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ENDURING DESIGN

42A BLACK STREET BRIGHTON

IN CONVERSATION WITH

O’CONNELL’S HOTEL

CERA STRIBLEY

GRILLED PRAWNS

ISSUE 69

ISSUE 69

03

ENDURING DESIGN 42A BLACK STREET, BRIGHTON

READING THE MARKET ON THE GROUND Each season brings its own assumptions, and school holidays are one of them. The expectation is a quieter market, with buyers and sellers stepping back for a few weeks. This week was forecast much the same way. What we saw across our auctions suggested otherwise.

We prefer to trust what is happening in front of us rather than the narrative that tends to form around this time of year. Activity on the ground is strong, with genuine competition across multiple properties and continued interest well beyond the fall of the hammer. Buyers who are ready to purchase are not waiting for a more convenient moment. They are acting when the right home presents itself.

Nowhere is that clearer than on the Mornington Peninsula.

Conditions there have shifted in favour of buyers who have been patient, with a number of homes now priced more realistically than they were at the peak. That recalibration is drawing renewed interest, and we are seeing the results across our Peninsula offices, Sorrento among them, where recent sales point to a market that is far from subdued.

For sellers, this is a reminder that well-presented homes continue to attract serious buyers in any season. For buyers, current conditions offer a genuine window to secure quality property at a considered value.

If you are weighing up your next move, we would welcome the chance to share what we are seeing across your local market.

Speak with your Marshall White agent to understand where the opportunities lie. ■

By John Bongiorno

M1 METROPOLITAN PROPERTIES C1 COAST AND COUNTRY PROPERTIES

05

O’CONNELL’S HOTEL GRILLED PRAWNS

07

IN CONVERSATION WITH CERA STRIBLEY

09

NGV TOP ARTS 2026

11

P R O J E C TS PARK LANE

ENDURING DESIGN

42A BLACK STREET BRIGHTON

Architecturally reimagined by Stonnington Group, this landmark Brighton residence delivers a masterful balance of heritage grandeur and contemporary luxury. Set on a north-oriented corner allotment, the restored Victorian façade gives way to interiors defined by Venetian plaster, European Oak flooring and a richly layered palette of natural materials.

Designed for effortless living and entertaining, expansive living domains unfold around a bespoke Taj Mahal quartzite kitchen appointed with Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, complemented by a butler’s kitchen and considered utility spaces.

“Every detail of this remarkable home has been thoughtfully considered, resulting in a residence of outstanding craftsmanship, timeless elegance and uncompromising liveability.”

BEN VIETH MARSHALL WHITE DIRECTOR

An undercover alfresco pavilion with outdoor kitchen and fireplace extends seamlessly to professionally landscaped gardens, creating a private resort-like setting. Luxurious accommodation includes multiple bedroom suites and a discreet self-contained apartment, offering exceptional flexibility.

Positioned moments from Church Street, the bay and Melbourne’s leading schools, this is a residence defined by craftsmanship, restraint and enduring sophistication. ■

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

FOR ENQUIRIES CONTACT BEN VIETH

0404 084 793

QUINTY QIU

0499 996 888

3

O’CONNELL’S HOTEL 407 COVENTRY STREET SOUTH MELBOURNE

Grilled Prawns @OCONNELLS_HOTEL www.oconnells.com.au

At O’Connell’s Hotel in South Melbourne, Head Chef Michael Conlon brings a refined approach to modern Australian dining. His Grilled Prawns with macadamia butter combine smoky flame-cooked seafood with roasted macadamias and bright citrus notes, creating a simple yet impressive dish made for effortless entertaining.

Serves: 2-3

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

6 large raw king prawns, whole 200g macadamia nuts Juice and zest of 1 lemon 2 tablespoons water 1 lemon, cut into wedges for garnish Olive oil Salt

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C. Roast the macadamia nuts for 15–20 minutes until evenly golden and toasted. Reserve a small handful for garnish.

2. Once slightly cooled, place the macadamias into a food processor with the lemon juice, lemon zest, water and a generous pinch of salt. Blend until smooth and buttery, then set aside.

3. To prepare the prawns, use kitchen scissors to cut along the spine of each prawn shell and remove the vein.

4. Lightly coat the prawns with olive oil and season with salt. Cook over a wood-fire grill for best results, though a barbecue or air fryer will also work well.

5. Grill the prawns, turning every 30–45 seconds. The butterflied edges will begin to open slightly once cooked. Total cooking time should be approximately 3–4 minutes.

6. To serve, spoon the macadamia butter onto the plate alongside the prawns. Finish with finely grated or crushed roasted macadamias and serve with fresh lemon wedges.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

5

IN CONVERSATION WITH

CERA STRIBLEY

This month, we spoke with Melbourne-based multidisciplinary studio Cera Stribley. Founded on a commitment to residential design excellence and guided by the principle of designing by dialogue, the practice has grown to encompass architecture, interior design, bespoke houses and landscapes across a diverse portfolio of projects, from private residences and multi-residential developments to hospitality and commercial spaces.

Working from their Richmond studio, the Cera Stribley team brings a collaborative, human-centred approach to every brief, crafting spaces that are considered, layered and built to last.

What materials are you enjoying working with in current projects, and why?

We love all things hand-made, for the sense of craft and materiality, and the human touch they afford a space and a project.

Are there any “quiet” innovations that are changing how you detail interiors?

We feel that tried and tested approaches to planning and detailing are often the most successful. There are innovative hardware opportunities to aid in clever storage solutions, but these are details that the user should be unaware of, and purely functional (not the focus!).

Are there any materials you once avoided that you are reconsidering due to better finishes or supply?

Granite and cork are both natural, extremely durable, tactile materials that offer a great deal of variety and character. They are no longer limited to what we have traditionally recognised them as, and are beautifully timeless without being a trend.

What fashion ideas, such as palette, layering or silhouette, have you successfully translated into interiors?

We recently translated an equestrian approach to fashion by Moncler Fall 2015 for a hotel project, mixing stripes, checks and bold block colour. The outcome is confident and playful, yet executed in a mature, lasting way.

Which furniture item has proven timeless in your projects, robust and easy to live with?

Anything by Carl Hansen and Sons. They can do no wrong. Utterly timeless, sophisticated but with an often subtle, quirky edge. The materials, quality and shapes of these pieces make them generational, transcending trends and easily at home in any space. ■

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

7

THE FUTURE OF CREATIVITY

The next generation of Victoria’s creative talent will take centre stage this year as Top Arts 2026 returns to The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia from 13 March to 19 July, showcasing an inspiring collection of works by some of the state’s most accomplished young artists.

Now in its 32nd year, the annual exhibition has become one of the National Gallery of Victoria’s most anticipated community and education initiatives, highlighting the creativity, imagination and technical skill of students who have excelled in their VCE art studies.

This year’s exhibition features 43 students selected from more than 1,100 submissions across metropolitan and regional Victoria, with works spanning painting, photography, sculpture, fashion, textiles and digital art.

The 2026 exhibition explores themes ranging from identity and memory to the natural world and contemporary culture. Among the featured works is Lex Blockey’s Transformations: A reflection of identity, a couture-inspired fashion piece drawing on sixteenth to eighteenth-century European silhouettes and traditional handmade techniques to explore modern perspectives on gender identity.

Another standout is flow by Sandringham College student Dylan Hopkins, the first interactive digital artwork to be included in a Top Arts exhibition. Combining art with computer science, the immersive work uses digital software and 3D rendering to create moving particles that respond to audience interaction, inviting visitors into a calming and playful visual experience.

Many of the exhibited works also reflect deep connections to place and community. First Nations artist Rome Jowett-Crociani’s suspended painting BOODJURA (fire sticks) honours Indigenous cultural burning practices and teachings passed down through family, while Oscar Cooke’s photographic series Mountains to Oceans captures the enduring relationship between surf communities and the coastline.

NGV Director Tony Ellwood AM described the exhibition as a celebration of “the creativity and vision of Victoria’s most talented young artists”, while also recognising the important role exhibitions like Top Arts play in supporting the state’s future creative leaders.

Free to attend, Top Arts 2026 offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the perspectives and ideas shaping Victoria’s emerging creative generation. ■

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

GEORDIE WILLIAMSON ALLEGORY OF A BLANKET 2025 Oil on canvas 91.5 x 152.5 cm Bendigo Senior Secondary College, Bendigo Dja Dja Wurrung Country © Geordie Williamson

1 COOLOONGATTA ROAD CAMBERWELL A 3-5 B 2-3 C 2 From $1,895,000 A private collection of architecturally designed 3, 4 & 5 bedroom residences, positioned within a secure gated enclave in one of Camberwell’s most tightly held neighbourhoods. Defined by timeless architecture, expansive interiors and elevated craftsmanship, Park Lane introduces a refined new benchmark for contemporary family living.

SALES BY

KIERRA HAGEDORN 0432 737 911

DEVELOPED BY

LANDSCAPING BY

FINANCED BY

STONE BY

THE LOCAL EDIT MALVERN EAST CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

9 JULY 2026

6-23 AUGUST 2026

St. John’s Anglican Church, 5 Finch Street,

ACMI, Federation Square, Flinders Street,

Malvern East, VIC 3145 MELBOURNE MAGIC FESTIVAL UNTIL 11 JULY 2026

Melbourne, VIC 3000 and other venues NOW OR NEVER FESTIVAL

Arrow on Swanston, 488 Swanston Street,

19–30 AUGUST 2026

Melbourne, VIC 3000

Various venues including Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

LIGHT TO NIGHT FESTIVAL AT CHADSTONE 11–12 JULY 2026 1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone, VIC 3148 BLUEY’S BIG PLAY UNTIL 12 JULY 2026 Comedy Theatre, 240 Exhibition Street,

WINTER NIGHT MARKET EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING UNTIL 26 AUGUST 2026 Queen Victoria Market, Queen Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

Melbourne, VIC 3000 STATE LIBRARY VICTORIA UNLOCKED MOTHER: STORIES FROM THE NGV

UNTIL 31 AUGUST 2026

COLLECTION

State Library Victoria, 328 Swanston Street,

UNTIL 12 JULY 2026 Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square, Melbourne, VIC 3000

Melbourne, VIC 3000 FUTURE COUNTRY AT NGV AUSTRALIA

SALON AFTER D’ARC: THE GIFT OF

UNTIL 21 SEPTEMBER 2026

HEARTBREAK

Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square,

15 JULY 2026

Melbourne, VIC 3000

Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne, VIC 3000 THE LITTLE FOOD MARKET 17-19 JULY 2026 9 Nicholson Street, Carlton, VIC 3053

ROYAL MELBOURNE SHOW 24 SEP – 4 OCTOBER 2026 Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Road, Ascot Vale, VIC 3032

TOP ARTS 2026: SHOWCASING EMERGING ARTISTS ACROSS VICTORIA

MELBOURNE FRINGE FESTIVAL

UNTIL 19 JULY 2026

29 SEP – 18 OCTOBER 2026

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia,

Various venues across Melbourne

Federation Square, Melbourne, VIC 3000 RUN MELBOURNE 19 JULY 2026 Grand Slam Oval, Olympic Boulevard,

IMAGINATOR UNTIL 30 SEPTEMBER 2026 The District Docklands, Docklands, VIC 3008

Melbourne, VIC 3000 CARTIER: MELBOURNE WINTER MASTERPIECES OPEN HOUSE MELBOURNE WEEKEND

UNTIL 4 OCTOBER 2026

24 - 26 JULY 2026

National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road,

Various locations around Melbourne CBD and inner suburbs CHRISTMAS IN JULY HIGH TEA BUFFET

Melbourne, VIC 3006 MELBOURNE FASHION WEEK

25 JULY 2026

19-25 OCTOBER 2026

Stamford Plaza Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC

Melbourne Town Hall, 90–130 Swanston Street,

3000

Melbourne, VIC 3000 and various locations

OPEN RENTAL

YOUR INVESTMENT IS OUR PRIORITY We offer superior personalised service tailored to elevate both the value and experience of your rental property.

Discover the benefits of our client-focused approach in maximising your investment property’s potential with a complimentary rental appraisal.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

OUR OFFICE LOCATIONS ALBERT PARK

BRIGHTON

MOUNT ELIZA

110 Bridport Street, Albert Park, VIC 3206 (03) 9822 9999

Level 1/225 Bay Street, Brighton, VIC 3186 (03) 9822 9999

98 Mount Eliza Way, Mount Eliza, VIC 3930 (03) 9787 6650

ARMADALE

FLINDERS

SORRENTO

1111 High Street, Armadale, VIC 3143 (03) 9822 9999

10/33 Cook Street, Flinders, VIC 3929 (03) 5931 1000

60 Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento, VIC 3943 (03) 5981 3000

BALWYN

HAWTHORN

Level 2/379-381 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn, VIC 3103 (03) 9822 9999

Level 1/801 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, VIC 3122 (03) 9822 9999

OPEN

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METROP OLITAN