COASTAL LUXURY
READING THE MARKET ON THE GROUND
Each season brings its own assumptions, and school holidays are one of them. The expectation is a quieter market, with buyers and sellers stepping back for a few weeks. This week was forecast much the same way. What we saw across our auctions suggested otherwise.
We prefer to trust what is happening in front of us rather than the narrative that tends to form around this time of year. Activity on the ground is strong, with genuine competition across multiple properties and continued interest well beyond the fall of the hammer. Buyers who are ready to purchase are not waiting for a more convenient moment. They are acting when the right home presents itself.
Nowhere is that clearer than on the Mornington Peninsula. Conditions there have shifted in favour of buyers who have been patient, with a number of homes now priced more realistically than they were at the peak. That recalibration is drawing renewed interest, and we are seeing the results across our Peninsula offices, Sorrento among them, where recent sales point to a market that is far from subdued.
For sellers, this is a reminder that well-presented homes continue to attract serious buyers in any season. For buyers, current conditions offer a genuine window to secure quality property at a considered value.
If you are weighing up your next move, we would welcome the chance to share what we are seeing across your local market. Speak with your Marshall White agent to understand where the opportunities lie. ■
By John Bongiorno
O’CONNELL’S HOTEL GRILLED PRAWNS
PROJECTS
IN CONVERSATION WITH CERA STRIBLEY
PARK LANE
COASTAL LUXURY
2 HOYLAKE GROVE MORNINGTON
Designed by Taicon Group, this newly completed Mornington residence delivers a refined interpretation of contemporary coastal living, combining architectural sophistication with exceptional family functionality.
Positioned moments from the water’s edge, the home unfolds through light-filled interiors where engineered oak flooring, natural stone and bespoke timber joinery create a rich and cohesive material palette.
“This exceptional residence embodies the very best of contemporary coastal design, combining luxurious finishes, thoughtful functionality and an enviable lifestyle location moments from the water.”
CALCEDO
ADRIAN
MARSHALL WHITE DIRECTOR
At the heart of the home, a striking Calacatta marble kitchen appointed with premium Fulgor Milano appliances and an integrated butler’s pantry anchors expansive living and entertaining spaces, flowing seamlessly to a travertine-paved alfresco terrace and heated plunge pool.
Thoughtfully designed accommodation spans two levels, including luxurious bedroom suites and multiple living zones that offer flexibility for family living and guest hosting. Positioned moments from beaches, parkland and Mornington’s vibrant lifestyle precincts, this is a residence defined by craftsmanship, comfort and effortless coastal sophistication. ■
At O’Connell’s Hotel in South Melbourne, Head Chef Michael Conlon brings a refined approach to modern Australian dining. His Grilled Prawns with macadamia butter combine smoky flame-cooked seafood with roasted macadamias and bright citrus notes, creating a simple yet impressive dish made for effortless entertaining.
Serves: 2-3
INGREDIENTS
6 large raw king prawns, whole 200g macadamia nuts
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons water
1 lemon, cut into wedges for garnish
Olive oil
Salt
METHOD
1. Preheat the oven to 160°C. Roast the macadamia nuts for 15–20 minutes until evenly golden and toasted. Reserve a small handful for garnish.
2. Once slightly cooled, place the macadamias into a food processor with the lemon juice, lemon zest, water and a generous pinch of salt. Blend until smooth and buttery, then set aside.
3. To prepare the prawns, use kitchen scissors to cut along the spine of each prawn shell and remove the vein.
4. Lightly coat the prawns with olive oil and season with salt. Cook over a wood-fire grill for best results, though a barbecue or air fryer will also work well.
5. Grill the prawns, turning every 30–45 seconds. The butterflied edges will begin to open slightly once cooked. Total cooking time should be approximately 3–4 minutes.
6. To serve, spoon the macadamia butter onto the plate alongside the prawns. Finish with finely grated or crushed roasted macadamias and serve with fresh lemon wedges.
CONVERSATION WITH
CERA STRIBLEY
This month, we spoke with Melbourne-based multidisciplinary studio Cera Stribley. Founded on a commitment to residential design excellence and guided by the principle of designing by dialogue, the practice has grown to encompass architecture, interior design, bespoke houses and landscapes across a diverse portfolio of projects, from private residences and multi-residential developments to hospitality and commercial spaces.
Working from their Richmond studio, the Cera Stribley team brings a collaborative, human-centred approach to every brief, crafting spaces that are considered, layered and built to last.
What materials are you enjoying working with in current projects, and why?
We love all things hand-made, for the sense of craft and materiality, and the human touch they afford a space and a project.
Are there any “quiet” innovations that are changing how you detail interiors?
We feel that tried and tested approaches to planning and detailing are often the most successful. There are innovative hardware opportunities to aid in clever storage solutions, but these are details that the user should be unaware of, and purely functional (not the focus!).
Are there any materials you once avoided that you are reconsidering due to better finishes or supply?
Granite and cork are both natural, extremely durable, tactile materials that offer a great deal of variety and character. They are no longer limited to what we have traditionally recognised them as, and are beautifully timeless without being a trend.
What fashion ideas, such as palette, layering or silhouette, have you successfully translated into interiors?
We recently translated an equestrian approach to fashion by Moncler Fall 2015 for a hotel project, mixing stripes, checks and bold block colour. The outcome is confident and playful, yet executed in a mature, lasting way.
Which furniture item has proven timeless in your projects, robust and easy to live with?
Anything by Carl Hansen and Sons. They can do no wrong. Utterly timeless, sophisticated but with an often subtle, quirky edge. The materials, quality and shapes of these pieces make them generational, transcending trends and easily at home in any space. ■
THE FUTURE OF CREATIVI TY
The next generation of Victoria’s creative talent will take centre stage this year as Top Arts 2026 returns to The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from 13 March to 19 July, showcasing an inspiring collection of works by some of the state’s most accomplished young artists.
Now in its 32nd year, the annual exhibition has become one of the National Gallery of Victoria’s most anticipated community and education initiatives, highlighting the creativity, imagination and technical skill of students who have excelled in their VCE art studies. This year’s exhibition features 43 students selected from more than 1,100 submissions across metropolitan and regional Victoria, with works spanning painting, photography, sculpture, fashion, textiles and digital art.
The 2026 exhibition explores themes ranging from identity and memory to the natural world and contemporary culture. Among the featured works is Lex Blockey’s Transformations: A reflection of identity, a couture-inspired fashion piece drawing on sixteenth to eighteenth-century European silhouettes and traditional handmade techniques to explore modern perspectives on gender identity.
Another standout is flow by Sandringham College student Dylan Hopkins, the first interactive digital artwork to be included in a Top Arts exhibition. Combining art with computer science, the immersive work uses digital software and 3D rendering to create moving particles that respond to audience interaction, inviting visitors into a calming and playful visual experience.
Many of the exhibited works also reflect deep connections to place and community. First Nations artist Rome Jowett-Crociani’s suspended painting BOODJURA (fire sticks) honours Indigenous cultural burning practices and teachings passed down through family, while Oscar Cooke’s photographic series Mountains to Oceans captures the enduring relationship between surf communities and the coastline.
NGV Director Tony Ellwood AM described the exhibition as a celebration of “the creativity and vision of Victoria’s most talented young artists”, while also recognising the important role exhibitions like Top Arts play in supporting the state’s future creative leaders.
Free to attend, Top Arts 2026 offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the perspectives and ideas shaping Victoria’s emerging creative generation. ■
GEORDIE WILLIAMSON ALLEGORY OF A BLANKET 2025 Oil on canvas
91.5 x 152.5 cm Bendigo Senior Secondary College, Bendigo Dja Dja Wurrung Country © Geordie Williamson
1 COOLOONGATTA ROAD CAMBERWELL
A 3-5 B 2-3 C 2
From $1,895,000
A private collection of architecturally designed 3, 4 & 5 bedroom residences, positioned within a secure gated enclave in one of Camberwell’s most tightly held neighbourhoods. Defined by timeless architecture, expansive interiors and elevated craftsmanship, Park Lane introduces a refined new benchmark for contemporary family living. SALES BY
HAGEDORN 0432 737 911
KIERRA
DEVELOPED BY LANDSCAPING BY FINANCED BY STONE BY
THE LOCAL EDIT
MALVERN EAST CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
9 JULY 2026
St. John’s Anglican Church, 5 Finch Street, Malvern East, VIC 3145
MELBOURNE MAGIC FESTIVAL
UNTIL 11 JULY 2026
Arrow on Swanston, 488 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
LIGHT TO NIGHT FESTIVAL AT CHADSTONE
11–12 JULY 2026
1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone, VIC 3148
BLUEY’S BIG PLAY
UNTIL 12 JULY 2026
Comedy Theatre, 240 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
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
THE LITTLE FOOD MARKET
17-19 JULY 2026
9 Nicholson Street, Carlton, VIC 3053
TOP ARTS 2026: SHOWCASING EMERGING ARTISTS ACROSS VICTORIA
UNTIL 19 JULY 2026
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Federation Square, Melbourne, VIC 3000
RUN MELBOURNE
19 JULY 2026
Grand Slam Oval, Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne, VIC 3000
OPEN HOUSE MELBOURNE WEEKEND
24 - 26 JULY 2026
Various locations around Melbourne CBD and inner suburbs
CHRISTMAS IN JULY HIGH TEA BUFFET
25 JULY 2026
Stamford Plaza Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 6-23 AUGUST 2026
ACMI, Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 and other venues
NOW OR NEVER FESTIVAL 19–30 AUGUST 2026
Various venues including Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street, 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
FUTURE COUNTRY AT NGV AUSTRALIA
UNTIL 21 SEPTEMBER 2026
Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square, Melbourne, VIC 3000
ROYAL MELBOURNE SHOW
24 SEP – 4 OCTOBER 2026
Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Road, Ascot Vale, VIC 3032
MELBOURNE FRINGE FESTIVAL
29 SEP – 18 OCTOBER 2026
Various venues across Melbourne
IMAGINATOR
UNTIL 30 SEPTEMBER 2026
The District Docklands, Docklands, VIC 3008
CARTIER: MELBOURNE WINTER MASTERPIECES
UNTIL 4 OCTOBER 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
MELBOURNE FASHION WEEK
19-25 OCTOBER 2026
Melbourne Town Hall, 90–130 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 and various locations
115 CHOMLEY STREET
PRAHRAN
A 3-4 B 2-4 C 2-4
From $3,000,000 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 COOLOONGATTA ROAD
CAMBERWELL
A 3-5 B 2-3 C 2
From $1,895,000
A private collection of architecturally designed 3, 4 & 5 bedroom residences, positioned within a secure gated enclave in one of Camberwell’s most tightly held neighbourhoods.
DEVELOPED BY
LANDSCAPING BY FINANCED BY STONE BY KIERRA HAGEDORN 0432 737 911 SALES BY
INVESTMENT
We offer superior personalised service tailored to elevate both the value and experience of your rental property.
Discover the benefits of our client-focused approach in maximising your investment property’s potential with a complimentary rental appraisal.
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
Level 1/225 Bay Street, Brighton, VIC 3186 (03) 9822 9999
FLINDERS 10/33 Cook Street, Flinders, VIC 3929 (03) 5931 1000 SORRENTO 60 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento, VIC 3943 (03) 5981 3000 BRIGHTON
HAWTHORN
Level 1/801 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, VIC 3122 (03) 9822 9999
98 Mount Eliza Way, Mount Eliza, VIC 3930 (03) 9787 6650
Photo by Claus Troelsgaard