Issuu

Soulful sanctuary

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Note from the editor

As the conversation around housing evolves, the focus isn’t just on building more homes, but building them better. That’s exactly what Sustainable House Day 2026 celebrates this Sunday, May 17, across the ACT. It’s a great opportunity to explore homes showcasing practical solutions for efciency and climate readiness. Our Design feature highlights several standout properties, including Turner’s alluring Secret Garden House. Boasting a 7.6-star energy rating, recycled materials and much more, it’s bespoke, future-proofed design at its best. Check the event website for all the open homes available to tour. It may just spark inspiration for your next renovation or property purchase!

Scale meets sophistication

It can be easy for big houses to feel cold with all their blank walls and sharp edges, but not at 49 Quinane Avenue, Forde. As soon as you step inside, you’ll feel the warmth of the golden timber floors, soaring ceilings and abundance of natural light.

The four spacious bedrooms are all on the upper floor, including an enormous main-bedroom suite with a vast walk-in wardrobe and an en suite that’s actually bigger than the main bathroom.

Downstairs, a separate living room at the front makes for a quiet retreat. At the back, an open-plan kitchen, dining and family room leads out to a northfacing sunroom that can be fully opened up to the covered deck and landscaped gardens beyond.

There’s practical space too, such as a huge laundry, a walk-in pantry and a triple garage with a workshop. This home is designed for those who appreciate scale and sophistication, says agent Kris Hellier of Marq Property. The May 23 auction has a guide for offers over $1.6 million. Lucy Jones

Scan the code to see the

Editor Laura Valic

laura.valic@domain.com.au

Senior designer Colleen Chin Quan

Graphic designer Emma Drake

Head of print & B2B content Sarah Millar

Group content director Mark Roppolo

Chief marketing officer Aisling Finch

President Jason Pellegrino

Sales leader Nick Tinling

Marketing manager Bree Baguley

Source:

Laura Valic

WHAT TO SEE THIS WEEKEND

Words by Lucy Jones

8 Daglish Street $2.7 million+ 4 2 2 EER 5

Auction: 5.30pm, May 21

Agent: Momentum Property, Tim and Justine Burke 0411 878 587

With its bold mix of polished concrete, warm timber, black metal and glass walls, this three-level house is instantly striking. The versatile foor plan would work for any family, from the large ground-foor gym/rumpus room to the secluded ofce space and private retreat beside the main bedroom. The internal staircase is an architectural work of art, as is the curved free-standing bath. Outside, the sunken swimming pool, entertaining area and kitchen are all glamour.

4 Ironside Street $1.165 million+ 3 2 2 EER 2

Private sale

Agent: Bastion Property Group, Duncan Macdonald 0402 337 287

This distinctive house in Weston will charm you both inside and out. An unusual layout, interesting design features and endless natural light make it feel both homey and high style. The main-bedroom retreat on the upper foor has its own living area, both painted in a rich bottle green with matching tiles in the en suite and a quirky wood-panelled wall. The lush, landscaped gardens will entice you onto the wooden deck in every season.

Auction: 3pm, May 16

Agent: Nineteenth Street, Kellie Chalker 0412 485 674

Ngunnawal 4 Margany Close

$949,000+

2 2 EER 6

Auction: 1.30pm, May 16

Agent: The Property Collective, Jeremy Grobben 0412 552 751

Pearce

20 Parkhill Street

$1.795 million+ 5 3 2 EER 5

Private sale

Agent: Blackshaw Manuka, Mario Sanfrancesco 0412 488 027

Set on an oversized 1087-square-metre block, this contemporary house has endless potential. The large ofce or studio of the ground-foor main bedroom has external access, and there’s an additional living area upstairs between the main and another bedroom. Watch the kids play in the landscaped gardens from the raised covered deck. You’ll love the lifestyle here in leafy Pearce, too, with its walkable streets and proximity to nature.

Denman Prospect

74 Ada Norris Avenue

$1.025 million+ 4 3 2 EER 6

Private sale

Agent: My Morris, Abbey Morris 0423 287 213

Low-maintenance living with enough space for a family sets this townhouse apart. One of six properties in the row, each on their own title, it sits in one of Canberra’s fastest-growing suburbs. With two main-bedroom suites – one on each foor – there’s fexibility for multigenerational living, teens or guests. Enter into a lounge area and walk through to an open-plan living and kitchen area with a sunny courtyard beyond.

Kingston

12/29 Eastlake Parade

$1.295 million+ 3 2 2 EER 6

Private sale

Agent: Belle Property Canberra, Dan McAlpine 0488 055 786

There are views for days from this modern apartment on the Kingston Foreshore, with foor-to-ceiling windows wrapping around two sides. The thoughtful layout creates a huge open-plan living and entertaining area leading onto a protected balcony, which also separates the bedrooms for privacy. Underfoor heating in the bathrooms keeps things cosy year-round. Handy features such as built-in wardrobes, an internal laundry and a storage cage in the garage make apartment living easy.

Words by Dan F. Stapleton

Reaping rewards for going native

Landowners are discovering that protecting native bush can generate an income – and a sense of purpose.

“It was quite a learning experience. You have to invest a fair bit of time and talk to people who understand the system.” Ben Huda

When father-of-three Sam Cooke bought a forested 40-hectare parcel of land in the scenic Otways region of Victoria, he intended it for camping or riding motorbikes on the site with friends.

But when he applied to clear some of the land, he learned that he would need to “ofset” the bush he intended to raze by purchasing native vegetation credits through a Victorian government scheme.

That scheme, and others like it, grant “credits” to landowners who promise to protect and improve the native habitat on their properties in perpetuity. Those credits can then be sold to landowners like Cooke, who would otherwise be denied planning permission to remove native vegetation.

The ACT operates similarly by ofering grants, partnerships and rural landholder agreements designed to encourage conservation on private land.

“Learning about the program made me wonder if I wouldn’t be better of protecting the land and generating credits myself,” says Cooke.

Now, instead of riding motorbikes, he and his mates undertake conservation work, such as controlling weeds. Cooke and his kids camp there regularly, enjoying the pristine environment.

“Taking on this responsibility has been incredibly rewarding,” he says.

Until recently, major landowners, such as farmers and miners, generated most of the schemes’ credits and sold them to developers.

Cooke is one of a small but growing number of individuals with recreational properties who are joining the schemes.

To qualify, their land must be assessed by an accredited ecologist, who determines its biodiversity value and conservation management needs.

Credit brokers such as Biodiversity Ofsets Victoria often ofer this service, then help landowners sell their credits.

Anna O’Brien, director of Biodiversity Ofsets Victoria, explains that the money generated from selling credits is gradually released to landowners, providing revenue to manage the land and fulfl their conservation commitments. Under management, the biodiversity value of the sites increases, O’Brien says.

Small native herbs and sensitive shrubs return, paving the way for rare marsupials such as bandicoots and potoroos. “The knowledge landowners gain while protecting the existing biodiversity from threats is invaluable,” O’Brien says.

Scaling up

In NSW, trader Ben Huda is in the process of setting up nine Biodiversity Stewardship Sites, as they are known in the state, covering more than 1000 hectares.

“I started with one out near Parkes, in central-western NSW, where I grew up, and it progressed from there,” he says.

Huda is the co-founder of a successful London-based trading frm, which he still manages remotely part-time.

“When I came back to Australia, I wanted to do something I was passionate about, which was environmental conservation,” he says. His land portfolio includes sites in the Liverpool Ranges and an unspoiled wilderness area in southern NSW that’s home to an 80-metre waterfall.

Several of Huda’s properties are partially devoted to agriculture.

“I’ve always wanted to show that regenerative agriculture and biodiversity could co-exist,” he says.

Ian Rollins, managing director of Niche, the largest private ofset broker in NSW, says the schemes allow landowners to ring-fence a portion of their property for conservation, leaving the rest for recreation or farming.

“You might have a cattle farm with 50 or 100 hectares of bush down the back of the property that’s not being used, or you’ve bought a holiday home on a large block of land,” Rollins says.

Huda, who is working with Niche, says the intricacies of the schemes

can be daunting at frst. “It was quite a learning experience. You have to invest a fair bit of time and talk to people who understand the system.”

But he says landowners with relatively small parcels like his should persevere: “By putting an agreement on your block, you’re not changing your ability to enjoy that block. If anything, you’re going to enjoy it more.”

Rollins encourages landowners who are curious about the schemes to not be daunted by bureaucracy.

“Setting up a site is a low-cost and possibly very high income-generating proposition,” he says.

Willing steward: Sam Cooke says carrying out conservation work on his property has been “incredibly rewarding”.

Bush rewards: Ben Huda is turning his passion for conservation into profit.

Field work: An accredited ecologist determines the biodiversity value of a property.

VISIT

VICTORIA

Words by Ray Sparvell

ABending the rules for better design

softer, more organic trend is gently making its way into new builds: curved architectural features such as walls, staircases and arches.

Mimicking the natural fuidity of waves, seashells and pond ripples, curves are increasingly used by designers to balance strong geometric lines or enhance creative appeal.

Gavin van Zyl of White Rhino Property, who lists this week’s Googong feature property, says building curves have long been a feature in beachside homes. “But like any trend, they travel, and we’re

now seeing them incorporated into local builds,” he says. “I think the appeal is universal. They soften the feel of a building, and people respond to that.”

Van Zyl says the Googong property has embraced the curve motif throughout.

“The exterior curves are emphasised through contrasting material selections while the theme continues inside through key features like the kitchen island bench, bathtub, even furniture choices,” he says.

Sonja McAulife of Archertec Interiors says humans are naturally drawn to shapes that curve.

“It’s rare to see very straight lines or perfectly sharp right angles in nature,” she says. “Curves mimic organic shapes which make a space feel more soothing and natural.”

McAulife says the current curve trend is heavily infuenced by the revival of mid-century architecture – “a movement in the 1970s that saw bold organic shapes and sculptural forms”.

“We are using curves in interior design right now, often in kitchens and bathrooms, creating, say, pill-shaped benches, curved vanities, arched mirrors, free-standing oval baths, and so on.”

GO WITH THE FLOW

Soften

Curves soften built environments, using flowing forms that feel more human and intuitive. They create movement, guide the eye, and foster a calm and organic harmony.

Sculpt

Curved walls, ceilings and joinery introduce sculptural beauty into everyday spaces, adding depth, shadow play and tactile interest.

Connect

Arched openings and rounded corners reduce visual clutter and create a sense of continuity. Curves subtly connect rooms, enhance comfort and make homes feel more nurturing, fluid and emotionally resonant.

“The exterior curves are emphasised through contrasting material selections.” Gavin van Zyl

Incorporating curves into a home’s design is a sure sign of ambition – a willingness to go the extra mile to create something truly unique.

Curves inherently soften a space and promote a natural sense of flow, and the facade of this distinctive Googong home does exactly that.

Complemented by striking timber and stone features, the sweeping design naturally draws the eye toward the entryway, hinting at what lies within.

There is plenty to experience: this brand-new, turnkey, single-level residence sits on an expansive 700-square-metre block and offers nearly 300 square metres of living space under its roof.

The floor plan locates the bedrooms, a family bathroom and a study toward the front, with family living toward the rear. The curves reappear in one of the bedrooms and in the study, which could also serve as a work-from-home space.

FEATURE PROPERTY

13 Mowenbah Crescent

$1.35 million-$1.395 million

4 2 2

Private sale

Agent: White Rhino Property Googong, Gavin van Zyl 0429 269 260

The open-plan family zone is anchored by a designer kitchen featuring an oversized island bench with a breakfast bar.

There’s a line-up of Smeg appliances, including an integrated dishwasher, while a large butler’s pantry provides support and plenty of appliance storage.

Home comfort is provided by ducted heating and cooling and double glazing. Step outside to an entertaining space

that is ideal for gatherings with family and friends.

A double garage with internal access also offers side-of-house access, perfect for trailer storage. The home is close to schools, shops and transport. Scan the code to see the listing

Googong

DESIGN

Words by Jane Hone

Every year, more people across the country are building, renovating or retroftting houses to improve their sustainability – and every year, Sustainable House Day gives us the chance to step inside and tour some of these innovative homes.

“It’s an opportunity that we don’t get very often, to have a face-to-face conversation about how somebody else might’ve made sustainability changes,” says Helen Oakey, chief executive of event organiser, Renew. “It provides an atmosphere where people can ask questions and experience what a sustainable home feels like.”

Oakey says retroftting is on the rise as people consider how to make older, inefcient homes more comfortable.

The cost of new builds is another factor, and “a growing appreciation of the embodied energy in an existing home”.

“There are homes that have been electrifed ... [or] homes that might have been standard brick veneer that have now been transformed into liveable spaces that are also energy efcient,” Oakey says. Here are some properties open for tours on Sustainable House Day on May 17.

Secret Garden House Turner, ACT

This new build is the meeting point of sustainable living, creative expression and design that enables ageing in place. Its foor plan encourages intergenerational living, and interconnected pavilions allow the home to grow or shrink depending on who is in the house.

The building utilises passive heating and cooling methods, heat pump (reversecycle) heating and cooling, a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system and a solar PV array to achieve netzero energy use.

Sustainable House Day

Home owners and designers are fnding more sustainable ways to live – and opening their doors for others to learn.

It was also designed with the property’s large oak tree (and its microclimate) central to the concept, with the three linked pavilions all enjoying “secret garden” views.

Merri Home

Northcote, VIC

This house is located in an area with a heritage overlay, meaning the designer had to get extra creative in designing a sustainable home that would sit harmoniously alongside its neighbours.

The area’s architectural history is referenced through gable forms that also provide natural light and passive solar

gain, while the home follows PassivHaus principles through its airtight envelope, hybrid insulation and thermal mass, and heat-recovery ventilation system.

This is a new build, but the original slab and foundations were used to reduce additional embodied carbon.

Kingfsher House

Mullumbimby, NSW

This is a great example of an aesthetically pleasing, climate-responsive home built without a huge budget.

The house follows PassivHaus principles, featuring an airtight building envelope and double glazing.

Merri Home: This house is located in a heritage overlay, so it had to fit the streetscape.

PETER CLARKE

It is also built with mould resistance in mind. The design includes crossventilation, a central light well, a breathable membrane and an insulated roof system. Polished concrete foors and a hempcrete wall to help regulate moisture, encourage airfow and maintain a comfortable indoor temperature in a subtropical climate.

Oakey says Australia needs to be thinking about building and retroftting homes that consider the efects of climate change.

“Those impacts are diferent depending on where the homes are,” she says. “How does a home recover from food? How [does that happen] in a really efective and quick way without needing major insurance claims and repair work?

“In another part of the world, it might be about how we seal up our homes so that we’re not exposing [ourselves] to indoor air pollutants through, for example, bushfre smoke.”

The Earthen Retreat Byron Bay, NSW

The Earthen Retreat is a new, climateresponsive build that achieves comfort and energy efciency in a warm, humid location without air-conditioning.

Constructed using recycled timber and long-life materials such as copper and rammed earth, it features crossventilation and operable windows that leverage natural light and airfow.

A butterfy roof, deep verandah and garden canopy provide shading in hotter months, while rooftop solar and rainwater collection further improve the home’s sustainability.

Newcastle Efciency Journey Newcastle, NSW

This house shows that improving your home’s sustainability can be done slowly.

The owners of this house spent a decade reducing their energy use, transitioning of gas and improving the comfort of their home by going all-electric and installing solar, battery storage, heat-pump hot water, double glazing, insulation, a smart pool system (powered by excess solar), and a “green wall” for passive cooling.

Oakey says it’s important for people to see that a slow transition towards sustainability is also valuable, while understanding how to make those upgrades over time.

“We often say that the journey towards making a home more efcient is about wrapping up your house,” she says.

“So, insulating it really well, sealing your house and making sure there are no gaps. Then think about the appliances that you’re going to use for heating and cooling, your cooking and hot water.”

There are hundreds of homes open for in-person (and online) tours on Sustainable House Day.

Oakey says the beauty of opening up so many to the public is that housing sustainability experts and novices alike can gain inspiration.

“What we’re trying to do is really show people that sustainability solutions are available no matter where you are on that journey,” she says.

Sustainable House Day is on Sunday, May 17.

The Earthen Retreat: The house was constructed using recycled timber and a range of long-life materials.

Kingfisher House: This low-budget house was built with PassivHaus principles.

Secret Garden House: Far left and above, was designed around the property’s large oak tree.

Words by Jil Hogan

Step inside and be surprised

You might think you know what’s behind the front door of a classic Canberra red-brick duplex. But 55 Sturt Avenue in Narrabundah would likely suggest otherwise.

The fve-bedroom home has been beautifully reimagined and extended. While a classic front entrance welcomes you, step inside, and you’ll fnd light, volume and carefully curated interiors.

The kitchen leans heavily into warm timber tones. This is balanced by stone surfaces and clean lines, with an

accompanying oversized walk-in butler’s pantry. The space opens into expansive living and dining zones, where soaring ceilings and walls of glass invite natural light to pour in, while sliding doors peel back to connect seamlessly to the rear entertaining deck.

Then there’s the staircase. Wrapped in a rich golden hue, it’s a design statement in its own right. It leads upstairs to three bedrooms, including the main with a walk-in wardrobe and en suite. Another bedroom sits on the ground level, along

Steph Hoss Purnell

with a ffth that could serve as a rumpus room or second living area.

Custom joinery features throughout, from the entry mudroom to the wardrobes and a dedicated home ofce. Ducted reverse-cycle heating and cooling, coupled with double-glazed windows, enhance the comfort factor.

A lush lawn anchors the backyard, while fully landscaped, low-maintenance gardens feature mature olive and lemon trees. All of it sits behind automatic gates with a video intercom.

Narrabundah

55 Sturt

“This is Inner South perfection, fully reimagined and fawlessly executed. It’s rare to fnd such thoughtful design where all the hard work is already done, and you can simply move in and love it.”

Narrabundah holds an Inner South position, with original cottages enjoying modern reinventions. It’s home to the Canberra Cavalry baseball team and Canberra’s only after-hours cafe, Kita.

Auction: 11am, May 23

Agent: Purnell, Steph Hoss 0401 857 662

Elegant Family Living in a Prestgious Grifth Setng

Positoned within one of Grifth's most tghtly held, tree-lined streets, this beautfully appointed residence delivers a refned balance of space, style and functonality. Elevated across two thoughtully designed levels and framed by established gardens, the home ofers a sense of privacy and calm while remaining moments from everything this sought-afer Inner South locaton has to ofer. 73 La Perouse Street, Grifth.

For Sale View as advertsed or by appointment

Set across an impressive 1,195 acres approx. of highly versatle land, this remarkable rural holding at 8815 Kings Highway, Manar ofers the perfect blend of lifestyle, productvity, and long-term potental. The main residence is warm and invitng, featuring fve generous bedrooms, expansive living and family areas, and the comfort of two freplaces, ideal for the cooler months. Well-equipped for country living, the home also includes gas hot water and a traditonal Kangaroo cooker, while the property is supported by a reliable water bore and extensive infrastructure.

8815 Kings Highway, Bungendore. belleproperty.com 7 a 3 b 10 v 1,195 w For Sale View as advertsed or by appointment

Escape to a peaceful rural retreat designed for those seeking a genuine tree change, where space, sustainability, and the ability to grow your own food come together in a thoughtully designed and beautful home. Set within a tranquil landscape, this metculously planned property ofers a sophistcated balance of environmental efciency, practcality, and relaxed family living. Designed to minimise energy use while maintaining a naturally stable indoor environment, the home refects a strong commitment to thermal performance and considered, eco-conscious design.

Positoned in one of Googong's most sought-afer enclaves, this architecturally refned residence at 169 Mount Pleasant Drive, designed by award-winning Canberra boutque frm TT Architecture, delivers a seamless blend of luxury, technology, and lifestyle. Designed to maximise both comfort and outlook, the home captures breathtaking elevated views, ofering a front-row seat to Skyfre and New Year's Eve freworks from your own private deck. 169 Mount Pleasant Drive, Googong.

r b l o ck s n

• Large fully serviced lots from 850sqm to over 1,200sqm

• 30 minute drive to Canberra’s CBD and only 20 minutes to Queanbeyan

• A select range of both elevated lots with views and level lots for easy building

• Walking distance to new state-of-the-art $80M high school (open early 2027)

• Limited time offer : FREE STAMP DUTY (average saving of $20,000)

70 Dominion Cct, Deakin A Heritage Home on Park like Grounds $2,590,000 - $2,890,000

3 a 1 b 1 c 1765m2 i 1 j

A character home with a north-east aspect, this 1937 house offers a rare opportunity to become a custodian of Canberra’s architectural history. Set behind established hedging across parklike grounds and constructed from solid double brick, it features high ceilings, picture rails & warm timber finishes, creating a sense of refinement and comfort.

AGENT

Stephen Thompson 0418 626 254

UV: $2,750,000 (2025)

AGENCY

LJ Hooker Manuka 02 62395551

INSPECT: SATURDAY 1.00PM - 1.30PM

ACT Agency of the Year

HIVE ARE PROUD TO BE NAMED RATE MY AGENT’S ACT AGENCY OF THE YEAR FOR 2026.

We’re honoured to have received more 5-star reviews and client recommendations than any other agency in Canberra.

Client feedback is powerful, it reflects genuine experiences, measurable results, and the confidence our clients have in us.

If you’re looking for a team known for achieving quality outcomes and prioritising client satisfaction, we’d love to connect and see how we can assist.

7 years. Over 2,500 sales. Over $2.5B in sales.

“Our

JOSH MORRISSEY DIRECTOR

Now under construction in Braddon, Ahlei offers thoughtfully designed apartments created with comfort, quality and liveability in mind. Set within one of Canberra’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, Ahlei provides a well-connected approach to modern city living.

Discover

Surrounded

But

COAST & COUNTRY

Words by Jil Hogan

Private

Agent: Kim Poso Properties, Kim Poso 0457 616 712 This weatherboard cottage pairs a charming verandah with a garden that feels well-loved. Light pours through the picture window into a cosy living space, while outside, veggie beds and a chicken coop bring a layer of everyday practicality. “It’s a rare fnd ... for those wanting something manageable without giving up character,” the agent says. Views across Merimbula Lake set the tone at this fully renovated home, which ofers fexibility across two levels. Upstairs are two bedrooms, an openplan living space, and dual decks, while downstairs is a self-contained onebedroom unit with its own deck and courtyard. The property is just a twominute drive from Merimbula’s centre.

Private

Agent: Highland Southern Highlands, Paul Macefeld 0413 443 786

Words by Ray Sparvell

The next chapter for an old social club

It was a big loss for the community when the Chisholm Vikings social club closed its doors in January this year. The venue had been an integral part of Tuggeranong since it opened in 1989, and generations had enjoyed the club’s convenience and hospitality.

However, there may be a silver lining with an opportunity for a new owner or tenant to ofer a fresh vision.

The property, of nearly 6500 square metres, hosts a substantial building with a 1500-square-metre footprint and 500 square metres of lower-ground space. There’s also a 116-bay car park.

The club neighbours the popular Chisholm shopping centre and enjoys a commanding position with views over playing felds towards the picturesque Brindabella Ranges.

Andrew Smith of Civium Commercial says the property represents a rare opportunity for tenants, developers,

investors and owner-occupiers. “It’s a prominent site with signifcant potential for visionary buyers or tenants to reposition the property and lead it into its next chapter,” he says.

“The large-footprint site also ofers exciting scope for future expansion or

Chisholm 12 Benham Street

Expressions of interest: Close 3pm, May 28

Agent: