Sydneysiders love this Central West town – and they’re prepared to pay
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The house might not be much to look at, but the property in this popular NSW Central West town has everything treechangers are chasing – and they’re prepared to pay top dollar for it.
On offer for the first time in 100 years, ‘Womera’ and ‘Springville’ in Orange, sold for $11.4 million last week – $1.4 million above the reserve.
With 966ha to work with, ‘Womera’ enjoys a reliable 710mm annual rainfall and boasts rich volcanic basalt soils. As well as the four-bedroom brick home, there’s the old manager’s cottage, a bore, five stand shearing shed, two machinery sheds, five silos, steel cattle yards, sheep yards, grain storage shed, 24 paddocks and a double frontage to Weandre Creek.
Next door, ‘Springville’ offers a further 450ha with five paddocks, steel cattle or sheep yards, a shearing shed, machinery shed and Nubrygyn Creek frontage, as well as building entitlement.
While three buyers registered – two locals and another from WA – the eventual buyer was a neighbour from the Euchareena District.
While larger properties such as these are still the outliers in terms of price, Orange has experienced a 30 percent rise in prices for houses in the past 12 months.
McGrath Real Estate Orange and Molong principal Scott Petersen said COVID had accelerated interest in the area, which is about 250km west of Sydney, as more people embraced remote working.
“Orange is an easy drive from Sydney – between three and 3.5 hours or a 40-minute flight – and we get four very distinct seasons here in Orange – Sydneysiders appreciate that,” Mr Petersen said. “Sydney people also love what this region offers – the food, wine and events, the employment from the mining sector, good schools.”
The events calendar is a major drawcard for food and wine lovers, with more than 60 wineries in the region.
Emptynesters and retirees are also drawn by the reliable health services in the region.
“We have the best hospital this side of the Blue Mountains,” he said. “It has all the specialists and a really good oncology unit. The hospital is a very important factor for retirees coming to Orange.”
This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.
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.
This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.
