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A MARKET IN QUIET MOTION

The school holidays are offering a predictable pause across the Melbourne property market, with auction volumes easing as families turn their attention to the break. Yet beneath the seasonal quiet, activity is telling a different story. A number of properties are coming to market, supported by buyer confidence and a growing recognition of the value Melbourne continues to present.

Among the most encouraging shifts has been the increasing presence of investors in the market. With Melbourne’s relative affordability compared to other capital cities drawing attention, the current market is providing an opportunity for buyers to act decisively. It is a pattern that has been building steadily, and one that speaks to the strength of the city’s property fundamentals.

Looking ahead, the next weeks are shaping up as a period of purposeful preparation. Vendors are using the time to arrange private inspections, attend to final presentations, and position their properties for the traditionally active autumn selling season. May, in particular, is expected to see an increase in new listings and renewed energy across the market.

Off-market activity continues to grow year on year, reinforcing the depth of buyer demand even outside of traditional campaign windows. The outlook across Melbourne remains encouraging, supported by strong buyer engagement and the calibre of properties coming to market.

If you are preparing to sell or exploring what’s available off market, speak with your local Marshall White team to ensure you’re well positioned for the weeks ahead. ■

By John Bongiorno

THEDOUGLASCLUB

AIRBORNE COCKTAIL

INCONVERSATIONWITH

COMMUNITY

PROJECTS

EDEN RISING

ROBERT GORDON

FOLEY PARK

URBAN SANCTUARY

22 YOUNG STREET ALBERT PARK

Comprehensively reimagined by Ewert Leaf with interiors by Tamsin Johnson and landscaping by Sam Barber, this landmark Albert Park residence delivers a rare family compound of scale, design and versatility on 673sqm (approx.).

Defined by architectural precision and material richness, interiors unfold through oak, marble and steel-framed glazing, with soaring ceilings enhancing light and spatial flow. The main suite retains its heritage character, complemented by a bespoke dressing room, marble ensuite and adjoining library with gas fireplace.

“Every element has been carefully resolved, resulting in a home that balances design excellence with an exceptional sense of comfort and privacy all within one of the area’s most tightly held streets.”

OLIVER BRUCE

MARSHALL WHITE DIRECTOR, AUCTIONEER

Expansive living and dining domains connect seamlessly to landscaped gardens through walls of glass, anchored by heated concrete floors and a statement marble kitchen with premium European and Sub Zero appliances. Outdoors, a heated pool, alfresco entertaining zone and rooftop terrace create a resort-like setting.

A dedicated wellness retreat with gym, sauna and cold plunge extends to a self-contained guest residence with its own frontage, offering exceptional flexibility for multi-generational living or professional use. ■

A layered and aromatic cocktail balancing bright citrus with warming spice. Blackberry and lime bring freshness, while chai syrup and infused vodka add depth and complexity. Created by The Douglas Club, it offers a refined take on a modern classic, perfect for evening entertaining.

INGREDIENTS

50ml blanco tequila

10ml tonka bean–infused vodka

3 blackberries

30ml lime juice

15ml chai syrup

Salt, for rim

Chai Syrup:

500ml water

500g sugar

1 vanilla pod

1 cinnamon stick

½ tsp ground nutmeg

8 cloves

10 cardamom pods, cracked

1 star anise

Tonka Bean–Infused Vodka:

1 bottle vodka

3 tonka beans

METHOD

1. For the infused vodka, add tonka beans to the bottle and infuse for up to one week, shaking daily.

2. To make the chai syrup, lightly toast spices until aromatic. Add water and bring to the boil, then stir in sugar until dissolved. Simmer gently for 30 minutes, then cool and strain.

3. To assemble, lightly muddle blackberries in a shaker. Add tequila, infused vodka, lime juice and chai syrup.

4. Shake well and fine strain into a rocks glass with a salted rim.

TO SERVE

Serve immediately over ice, garnished with fresh blackberry if desired.

ROBERT GORDON IN CONVERSATION WITH

Robert Gordon Interiors is deeply rooted in ceramic craftsmanship and Australian design. How would you describe the philosophy that underpins your work, and how has it evolved from your heritage as potters to contemporary interiors?

Our family has lived and breathed ceramics for over 80 years. In an era of mass-produced fixtures, we believe there is a rare pleasure in basins that bear the unmistakable marks of a maker’s hand. No matter how advanced the machinery, it can never replicate the subtle idiosyncrasies and originality of a design shaped by human touch. Our transition into interiors is simply an extension of this belief: bringing the warmth of the pottery into the permanent fabric of the home.

Many of your basins and lighting pieces are designed to last a lifetime. How do you balance timeless design with contemporary relevance, and what does “longevity” mean in the context of interiors today?

Longevity begins with the material. We use Australian stoneware fired at exceptionally high temperatures to ensure every piece is vitrified and incredibly strong. From a design perspective, we lean into a distinct Australian aesthetic—strong, tactile, and honest. For us, longevity means creating pieces people want to live with for decades, not years. We avoid fleeting trends, opting instead for interesting, considered colours that sit comfortably in everyday spaces while remaining undeniably special.

From recycled clay to solar-offset firing, sustainability plays a role in your production process. How do you approach responsible design, and what challenges or opportunities come with creating handcrafted pieces at scale?

Responsible design starts with our materials. We work with 100% recycled Australian clay across our Kiln basins, pendant lights and wall hooks. Slip casting allows us to continually reclaim and reprocess clay into liquid form, which is then poured back into our moulds — creating a circular material process within our production. Sustainability for us is also about making pieces that last. By using a high-fired stoneware

body and designing products that are timeless rather than trenddriven, we’re creating objects that are intended to stay in homes for decades.

Producing handcrafted pieces at scale is always a balance. The challenge is maintaining consistency while still preserving the character that comes from human touch. The opportunity is that it allows us to support skilled local manufacturing — we’re proud to employ 50 hardworking and inspiring people here at the pottery — and to prove that responsible, Australian-made production can still operate at meaningful scale.

As interest in locally made, artisanal design continues to grow, where do you see Australian craftsmanship heading next — and how do you envision Robert Gordon Interiors shaping the future of interior design?

Our family has been designing and making pottery since 1945, that depth of knowledge — built over three generations — sits at the heart of everything we do. We see Australian craftsmanship continuing to move toward pieces that are authentic, responsibly made and designed with real longevity in mind. There’s a growing appreciation for locally made products, for the story behind them, and for the people who make them.

At Robert Gordon Interiors, we see our role as honouring traditional craftsmanship while continuing to innovate. Our Australian-designed collections — alongside carefully sourced imported ranges — are created with a strong focus on quality, functionality and timeless design. We’re excited about continuing the tradition of making and distributing our best work, while helping shape a future where thoughtful, well-made pieces are valued over mass production. ■

LEARN

EDEN RISING

Eden is an anti-trafficking, notfor-profit organisation offering women safety, hope and a bright future. We spoke with Eden’s General Manager, Michelle Kerr, about the projects Eden offers and its powerful impact on women in Myanmar.

Tell us about Eden’s work in Myanmar:

Based in a country devastated by continual political unrest and humanitarian crises, Eden works on the frontline rescuing women from human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Women enter through outreach teams operating in brothels and trafficking hubs and are offered a way out of traumatic circumstances. Eden’s shelters and dropin centres provide safety, medical care, trauma counselling and creative therapies. To truly break the trafficking cycle, programs extend beyond immediate care, offering vocational training through either Eden’s international jewellery social enterprise or its Microgreens project.

How does the jewellery business benefit women?

Eden Australia operates as a registered non-profit, amplifying awareness and funding Eden’s work in Myanmar. All donations and profits from the jewellery enterprise directly fund safe housing, healthcare and prevention. Eden jewellery, inspired and handcrafted by survivors, embodies their stories of courage and hope. Every purchase directly supports women in Eden’s programs. Their workday includes counselling, therapeutic arts and education, ensuring healing without financial stress, and crafting jewellery becomes a therapeutic act of empowerment.

What is the current situation in Myanmar?

Myanmar’s socio-economic decline, rising poverty and escalating political crises led Eden to introduce the Microgreens project to address growing food insecurity, which is closely linked to increased trafficking vulnerabilities. Human trafficking remains the world’s second-largest criminal activity, generating more than $357 billion annually, with approximately two-thirds derived from the commercial sexual exploitation of women and girls. Eden continues to venture into the most challenging areas, illuminating darkness with hope, advocating for the voiceless and partnering with women as they transform their lives.

How does the Microgreens project work?

With 19.9 million people in Myanmar requiring aid and 15.2 million facing food insecurity, Eden developed a unique urban farming and microgreens project equipping survivors with sustainable skills and economic opportunity. Survivors are trained in urban farming and permaculture, fresh produce is processed into nutrient-dense powder, and that powder is distributed in slum areas to those most at risk of malnutrition, addressing root causes of trafficking, ill health and debt bondage.

Cherry’s story:

Deceived and trafficked into brothel work, Cherry endured terrible violence before discovering Eden’s drop-in centre, where she was treated with dignity for the first time. The Microgreens Project gave her safe, paid employment and community support, and with it, stability, confidence and purpose.

“My story has many dark chapters, but this one is full of light. And for the first time, I’m excited to see what comes next.” Cherry, June 2025

Be Light. Bring Hope. Share Love. ■

THE LOCAL EDIT

WESTWOOD | KAWAKUBO

UNTIL 16 APRIL 2026

National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006

GUIDE DOGS VICTORIA COMMUNITY FAIR

18 APRIL 2026

2 Chandler Highway, Kew, VIC 3101

BOROONDARA FARMERS MARKET

18 APRIL 2026

484 Auburn Road, Hawthorn, VIC 3122

TRENTHAM FARMERS MARKET

18 APRIL 2026

27 High Street, Trentham, VIC 3458

PORT FAIRY FARMERS MARKET

18 APRIL 2026

21 Victoria Street, Creswick, VIC 3363

MAKERS AND SHAKERS MARKET

18-19 APRIL 2026

Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens, Carlton, VIC 3053

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL

UNTIL 19 APRIL 2026

Melbourne Town Hall, 90/130 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

PENINSULA CERAMICS WORKSHOP

19 APRIL 2026

545 Mornington-Tyabb Road, Moorooduc, VIC 3933

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST MUSICAL

UNTIL 20 APRIL 2026

Her Majesty’s Theatre, 219 Exhibition Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

SORRENTO’S WRITERS FESTIVAL

23-26 APRIL 2026

The Intercontinental Sorrento, 21 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento, VIC 3943

DIVA AT THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM OF PERFORMING ARTS

UNTIL 26 APRIL 2026

100 St Kilda Road, Southbank, VIC 3004

RUN THE TAN

26 APRIL 2026

Tan Track, Melbourne, VIC 3004

2026 MORNINGTON PENINSULA CLASSIC AT THE DUNES GOLF LINKS

26 APRIL - 1 MAY 2026

335 Browns Road, Rye, VIC 3941

MACEDON RANGES AUTUMN FESTIVAL

UNTIL 30 APRIL 2026

Southrock Road, Woodend, VIC 3442

COCKTAIL MASTERCLASS AT THE KITCHEN

1 MAY 2026

1917 Point Nepean Road, Tootgarook, VIC 3941

MAYTIME FAIR

2 MAY 2026

Xavier College, 135 Barkers Road, Kew, VIC 3101

WOODEND COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKET

2 MAY 2026

High Street & Forest Street, Woodend VIC 3442

HILL AND RIDGE COMMUNITY MARKET

2 MAY 2026

184 Arthurs Seat Road, Red Hill, VIC 3937

KINGSTON FARMERS MARKET

2 MAY 2026

3 Jean Street, Cheltenham, VIC 3192

WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS 1900-1975:

A LEGACY OF LIGHT

UNTIL 3 MAY 2026

National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006

LET’S PARTY! FASHION FOR KIDS:

UNTIL 3 MAY 2026

National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006

ART TRAILS & OPEN STUDIOS

3-4 MAY 2026

Various Studios in Macedon and Mount Macedon

HEIDE MARKET

9 MAY 2026

7 Templestowe Road, Bulleen, VIC 3105

MORNINGTON RACECOURSE MARKET

10 MAY 2026

320 Racecourse Road, Mornington, VIC 3931

MACEDON VILLAGE FARMERS MARKET

30 MAY 2026

67 Smith Street, Macedon, VIC 3440

POINT NEPEAN PORTSEA MARKET

6 JUNE 2026

Point Nepean Quarantine Station, Coleman Road, Portsea, VIC 3944

MOTHER: STORIES FROM THE NGV COLLECTION

UNTIL 12 JULY 2026

Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square, Melbourne, VIC 3000

9 O’SHAUGHNESSY STREET KEW

A 3-4 B 2-3 C 2-3 From $3,350,000

A rare offering – six park front residences in Kew. Architecture and interiors by Carr and landscaping by Acre. The building features a secure double-gated garage with number plate recognition for seamless basement access, 24/7 surveillance and keyless entry throughout.

DEVELOPED BY

BUILT BY

ARCHITECTURE BY GARDENS BY

PROJECT MANAGEMENT BY

EDWARDIAN ELEGANCE

Captivating Edwardian charm defines this beautifully updated Brighton home, where period detail meets modern family living. Light-filled interiors unfold to a flexible layout and open-plan living, extending to a north-facing garden with a solar heated pool. Positioned moments from Martin Street, schools and transport, it offers timeless appeal and everyday ease. ■