Record May Auction Listings Bring Strong Results
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Record May Auction Listings Bring Strong Results

Pre-Budget home sellers took advantage of insatiable buyer’s appetite.

By Terry Christodoulou
Mon, May 10, 2021 10:54amGrey Clock 2 min

Auction results from Saturday, May 8, saw a number of sellers attempt to cash in on what is still a boomtime market.

A May record of 2563 auctions were reported in auction capitals on Saturday – an increase of 12.2% over the previous weekend and the second-highest offering of the year so far, only behind the Super Saturday auctions of Match 27.

Clearance rates in all capitals eased from the record-breaking March results, yet are still very strong in light of high auction numbers with an average clearance rate of 83.1% – just below the 83.3% of the previous weekend

The Auction markets will be further strengthened by the Federal Budget announcements which signal significant stimulus policies aimed directly at housing demand and first home buyers.

Sydney’s high autumn clearance rates have faded marginally compared to the results recorded in March. However, the market still favours the seller with a clearance rate of 83.5% posted in the harbour city, just below 84.6% and well above the 71.3% recorded this weekend last year.

A Sydney May record of 1014 auctions was reported on Saturday, with the city recording a median price of $1,650,000 for houses sold at auction at the weekend, which was 3.7% higher than the $1,595,000 reported over the previous Saturday and 34% higher than the $1,231,000 recorded over the same weekend last year.

Melbourne fared similarly with a month-high weekend clearance rate of 80.7%, up on the previous weekend’s 80.1% and well ahead of the COVID-impacted 48.2% recorded over the same weekend last year.

A total of 1248 homes were reported listed for auction on Saturday – well above the 1084 auctioned over the previous weekend.

Melbourne recorded a median price of $1,050,000 for houses sold at auction on the weekend, which was 4.9% higher than the $1,001,000 recorded over the previous weekend.

Data powered by Dr Andrew Wilson of MyHousingMarket.com.au



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11 ACRES ROAD, KELLYVILLE, NSW

This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan

35 North Street Windsor

Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.

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The enduring appeal of marble has gone into overdrive as designers explore the beauty of coloured stone to create truly inviting and indulgent interiors.

By Robyn Willis
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Like all design movements, the return of marble to interiors started quietly enough with the rise of ‘greige’ as the dominant colour palette. A warm version of grey, for a while there, you could barely step into a well-considered residential space without being confronted with the ubiquitous neutral tone.

However, to be successful, this look depended on texture, layering and patterning to provide truly heartfelt spaces with genuine depth. And so Calacatta and Carrara marble entered the room, literally making itself at home in kitchens, bathrooms, and living room hearths, as well as in a myriad of accessories and furniture from small bowls and coasters to coffee and dining tables.

As greige made way for a return to colour in interiors, in recent years designers have turned their attention to bolder choices, moving on from the classic tones of Calacatta, Carrara, and Pietra marbles to Verde Indio, Spanish Gold, and Calacatta Viola.

Inspired by the raw beauty of the site, Mim Design used marble extensively in this Mornington Peninsula home Mim Design

Not that there is anything new about marble. First documented for use in construction in 3rd century Greece BCE, with evidence it was also used in ancient Turkey and Rome, it was originally chosen for its strength and beauty, as well as its accessibility, extracted from quarries using hammers and wedges and removed using pulleys, levers, and winches rather than the more difficult process of mining. While extraction methods have improved, especially in recent years, the nature of this popular stone is unchanged.

A metamorphic rock composed mostly of calcite, it is formed when limestone is subjected to heat and pressure. When the calcite in the limestone recrystallises, it forms a rock that is a mass of interlocking crystals, creating what we know as marble.

In Melbourne’s St Ali & The Queen cafe and bar, Studio Tate teamed marble and timber to transition from day to night.

While many countries, including Australia, have marble deposits, about half the world’s supply is sourced from just four countries—Spain, Italy, India, and China. Strong enough to endure extended use, it is also soft enough to be relatively easy to carve while its natural beauty allows it to be polished and honed, giving it a glow that adds depth—and a sense of luxury—to any space it inhabits.

Greg Natale marble accessories deliver on style.

Australian designers have been quick to embrace the use of marble, offering, as it does, the opportunity to create truly unique interiors. Creative director of Mim Design, Emma Mahlook, says while budget is always a consideration, a greater variety of marble has become easier to source in recent years.

“Coloured stones provide an opportunity to create distinctive and striking spaces,” she says. “As such, we are finding that there is a slight shift to bolder and braver choices of coloured stone than the traditional whites and greys.”

For homeowners interested in creating distinctive, outstanding spaces, it is hard to beat, with each piece different from the other.

“No batch of stone is ever the same, which makes it so unique and such an interesting and visually appealing product with colours, textures, and patterns that are sometimes as complex as intricate works of art,” says Mahlook.

She cites a recent commercial project her studio realised for Enoteca Boccaccio, an exclusive Italian restaurant in the heart of the Melbourne suburb of Balwyn, where she specified a selection of coloured marbles to create an intimate and luxurious dining experience that looks to the past, as well as the future.

“The choices of natural stone in Enoteca Boccaccio, which featured marbles Rosso Levanto and Carrara as well as a granite called Domino, were selected to reflect Italy’s streets and embody genuine durability and commitment to the art of preservation,” says Mahlook. “Rosso Levanto and Carrara are archaic marbles with such strong significance connecting to Italy’s rich heritage.”

Colour and Communications Manager at Dulux, Andrea Lucena-Orr, says the interest in coloured marble in Australian design has its origins in more transient hospitality spaces like bars and restaurants, where design is traditionally riskier.

“Typically, it starts in hospitality and commercial environments,” she says. “You tend to get it in high-end homes because it is expensive, but it’s beautiful.”

“That whole natural palette is a huge phenomenon—people are celebrating those imperfections in patterns and shapes now.”

Because no two slabs are the same, Mahlook says there’s the ability to create truly distinctive, personal spaces for clients seeking genuinely idiosyncratic interiors.

“The movement towards coloured natural stones reflects a broader cultural shift towards individuality, sustainability, and innovation in design and architecture,” she says.

For those falling under its spell, Director of Studio Tate, Alex Hopkins, says marble pairs well with other materials such as timber and looks beautiful indoors, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms. However, she cautions there are some things to consider before specifying it at home.

“To ensure marble remains a timeless choice rather than a fleeting trend, we recommend using it selectively and pairing it with contrasting materials,” she says. “It’s crucial to understand its maintenance demands and consider the overall budget, including installation and upkeep costs.”

While it is susceptible to staining because of its porosity, Hopkins says using marble sparingly, for example, in a powder room vanity, can minimise maintenance.

“Different finishes, like honed surfaces, can also help reduce the appearance of wear,” she says. “Working with experienced designers or specialists ensures the marble chosen fits both the aesthetic and functional needs of your space.”

Professionally applied sealants can also make staining less likely.

For those bold enough to take the plunge, Hopkins says the rewards are great.

“Its diverse colour palette and natural veining offer a unique aesthetic that other materials can’t match,” she says.

MOST POPULAR
11 ACRES ROAD, KELLYVILLE, NSW

This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan

35 North Street Windsor

Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.

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