If the results of a weekend auction are any indication, the property values in rural areas around the original Waurn Ponds Township will rise.
Matt Poustie, an agent at HF Richardson Newtown, said that five bidders contested 115 Waurnpond Drive, and the property’s sale price reached $2.04m.
Mr Poustie had set a price range of $1.8m to 1.925m, but he hadn’t ruled it out if the right buyer showed up.
“It was quite an important sale for the family. It was an estate sale for the Lugg family. They’ve lived in Waurn Ponds for more than 100 years. He said that this was one of the last family properties.
“We were expecting it to be in the $2 million range, but we hoped that the bidding would bring it up to the higher price.
The two-bedroom existing house at 115 Waurnponds Dr, Waurnponds.
“There was two buying groups that were looking at it – owner-occupiers who were looking to take advantage of just under 10 acres of land, and the investors who were looking at it to subdivide, because under current planning conditions, you can subdivide it to two (lots).”
Waurn Ponds Drive was part of the Princes Highway before the Geelong Ring Road bypassed Waurn Ponds. But the area is now its own, M Poustie explained.
He said: “You can drive up Waurnponds Dr, turn right onto Cochranes Rd, and that will take you to Ceres.”
“You get all the benefits of the Barrabool Hills with the proximity to Waurn Ponds shopping center and getting through to the surf coast towards Anglesea.
Some beautiful houses are being built there. In this little valley, just up Waurnponds Dr from where the old highway now ends, are some nice lifestyle properties of 1 to 2 acres that have been constructed. They’re similar to those built in Batesford.
Mr Poustie noted that the area was a pleasant break between the residential section of Geelong and the farming zone located on the other side of the highway and ring roads.
The auction sold 115 Waurnponds Dr., Waurnponds for $2.04m.
“It’s created this little cul-de-sac of beautiful horse properties and lifestyle properties.
The price is too high, or there’s not enough land available in Batesford and Ceres.
This Waurn Ponds Pocket is only one step away from that. The dollar value per square meter is excellent. “I think there will be a big spike in prices in the years to come.”
A central staircase connects the different living areas. Image: supplied
The Australian tradition of only offering four-bedroom houses as our sole residential option is outdated.
By letting go of the old notions of what a home in a city looks like, it’s possible to design homes that are both functional and whimsical and full of joy inside and out.
SJB is an architecture firm that designed 19 Waterloo Street. Image: supplied
A jury of experts in the industry recognized 47 residential, public, and commercial projects this year.
The winning designs were world-class examples of sustainability, adaptive reusing, dynamic collaboration among designers, connection to country, thoughtful higher-density housing, and generosity towards a broader community.
A pocket-sized rooftop garden offers outdoor space at 19 Waterloo St. Picture: supplied.
Shannon Battisson, the jury chair, said that Australia desperately needed new approaches for its built environment.
“Our goal was to send a clear message to all Australians on where our industry needs to go in terms of sustainability and learning from Country,” said Ms Battisson.
Nightingale Village
The Frederick Romberg Residential Architecture Award was given to the Nightingale Village, a multi-housing development in Melbourne’s inner city suburb Brunswick.
Nightingale Village was awarded the Frederick Romberg Residential Architecture Award for Multiple Housing. Image: Supplied
The urban village consists of six buildings designed by different architects, all based on social, environmental, and financial sustainability principles.
Nightingale Village is a collection of six buildings designed by different architects. Picture: supplied
Austin Maynard Architects designed a building for the Nightingale Village. Clare Cousins Architects and Hayball also contributed to this project.
The village does not have any parking spaces for personal cars but has enough space to park sharecars. It also features a passive design; there is no air conditioning. There are shared laundry facilities and minimal interior finishes.
The jury stated that “despite their similarities in terms of the overall design, the buildings are all as different as one would expect from a group consisting of architects who normally compete with each other but are now on the same team.”
Merricks Farmhouse
The Merricks Farmhouse, designed by Michael Lumby and Nielsen Jenkins, won the National Award for Residential Architecture.
The Merricks Farmhouse has won the National Award for Residential Architecture. Image: Supplied
This Mornington Peninsula home offers a unique take on rural sheds, with walls covered in succulents and reminiscent of a mossy ruin.
A large courtyard with giant stepping-stones and native plants surrounds the pond.
Merricks Farmhouse has a partially submerged concrete water tank that can be used as a swimming pool. Image: Supplied
The rear of the house has four modest bedrooms, a sunken living room, and a kitchen-dining area that merges into a courtyard.
The black timber ceilings rise to hidden skylights and then drop to bedroom height.
Michael Lumby and Nielsen Jenkins designed the Mornington Peninsula property. Image: Source
The Merricks Farmhouse has a pool and a partially submerged concrete water tank that is a great place to cool down in the summer.