HISTORIC CHARM
390 GLENFERRIE ROAD, MALVERN
ARDO IN CONVERSATION WITH
LAMB RAGU
LULU
THE MARKET IS BACK IN MOTION
Back in the office after the long weekend, it feels like the true starting point for the 2026 property market. Over the summer break, we saw a solid number of off-market transactions, which is a positive sign for the year ahead. Much of this activity came from late 2025 listings that were passed in or didn’t transact before year’s end, alongside homes scheduled for early 2026 that sold before they even launched.
The overall feel of the market is steady. Buyers are active and engaged, but are taking time to compare options and make their move when a property genuinely suits their goals and lifestyle. Well-located properties with strong presentation and pricing aligned to buyer expectations are still drawing competition, while homes that feel compromised on layout or maintenance are seeing more negotiation and longer decision cycles.
From a seller’s perspective, the market is rewarding clarity. Well-executed, realistic campaigns are generating stronger enquiries and smoother momentum through open inspections. Where expectations sit ahead of the market, buyers may redirect to the next comparable option that feels better aligned.
Looking ahead, the first quarter through to mid-year feels consistent and balanced, with the key variable being what happens with interest rates. In the meantime, the strongest results are coming from homes that are presented at their best, positioned with a clear point of difference, and launched with a strategy that suits the likely buyer and market conditions.
If you would like a tailored view of current demand, comparable results, and the right approach for your property, reach out to your local Marshall White team for a property update and strategy conversation. ■
By John Bongiorno
FOLEY PARK PROJECTS
HISTORIC CHARM
“An exceptional family home, impeccably renovated and positioned in Malvern’s premier dress circle.”
JOANNA NAIRN - MARSHALL WHITE SALES EXECUTIVE
Occupying a prized 1,047sqm (approx.) corner block in Malvern’s prestigious heart, 390 Glenferrie Road is a meticulously renovated c1907 solid brick residence that blends timeless elegance with modern family luxury. Behind its graceful façade lies a five-bedroom, three-bathroom home featuring soaring decorative ceilings, leadlight windows, ornate open fireplaces, and rich period detail. A flexible floorplan offers refined formal and informal living zones, ideal for both relaxed family life and grand entertaining.
The stunning contemporary kitchen is beautifully appointed with European appliances, marble benchtops and generous storage. Lift access leads to two upper-level verandas with sweeping city views, while the master suite offers a walk-in robe, ensuite, and sunlit reading nook. Landscaped gardens, ample parking, and an elevated position enhance privacy and presence. Steps from Sir Robert Menzies Reserve and moments to Kooyong Village, station, elite schools and tennis club, this rare offering combines heritage charm, luxury, and location in one of Melbourne’s most coveted neighbourhoods. ■
FOR ENQUIRIES CONTACT
JOANNA NAIRN 0419 994 664
DEAN GILBERT 0418 994 939
from Lulu
LAMB RAGU
A slow-braised classic, this Lamb Ragu from Lulu delivers deep, comforting flavour with minimal fuss. Perfect over fresh pappardelle, creamy polenta or a bed of soft ricotta.
INGREDIENTS
1kg lamb shanks
2 carrots, diced
1 onion, quartered
4 sticks celery, diced
3–4 cloves garlic, halved
½ bunch sage
½ bunch thyme
1 stick rosemary
250ml red wine
1 tbsp tomato paste
Salt and white pepper
METHOD
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2. Scatter the diced carrots, celery and onion into a deep roasting tray. Add the garlic, thyme, sage and rosemary.
3. Season the lamb shanks generously with salt and white pepper, then place them on top of the vegetables.
4. Pour in the red wine and top up with water until the shanks are partially submerged.
5. Cover the tray with baking paper and foil, then braise in the oven for 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, or until the meat is tender and falling from the bone.
6. Remove the shanks and set aside to cool slightly.
7. Transfer the cooking liquid and vegetables to a blender, blitz to a smooth purée, then pour into a pot over low heat.
8. Shred the lamb meat from the bones and add it to the sauce.
9. Stir through the tomato paste and allow the ragu to simmer gently until rich and glossy.
Serve with fresh pasta, topped with Parmesan and herbs.
IN CONVERSATION WITH
ARDO
We sat down with Ardo founder and architect Ash Roberts to explore the philosophy behind his Melbourne-based architectural and interior design practice. He shares how “design that lives with you” shapes dayto-day decisions, the client experience, and what is next for the studio.
What was the moment you knew it was time to start Ardo? Was it a single catalyst or a gradual pull?
Ardo was an idea that had been in my mind for a long time, so it was more of a gradual pull than a single moment. I’d reached a point in my career where I wanted to be closer to the work and to the people I was designing for. After years in larger practices and in the development space, I realised how much I valued being across the finer details and the scale where every decision directly shapes how someone lives. Ardo was born of a desire to work more intentionally, creating spaces that feel grounded, thoughtful, and genuinely connected to the people who live in them.
Your motto is “Design that lives with you.” How does that translate into day-to-day choices?
For me, this means designing for longevity and the rhythms of everyday living. It guides everyday decisions, from choosing natural materials that age well, planning rooms around real routines and prioritising proportion and light through considered spatial planning. For me, it’s about creating homes people grow into.
What does a “boutique” client experience look like at Ardo, from first conversation to handover?
The client experience is everything. It’s personal, consistent and hands-on. Clients work directly with me throughout the entire process, rather than through layers of teams. We take time to understand how they want to live, what matters to them and how they want their home to feel. From there, every step is guided and transparent, enforcing thoughtful design, clear communication and attention to detail right through to handover.
Tell us about a first “signature” Ardo moment that feels distinctly yours.
There’s usually a moment in every project where everything softens, where the proportions feel right, the light is controlled, and the materials sit quietly together. It’s rarely a big gesture. It’s the restrained transition or subtle shift in tone, or the way natural light moves across a surface that changes how a space feels. Those quiet, deliberate moments feel distinctly Ardo to me, understated but grounding, and something you only truly experience when you’re in the space.
What’s next for Ardo in the coming year?
The focus is on continuing to deepen our residential work while taking on a few select wellness and boutique retail projects, all of which are areas that naturally align with how we think about atmosphere and experience. Renovations, new homes and heritage transformations will remain a core part of the studio. Across all of these, the emphasis remains on thoughtful planning and a restrained material palette, showcasing elements that elevate how a space feels day-to-day. Whatever comes next, the priority is to keep our designs thoughtful, refined, and closely connected to each client. ■
PHOTOGRAPHY
TURNING LOSS INTO ACTION
Inspired by Teresa Neate’s journey, The Aftershock exists to ensure no patient is disadvantaged based on their cancer type, advocating for greater awareness and research funding for high-mortality-rate cancers. In this article, we speak with Teresa’s daughter, Suz Neate, Founder and CEO, about the mission to improve survival outcomes where progress has been overlooked.
The Aftershock was founded in response to Teresa’s diagnosis and the profound impact it had on you and your family. How did that experience shape the charity’s purpose and the work it does today?
The lack of representation for certain cancers and the lack of knowledge were huge driving forces in launching The Aftershock. It was clear that not all cancers are well understood, and some still don’t have effective treatment, so symptoms are missed, diagnosis is delayed, and survival rates are impacted. I focused on the root problem: raising funds and awareness for lesser-known cancers and shifting survival rates that haven’t changed in over 30 years, so we see fewer people like my mum in hospital, and fewer 25-year-old women watching their mothers die.
How does the focus on supporting cancers that often receive less attention and funding guide your decisions as the organisation evolves?
People caught in the ripple effect of a lesser-known cancer diagnosis often don’t feel heard or seen. Researchers are talented and motivated, but they’re not receiving the funding. Thousands of Australians are impacted every day; these cancers make up 50% of Victorian cancer deaths each year, and yet no one is talking about them. These cancers aren’t that rare, and watching control being taken away from my mum, from us, and even from medical professionals was unbearable. It guides how we raise awareness, where funding goes, and what support content we create. With the right funding directed to the right places, we can increase survival rates by investing in researchers who can make a difference.
Teresa’s Trotters began as a way to honour Teresa’s memory and bring people together. As the event returns this February, what does it represent to you now compared to when it first began?
People show up for Teresa, but also for others impacted by cancer beyond our network, and they find purpose in it. Seeing returning walkers and new faces connected to our vision is an incredible feeling. It has become something so much bigger than where it began.
What do you most hope Teresa’s Trotters and The Aftershock will be known for in the years to come?
We want to be known as the organisation that helped increase survival rates for high mortality cancers, and as a voice for those who have passed and those who cannot speak. We don’t sugarcoat how horrific a cancer experience is or how crippling grief can be, and that honesty has built our community. We want Teresa’s Trotters to keep broadening beyond our network and become the go-to fundraising event for high-mortality cancers, with a fundraising goal of $40,000 this year. And we would absolutely love your support in helping us achieve this. ■
LEARN MORE
THE LOCAL EDIT
You Are Here: Melbourne Memory-scapesUntil 6 th February 2026
110 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Soul Night Market Brighton6 th February 2026
2 Esplanade, Brighton, VIC 3187
Hill and Ridge Community Market7th February 2026
184 Arthurs Seat Road, Red Hill, VIC 3937
Kingston Farmer's Market7th February 2026
3 Jean Street, Cheltenham, VIC 3192
Mornington Racecourse Market8th February 2026
320 Racecourse Road, Mornington, VIC 3931
Art by Twlight: Date Night14th February 2026
7 Templestowe Road, Bulleen, VIC 3105
Heide Market - 14th February 2026
7 Templestowe Road, Bulleen, VIC 3105
Portsea Polo - 14th February 2026
Point Nepean National Park, Danson Drive, Portsea, VIC, 3944
Park Orchards Cricket Club: Pink Stumps (Galentines) Day 202614th February 2026
Domeney Reserve, 50 Knees Road, Park Orchards, VIC 3114
Paypal Melbourne Fashion Festival14th February 2026 - 28th February 2026
Various Venues, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Boroondara Farmers Market21st February 2026
484 Auburn Road, Hawthorn, VIC 3122
Young | youth in Australian photography: 1980s to now - Until 22nd February 2026 860 Ferntree Gully Road, Wheelers Hill, VIC 3150
Teresa's Trotters 2026 - 22nd February 2026
200-590 Royal Parade, Carlton North, VIC 3054
Golf2Cure - 2nd March 2026
Yarra Yarra Golf Club, 567 Warrigal Road, Bentleigh East, VIC 3165
Point Nepean Portsea Market - 7th March 2026
Point Nepean Quarantine Station, Coleman Road, Portsea, VIC 3944
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival20 th March 2026 - 29 th March 2026
Various Venues, Melbourne, VIC, 3000
Mental Health Safety Net Fun Run - 22nd March 2026
Mornington Athletics Track, Dunns Road, Mornington, VIC, 3931
MOTHER: Stories from the NGV Collection27th March 2026 - 12 th July 2026
Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square, Melbourne, VIC 3000
MECCA X NGV Women in Design Commission 2025Until 1st April 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
Moonlight Cinema - Until 5th April 2026
Central Lawn Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Birdwood Ave, Melbourne VIC 3141
Westwood | Kawakubo - Until 16 th April 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
Guide Dogs Victoria Community Fair18th April 2026
2 Chandler Highway, Kew, VIC 3101
DIVA at the Australian Museum of Performing ArtsUntil 26 th April 2026
100 St Kilda Road, Southbank, VIC 3004
Run the Tan - 26 th April 2026
Tan Track, Melbourne, VIC 3004
Maytime Fair - 2nd May 2026
Xavier College, 135 Barkers Road, Kew, VIC, 3101
Women Photographers 1900-1975: A Legacy of Light - Until 3 rd May 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
Let's Party! Fashion for Kids:
Designed by Danielle Brustman - Until 3 rd May 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
9 O’SHAUGHNESSY STREET KEW
A 3 B 2-3 C 2-3 From $3,350,000
A rare offering – six park front residences in Kew. Architecture and interiors by Carr and landscaping by Acre. The building features a secure double-gated garage with number plate recognition for seamless basement access, 24/7 surveillance and keyless entry throughout.
DEVELOPED BY
BUILT BY
ARCHITECTURE BY GARDENS BY
PROJECT MANAGEMENT BY
Tucked at the end of an exclusive cul-de-sac, this elevated contemporary residence delivers exceptional privacy and effortless living amid landscaped gardens and a tranquil pool backdrop. Expansive glazing, high ceilings and warm timber finishes connect seamlessly with nature, while generous indoor-outdoor zones and refined interiors create an inviting, familyfocused lifestyle. ■
DEVELOPED BY ARCHITECTURE BY INTERIORS BY
44 SCOTT GROVE GLEN IRIS
A 2-3 B 2 C 1-2
From $895,000
Enso Gardens is a sculptural symphony of green - where nature and design meet in quiet harmony. Tucked behind Scott Grove, its Japanese-inspired landscaping by Acre features wisteria-draped pergolas, Zen stones, and a serene water feature. Lush terraces, leafy courtyards, and tranquil shared spaces invite calm and connection.
ROSS HAMS 0410 160 151 SALES BY
From $2,365,000
Chomley Terraces offers refined 3 and 4-bedroom townhouse’s in Prahran East offering living rooms that are a minimum 6m wide, 9ft ceilings, individual solar panels, EV ready and some with private lifts. Designed by Cera Stribley with landscaping by Andrew Panton Design, each residence also includes keyless entry and a 6y building guarantee.
