"I was brought up on a large station in New South Wales and you often watch sheep as a mob, trotting off across the paddock. One sheep will lead and the rest of the flock will follow. I always thought why do they do that? Coming up with the concept of a private auction was not necessarily my idea. It was more of my client’s idea. The client had been through a bereavement and had a beautiful home with a magnificent art collection and really did not want the invasion of a public campaign. And I thought lightbulb moment, we can work with this idea. It is how do we turn that into reality for this particular client and talk more about what our clients want rather than what I want as an estate agent. I remember my grandmother always used to print these beautiful invitations for parties she used to host on a regular basis. So, I thought maybe we could use the idea of a nice invitation with the right clientele, still publicise and promote the property, and then at the end of the exercise have an auction by invitation. That success story was fabulous. I think we got a really good outcome for our client. I think a lot of our peers were pretty surprised in the way we carried that through. It certainly got the marketplace talking. You know that you are in a dominant marketplace and if you don’t dare to do things differently and think outside of the square, then you are likely to get squashed. And I have that fighting instinct, so I am always looking for new ideas and concepts that are going to help us develop."

LISTEN to Jock's story here:

#abercrombysrealestate #aimhigh #staytrue #betrue #exceptional #Luxury #property #prestige

#luxuryandLifestyle #premiumproperty #melbourneproperty #propertymarket

#realestate #luxuryandlifestyleproperty #luxurylifestylerealestate #abercrombys #luxuryhomes

#melbourne #relationships #premium #commited #abercrombysteam #melbre

Earlier this year Abercromby’s Charitable Fund donated towards the Royal Flying Doctors Outback Car Trek and we are very happy to report that the 2018 Trek has raised just on $1.45m - Well done to all those involved. www.outbackcartrek.com.au

We are excited to announce the launch of ‘Middleton’, 16 luxury residences designed by Rob Mills and outdoor spaces beautifully landscaped by Jack Merlo.
Find out more here: https://www.middletonmalvern.com.au/

Domaine Lane is an address of distinction. Accessed by an exclusive residents’ only lane, next to historic Elibanc House, this boutique collection of seven large-scale,
north-facing residences offers spaces offers scale and privacy. Click on picture to see more:

#south Yarra #comingsoon @bmfconstruction #bmfresidential #abercrombys #domainelane #mydomaine

Estate in Evans Court, Toorak, priced above $45 million poised to break Victorian house price record

One of Melbourne’s most reclusive and wealthy families is selling an extravagant Toorak estate, a collection of mansions expected to fetch up to $50 million.

The six houses were amassed into one portfolio by the former head of BP, James Stafford-Fox, and his wife Moyna. The couple bought the grand mansion at 15 Evans Court and then spent nearly two decades accumulating five neighbouring properties, creating an exclusive compound in the city’s richest pocket.

After their death, the estate was bought in 2013 by the Roche family for an undisclosed sum, all of which was donated to funding dementia research.
 
Read more here: https://www.domain.com.au/news/estate-in-evans-court-toorak-priced-above-45-million-poised-to-break-victorian-house-price-record-20180125-h0oaks/

** Please note our office will be closed for business from 2.00pm Friday 22nd December 2017 and will re-open 9.00am Tuesday 2nd January 2018**

If you have any EMERGENCY maintenance issues during this time, please call the appropriate 24 hours tradesperson below. 
Please so ensure you notify us via email that you have contacted them.

Plumbing – Esteem Group ph: 1300 791 780
Electrical – Master Maintenance Property Services ph: 0488 725 566
Electrical – Esteem Group ph: 1300 791 780
Other Maintenance – Master Maintenance Property Services ph: 0488 725 566
Other Maintenance – Esteem Group ph: 1300 791 780
Flood Restoration – Flood Emergency Services ph: 0421 554 338
Flood Restoration – CBD & Mega Property Services ph: 9457 7444

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.

Last night Abercromby's hosted an event at the 85 Spring Street, display suite. Our guest were immersed in the sights, sounds and beautiful views from this magnificent development, which is a complete work of art. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made this a truly memorable night.

 More details on this property, click here https://www.abercrombys.com.au/melbourne-ab3952/

 Melbourne ’s leafy inner eastern suburb of Hawthorn and surrounds, with a run of prestige homes changing hands recently and agents tipped to stay busy until Christmas.
Good demand has been supporting prices, with buyers drawn to the convenient location and access to sought-after schools. But stock levels are subdued.
The broader residential market has been slowing, but the best homes in top locations are still drawing keen interest.

Three standout Hawthorn homes have traded in one week for a combined value of about $35 million through agency Kay and Burton.
The landmark sale was a five-bedroom residence on more than 3300sq m on Harcourt Street, Hawthorn East.

Dating to 1891 and designed by architect John Beswicke, who was also behind the Hawthorn Town Hall building, the restored home has contemporary features including swimming pool, tennis court and sauna.
The dining room has a black marble fireplace, the kitchen houses an eight-burner hotplate and double oven, while residents can enjoy a library and a conservatory.
Industry sources tipped the final sale price for the home at more than $16m.

Elsewhere, a four-bedroom home with working boutique vineyard at 32 Coppin Grove, Hawthorn, nearby former Australia Post boss Ahmed Fahour’s mansion, also changed hands.
The property is set on more than 8000sq m with Yarra River frontage and is home to family business Coppin Grove Wines, which makes Coppin Grove Sparkling from pinot noir and chardonnay grapes.
The sale price was more than $10m, industry sources say.

At 55 Hawthorn Grove, Hawthorn, a four-bedroom residence sold for a rumoured $8m-plus, with touches such as a Versailles-inspired foyer, glass spa and internal lift.
Rose gold taps, a marble kitchen plus butler’s pantry with Gaggenau ovens, a glass-walled gymnasium and six-car garage complete the home.
Kay and Burton partner Sam Wilkinson says it was “reasonably rare” to have the three landmark Hawthorn area properties on the market together but the results were a sign of a strong market.
“We’ve found the better-quality houses that have been offered to the marketplace have all sold under competition and that’s a sign that people are confident in the family homes market in and around the area,” Wilkinson tells The Weekend Australian.

“For the right property, people are willing to part with big dollars to secure those homes.”
But buyers had been “discerning and selective”, and the $2m-$4m segment of the market had “softened a touch”, with properties taking slightly longer to sell, he says.
Stock levels had been reasonable but not “over the top” as some prospective vendors were concerned about finding their next property to buy.
The agency has now listed 58 Mary Street, Hawthorn, with expectations of $4.9m-$5.39m, and 6 Oak Street, Hawthorn, with expectations of $3.5m-$3.85m.
The average house price in Hawthorn is $1.985m, according to realestate.com.au figures, up 43 per cent since 2014.
With the market picking up, vendor expectations have also been rising and homes were still selling for hefty premiums, RT Edgar Boroondara director and auctioneer Paul Walker says.
“It is pretty competitive and we’d usually run to auction. There’s been about three to four bidders at every auction, sometimes more,” Walker adds.
Buyers are drawn to the area’s proximity to the CBD, nearby private schools and cafe culture, he says, adding he expects to be busy until the summer break with new listings still coming online.

The agency has listed the former wedding venue at 867 Glenferrie Road, Kew, on the Hawthorn border, which last traded for $11.3m one year ago and now has expectations of $13m-$14.3m.
Abercromby’s director Jock Langley says homes in the area that had sold less than five years ago for $2.5m-$3m were now trading for $5.5m and $7m.
The agency sold the six-bedroom Victorian home at 49 Lisson Grove, Hawthorn, this winter for $7.65m and has now listed 42 Hawthorn Grove, Hawthorn, with a price of $6.2m-$6.82m.
Jellis Craig co-founder Alastair Craig says off-market sales had been stronger than usual, an average of about two a week in the Boroondara council region over the past 12 months. Banks are more willing to lend to buyers in areas such as Hawthorn that are considered more of a “safe bet” than other parts of the city, he says.

Read article here: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/home-design/prestige-property/hawthorn-prestige-homes-bloom-this-spring/news-story/f0307b8222960744a0e06547d5e9432b

What to see this weekend: The best properties on show in Melbourne.

https://www.domain.com.au/news/what-to-see-this-weekend-the-best-properties-on-show-in-melbourne-20171110-gzbs9h/

1/1 Alexandra Avenue, South Yarra - $1.55 million-$1.7 million
2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 car spaceThe triple-A ring to this address underlines its enviable location on a prominent corner. The elevated ground-floor apartment, newly renovated, looks west from an enclosed sunroom to the Botanic Gardens and north, from a secure porch and through the living room’s picture window, to the 1899 Morell Bridge over the Yarra. Step from the kitchen to a courtyard with pool and barbecue area shared with others in the boutique 1920s building.Auction: 11.30am, November 18
Agent: Abercromby’s, Ada Taylor 0428 058 880

Last Thursday evening Abercromby's hosted an event at Quaff restaurant raising money for our chosen charities Secondbite and beyondblue. Amanda Elliot who is the first female Chairman of the Victorian Racing Club in its 153 year history was our guest speaker and she regaled our 40 odd female clients/advocates of Abercromby’s. 

A special thank you to Amanda Elliott and milliner Penelope D’Alton who both helped provide an entertaining evening for all to enjoy.

FORMER news anchor Helen Kapalos is selling her stylish apartment in Collingwood’s sought-after Foy & Gibson precinct.

Exposed brickwork, soaring timber ceilings, rustic floorboards and a loft bedroom are highlights of the chic two-bedroom pad at 11/109 Oxford St.

The warehouse conversion, in the former factory’s “Bohemia” building, has a price guide of $980,000 to $1.078 million and will be auctioned on July 22.

Read the Herald Sun article here: http://www.realestate.com.au/news/news-just-in-helen-kapalos-lists-cool-warehouse-conversion-in-collingwood/?rsf=syn%3Anews%3Anca%3Ahs%3Asocref

A converted apartment in Collingwood's former Foy & Gibson factory, close to cafes and trams, is for sale through Sam Goddard and Simon Curtain of Abercromby's Armadale.

he neon art says 'awesome', and the description is fitting for this converted Collingwood factory.

Paying respect to its heritage as part of the Foy & Gibson factory, this two-level apartment has unique character and charm.

The original floorboards have been polished, and soaring ceilings define the space. The living/dining area is accompanied by a beautifully designed, open-plan kitchen. The downstairs bedroom has its own bathroom.

Sam Goddard of Abercromby's Armadale told SCHWARTZWILLIAMS, "Not only is the location of this unique apartment fantastic, but it has an overwhelming sense of space as soon as you walk in the front door."

The huge main bedroom is complemented by a stylish second bathroom; the space has an undeniable 'feel-good' factor.

The property also has secure side-by-side garaging for two cars and a generous storage cage.

'Bohemia' is only moments from Collingwood's countless cafes, and close to tram transport into town.

Read more: https://www.therealestateconversation.com.au/property/11109-oxford-street-collingwood-3066/converted-factory-apartment-collingwoods-bohemia-sale

Tickawarra, on 20 hectares, offers a gracious house – and upmarket accommodation for horses. The corrugated iron and timber house is built in wings, with guests catered for in a series of one-bedroom studios, all with en suites.

The main living area and the main bedroom are in the central wing and the huge living area is a delight. It has a muted blue-and-mustard kitchen, a wood fire and it connects to a stylish loggia.

Expressions of interest: close on June 20 Abercrombys Real Estate, Jock Langley 0419 530 008

Read more: https://www.domain.com.au/news/coast-and-country-graeme-gunn-designed-home-comes-with-a-guest-wing-20170617-gwjuty/

Melbourne’s ‘Rock Solid’ Suburb of Toorak Has Been Desirable For Over 100 Years.

Situated along the Yarra River just three miles from Melbourne’s central business district is Toorak, an oasis of luxury living.

The Toorak House, a prominent and historical structure in this exclusive enclave, has previously been the residence to high-ranking government officials, a hostel run by the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force during World War II, and now serves as a community center and church for the Church of Sweden. Despite its many evolutions, this stately property set the affluent tone for what remains one of the city’s most desirable suburbs since the early 1900’s.

The district was named for Toorak House, the Italianate Victorian mansion that wealthy merchant James Jackson built in 1849

Read More : http://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/64121-melbourne-s-rock-solid-suburb-of-toorak-has-been-desirable-for-over-100-years

This week the mainstream media again gave air to the impending doom of all Melbourne Property, through coverage of Citibank’s international head’s visit to Australia. Whilst some were digesting that, there was a sale that only helped confirm the opposite of Citibank’s constantly reported negative comments, with regards to the Australian property market.

That sale was 2 Myvore Road Toorak with Jock Langley and Tim Derham from Abercromby’s. It is a Melbourne Game Changer.

At James Marketnews there are no blankets (statements) and so the market we are talking about is good quality family homes in Inner Melbourne.

2 Myvore Toorak
What should a home – a very, very good one, over 4 levels with all the bells and whistles in Toorak go for?

Well let us help you work through it.

The block is an average house block for Melbourne at 790 square metres and was purchased/settled two years ago at $4,450,000 – a knock down – that worked out then at $5,600 per sq metre. It was bought at a strong time in the market (2015), possibly when some people were telling all and sundry, that the market was overheated.

Myvore is a good street, but is it one of Melbourne’s or indeed Toorak’s best streets?

Read More: http://marketnews.com.au/2017/06/game-changer/?utm_source=James+Market+News&utm_campaign=a51684b5ad-Masterclass+5th+June+2017+%28MN+subscribers%29&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1d173b0777-a51684b5ad-192491982

1972. Led Zeppelin cut their Kooyong concert short due to rain, Carlton beat Richmond in the VFL Grand Final by 27 points and Australia says “it’s time”, ending 23 years of conservative rule by electing the Labor Party, with Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister. Meanwhile, in Brighton, builders put the finishing touches on an elegant new home designed by architect Guilford Bell at. 32 North Road.

Better known as the Seccull House (for the couple who commissioned it, William and Elaine) today it’s stated as an “extraordinary work” by the Victorian Heritage Database. And, after a sensitive restoration and one previous attempt late last year, the house is back on the market.

RMIT Professor of Architecture Leon van Schaik AO, editor of The Life Work of Guilford Bell, architect 1912-1992, says the Seccull House is “among the best” of more than 70 buildings designed by the architect, known for his pure designs and modernist aesthetic. Read More Here: https://peterbarrett.com.au/2017/04/18/seccull-house-for-sale-your-chance-to-own-a-piece-of-1970s-melbourne-history/

Trophy homes around the nation: Portsea clifftop property sold by Abercromby's

Pharmaceutical entrepreneur Jeremy Cutts and wife Robin have bought on the Portsea clifftop. The property was offered for the first time in
35 years.. Read More
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/trophy-homes-around-the-nation-portsea-clifftop-property/news-story/c37a3acb6cdc203134517307bbb0beca