Luxury Homes magazine - October edition (Full access) by Ray White Marketing

LUXURY HOMES

Welcome to the October edition of Luxury Homes, a publication from Ray White.

We showcase the finest homes in Australia and New Zealand; properties that define luxury not only by their price tag, but through their design, craftsmanship and location.

Ray White sells 2.4x more luxury properties over $5 million than any other group across Australia and New Zealand, making the group the premier agency for luxury properties across the two countries

With footholds in blue ribbon areas in our capital cities, as well as having experts in regional and coastal estates, Ray White agents continue to showcase the highest level of real estate opulence.

So whether you ’ re searching for your next grand residence, seeking inspiration, or simply curious about the upper echelons of property, this magazine offers a curated journey through the finest addresses Australia and New Zealand have to offer.

REVOLUTIONDRIVESGROWTHACROSS

AUSTRALIANCBDS

Australia's luxury retail booms despite economic pressures, with Sydney leading at 32.1 per cent growth. Social media culture and experiential shopping drive expansion across major CBDs.

VANESSA RADER, HEAD OF RESEARCH, RAY WHITE GROUP

Australia's luxury retail landscape is experiencing a fascinating transformation, with social media culture and experiential shopping driving growth in most capital cities despite cost-of-living pressures affecting discretionary spending The sector's evolution reflects how premium brands are adapting to capture both traditional luxury consumers and new demographics seeking Instagram-worthy experiences and exclusive packaging

Sydney continues to dominate Australia's luxury retail scene, with premium brands representing 32 1 per cent of surveyed CBD shops in 2025, up from 25 5 per cent in 2024 This remarkable 6.6 percentage point increase demonstrates Sydney's growing international credentials as a luxury destination The expansion beyond traditional Castlereagh and King Streets into Market Street precinct shows luxury brands' confidence in Sydney's market depth and tourist appeal

Perth has emerged as the surprise luxury growth story, with representation jumping from 5 3 per cent to 7 5 per cent over the 12-month period This strong increase suggests luxury brands are finally recognising Perth's affluent consumer base and growing tourism appeal, with asset upgrades proving crucial in attracting international brands seeking quality retail environments

Brisbane's luxury presence has remained stable at 9 7 per cent compared to 9 8 per cent in 2024, indicating a mature market where luxury brands have established their footprint but aren't aggressively expanding The consistency suggests luxury retailers view Brisbane as a solid secondary market with steady demand from both local consumers and domestic tourists

Surprisingly, Melbourne's luxury representation has declined from 16 5 per cent to 15 8 per cent, primarily due to closures along the famous "Paris End" of Collins Street However, this contraction likely reflects temporary asset refurbishments rather than fundamental market weakness, with several former high end stores undergoing upgrades that temporarily

remove them from retail counts Melbourne's luxury retail is expected to rebound as these refurbished assets return to market with enhanced amenities

Adelaide and Canberra continue to register minimal luxury presence at 1 1 per cent and 0 6 per cent respectively, highlighting how luxury brands remain concentrated in markets with significant tourist flows and affluent consumer bases

The social media influence on luxury retail cannot be overstated, with brands increasingly embracing viral culture to capture younger demographics Louis Vuitton's recent launch of bag charms, directly responds to the Labubu craze that has swept luxury markets This strategic move demonstrates how established luxury houses are adapting to social media trends while maintaining their premium positioning

AUSTRALIA'SLUXURYRETAIL

APPETITEGROWS

Prime retail core

over between luxury fashion and viral tends across multiple brands a has embraced gaming culture ortnite collaborations, while Gucci ed viral internet-inspired pieces and atform partnerships Dior has d limited Pokemon accessories and released anime and manga-inspired s These partnerships represent nds' recognition that exclusivity now ultural relevance and social media ty

explains the continued expansion of ail in Australian CBDs despite pressures Consumers increasingly the quality product and the social hat comes with luxury brand ent The experiential element has rucial, from store ambiance and ervice to the coveted shopping bags um packaging that signal social social media platforms

ecovery is supporting luxury retail , with international visitors providing ending power Hotel occupancy rates per cent in most capitals indicate tourist flows that underpin luxury and, particularly in Sydney and Perth ury growth has been strongest

gly, the luxury concept extends aditional fashion and jewellery into ling Premium chocolates, artisanal d specialty food offerings represent e luxury" that appeals to costconsumers seeking small es during challenging economic s trend explains the growth in d food retailing across most CBD

ost-of-living pressures, the luxury or's growth suggests consumers are g quality experiences and selective es over broad based consumption. ration of social media culture, al retail, and accessible luxury positions this sector for continued Australian CBDs evolve into ted retail destinations that compete nally for both consumers and brands

LUXURYCONCENTRATIONVS

HOSPITALITYDOMINATION:AUCKLAND ANDWELLINGTON'SRETAILDIVIDE

Auckland emerges as New Zealand's luxury retail capital while Wellingtonattempts to revitalise its struggling Golden Mile through major infrastructure transformation to compete in the retail market.

VANESSA RADER, HEAD OF RESEARCH, RAY WHITE GROUP

New Zealand's two largest CBDs are experiencing markedly different retail trajectories, with Auckland capitalising on luxury growth and infrastructure investment while Wellington attempts to revitalise its struggling Golden Mile through a controversial $139 4 million transformation project

RETAIL MIX: GEOGRAPHIC EXTREMES

Auckland and Wellington reveal distinctly different retail personalities through their tenant compositions and geographic distribution Food retailing collectively represents 27 2 per cent of Auckland's CBD tenancies compared to Wellington's significantly higher 38 4 per cent However, Wellington's challenge lies not just in this food dominance but in its extreme geographic segregation across the Golden Mile corridor

Wellington's retail composition varies dramatically by street, creating distinct precinct characteristics that explain the market's structural problems. Lambton Quay functions as Wellington's fashion retail anchor, with clothing and soft goods representing 31 5 per cent of tenancies, actually exceeding Auckland's 21 0 per cent clothing representation Combined food retailing remains moderate at 22.8 per cent, creating a balanced environment that attracts quality clothing retailers and maintains reasonable vacancy at 8 7 per cent

However, retail quality deteriorates markedly southward through the Golden Mile Willis Street maintains strong fashion representation at 32 2 per cent clothing coverage but food retailing increases to 18 6 per cent while vacancy stays manageable at 6 8 per cent The transition accelerates at Manners Street, where clothing drops precipitously to just 10 7 per cent with nearby Cuba Street Mall the place to go for a new outfit while food retailing rises to 28 0 per cent and vacancy spikes to 18 7 per cent

FOODVSJEWELS,THEVARIEDRETAILMIX INMAJORNZMARKETS

Auckland achieves more balanced geographic distribution without such extreme precinct specialisation Personal and household goods represent 14.9 per cent of Auckland tenancies, primarily driven by jewellery retailers capitalising on luxury market demand Wellington's equivalent sector represents just 6 0 per cent overall, with concentration varying dramatically by street

This geographic segregation is compounded by significant development gaps The Reading Cinemas site exemplifies the challenge, abandoned since 2019 due to earthquake risks, creating a major dead zone in Courtenay Place's retail frontage Its recent publicised purchase promises redevelopment with enhanced retail and dining options within a short timeframe as such prolonged dormancy affects the entire strips momentum

Overall however, vacancy rates appear deceptively similar, Auckland at 12 7 per cent versus Wellington's 11 3 per cent, but reflect fundamentally different market conditions Auckland's vacancy occurs amid active luxury retail expansion and infrastructure development, suggesting healthy market churn as premium retailers upgrade locations Wellington's marginally lower vacancy masks a more challenging reality where many assets have been withdrawn from active retail use for redevelopment, creating black spots along key retail strips rather than registering as traditional vacancies

THE LUXURY DIVIDE

The most striking differential lies in luxury retail activation Auckland commands 11 6 per cent luxury representation compared to Wellington's minimal 0 6 per cent, nearly a twenty-fold difference establishing Auckland as New Zealand's undisputed luxury retail capital

Auckland's luxury retail shows clear geographic clustering The southern end of Queen Street, anchored by the world-class Commercial Bay property development, has been instrumental in evolving the precinct into a premium destination that attracts international luxury brands and creates critical mass for high-end retail

Prime retail core

This luxury quarter benefits from quality infrastructure, contemporary architecture, and concentrated foot traffic that supports premium retail operations The northern end maintains a more traditional retail mix with various asset quality grades, but benefits from proximity to this established luxury precinct

Auckland's luxury success attracts contemporary retail concepts absent from Wellington The city hosts experiential retail like PopMart, the collectible toy phenomenon driving social media engagement and queue-building excitement among younger demographics This viral retail presence demonstrates Auckland's magnetic appeal for contemporary retail innovation, contrasting sharply with Wellington's absence of trending retail formats

Wellington's luxury deficit reflects both geographic challenges and market scale limitations Even Lambton Quay, Wellington's premium retail street, cannot match Auckland's luxury concentration, while the remainder of the Golden Mile offers no luxury retail presence whatsoever

INFRASTRUCTURE: BUILDING VERSUS TRANSFORMING

Auckland's infrastructure programme enhances existing retail strength through strategic accessibility improvements The City Rail Link will dramatically improve CBD connectivity via underground rail connections, while Wellesley Street Bus Improvements and Victoria Street Cycleway extensions optimise pedestrian access to established retail precincts These projects support luxury retail growth by improving access to premium shopping areas without disrupting existing retail success

Wellington's Golden Mile project represents fundamental transformation rather than enhancement The $139 4 million initiative will ban cars during business hours, widen footpaths up to 75 per cent, and create dedicated cycling infrastructure Construction began in May 2025 at the Kent/Cambridge Terrace intersection, with underground infrastructure now complete and above-ground elements taking shape The first stage is expected to finish by late September 2025, with main Courtenay Place works scheduled for early 2026 and final completion by early 2029

AUCKLANDISTHELUXURY CAPITALOFNZRETAIL

Prime retail core

However, Wellington faces significant implementation challenges beyond construction complexities like unearthing old tram tracks during excavation Wellington Chamber of Commerce surveys indicate 90 per cent of Golden Mile businesses believe changes will negatively impact patronage, while many have expressed opposition to proceeding with the project This political and business opposition contrasts with Auckland's infrastructure projects, which enhance rather than disrupt existing retail success

Wellington's transformation necessity becomes apparent through its street-level reality The geographic decline from Lambton Quay's balanced retail through Willis Street's transition into Manners Street's distress and Courtenay Place's hospitality domination creates the structural problems deterring premium retailers The project aims to create pedestrian-friendly environments that could support retail diversity across the entire corridor rather than the current geographic segregation

DIFFERENT TRAJECTORIES, DIFFERENT RISKS

Auckland builds upon established luxury retail momentum supported by infrastructure investment creating virtuous growth cycles

The city's geographic luxury concentration, diversified retail mix, substantial personal goods sector, and contemporary retail concepts position it for continued premium market expansion Infrastructure projects enhance rather than transform existing retail success Wellington attempts higher-risk transformation betting that infrastructure investment can fundamentally alter retail appeal and attract missing luxury retailers The challenge extends beyond overall vacancy rates to address extreme geographic segregation that creates fashion retail deserts in key areas like Courtenay Place Success depends on whether Golden Mile improvements can create retail hierarchy across the entire corridor, reversing the geographic decline that concentrates quality retail in Lambton Quay while leaving other areas dominated by hospitality

For retail property investors, Auckland represents building on proven luxury retail strength with infrastructure support, while Wellington presents transformation opportunity with substantial upside if Golden Mile infrastructure investment succeeds in creating competitive retail hierarchy and reversing the geographic segregation that currently limits the market's retail sophistication

Luxurydefined:understandingluxury inBrisbane’sfinesthomes

Waterfront, inner-city and large, luxurious homes. Welcome to Brisbane’s luxury market, situated around the north of the city, in blue ribbon suburbs like New Farm, Ascot, Bardon and Paddington.

Matt Lancashire, principal of Ray White New Farm, knows luxury As the luxury expert in Brisbane’s inner city suburbs, Matt is well placed to understand the nuance of what makes a home luxury, and what sets it apart

“Luxury is about quality and experience,” he said

“It’s the way a home makes you feel every single day and the small details that elevate how you live in a home

“A true luxury home doesn’t just look impressive, it enhances the lifestyle of the people who live there It’s about design, craftsmanship and creating spaces that are both beautiful and highly functional”

12 ROSEWOOD STREET, BARDON

The Lighthouse - A Shaun Lockyer Family Sanctuary

“Renowned architect Shaun Lockyer built and designed this as his own personal home and created a showcase of his philosophy around living with nature,” Matt said.

“Every element has been considered to maximise natural light, airflow, and the relationship with the landscape

“The result is a home that feels calm and balanced as it's framed by greenery and light What’s clever is the way it balances scale but it still feels intimate and warm It’s a house that encourages you to enjoy the simple rituals of living”

9 READING STREET, PADDINGTON

Skyline

“Luxury is about quality and experience. ”

Anchored into Paddington's prestigious hillside, 'Skyline' is the visionary collaboration of Graya and Joe Adsett Architects The home is an architectural celebration of luxury and lifestyle, commanding uninterrupted views across Brisbane's city skyline

“From the stone and timber detailing to the bespoke cabinetry and carefully selected fixtures, it’s all about craftsmanship and creating a timeless feel,” Matt said

“The pool and outdoor entertaining areas also bring that resort-style edge.”

GREY LYNN DUO

Steeped in history, this prestigious suburb has long been revered as a haven for the elite

The primary living spaces of each of the nine residences face north, with most enjoying boat-studded marina and harbour views

The interiors feature bold, rounded forms and fluted stone, parquetry and patterned tiling, while thoughtfully designed cabinetry and generous proportions maintain the sense of limitless space throughout every room

Light pours through floor-to-ceiling windows, with living spaces expertly curved to capture as much of the day’s sunshine as possible, as well as the magnificent view beyond

ENQUIRE FOR MORE INFORMATION

EDDIE MANSOUR 0424 251 259

QUEENSLAND

'SKYLINE' BY GRAYA AND JOE ADSETT ARCHITECTS

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

RAY WHITE NEW FARM

A MODERN RIVERFRONT PALAZZO OF UNRIVALLED LUXURY, DESIGN AND DISTINCTION

ARGILLA

RAY WHITE NEW FARM

PRIVATE LUXURY AND POOLSIDE SERENITY IN THIS MASTERFUL ABODE

RAY WHITE NEW FARM SOLD

MASTERPIECE

ARCHITECTURAL

BY SHAUN LOCKYER WITH LIFT, ROOFTOP AND PANORAMIC VIEWS

RAY WHITE

'THE LIGHTHOUSE' - A SHAUN LOCKYER FAMILY

SANCTUARY

UNRIVALLED INNER-CITY PRESTIGE

PRESTIGIOUS WATERFRONT LUXURY IN SANCTUARY COVE

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

RAY WHITE SANCTUARY COVE

ELYSIAN RIDGE - A RARE MASTERPIECE IN THE HEART OF THE HINTERLAND

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

RAY WHITE MALENY

NEW SOUTH WALES

NORTH-FACING WATERFRONT RESERVE WITH FLAWLESS INTERIORS

AN EXTRAORDINARY HORIZON - THE OTIUM PENTHOUSE

RAY WHITE DOUBLE BAY EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

EXCEPTIONAL WATERFRONT FAMILY ESTATE CAPTURES MESMERISING HARBOUR VIEWS

OPULENT SHOWPIECE RESIDENCE SETTING A NEW BENCHMARK IN COASTAL LUXE

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

RAY WHITE EASTERN BEACHES

ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARK IN CONCORD'S PRESTIGIOUS ENCLAVE