Issuu

VICTORIAN ELEGANCE

18 CANTERBURY ROAD, ALBERT PARK

JOHN DORY, SPINACH, MUSSELS & CIDER

MELBOURNE IN BLOOM

MINT DESIGN

HARRIOT

PROJECTS

GRANDVIEW

SMART DATA, STRONG SALES

The market is progressing with measured assurance. Price sensitivity persists in some sectors, yet quality homes are drawing serious enquiries and firm offers. The standout development is the method by which property transactions are now executed. Alongside traditional auction and sales campaigns, a meaningful share of sales is occurring off-market via highly targeted buyer matching. Our agents are now leveraging Marshall White’s own AI-driven propensity modelling to identify the most probable purchasers and engage them with precision. This in-house propensity score framework is discreet, time-efficient and exceptionally effective for owners seeking a controlled process and buyers wishing to avoid public competition.

From a timing perspective, the window to properly initiate and complete a 2025 campaign is narrowing to roughly two to three weeks. Encouragingly, auction and private sale strategies are still converting at around 80% when price and presentation align, and momentum is building into the late-October “Super Saturday” period. In practical terms, this is a sensible environment in which to trade; confidence is steady, buyer depth is present, and outcomes are being achieved without undue volatility.

For vendors assessing their timing, we recommend a strategy calibrated to your goals, supported by buyer matching to shorten timeframes where appropriate. For purchasers, readiness and clarity — particularly around finance and conditions — remain pivotal.

Considering a sale or a discreet off-market campaign before year-end? Contact our team for a tailored strategy and a buyer-match preview specific to your property. ■

By John Bongiorno

BOTANIC BRIGHTON: NGVWA GARDEN DAY 2025

NGVWA

VICTORIAN ELEGANCE

“It’s the kind of Victorian that defines Albert Park, where beautiful period charm is seamlessly united with modern living.”

BEN MANOLITSAS, PARTNER, AUCTIONEER, LICENSED ESTATE AGENT

Exuding Victorian grace and timeless grandeur, Nirvana is a magnificent c1880 residence occupying 400sqm (approx.) in one of Albert Park’s most prestigious lakefront addresses. With dual street frontages and rear garaging via Young Street, it offers both elegance and practicality in a prized position opposite Albert Park Lake and the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

Beyond its ornate façade, the home reveals soaring ceilings, Baltic pine floors, and exquisite period detailing. Formal sitting and dining rooms showcase marble fireplaces and bespoke finishes, flowing to a sunlit open-plan living zone framed by clerestory windows and French doors. Outside, a wisteria-clad verandah, tranquil water feature, and plumbed BBQ create a serene alfresco retreat.

The gourmet kitchen features Gaggenau and Miele appliances, while upstairs, the main suite offers a dressing room, freestanding bath, and private balcony. Complete with a studio above the double garage, Nirvana blends heritage charm with refined modern luxury moments from the village and bay. ■

FOR ENQUIRIES CONTACT

BEN MANOLITSAS 0400 201 626

MELISSA BAILE 0499 322 389

JAMES COLYVAN 0409 869 209

JOHN DORY, SPINACH, MUSSELS & CIDER

Harriot

Inspired by French tradition and local Victorian flavours, Harriot shares this dish for you to enjoy at home — seasonal, simple, and full of flavour.

INGREDIENTS

2 × 140g sides of John Dory, skinless

1 bunch spinach, washed thoroughly and stems trimmed

1 small leek, boiled for 4 minutes and cut into thick coins

200g mussels

1 can dry cider

75g diced butter, plus extra for cooking

½ handful dill, chopped

For the sauce:

80g mussel stock

30g dry cider

30g reduced cider

75g butter

Pinch of salt

METHOD

1. Carefully arrange the kingfish slices flat on a serving plate.

2. Layer the remaining ingredients over the top.

3. Start with the green nahm jim dressing (see below), drizzle with the coconut cream, then gently break up the lime segments and scatter them over everything. Add the green chilli and kaffir lime leaf next.

4. Finish with the cress and Thai basil and serve immediately.

To begin:

1. Take 100ml of cider and reduce it to about 30ml.

2. Remove the fish from the fridge to temper.

For the mussels:

1. Place a medium-sized pot with a lid over medium–high heat. Add the mussels and approximately 60ml of cider, cover quickly, and steam for about 30 seconds. Once the mussels have opened, they’re ready. Tip them into a bowl to cool, then pick the meat from the shells. Remove the beards and strain the stock for the sauce.

For the sauce:

1. Bring the liquids to a simmer in a small saucepan. Reduce the heat to low, then whisk in the butter cubes until fully incorporated. A stick blender can also be used for this step.

To finish:

1. Gently warm the sauce and add the leek, mussels, and chopped dill.

2. Place a pan over medium–low heat and add a few generous chunks of butter.

3. Season the fish with salt, then place it in the pan to gently poach. Flip every minute to ensure even cooking; this should take about 5 minutes.

4. Once cooked, transfer the fish to two warm bowls.

5. Discard any excess butter from the pan, increase the heat, and return it to the stove.

6. Add the spinach with a pinch of salt and sauté for around 15 seconds, just until wilted.

7. Arrange the spinach over the fish, then spoon over the sauce, leek, and mussels.

8. Serve immediately with some good bread.

IN BLOOM MELBOURNE

Spring in Melbourne is a season of renewal. Days lengthen, the light softens, and gardens awaken after their winter pause. For many homeowners, it’s also the perfect time to rethink outdoor spaces — refreshing planting schemes, enhancing liveability, and creating landscapes that evolve with the seasons of life.

Few practices understand this better than Mint Design, the Melbourne-based studio renowned for crafting contemporary landscapes that strike a balance between beauty and function. Their philosophy is simple: a garden should be more than a backdrop — it should be a living, breathing extension of the home.

This belief found a natural partnership with norsuHOME, the design arm of beloved interiors brand norsu. Known for their signature use of texture, layering, and soft tonal palettes, norsuHOME brings a distinct style perspective to residential projects. Together, the collaboration with Mint Design has created a Glen Iris garden that seamlessly connects indoors and out, reflecting both the character of the family and the spirit of the site.

Planting with the Seasons

“Spring is a time to be bold with planting choices,” says Mint Design Director Darin Bradbury. “Layer perennials, grasses, and groundcovers with shrubs and trees that give depth and texture. By combining different foliage types and bloom times, you create a garden that feels dynamic not just in spring, but all year round.”

At norsuHOME, classic elements like Murraya paniculata (Orange Jessamine) and clipped Buxus spheres are interwoven with vibrant perennials including Salvia nemorosa ‘Ostfriesland’ and Japanese Windflowers. The result is a landscape that balances permanence with seasonal flair — an evergreen framework punctuated by moments of colour and movement.

Tips for a Thriving Spring Garden

• Replenish your soil: Top garden beds with compost-rich soil and mulch to boost growth, suppress weeds, and conserve moisture.

• Layer for impact: Position taller trees at the back, mid-sized shrubs in front, and groundcovers like Viola hederacea (Native Violet) at the edges to soften borders.

• Mix textures: Combine bold foliage such as Tractor Seat Plant with finer grasses like Lomandra ‘Tanika’ to maintain visual interest year-round.

• Plan for longevity: Incorporate deciduous trees such as Japanese Maples or Silver Birches for seasonal drama and natural cooling.

More Than Just Plants

As Bradbury points out, successful gardens are as much about use as they are about planting. “Consider orientation, microclimate, and how the sun moves across the garden. Think about where you’ll sit with your morning coffee or gather with friends in the evening — the design should frame those moments.”

At norsuHOME, alfresco living spaces are carefully integrated with planting beds, blurring the line between indoors and out. Mature trees filter light, while climbers such as Boston Ivy add a theatrical shift in colour across the seasons. In combining Mint Design’s landscape artistry with norsuHOME’s distinctive style, this collaboration sets a benchmark for gardens that don’t just look beautiful in spring; they enrich daily life year-round. ■

LEARN MORE

BOTANIC BRIGHTON: NGVWA GARDEN DAY 2025

Brighton is rewriting its garden story. Long associated with grand homes, tennis courts and high fences, this bayside suburb is experiencing a horticultural shift driven by a new generation of homeowners who are choosing to plant, preserve and nurture.

where Eckersley Garden Architecture has created a significant edible garden—orchards, raised beds and composting systems reconnect the site to its farming origins. From 11am to 1pm, celebrated chef Annie Smithers will meet ticketholders at Kelso to share her paddock-to-plate approach; produce from her organic farm will be available for purchase.

Across the trail, expect restored period gardens, layered planting for year-round texture and sensitive additions that improve liveability without sacrificing character. These private green spaces offer shelter, birdsong and dappled light; they also deliver the calming benefits of “dirt therapy”, with welldocumented advantages for mental and physical wellbeing.

As NGVWA Vice President and Garden Day Co-Convenor Robyn Lea notes, Brighton is becoming a shining example of the gentle influence of gardens—places that nurture the eye, the body and the community.

On Thursday 23 October (10am–4pm), NGVWA Garden Day returns with Botanic Brighton, opening the gates to a curated trail of private gardens — many never before seen — where landscape is considered as carefully as the architecture.

Marshall White is proud to support the NGV Women’s Association Garden Day 2025 as a Premium Event Partner. Held on Thursday 23 October, 10am–4pm, in Brighton — home to our Bayside office — the event offers a rare chance to explore exquisite private gardens and the grounds of a nearby landmark mansion. Guests can meet leading landscape designers and browse a curated selection of seasonal produce, artisanal goods, potted plants and floral-themed books, with a raffle featuring a range of coveted prizes.

This year’s program highlights how thoughtful design can elevate urban living, with a strong focus on edible planting. Visitors can wander aromatic herb parterres, follow espaliered fruit along warm brick walls and explore seasonal vegetable beds. Among the standouts is the landmark 1892 Fairfield Hall, whose 3,400-square-metre grounds have been reimagined by Paul Bangay as a study in proportion, structure and softness. Equally compelling is Kelso, a mid-19th-century homestead

NGVWA Garden Day is, at heart, an act of generosity: owners who open their gates, volunteers who give their time and visitors whose tickets directly support the National Gallery of Victoria through the work of the NGV Women’s Association. Tickets are now available for this inspiring day out. Street addresses for all gardens and detailed Garden Notes will be emailed to ticketholders on Tuesday 21 October. Join us to celebrate the rise of edible gardens, the beauty of great design and the joy of green space in our city, with Marshall White proudly standing alongside NGVWA to make it possible. ■

Event Details

NGVWA Garden Day – Brighton (Botanic Brighton) 10am–4pm, Thursday 23 October 2025

Private gardens across Brighton, VIC

Tickets available now. Proceeds support the NGV Collection.

LEARN MORE

Photography Credit - Robyn Lea

THE LOCAL EDIT

Treasures and Tastes at Trinity Market - 18th October 2025

177 Union Road, Surrey Hills, VIC 3127

Boroondara Farmers Market - 18th October 2025 484 Auburn Road, Hawthorn, VIC 3122

The Bloody Long Walk: Mornington - 19 th October 2025

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

Glen Rowen Street Kindergarten Fun Day19th October 2025

27 Rowen Street, Glen Iris, VIC 3146

Melbourne Fringe Festival 2025

- Until 19 th October 2025

Various venues, Brunswick East, VIC 3057

Melbourne Build 2025

- 22nd October 2025 - 23rd October 2025

1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, VIC 3006

Cheltenham Community Centre's Children's Week Celebration

- 22nd October 2025 & 24th October 2025

8 Chesterville Road, Cheltenham, VIC 3192

NGVWA Garden Day 2025 - 23rd October 2025

Brighton, VIC 3186

Ashburton Primary School Art Show

- 23rd October 2025

10A Fakenham Road, Ashburton, VIC 3147

St Cecilia's Primary School Fair - 25th October 2025

4 Van Ness Avenue, Glen Iris, VIC 3146

Mount Eliza Farmers' Market - 26th October 2025

Cnr Mt Eliza Way and Canadian Bay Road, Mount Eliza, VIC 3930

Halloween Spooktacular - 31st October 2025

Jackson Court Shopping Centre, 898 Doncaster Road, Doncaster East, VIC 3109

Hill and Ridge Community Market - 1st November 2025

184 Arthurs Seat Road, Red Hill, VIC 3937

The Lygon Street Market - 2nd November 2025

Piazza Italia, Cnr Argyle Street and Lygon Street, Carlton, VIC 3053

Mt Martha South Beach Market - 4th November 2025

466 Esplanade, Mount Martha, VIC 3934

McClelland Maker's Market - 22nd November 2025

390 McClelland Drive, Langwarrin, VIC 3910

East Malvern Food and Wine Festival - 23rd November 2025

148 Burke Road, Malvern East, VIC 3145

Tour de Cure - 23rd November 2025 - 26th November 2025

Victoria

Point Nepean Portsea Market - 30 th November 2025

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

NGV Gala - 6th December 2025