Property of the week: Penthouse, 601/12 Baptist St, Redfern
A Sydney site with a questionable past is reborn as a luxe residential environment ideal for indulging in dining out
2 min
Long-term Sydney residents always had handful of not-so-glamourous nicknames for the building on the corner of Cleveland and Baptist Streets straddling Redfern and Surry Hills, but after a modern rebirth that’s all changed.
Once known as “Murder Mall” or “Methadone Mall”, the 1960s-built Surry Hills Shopping Centre was a magnet for colourful characters and questionable behaviour. Today, however, a $500 million facelift of the site — alongside a slow and steady gentrification of the two neighbouring suburbs — the prime corner property has been transformed into a luxury apartment complex Surry Hills Village by developer Toga Group.
The crowning feature of the 122-apartment project is the three-bedroom penthouse, fully completed and just released to market with a $7.5 million price guide.
Measuring 211sqm of internal space, with a 136sqm terrace complete with landscaping, the penthouse is the brand new brainchild of Surry Hills local Adam Haddow, director of architecture at award-winning firm SJB.
Victoria Judge, senior associate and co-interior design lead at SJB says Surry Hills Village sets a new residential benchmark for the southern end of Surry Hills.
“The residential offering is well-appointed, confident, luxe and bohemian. Smart enough to know what makes good living, and cool enough to hold its own amongst design-centric Surry Hills.”
Allan Vidor, managing director of Toga Group, adds that the penthouse is the quintessential jewel in the crown of Surry Hills Village.
“Bringing together a distinct design that draws on the beauty and vibrancy of Sydney; grand spaces and the finest finishes across a significant footprint, located only a stone’s throw away from the exciting cultural hub of Crown St and Surry Hills.”
Created to maximise views of the city skyline and parkland, the top floor apartment has a practical layout including a wide private lobby leading to the main living room, a sleek kitchen featuring Pietra Verde marble and a concealed butler’s pantry Sub-Zero Wolf appliances, full-height Aspen elm joinery panels hiding storage throughout, flamed Saville stone flooring, a powder room, and two car spaces with a personal EV.
All three bedrooms have large wardrobes and ensuites with bathrooms fittings such as freestanding baths, artisan penny tiles, emerald marble surfaces and brushed-nickel accents.
Additional features of the entertainer’s home include leather-bound joinery doors opening to a full wet bar with Sub-Zero wine fridge and Sub-Zero Wolf barbecue.
The Surry Hills Village precinct will open in stages until autumn next year and once complete, Wunderlich Lane will be home to a collection of 25 restaurants and bars plus wellness and boutique retail. The EVE Hotel Sydney will open later in 2024, offering guests an immersive experience in the precinct’s art, culture, and culinary offerings.
The Surry Hills Village penthouse on Baptist is now finished and ready to move into with marketing through Toga Group and inquiries to 1800 554 556.
From elevated skincare to handcrafted home pieces, this year’s most thoughtful gifts go beyond the expected.
A haven for hedge-fund titans and Hollywood grandees, Greenwich is one of the world’s most expensive residential enclaves, where eye-watering prices meet unapologetic grandeur.
A landmark Hamilton Hill residence owned by a prominent Brisbane publican is hitting the market after nearly 13 years, offering sweeping river views, grand entertaining spaces, and timeless Spanish Mission elegance.
2 min
A prominent Brisbane publican is calling last drinks on his long-held Hamilton Hill residence.
James Power, of The Norman Hotel in Woolloongabba, owns the sprawling estate at 33 Markwell Street.
After nearly 13 years, the towering residence is due to welcome its next custodians. Now empty nesters, Power and his wife, Jennifer, are moving on from their substantial six to seven-bedroom pile on 1376sqm.
While the pub baron might be downsizing, Power is reportedly upsizing his hospitality portfolio as he prepares to open The Norman Northside at Enoggera.
“We did a lot of entertaining at Markwell St,” Power said.
“The guest wing means it’s really set up for it, but we are basically empty nesters now, and it’s time for another family to enjoy it.”
The c.1930s Spanish Mission residence last changed hands in 2013 when the Powers bought it for $5.05 million. Fast-forward to 2026, and the period property is on the market via an expressions-of-interest campaign with Matt Lancashire of Ray White Collective Luxury. In keeping with Queensland legislation, no price guide can be published.
Lancashire said Hamilton is widely regarded as one of the capital’s premier suburbs, often ranked among the most expensive addresses in the city.
“Known for its elevated position, river views, and luxury homes, Hamilton is a top choice for affluent buyers,” he said.
High on Hamilton Hill, the historic house has sweeping views across the Brisbane River, Gateway Bridge and out to Moreton Bay.
Designed for the avid entertainer, the Brisbane house has a stately entry foyer and gallery, multiple formal and casual living zones with period fireplaces and French doors to several terraces, courtyards and balconies.
The interiors blend original character with sympathetic updates undertaken during a significant renovation in the early 2000s. There are high coffered 3.1m ceilings, wrought iron balustrades, arched openings, stucco finishes, Mediterranean-inspired terracotta tones, imported doors, and statement chandeliers. Modern touches include the kitchen with Miele appliances, a wine cellar, private gym, and steam room.
Outdoors, the resort-style pool is framed by a covered patio and pool house with a wellness centre, as well as established gardens producing citrus, herbs and chillies.
The ground floor is home to two bedrooms, a study and a bathroom, while upstairs the footprint features four bedrooms and a palatial main suite with a private balcony, a dressing room, and a marble ensuite featuring a double shower and a spa bath.
Down on the lower floor, an expansive rumpus room is the ideal teenager hangout, sitting next to the pool patio, plus an adjoining office or guest bedroom.
Extra bonuses of the Brisbane compound include a six-car garage, ducted air-conditioning, and a dumbwaiter servicing all three levels.
The famed shopping and dining precinct at Racecourse Rd and Portside Wharf is close by, as well as the riverfront and parklands. Ascot State School, St Rita’s and St Margaret’s are within easy reach.
The Hamilton home at 33 Markwell St, Hamilton, QLD, is offered via an expressions of interest campaign, closing on May 8 at 5 pm.
Pure Amazon has begun journeys deep into Peru’s Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, combining contemporary design, Indigenous craftsmanship and intimate wildlife encounters in one of the richest ecosystems on Earth.
Micro-needling promises glow and firmness, but timing can make all the difference.
