishing on the real estate market for almost 130 days last year. And now the family home of the Aussie Olympic runner and his wife Jessica for the past 15 years has quietly returned for sale in 2023. Matt and his wife purchased the home back in May 2014 for $7m, and now the asking price for Shirvo’s sprawling mansion is believed to be around $12.5m, and it is listed once again on the website of Atlas’ Michael Coombs. “Summoning an immediate sense of warmth and elegance, this stately Federation manor offers space, charm and functionality without compromise,” the marketing collateral for the Clanalpine St home reads. “Complete with harbour views, separate self-contained accommodation, pool and tennis court, it caters to every whim.” Images: CoreLogic

Real Estate

Award-winning century-old house smashes local records

Despite drastically diminishing market conditions, the century-old mansion in the luxurious suburb of Kingsville, Victoria, has surpassed the local pricing record more than 12 months after first being listed for sale. The four-bedroom property – that even has its own ballroom – lies on 1,578 square metres and was snapped up for $2.7m just one week before Christmas – and that was after being sadly passed-in at an auction in November. Even though it was initially listed with a prospective pricing target of $4m way back in October 2021, the final price of $2.7m was a good $800,000 clear of the previous local pricing record of $1.93m. Leo Dardha from Hockingstuart Yarraville told <a href="realestate.com.au/news/kingston-house-price-record-mansion-smashes-record-by-800000/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Herald Sun</a> that buyers “loved the history, they loved the character and they loved the size of the land”. “It’s one of a kind in Kingsville,” he said. “It’s won a couple of awards. It won a beautification award in 1991 from Maribyrnong Council and has had only two owners in 100 years. “The first owners who commissioned the build were in the transport industry and the second were a local family who moved from another home on Somerville Rd and enjoyed the past 40 years there; it was their pride and joy, their trophy home and they raised their family there.” The upper level of the home is a ballroom that has been the scene of many functions with family and friends over the years, while the wider house features rich timber throughout. An entrance hall, formal lounge and dining rooms, sitting room, and office or sunroom, are among the other traditional highlights. Images: Hockingstuart Yarraville

Real Estate

This could be Australia's most affordable mansion

What could well be Australia’s cheapest mansion has been found – and it's listed for roughly a quarter of the value of Sydney’s median house price. 89 Harris Street in Queensland's coastal town of Emerald is a Spanish-style property located three hours inland from Rockhampton, and it's on the market with an asking price of just $360,000. With a sweeping footprint, four bedrooms and statement kerb presence flourished by nine handsome arches, it is a true bargain. "EXTENSA MANSIÓN ESPAÑOLA!" headlines the listing. In English it translates to "extensive Spanish mansion". The town has experienced strong house price growth over the past five years. "This sprawling Spanish type mansion is one of a kind for sure. Extremely deceptive from the street, you will not believe the layout of this home," the listing reads. The vendors paid $300,000 for the five-bedroom, Spanish Mission-inspired property nine years ago, Domain's Pricefinder data shows. They scored it for under the asking price at the time, with historical campaign records on Pricefinder showing a $400,000 price guide. A mid-range home in Sydney, Australia's highest-value capital city, hovers around a median of $1,552,000. Inside Harris Street, vast red-tiled floors, wood chandeliers, a fireplace with an ornate chimney and decorative sconces in the living rooms and bedrooms lend character true to the Spanish style. The outdoor zone shows enormous promise, with a deep patio and large, built-in brick barbecue beneath an angled roof, with exposed beams. The median house price in Emerald is $345,000, according to Domain's latest House Price Report. Image: Getty

Real Estate

Jennifer Hawkins builds opulent home for mystery client

Former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins and her husband Jake Wall are building a mega mansion in the exclusive suburb of Whale Beach - but it’s not for them. The couple, who own design and construction firm J-Group, are reportedly building the large home for a mystery client who bought it for just under $30 million, per <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/pictures-show-epic-scale-of-jennifer-hawkins-30m-whale-beach-mansion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">realestate.com.au</a>. A 1950s home that sat on the 3200-square-metre lot was knocked down last year, with plans already approved by the local council for a three-storey, five-bedroom house with a gym, yoga room, theatre, half-basketball court, sauna and a four-car garage, to take its place. Before the celebrity couple had plans for it, the sprawling block already had a taste of fame, with the double block once belonging to the soprano singer Joan Sutherland. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChRJd4Xpw7N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChRJd4Xpw7N/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by J GROUP PROJECTS (@jgroupprojects)</a> </div> </blockquote> Back in February, the couple’s company shared a rendered image of what the Whale Beach home would look like, complete with views of the waters of Dolphin Point. Wall and Hawkins have been active in the property world, having purchased a $6 million ‘knockdown’ in Terrigal, on the NSW Central Coast. In 2020, the couple offloaded a Newport property for an eye-watering $24.5 million to Mike Cannon Brookes, the co-CEO and co-founder of Atlassian. Image: Instagram

Real Estate

When hosting mega-events like FIFA, cities market themselves at the expense of the most vulnerable

Few events capture the attention of the globe like the Men’s FIFA World Cup — in 2018, the event boasted a viewership of <a href="https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/2018russia/media-releases/more-than-half-the-world-watched-record-breaking-2018-world-cup">3.5 billion people</a>. Yet, despite the enormous popularity of the World Cup, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2022/11/17/do-host-countries-make-money-from-the-world-cup">host cities and countries invariably lose money</a> on the event itself, with FIFA capturing most of the profits despite its non-profit status. The calculus of host cities is based on the hope that successfully hosting a World Cup (or Olympics) will significantly enhance a city’s urban brand and ultimately lead to long-term increases in tourism and foreign direct investment. In other words, the argument is that a successful stint as a host city will identify that city as “<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/40643231">world-class</a>” and change its economic fortunes. This justification, at least from an economic point of view, relies on <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02614360500504628">some pretty fuzzy math and long-term forecasting that rarely gets audited</a>. I attended the 2010 World Cup in South Africa to study how various communities attempted to have their voices heard and needs met through the planning process for that event. I continue to research how hosting large-scale events intersect with other trends in global and local urbanization. Urban branding This mission of improving one’s urban brand to attract tourist and foreign investment leads cities to focus their attention to the perceived needs. Or, more precisely, the perceived desires of potential tourists and investors, as opposed to the needs and desires of the people who already live, work and play in these cities. This shift in focus is part of larger trends of cities becoming <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/04353684.1989.11879583">increasingly entrepreneurial in our globalized world</a>. And to this end, host cities pursue a fairly predictable path to demonstrate their world-classness. As Streetnet International, a South Africa-based international organization of street vendors, put it in their World Class Cities For All campaign: <blockquote> “It has become a boringly predictable reality that, when a country prepares to host a high-profile international event, <a href="https://streetnet.org.za/document/world-class-cities-for-all/">the country and its local government authorities prepare to create ‘World Class Cities’ of a particular type</a>, i.e. ‘World Class Cities’ which will attract foreign investment; have modern up-to-date infrastructure; have no visible signs of urban decay; have smooth traffic flows; have no visible poor people or social problems.” </blockquote> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497721/original/file-20221128-4871-ip7vgt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497721/original/file-20221128-4871-ip7vgt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497721/original/file-20221128-4871-ip7vgt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497721/original/file-20221128-4871-ip7vgt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497721/original/file-20221128-4871-ip7vgt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497721/original/file-20221128-4871-ip7vgt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=506&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497721/original/file-20221128-4871-ip7vgt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=506&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497721/original/file-20221128-4871-ip7vgt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=506&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="overhead view of a building site in the desert" /></a><figcaption>In Doha, several stadiums were built to host the FIFA World Cup. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)</figcaption></figure> Increased policing, decreased social investment There are common themes to how cities approach their hosting duties and branding pursuits. However, the particular interventions that each city makes to create this type of world- class city are unique to their particular context. Unfailingly, cities significantly increase policing, both in the sheer numbers of police, military and surveillance measures as well as the powers afforded to the police and military. These powers are used to police undesirable activities and individuals — those activities and people deemed incommensurate with the desired world-class brand. Youth, the unhoused or precariously housed, street vendors and racialized individuals <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2010.520938">experience the brunt of these increases</a>. In South Africa in 2010, FIFA courts were established to exact “<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/21/sports/soccer/21iht-wcsoccer.html">swift and severe justice</a>” for crimes committed against tourists and journalists during the 2010 World Cup. In Qatar, there has been <a href="https://www.thestar.com/politics/2022/11/24/lgbtq-and-other-rights-issues-at-world-cup-a-huge-blemish-on-fifa-hall-of-famer.html">targeted policing of LGBTQ+ people and allies</a>. Additionally, the quest for this type of world-class-city brand also leads to uneven investment and under-investment as cities are forced to make choices about how to invest their municipal budgets. Tourist areas <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/25765282">see significant infrastructure investments while those off the tourist map are often ignored</a>. This is intensified by <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0196859905275971">television coverage of these places and events</a>. In Durban, South Africa, this meant significant investment along the waterfront and the construction of a shiny new soccer stadium (across the street from an existing rugby stadium) while other parts of the city, off the beaten path of journalists and tourists, continued to lack even basic infrastructure. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497776/original/file-20221128-14-4gf988.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C1920%2C1080&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497776/original/file-20221128-14-4gf988.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C0%2C1920%2C1080&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/497776/original/file-20221128-14-4gf988.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497776/original/file-20221128-14-4gf988.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497776/original/file-20221128-14-4gf988.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497776/original/file-20221128-14-4gf988.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497776/original/file-20221128-14-4gf988.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/497776/original/file-20221128-14-4gf988.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="armed police on horseback watch over a crowd." /></a><figcaption>In this image from video, Qatari police stand by on horseback as other security officials try to control a crowd at a FIFA Fan Zone on Nov. 19, 2022. Authorities turned away thousands of fans from a concert celebrating the World Cup beginning the next day. (AP Photo/Srdjan Nedeljkovic)</figcaption></figure> Exposes the cracks The current approach to hosting a World Cup puts unique and focused pressures on urban systems and infrastructure. In the process, it exposes the already existing cracks in the system and exacerbates existing inequalities. The World Cup did not create the labour system and working conditions of temporary migrant workers in Doha. However, both the magnitude and speed of construction to meet hosting needs undoubtedly ramped up the exploitation of the system, leading to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/23/revealed-migrant-worker-deaths-qatar-fifa-world-cup-2022">thousands of worker deaths</a>. We need to reframe how a world-class city is defined to one that is more liveable, sustainable and just. This will inspire future host cities to pursue this status in a manner that does not increase policing and exacerbate inequalities.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/195069/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Writen by David Roberts. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-hosting-mega-events-like-fifa-cities-market-themselves-at-the-expense-of-the-most-vulnerable-195069" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Getty Images

Real Estate

King Charles’ family friend snaps up historical Sydney mansion

A family friend of King Charles III has snapped up a historical home in Sydney’s lower north shore. Edward Dawson-Damer, the son of the seventh Earl of Portarlington and equerry (a senior attendant) to the Queen Mother, and his wife Joanne Grant paid an eye-watering $9.325 million for the 114-year-old Dalkeith mansion, per <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/king-charles-friend-buys-9-3-million-cremorne-home-2-1185842/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Domain</a>. The Cremorne home was built in 1908 by English wool merchant and Freemasons grand master Frank Whiddon and sits on an almost 1500-square-metre block. In the early 1950s, the property was bought by the Norwegian Church Abroad, becoming the Norwegian Seaman’s Mission and providing community services to Scandinavian seamen until 1978, according to <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/8-bannerman-street-cremorne-nsw-2090-2018035301" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the listing</a>. While steeped in history, their new sandstone home has also undergone major renovations and an extension, which the listing described as “contemporary updates”, including an open-plan layout, modern appliances in the kitchen and an alfresco entertainment area with an in-ground pool and sandstone cabana. The home also boasts a billiard room that was formerly used as a chapel, with stained-glass windows and the original pew featured. Inside, the art-nouveau period features have been maintained, and each of the five bedrooms come with adjoining sunrooms. It comes as an upgrade for Dawson-Damer and Grant, who offloaded their home in Vaucluse for $6.45 million last year. Images: Domain

Real Estate

The Block bidder Adrian Portelli to give away $2.3 million waterfront mansion

After missing out on a new home, one of The Block’s bidders has announced he will be giving away a $2.3 million home in Queensland instead. Adrian Portelli was thrust into the spotlight after the show’s recent season finale, amid accusations <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/property/real-estate/block-winners-hit-back-at-dummy-bid-claims">he placed “dummy bids”</a> to ramp up the price of winning team Omar Slaimenkhel and Ozmand ‘Oz’ Abu Malik’s property. The duo made a record-breaking $1.6 million on their house in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges, but came under scrutiny after they greeted Portelli by hugging him on the show and it emerged that <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/property/real-estate/block-winners-under-pressure-to-explain-their-relationship-with-mystery-bidder">the three were friends</a>. After Portelli engaged in a bidding war with veteran Block buyer Danny Wallis and came out unsuccessful, he didn’t bid on any of the other five homes offered on auction day, sparking the accusations of false bids. While speculation has continued to grow, the 33-year-old property investor and car enthusiast has said he will be giving away a waterfront mansion in the Gold Coast’s Sanctuary Cove. The property will be given away through Portelli’s promotions company, LMCT+, which offers giveaways of both houses and cars. “We didn’t win The Block house to giveaway so we’ve found a replacement. This will be our next HOUSE GIVEAWAY on the Gold Coast 🤯,” he wrote on the company’s Instagram. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkprH1MyAgr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkprH1MyAgr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by LMCT+ (@lmctplus)</a> </div> </blockquote> The house is one of a few Portelli owns in the area, including one in nearby Hope Island and another he is building in the neighbourhood, and “was never meant for a giveaway”, according to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/the-blocks-controversial-bidder-adrian-portelli-is-giving-away-23-million-mansion-after-missing-out-on-oz-and-omars-pad/news-story/30b16da4e02a7a5cec321f4c14e8828a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>. “It’s a stunning house. It was never meant for a giveaway but here we are,” he said. As for the bidding controversy, Portelli said he was interested in the other homes, adding that his intention had been to give the home he wanted to purchase away. “People thought I was a dummy bidder and mate of Omar and Oz. I was simply wanting to buy the four-bedroom house to give away through my business LMCT+, to give everyday Aussies the chance to win a house they’ve all become attached to over its renovation on The Block,” he said. “It’s not my fault Danny let his ego get in the way and drove the price up to a point where it didn’t make sense to me, so I backed out. “The other houses just weren’t appealing to me for its intended use.” Image: @adrian_portelli (Instagram)

Real Estate

King Charles III offloads Kiwi mansion

In an estate that boasts the likes of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, one property belonging to the newly-minted King Charles III is located in a surprising place: northwest Auckland. But, the documents for the two-storey heritage villa in Hobsonville show the registered owner to be the Queen herself, forming part of an expansive portfolio inherited by the new king. In actual fact, the home doesn’t belong to King Charles III since Crown real estate is owned by the Defence Force. As a result, the Auckland mansion, known as Clark House, was used for Royal New Zealand Airforce operations from 1950 to 2016, when they moved out and left the home boarded up and unused. According to historical records, the Crown paid just £8000 for the home, which now holds a category 1 listing on the Historic Places Register. The home was built in 1902 to showcase innovative new building blocks created by entrepreneur Rice Owen Clark, whose family stayed in the house until it was sold to the Crown. During its use by the RNZAF, the house became the office of Task Force Headquarters and even hosted a South East Asian Treaty Organisation conference in the grand rooms in 1955. Phill Gurnsey, a general manager of estate strategy for Defence, said Clark House had most recently been used as a medical unit, with rooms upstairs acting as offices and the lower floor used for reception and medical testing. Harcourts agent Graham Lewis said the sale of Clark House was an opportunity to own a piece of New Zealand history that might not be seen again in our lifetime. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a special buyer to purchase a slice of New Zealand’s history from the current owner, His Majesty the King,” Mr Lewis said. “The building is a fine example of the Italianate villa style. Because of its role as a showpiece, no expense was spared in the building.” Most of the original features have survived, including the grand staircase, ceilings and carved mantlepieces made with timber from the kauri tree, stained glass windows, a wrought iron verandah and a tiled entry floor. As a historical building, Mr Lewis noted that potential buyers should be aware of the responsibilities and restrictions that come it, adding that the home could be turned into a lodge or fine hotel, an art gallery, or even corporate headquarters. “It takes your breath away the first time you see it. This was a supreme legacy to Rice Owen Clark’s beloved family, status and ambitions,” Mr Lewis said. “I think he’d be pleased that the passion and care of a new owner will bring this home back to its former glory as a historic landmark for generations to come.” The house will be <a href="https://www.oneroof.co.nz/25-59-clark-road-hobsonville-waitakere-city-auckland-1823259" target="_blank" rel="noopener">available for tender</a> until November 21. Images: Getty Images, Harcourts Realty

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