READING THE MARKET CLEARLY
There is a tendency, particularly in uncertain times, to look to media commentary for a sense of where the property market stands. The challenge is that broader narratives rarely reflect the nuance of what is actually happening at a street level. Across the areas in which Marshall White operates, the picture this week is one of continued activity, healthy buyer engagement, and a market that, whilst not without its complexities, is holding with more steadiness than many might expect.
Auction success rates remain solid, if slightly softer than the peaks we experienced through last year. That distinction matters. Marginally below exceptional is still, by all measures, a strong market. Sellers who approach the process with clear expectations and sound advice are continuing to achieve excellent outcomes. And buyers, who have navigated a year of changing conditions, are finding that the current environment offers a more considered entry point than has been available for some time.
We are also seeing a number of investment property owners sadly choose to sell. The cumulative pressures of changes to taxation, land tax, compliance obligations, management fees, owners’ corporation levies, council rates, and ongoing maintenance costs have made holding more challenging in recent years, and for some, a well-timed sale is simply the right next step. Where that decision has been made, we are well placed to guide owners through the process with the care and expertise it deserves.
Understanding how these market shifts affect your position, whether as a seller, a buyer or an investor, is precisely where we can help. Reach out to your local Marshall White team. ■
By John Bongiorno
STUDIOAMARO
SOUR CHERRY NEGRONI
INCONVERSATIONWITH KINNON
COMMUNITY DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER AT THE NGV
PROJECTS
DENMARK GARDENS
RURAL ELEGANCE
231 RED HILL ROAD RED HILL SOUTH
Introduced by a long tree-lined driveway and magnificent centuryold Oak tree, this exceptional Red Hill South estate delivers a refined hinterland lifestyle across 1.5 acres (approx.) of breathtaking surrounds. Framed by established gardens, rolling valley vistas and distant ocean views, the New England-inspired residence balances timeless elegance with contemporary family functionality.
Soaring ceilings, French doors and bespoke finishes define a series of expansive living and entertaining spaces, flowing seamlessly to vine-covered terraces, landscaped gardens and a solar-heated pool overlooking the surrounding landscape.
“A home of remarkable scale and beauty, where elegant interiors and stunning outdoor spaces come together to create an exceptional lifestyle experience.”
STEPHEN BASTER MARSHALL WHITE DIRECTOR, AUCTIONEER
A marble-topped kitchen appointed with an authentic English Aga cooker, butler’s pantry and dedicated catering wing anchors the home’s entertaining capability, while multiple living zones and five ensuite bedrooms offer remarkable flexibility for family living and guest accommodation.
Positioned moments from Red Hill’s renowned wineries, restaurants and village amenities, this is a private coastal hinterland retreat defined by craftsmanship, scale and extraordinary natural beauty. ■
Tucked within Melbourne’s vibrant hospitality scene, Studio Amaro is known for its contemporary take on Italian aperitivo culture, pairing bold flavour profiles with a refined cocktail experience. This Sour Cherry Negroni offers a rich, bittersweet twist on the classic, balancing botanical gin, bitter Campari and Punt e Mes with the depth and brightness of sour cherry syrup.
Serves: 1
INGREDIENTS
20ml Archie Rose Gin
20ml Punt e Mes
20ml Campari
30ml sour cherry syrup
(made with sour cherry juice, sugar and citric acid)
Glassware: Whisky / short glass
METHOD
Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and stir until chilled. Double strain over a large block of ice in a whisky glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry speared with a cocktail toothpick.
STUDIO AMARO
168 CHAPEL STREET WINDSOR
We sat down with Beth Richards, Founder and Creative Director of Melbourne luxury leather label Kinnon, to discuss the launch of Paloma. A collection of bags crafted from Italian leather with a signature gold bar detail, Paloma is designed for women who value simplicity, craftsmanship and quiet confidence in equal measure.
How did you balance simplicity with a strong sense of identity throughout the Paloma collection?
For us, simplicity is about being intentional with every decision. With Paloma, we wanted each piece to feel immediately recognisable without relying on anything too loud or obvious. The identity lives in the details: the bar detailing, the proportion of a strap, the weight of the hardware, the way the leather sits. When you get those things right, the bag speaks for itself.
The signature gold bar detail introduces both structure and a subtle femininity. Can you talk us through the thinking behind this design element?
The gold bar detailing came before almost everything else. We knew we wanted a signature element that would tie the collection together without overpowering it. What drew us to the bar was the pairing of structure with the suppleness of the leather. It has a precision to it, almost architectural, but against the leather, it brings out a softer side. That balance is very Kinnon. It became the quiet anchor of the whole collection.
Paloma feels inherently versatile, moving between work, travel and everyday moments. How did functionality influence the design process?
Functionality is never separate from the design process; it is the foundation of it. We spend a lot of time thinking about how women actually move through their days. Paloma needed to work in a boardroom, on a plane and at dinner without asking the woman carrying it to compromise. That means thinking about interior organisation, strap adjustability and the weight of the piece when it’s full. The goal is always a piece that keeps up with the pace of your life and still manages to elevate it.
Materiality plays a key role in Kinnon’s collections. How does craftsmanship contribute to the longevity and feel of the Paloma pieces?
We’ve always believed that the right inputs and materials do a lot of the work. Italian leather has a quality that you feel immediately: the way it sits, the way it responds to wear, the way it ages. With Paloma, we were deliberate about sourcing leathers built for longevity, because we design for women who invest with intention. Craftsmanship at Kinnon isn’t measured by how a piece looks on day one; it’s measured by how it carries itself for years to come. It’s equally important to us that all our leathers hold a gold star rating from the Leather Working Group, the global body for ethical and sustainable production.
There’s a quiet confidence to Paloma, understated yet intentional. What do you hope women feel when they carry a piece from the collection?
We hope they feel like the best version of themselves. Paloma wasn’t designed to demand attention. It was designed to give the woman carrying it a sense of quiet certainty, that feeling of having everything exactly where it needs to be. Paloma is for the woman who doesn’t need to announce her presence. That effortless confidence is what the Kinnon woman embodies, and the Paloma collection is a reflection of that. ■
LEARN
DUKE EDWARD OF WINDSOR (FORMER KING EDWARD VIII) AND DUCHESS OF WINDSOR (WALLIS SIMPSON, WITH A NECKLACE BY CARTIER) DURING BALL in Versailles on June 17, 1953 © AGIP / Bridgeman Images
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER AT THE NGV
NECKLACE CARTIER LONDON, SPECIAL ORDER, 1934 Platinum, diamonds Owned by the Sassoon family Cartier Collection Nils Herrmann, Cartier Collection © Cartier
FLORAL BASKET PENDANT WATCH CARTIER PARIS, 1909 Platinum, pink gold, diamonds, enamel Owned by Nellie Melba Cartier Collection Nils Herrmann, Cartier Collection © Cartier
Diamonds may be forever, but they have never looked quite like this.
Opening exclusively in Melbourne on 12 June 2026, the NGV’s Melbourne Winter Masterpieces® presentation, Cartier, assembles more than 300 resplendent jewels, tiaras, necklaces, brooches, timepieces and original design drawings - an unprecedented Australian survey of the maison’s artistry and innovation. Direct from London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, the exhibition traces Cartier’s ascent from a family workshop to the first truly international jewellery house, revealing how design excellence, technical bravura and cultural curiosity forged an unmistakable style.
At its heart is the story of three brothers — Louis, Pierre and Jacques Cartier — who, at the turn of the twentieth century, expanded the firm to Paris, London and New York, bringing design and manufacture inhouse and refining the ethereal ‘Garland style’. The exhibition traces its origins through the Art Deco decades and beyond, spotlighting Jeanne Toussaint’s visionary tenure as Creative Director (1933–1970), when the panther motif evolved into legend and modern glamour found its feline emblem.
Cartier’s reputation broadened thanks to the devotion of royal figures and leading creatives from the worlds of cinema, music and fashion. Pieces owned and worn by Elizabeth Taylor, Rihanna, Princess Margaret, the Duchess of Windsor, Dame Nellie Melba, the Maharaja of Patiala, the Begum Aga Khan III and American heiress Barbara Hutton shimmer with biography as much as brilliance. Taylor’s latticework diamond necklace set with seven Burmese rubies, gifted by Mike Todd, burns with the “red fire” she so famously described. A diamond rose clip worn by Princess Margaret at her sister’s coronation brings ceremony into intimate scale, while Wallis Simpson’s trove — among them the witty Flamingo brooch, an opulent amethyst-and-turquoise Bib necklace, and the 1949 Panther clip set with a 152.35-carat Kashmir cabochon sapphire — reminds us that audacity is a Cartier signature.
A spectacular display of over 20 tiaras is a highlight, linking classical laurel wreaths and celestial halos to modern occasions of state and style. Highlights include the Scroll tiara of 1902, worn by Clementine Churchill at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation and by Rihanna on the cover of W, alongside the Sun tiara of 1907, featuring a heart-shaped 32-carat fancy intense yellow diamond, and the 1934 diamond-andplatinum Halo tiara, inspired by ancient Egypt.
Material intelligence threads throughout. Jacques Cartier’s sourcing voyages to the Middle East, India and Sri Lanka expanded the house’s gemological palette, while the exhibition’s dedicated materials section lays bare the stones, metals and techniques behind the myth. A rich selection of Tutti Frutti jewels, timepieces that chart Cartier’s watchmaking innovations, and contemporary works featuring Australian opals illustrate the maison’s dual allegiance to heritage and reinvention.
Fittingly, the exhibition design, conceived by the NGV with Rotterdam practices Studio Sabine Marcelis and CLOUD, responds to colour, light and materiality, echoing Cartier’s own language while guiding visitors through a sequence of luminous set pieces. ■
14-16 DENMARK HILL ROAD
HAWTHORN EAST
A 3 B 2 C 2
From $1,615,000
Discover the perfect blend of urban convenience and natural serenity just steps from Camberwell Junction. Designed by Cera Stribley, these meticulously crafted homes feature cutting-edge design and technology. Residents also enjoy exclusive access to a beautifully designed 170sqm communal garden, where innovation meets exceptional craftsmanship.
THE LOCAL EDIT
MELBOURNE WINTER MASTERPIECES: CARTIER
12 JUNE - 4 OCTOBER 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
LIGHTSCAPE: WINTER WONDERLAND
12 JUNE - 2 AUGUST 2026
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne Gardens, Melbourne, VIC 3004
MORNINGTON PENINSULA RACECOURSE
MARKET
14 JUNE 2026
320 Racecourse Road, Mornington, VIC 3931
BOROONDARA FARMERS MARKET
20 JUNE 2026
484 Auburn Road, Hawthorn, VIC 3122
SORRENTO SOLSTICE FESTIVAL
20 JUNE 2026
Sorrento Foreshore, Sorrento, VIC 3943
TRENTHAM FARMERS MARKET
20 JUNE 2026
27 High Street, Trentham, VIC 3458
FAMILY FREE FUN DAY
21 JUNE 2026
Queenscliff Ferry Terminal, 1 Wharf Street East, Queenscliff, VIC 3225
BASEMENT COMEDY CLUB: WEEKEND
SHOWCASE
UNTIL 27 JUNE 2026
Basement Comedy Club, 120 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
MHSN MASQUERADE GALA
27 JUNE 2026
320 Racecourse Road, Mornington, VIC 3931
FONDUE CHALET
UNTIL 28 JUNE 2026
Skyline Federation Square, Melbourne, VIC 3000
MELBOURNE MAGIC FESTIVAL
29 JUNE - 11 JULY 2026
Arrow on Swanston, 488 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
FIRELIGHT FESTIVAL
3-5 JULY 2026
Harbour Esplanade, Docklands, VIC 3008
MALVERN EAST CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
9 JULY 2026
St. John’s Anglican Church, 5 Finch Street, Malvern East, VIC 3145
MOTHER: STORIES FROM THE NGV COLLECTION
UNTIL 12 JULY 2026
Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square, Melbourne, VIC 3000
SALON AFTER D’ARC: THE GIFT OF HEARTBREAK 15 JULY 2026
Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne, VIC 3000
TOP ARTS 2026: SHOWCASING EMERGING
ARTISTS ACROSS VICTORIA
UNTIL 19 JULY 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
RUN MELBOURNE 19 JULY 2026
Grand Slam Oval, Olympic Boulevard Melbourne, VIC 3000
CHRISTMAS IN JULY HIGH TEA BUFFET
25 JULY 2026
Stamford Plaza Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000
WINTER NIGHT MARKET
EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING
UNTIL 26 AUGUST 2026
Queen Victoria Market, Queen Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
STATE LIBRARY VICTORIA UNLOCKED
UNTIL 31 AUGUST 2026
State Library Victoria, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
IMAGINATOR
UNTIL 30 SEPTEMBER 2026
The District Docklands, Docklands, VIC 3008
28 ALBERT ROAD
SOUTH MELBOURNE
A 3-4 B 3-5 C 2-8
From $2,500,000
In Melbourne’s coveted Domain Precinct, First Light will soon unveil a groundbreaking fusion of art and architecture, promising to redefine the concept of luxury living through its innovative design and unparalleled attention to detail.
KIERRA HAGEDORN 0432 737 911 SALES BY
DEVELOPED BY DESIGNED BY INTERIORS BY
115 CHOMLEY STREET
PRAHRAN
A 3-4 B 2.5 C 2-4
From $2,365,000 Chomley Terraces offers refined 3 and 4-bedroom townhouses in Prahran East offering living rooms that are a minimum 6m wide, 9ft ceilings, individual solar panels, EV ready and some with private lifts. Designed by Cera Stribley with landscaping by Andrew Panton Design, each residence also includes keyless entry and a 6y building guarantee.
ROSS HAMS 0410 160 151 SALES BY
DEVELOPED BY GARDENS BY
DESIGNED BY
1 REDBOURNE AVENUE MOUNT ELIZA
COASTAL CHARACTER
Blending retro flair with coastal elegance, this distinctive Mount Eliza residence delivers relaxed family living in a prized village-side setting. Light-filled interiors and expansive alfresco spaces create effortless indoor-outdoor entertaining, while flexible accommodation, established gardens and refined finishes enhance the home’s unique character moments from leading schools, parklands and village amenities. ■
FOR ENQUIRIES CONTACT
JENNIFER O’CONNELL 0439 390 109
KATE MORGAN 0473 001 022 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OUR OFFICE LOCATIONS
ALBERT PARK
110 Bridport Street, Albert Park, VIC 3206 (03) 9822 9999
ARMADALE
1111 High Street, Armadale, VIC 3143 (03) 9822 9999
BALWYN
Level 2/379-381 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn, VIC 3103 (03) 9822 9999
BRIGHTON
Level 1/225 Bay Street, Brighton, VIC 3186 (03) 9822 9999
FLINDERS 10/33 Cook Street, Flinders, VIC 3929 (03) 5931 1000
HAWTHORN
Level 1/801 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, VIC 3122 (03) 9822 9999
MOUNT ELIZA
98 Mount Eliza Way, Mount Eliza, VIC 3930 (03) 9787 6650
SORRENTO
60 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento, VIC 3943 (03) 5981 3000
Photo by Claus Troelsgaard