1 GREENKNOWE COURT, TOORAK REFINED SANCTUARY
UNLEASHED BY DESIGN 03
ROAST CHICKEN WITH CHESTNUT, PERSIMMON & CHILLI SAMBAL RECIPE
SPIDER
VICTORIAN GRANDEUR
BUYERS STEP
OFF THE SIDELINES
The recent interest rate cut has had an immediate effect across Melbourne’s property market, particularly on buyer confidence. At auctions, we have noticed an increasing level of participation, with more bidders prepared to step forward rather than wait on the sidelines. This shift in energy is a reminder that while affordability remains a consideration, sentiment often drives market momentum just as strongly.
We are now approaching a natural pause point in the campaign calendar. The last wave of listings before the school holidays is coming to market over the coming days, after which the AFL finals and September break will briefly temper new stock. This pattern is well established each year, but the difference this season is the mood on the ground. Buyers sense that market conditions may soon begin to tilt upwards, and that hesitation could mean missing out on homes that may look comparatively good value in hindsight.
While sustained price growth will take time to filter through to the data, we are seeing consistent competition and great results for well-presented homes with sensible pricing strategies. Buyers are aware that waiting until after the holidaysor into the spring rush - could mean entering a more competitive environment where negotiation power may be diminished.
For sellers, this is an ideal time to launch while choice is still limited and buyers are motivated. For purchasers, the current window offers a valuable chance to act before the spring market introduces more stock and stronger demand.
If you are considering a sale or purchase, now is the time to put a strategy in place. Speak with your local Marshall White agent to secure your opportunity in this evolving market. ■
By John Bongiorno
REFINED SANCTUARY
“A masterful collaboration of Rob Mills, John Coute and Paul Bangay has produced a truly iconic Toorak home.”
MARCUS CHIMINELLO, MARSHALL WHITE DIRECTOR
Nestled in a prestigious Toorak cul-de-sac off St Georges Road, this exquisite residence is a rare fusion of classical 19th-century French design and refined craftsmanship. Conceived by interior decorator John Coote, architect Robert Mills, and antique curator Graham Geddes, every detail - from bespoke joinery to antique chandeliers - has been thoughtfully curated.
A stately triple-brick façade and Paul Bangay-designed parterre gardens set the tone for grand yet serene interiors featuring soaring coffered and vaulted ceilings, wide hallways, and marble fireplaces. The palatial main suite boasts a vine-draped terrace, dressing room, and opulent marble bathroom, while a second suite and study offer equal elegance and flexibility. A Mieleequipped kitchen with a granite island anchors expansive openplan living, flowing to a private, north-facing courtyard framed by lush greenery.
Additional luxuries include a wine cellar, 4+ car garage, lift access, and extensive storage. Set moments from elite schools and Toorak Village, this home offers timeless beauty, scale, and discretion. ■
FOR ENQUIRIES CONTACT
MARCUS CHIMINELLO 0411 411 271
NICOLE FRENCH 0417 571 505
MANDY ZHU 0411 893 168
from New Quarter
ROAST CHICKEN WITH CHESTNUT, PERSIMMON & CHILLI SAMBAL
An aromatic take on roast chicken from New Quarter’s head chef Gabriel Custodio, pairing smoky heat with sweet persimmon and earthy chestnut in true modern Vietnamese style.
INGREDIENTS
Chicken Brine (for 1 whole chicken):
35g cooking caramel
80g soy sauce
130g salt
70g sugar
5g ginger powder
1L water
10g vinegar
Chicken Marinade (for 1 whole chicken):
135g green apple, roughly chopped
185g red onion
35g garlic
8g ginger powder
28g pickled chilli
87g brown sugar
47g soy sauce
83g mushroom soy
33g kombu concentrate (or 1 tsp miso + 1 tsp kelp powder)
0.7g bird’s eye chilli powder
Chicken Sauce:
500g chicken bones (roasted)
2g star anise
5g coriander seed
2.5g black pepper
4g fennel seed
1g green cardamom
1g dried mandarin peel (or zest of ¼ orange)
12g dried shiitake
160g carrot
160g red onion
75g ginger
65g peeled garlic
1.5L water
Seasoning:
125g soy sauce
12g mushroom soy
25g cooking caramel
42g brown sugar
4g salt
17g corn starch (mixed with water to thicken)
Pickled Chilli SambalI:
10g garlic
35g long red chilli (chopped)
50g hot oil (170°C)
2.5g sugar
3g fine salt
38g rice wine vinegar
1g Ultra-Sperse (or a pinch of xanthan gum to thicken)
Ginger Oil:
25g ginger (grated or sliced)
250g canola oil
METHOD
Chicken Brine (for 1 whole chicken):
1. Dissolve all brine ingredients in warm water and cool completely.
2. Submerge chicken in brine for 6–12 hours. Pat dry before roasting.
Chicken Marinade (for 1 whole chicken):
1. Blend all ingredients to a smooth paste.
2. Rub marinade onto chicken and marinate for 4–6 hours (or overnight).
Chicken Sauce:
1. Roast bones and vegetables.
2. Combine all ingredients in a pot.
3. Simmer for 2–3 hours.
4. Reduce to approximately 750ml.
5. Strain through a fine sieve or double chinois.
Seasoning:
1. Season the strained stock with the above ingredients.
2. Bring to a boil, then whisk in the starch slurry to lightly thicken.
Pickled Chilli SambalI:
1. Blend garlic and chilli to a rough paste, then pour over hot oil.
2. Add sugar, salt, and vinegar.
3. Add thickener and blend until slightly emulsified.
Ginger Oil:
1. Gently heat ginger in oil for 20–30 minutes.
2. Strain and cool.
To Serve:
1. Roast or chargrill the marinated chicken until golden and cooked through.
2. Lightly roast or grill slices of ripe persimmon.
3. Roast chestnuts, peel, and keep warm.
4. Plate the chicken with grilled persimmon, crumbled chestnuts, and a spoonful of pickled chilli sambal.
5. Finish with a drizzle of ginger oil and a generous pour of warm chicken sauce.
UNLEASHED BY DESIGN
THE NEW McLAREN ARTURA SPIDER
A new chapter in open-air supercar performance has arrived. The all-new McLaren Artura Spider delivers the spine-tingling sensation of top-down driving with the electrified edge of McLaren’s next-generation hybrid technology, making it the lightest, most advanced convertible in its class.
Now available in both Spider and Coupe configurations, the MY25 Artura range merges cutting-edge engineering with unmistakable McLaren DNA — a legacy forged not only on the road, but on the track. Off the back of McLaren’s 2024 F1 Constructors’ Championship win, and with the team now leading both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles in 2025, the Artura’s racing pedigree feels more relevant than ever. And with Melbourne’s own Oscar Piastri pushing toward a World Championship, the connection between race success and road performance has never been stronger.
Combining a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 and axial flux electric motor, the Artura Spider produces a staggering 700PS (690bhp), accelerating from 0–100km/h in just 3.0 seconds and pushing on to a top speed of 330km/h. With an uprated EV range of 33km and fuel efficiency of just 4.8L/100km, this is a car that defies convention, offering sustainability, silence, and savage speed in one seamless package.
But numbers alone cannot capture what makes this car truly special. With the roof retracted in just 11 seconds, the Artura Spider amplifies the McLaren experience, fusing airflow and acoustics into a visceral connection between driver and road. The redesigned exhaust unleashes a crescendo of sound through the cabin — especially with the rear window lowered — while McLaren’s trademark electro-hydraulic steering and Proactive Damping Control suspension respond with uncanny precision to every input and surface.
The engineering sophistication under the surface is equally breathtaking. A zonal Ethernet-based electrical architecture reduces weight while delivering class-leading computing power. For MY26 models, driver assistance technologies — including Blind Spot Monitoring, Cross-Traffic Detection, and Lane Departure Warning — are offered as optional equipment. At the same time, several key features are newly included at no extra cost:
• Practicality Pack (Power-Folding Heated Door Mirrors with Dip in Reverse, 4 Front and 4 Rear Parking Sensors, Rear View Camera, and Soft Close Doors)
• Vehicle Lift
An optional electrochromic glass roof offers instant shading or light at the touch of a button, while aerodynamic buttresses and rear intakes are sculpted to manage heat and airflow with obsessive detail.
Inside, the cockpit continues the Artura’s minimalist purity. A dualscreen MIS II infotainment system offers wireless Apple CarPlay® and driver-customisable displays, while the signature Clubsport seat adjusts on an elliptical arc to deliver race-ready support with road-going comfort. The clean steering wheel — free of buttons — keeps focus purely on performance, with drive modes accessible at fingertip level.
Even the audio system reflects McLaren’s uncompromising design approach. A five-speaker McLaren setup comes standard, while an optional 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins system, tailored for convertible acoustics, creates an immersive audio landscape.
Despite the complexity of its hybrid powertrain and retractable hardtop, the Artura Spider weighs just 62kg more than the coupe. With a dry weight of 1,457kg and a power-to-weight ratio of 480PS per tonne, this is a convertible that performs like a track-focused coupe and looks every bit as commanding.
With new Stealth badging, updated colourways, extended service and battery warranties, and three years of complimentary servicing included, the MY25 Artura Spider is as practical as it is exhilarating. Available now for order in Australia, the Artura is a McLaren born for those who demand beauty, intelligence, and raw emotion — all in one machine.
The perfect supercar? McLaren just made it. ■
LEARN MORE
VICTORIAN GRANDEUR
“What sets this home apart is the seamless fusion of 19thcentury grandeur with uncompromised contemporary luxury, all set within over an acre of manicured botanical grounds.”
STUART EVANS, DIRECTOR
Magnificently set within glorious Rick Eckersley designed botanic gardens with north-south tennis court, this landmark c1880 Victorian mansion is a tribute to the elegance and grandeur of the era. Exquisite period features adorn the arched reception hall, executive study, gracious sitting room, den/ library, theatre room and majestic formal dining room. The spectacular living/dining room with a sublime connoisseur’s kitchen opens to an expansive private north-facing BBQ terrace with self-contained studio apartment and the mod grass tennis court. Exceptional family accommodation accessed via two staircases and a lift comprises the lavish main bedroom with robes and luxurious en suite, four additional bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Exclusively situated close to Auburn Village and station, Glenferrie Rd and prestigious schools, this generational home is comprehensively appointed with an alarm, zoned RC/airconditioning, ducted vacuum, powder-room, 5th bathroom, laundry with drying deck and cabinet, irrigation, 100,000L underground water tank, 3 phase solar power, double carport with EV charger and auto gates. ■
FOR ENQUIRIES CONTACT
STUART EVANS 0402 067 710
MARCUS CHIMINELLO 0411 411 271
DUANE WOLOWIEC 0418 567 581
GROWING WITH PURPOSE
We spoke
with
Sophia Petridis, General
Manager of The Beautiful Bunch, about their recently launched BB Botanics initiative. This inspiring new venture brings meaningful employment to young women from refugee backgrounds through the power of plant care.
What was the vision behind launching BB Botanics, and how does it continue the mission of The Beautiful Bunch?
BB Botanics was created to grow the impact of our social enterprise by offering a new stream of meaningful employment for young women from refugee backgrounds. While The Beautiful Bunch has long supported these young women through floristry, we saw an opportunity to expand into plant styling and maintenance, fields that offer ongoing, reliable work and a chance to contribute meaningfully to beautiful environments. At its core, BB Botanics shares the same values as The Beautiful Bunch: creating beauty, fostering belonging, and offering pathways to long-term change.
How does BB Botanics create pathways for young women from refugee backgrounds?
Through hands-on training and supported employment in indoor plant care, BB Botanics gives participants practical skills, structure, and confidence. Our team works with businesses across Melbourne, styling, maintaining, and enhancing green spaces while building workplace confidence and connection. These roles don’t just provide income; they offer real-world experience, responsibility, and a sense of pride.
In what ways has working with plants and nurturing green spaces become a tool for healing and empowerment within the BB Botanics team?
Plants offer something truly special. They require care, patience, and attention — qualities that are healing in themselves. For our team, tending to plants becomes a daily practice of connection, regulation, and growth. Some of our trainees who’ve accompanied Bea, our Head Horticulturist, have reflected on how calming it is to be out on-site and surrounded by greenery, away from the pace of the studio
bench and immersed in something slower and more grounding. There’s also something incredibly empowering about walking into a space and knowing you’ve played a role in making it thrive. That quiet pride can build confidence and transform how someone sees themselves.
How do you hope BB Botanics influences the way businesses think about inclusion, purpose-led partnerships, and the role of social enterprise?
We hope BB Botanics demonstrates that social impact and excellence can coexist — and that by working with a values-led supplier, businesses can help create real change. We’d love to see more businesses like Marshall White embrace social procurement not just as a good deed, but as a way to create more beautiful, meaningful spaces, with purpose at the centre.
Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future of BB Botanics and the women it supports?
Our dream is to grow our client base and, with it, the number of women we can support into meaningful employment. We want BB Botanics to become a recognised leader in plant care and a case study in what’s possible when social enterprise is done well. Ultimately, we want every young woman who comes through our doors to leave with a stronger sense of who she is and what she’s capable of. ■
LEARN MORE
FROM BLUE-CHIP TO NEXT-GEN THE BUYERS REDEFINING PRESTIGE
While Melbourne’s prestige market continues to be defined by elegant homes, iconic streets, and long-held blue-chip value, the most significant shift of the past year has come not from what is being sold; but who is buying, and how.
In suburbs like Toorak, Brighton, Hawthorn, and South Yarra, Marshall White agents are increasingly working with a new class of prestige purchaser. These clients are globally mobile, tech-literate, and demographically diverse, often representing second-generation wealth, returning expatriates, or multigenerational families pooling resources to acquire homes with lasting lifestyle appeal.
They are privacy-conscious and deeply informed, with a clear vision for location, lifestyle and long-term value. Many skip the traditional sales campaign altogether, preferring the efficiency and discretion of off-market buying. In a lot of cases, prestige properties are sold before ever being publicly advertised; a trend that continues to gather pace across the $5 million to $20 million range.
What they seek is not only scale, but purposeful design. Demand has grown for homes that accommodate the modern
needs of extended families; separate living zones, selfcontained guest suites, lifts, kosher or butler’s kitchens, and seamless indoor-outdoor entertaining areas. Proximity to private education, walkable retail, and access to sporting or club amenities are also high on the checklist.
Importantly, these are not speculative buyers. They are often Melbourne born, family focused, and well embedded in the local community or returning to it. They are purchasing with clarity; not driven by FOMO or rate noise, but by a genuine, lifestylealigned need.
As one Marshall White director puts it, “They know exactly what they want. And when it surfaces, they’re ready to move—fast.”
“MANY SKIP THE TRADITIONAL SALES CAMPAIGN ALTOGETHER, PREFERRING THE EFFICIENCY AND DISCRETION OF OFFMARKET BUYING.”
THE LOCAL EDIT
Footy Finals Fever: A Very Special Lunch - 28th August 2025
25 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Stand Up in September - 28th August 2025
376 Smith Street, Collingwood, VIC 3066
Indian Community Day - 30 th August 2025
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
Boroondara Farmers Market - 30 th August 2025
484 Auburn Road, Hawthorn, VIC 3122
Brighton Beach Marathon - 31st August 2025 Green Point, Brighton, VIC 3186
Stonnington Winter Food Drive - Until 31st August 2025
311 Glenferrie Road, Malvern, VIC 3144
NGVWA Spring Lunch 2025 - 2nd September 2025
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
Hill and Ridge Community Market - 6 th September 2025
184 Arthurs Seat Road, Red Hill, VIC 3937
The Lygon Street Market - 7th September 2025
Piazza Italia, Cnr Argyle Street and Lygon Street, Carlton, VIC 3053
Mornington Racecourse Market - 8th September 2025
Mornington Racecourse, 320 Racecourse Road, Mornington, VIC 3931
Regional Farmers Market at Abbotsford Convent - 13 th September 2025
1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford, VIC 3067
Connor’s Run - 14th September 2025 Melbourne, VIC 3004
McClelland Maker's Market20 th September 2025
390 McClelland Drive, Langwarrin, VIC 3910
Treasures and Tastes at Trinity Market20 th September 2025
177 Union Road, Surrey Hills, VIC 3127
An Italian Afternoon - 20 th September 2025
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
An Evening on Broadway - 24th September 2025 - 26 th September 2025
100 St Kilda Road, Southbank, VIC 3004
Mt Martha South Beach Market - 26 th September 2025
466 Esplanade, Mount Martha, VIC 3934
Point Nepean Portsea Market - 28th September 2025
Point Nepean Quarantine Station, Coleman Road, Portsea, VIC 3944
Mount Eliza Farmers' Market - 28th September 2025
Cnr Mt Eliza Way and Canadian Bay Road, Mount Eliza, VIC 3930
Olivia's Walk and Run for Wellness 2025 - 5th October 2025
145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC 3084
Kimono - Until 5th October 2025
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
French Impressionism - Until 5th October 2025
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
The Bloody Long Walk: Mornington - 19 th October 2025
Point Nepean Quarantine Station, Coleman Road, Portsea, VIC 3944
Melbourne Build 202522nd October 2025 - 23 rd October 2025
1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, VIC 3006
NGVWA Garden Day 2025 - 23 rd October 2025
Brighton, VIC 3186
East Malvern Food and Wine Festival23 rd November 2025
148 Burke Roadd, Malvern East, VIC 3145
Martin Grant Exhibition - Until January 2026
National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3006
28 ALBERT STREET
SOUTH MELBOURNE
A 3-5 B 2-4 C 2-4
From $1,995,000
In Melbourne’s coveted Domain Precinct, First Light will soon unveil a groundbreaking fusion of art and architecture, promising to redefine the concept of luxury living through its innovative design and unparalleled attention to detail.
HAGEDORN 0432 737 911 SALES BY
KIERRA
DEVELOPED BY DESIGNED BY INTERIORS BY
A visionary Stephen Jolson design, this luxurious Toorak residence offers grand proportions, cutting-edge automation, and refined indoor-outdoor living. Featuring a hidden chef’s kitchen, multiple living zones, pool/ spa terrace, lift, gym, and four-car garage, it delivers uncompromising quality and privacy in a prestigious cul-de-sac near elite schools, transport, and village life. ■
and
BERESFORD STREET, MONT ALBERT
TONIMBUK ROAD, TONIMBUK
A
From $1,995,000
In
coveted
