Crown Group Lounge Magazine issue 3 summer 2016

Summer 2016

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Welcome to the Summer 2016 issue of Crown Group Lounge. What an eventful few months it has been for both the Crown Group team and our Platinum Club members.

In August we saw the launch of Infinity

by Crown Group break company sales records, with $380 million worth sold in one day. Soon after, Viking by Crown was named a winner at the 2015 Master Builders Australia NSW Excellence in Construction Awards.

In December I was humbled and honoured to be named Urban Taskforce Australia’s 2015 Property Person of the Year, which is a testament not to the efforts of one person alone but the efforts of the entire Crown Group team past and present. We celebrated with our long-time friends, clients and suppliers at a special charity event at Doltone House; I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate this award and thank them for their continued support.

To cap off the year we bring you this fresh edition of Crown Group Lounge brimming with the latest in lifestyle, art, property and travel news from around the world, including a stunning Swarovski photoshoot on page 26.

Our profile of entrepreneur and RedBalloon founder Naomi Simson is a must-read on page 12. And check out our red carpet photos from the star-studded Infinity by Crown Group Unveiling Event on page 70.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our Platinum Club members and Crown Group clients for your continued support as we enter a New Year of infinite possibilities.

Warm regards, Iwan Sunito Crown Group CEO

Above: Our stunning Infinity by Crown Group sales suite and crowds gathering at the development’s grand launch day.

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Welcome

IN THIS ISSUE LEADERSHIP & INVESTMENT Up, Up And Away 12 RedBalloon founder and Shark Tank success story Naomi Simson shares her philosophy on success and work/life balance House Proud 16 Nixon Alex from New Era Finance gives his insight into Sydney’s property investment market and building a portfolio A R T S & FA S H I O N Her Gypsy Heart 20 We speak to kaftan queen Camilla Franks about her stunning fashion empire and latest collection Swarovski Style 26 A spirited collection of jewellery pieces designed by model Miranda Kerr

Disclaimer: Crown Group Lounge is published

by Business Essentials Pty Ltd trading as Edge on behalf of Crown Group Holdings Pty Ltd (ABN 47 125 413 443), Level 29/1 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000, tel (02) 9925 0088, fax (02) 9925 0598. Copyright © 2015. All rights reserved. Printed by SOS Print + Media.

Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.

Opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors, and are not necessarily those of the Publisher or Crown Group Holdings Pty Ltd. Information provided was believed to be correct at the time of publication. All reasonable efforts have been made to contact and acknowledge copyright holders.

Privacy Policy: This issue of Crown Group Lounge is published by Edge on behalf of Crown Group Holdings Pty Ltd. Edge may use and disclose your information in accordance with our Privacy Policy, including to provide you with your requested products or services and to keep you informed of other Crown Group publications, products, services or events.

Our Privacy Policy is located at www.crowngroup. com.au/privacy-policy. It also sets out how you can access or correct your personal information and lodge a complaint. Crown Group may disclose your personal information offshore to its owners, joint venture partners, service providers and agents located throughout the world, including in Indonesia, China, Malaysia, USA and the European Union. If you require further information, please contact Crown Group’s Privacy Officer either by email at privacy@ crowngroup.com.au or mail at Crown Group, Level 29/1 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

If These Walls Could Talk 32 A fascinating look at the struggles and triumphs of iconic Australian artist Florence Broadhurst T R AV E L & I N D U L G E Go The Whole Hog 36 It’s now easier than ever to own and enjoy that most venerable of American motorcycles—a Harley-Davidson Winging It 38 A glimpse at the lives of the rich and famous and their preferred mode of transport, the private jet WINE & DINE Tet’s Feast 44 Celebrity chef and culinary genius Tetsuya Wakuda on the love of his life: food The Ginsiders Guide 48 Just when you thought it was gone forever, gin is back and in a big way

A Taste Of The Globe 52 We hit the streets in search of your perfect global dining experience ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN True To Form 56 The Block’s most stylish judge Darren Palmer talks pets and trends T H E C R OW N G R O U P COLLECTION ’Tis The Season To Move 64 We chat to Crown Group Leasing’s Anthony Caudullo on what’s happening in the Sydney rental market Dollars & Scents 66 Air Aroma on their unique business providing companies with a ‘signature scent’ Crown Group Community 70 What’s happening on the social calendar Moments To Remember 74 A behind-the-scenes look at Crown Group’s dedicated sales team Project Locations 76 A map of Crown Group developments Last Word 78 Take time out to discover something new

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Clockwise from left: Camilla’s newest kaftan collection, V by Crown Group’s breathtaking penthouse apartments, Four Pillars gin and the decor at the unveiling at A Night of Infinite Luxury on 30 July.

In This Issue

UP, UP

AND AWAY R E D B A L LO O N F O U N D I N G D I R E C T O R , ‘ S H A R K ’ O N N E T W O R K T E N ’ S B U S I N E S S R E A L I T Y H I T S H A R K TA N K AU ST R A L I A A N D B E S T S E L L I N G A U T H O R N A O M I S I M S O N , A K A ‘ T H E W O M A N I N T H E R E D D R E S S’ , O P E N S U P T O D O M I N I Q U E K U H N E A B O U T B U I L D I N G A M U LT I - M I L L I O N D O L L A R B U S I N E S S , AV O I D I N G B U Z Z W O R D S A N D T H E I M P O R TA N C E O F H AV I N G A F U N N Y B O N E ( Y E S ! )

Summer 2015 | Crown Group

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It’s one of Sydney’s first balmy spring days and Naomi Simson is relaxed as she sits back across a retro shabby-chic table in her trademark red dress. It’s 9am and Simson, 51, coffee-in-hand, is already chirpy. For someone so down to earth, she has an arresting presence. It’s like talking to an old friend; conversation is relaxed and streams along with unexpected windfalls of her self-starting dialogue.

Simson founded the online experience gift store RedBalloon in 2001, driven by a desire to move away from a corporate career to spend time with her two young children. “I thought I’d play with them in the day and work at night, but it didn’t really work like that,” she says.

Fourteen years later, Simson is one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in the country.

Borne off the back of the now-infamous dotcom crash, her concept was a gutsy venture.

“No one trusted the internet,” Simson recalls.

“Most people can’t remember what 2001 was like. There was no such thing as cloud computing or social media, digital photography was in its infancy and there were no smartphones. We communicated by fax.”

Simson’s story is not an uncanny tale of rags to riches, nor is it a story of luck. RedBalloon’s path to the top is a story about good oldfashioned hard work, a professional juggling motherhood with the drive to bring an idea to life. “Two months and four days—that was the time that passed before RedBalloon sold its first experience,” Simson says. “People ask me, ‘Were you going to give up?’ But it never even occurred to me.”

Today, RedBalloon—named after the 1956 French fantasy film Le Ballon Rouge, which follows a young boy and his red balloon on adventures around Paris—has sold more than two million experiences.

Simson is now also a ‘Shark’ on Channel Ten’s hit reality program Shark Tank. “It’s a lot of fun and an absolute privilege to have people come and stand before you completely vulnerable as they pitch their dream to you. All of us [judges] are really empathetic; we’ve all been there, we all understand it,” she says. “Innovation is not about technology and it’s not all about Silicon Valley. We’re doing it right here in Australia. It’s so important to celebrate that.”

Does she like to celebrate? After all, Simson built her empire around the concept of giving.

“I do like to give great gifts,” Simson grins. “Too often relationships are diminished by giving a thoughtless gift.” When quizzed about her favourite gift to give, Simson offers a gem.

Summer 2016 | Crown Group

Above: Naomi and her partner Stuart King.

“My favourite is giving newly engaged couples trapeezing, because that’s all about trust. It’s also really funny and a laugh.”

This notion of trust is inherent in Simson’s approach to business and, on the topic of personal brand, Simson is quick to dissolve the hype attached to buzzwords. “Personal brand is simply reputation. I don’t have a personal brand,” she qualifies. “It’s about building trust. People need to know there’s a real person behind RedBalloon.”

It’s this unassuming outlook that has won Simson warranted praise. RedBalloon has been named a BRW Best Place to Work for five consecutive years. This year, it also became the first Australian company to make the WorldBlu list of Freedom-Centred Workplaces. Perhaps strangely in the modern business world, Simson doesn’t interview any of her staff, not even her indispensable Executive Assistant.

“Micromanaging does not scale a business,” she adds pointedly.

At first glance, Simson seems to manage the almost impossible balance of both confidence and warmth, but that’s a superficial analysis of what the seasoned entrepreneur has achieved.

Can women be too emotional in business? It’s an unfortunate adage that Simson is quick to refute. “Absolutely not,” she replies. “I’ve cried in front of my team too many times to count, but I also laugh out loud a lot. I bring my whole self to work. When you bring yourself to work you can focus on what you need to get done, not on being someone you’re not.”

A regular keynote speaker, Simson is comfortable with the spotlight and has a knack for inspiring others.

“What do I tell young people? I say that in life you only need three things. First, you need a wishbone, to dream and to plan. Second, you need a backbone, to be resilient, persistent and demonstrate courage. And last but not least, you need a funny bone—because if you’re not having a laugh, what’s the point?”

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“People ask me, ‘Were you going to give up?’ But it never even occurred to me.”

Naomi Simson

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Leadership & Investment

Research the area you’re considering investing in One of the biggest mistakes investors make, according to Alex, is buying property in an area before researching its potential.

“Don’t buy in an area based on data you get from real estate agents,” he says.

“You shouldn’t base your decision purely on how property has performed historically, but consider an area’s future. People have been caught out after buying property in a mining town, for example. Now as the industry faces collapse, the prices have halved. Similarly, if tourism rates in an area drop, so will your chances of finding a tenant,” he says.

Beware of any area or region that is dependent on a single economy because it can be volatile.

B U I L D I N G A P R O P E R T Y P O R T F O L I O F R O M N OT H I N G C A N S E E M L I K E A DA U N T I N G P R O S P E C T, B U T H E E D T H E S E W O R D S O F W I S D O M F R O M B R O K E R N I XO N A L E X , F O U N D E R O F N E W E R A F I N A N C E , A N D YO U C O U L D G E T S TA R T E D O N A V E R Y L U C R AT I V E V E N T U R E .

Don’t settle on the first loan offer Alex advises consulting with a broker to help you decide which bank offers the best loan for you.

A broker, he says, can wade through them all and advise on rates and loan structures.

“I can tell you which bank will support you.

Not all banks will allow you to borrow as much as you need because every bank has a different serviceability,” he says.

Seeking advice from a third party means the advice is less biased and a good broker will also keep your personal objectives in mind while sourcing a loan.

Nixon Alex, the founder of New Era Finance, is a broker worth taking advice from. He has walked the walk and invested in a total of 15 properties himself, believing that there is never a bad time to invest in real estate.

“I bought property during the global financial crisis and in 2004 when people said the market was down, so I believe investing in property is not difficult, as long as the bank is willing to lend you the money,” Alex says.

For anyone wishing to invest in property, Alex has some tried and tested tips to take note of before entering the market.

Summer 2016 | Crown Group

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Find the right loan for your financial situation Alex compares rates from more than 28 lenders to find the right loan for each individual, taking into account factors such as your total savings and whether or not you’re a first-time investor.

Repayment options will vary, but Alex says a good broker can figure out which ones will work in different situations.

“A principal and interest repayment, for example, can seem like a good option because it reduces the liability. However, it could potentially become a burden, depending on your situation,” he says.

“With a principal and interest loan you have a higher repayment, which will prove difficult if you lose your job. People are often forced to sell their property when this happens.”

In that instance, a good broker should be able to fix the problem before you are forced to sell.

“Refinancing before it’s too late can work,” he says.

Deciding on a loan structure will depend on the individual, but Alex advises having enough funds to cover a vacant property for at least three months.

“Without that, I don’t recommend that they invest,” he says.

Plan for the future The goal with property investment is to make it work for you so that when you retire, for example, you can reap the benefits.

Alex advises investing in a minimum of five properties so that, in about 20 years, two can be sold to pay off the rest.

“Then you own your home outright and you can depend on the rent of your other two properties to survive,” he says.

But it’s not a prerequisite to buy them all straight away; start with one and work your way up.

“Once your property has picked up and your salary has increased, come back to me and we’ll restructure again,” Alex says.

Prepare for the long haul Investors shouldn’t be put off by boom prices.

Alex cites Sydney as an example of a city that may initially be expensive for investors, but will always have good rental potential. Buying property in Sydney is more likely to work in your favour over time.

“The value of property in Sydney may not increase any more over the next two to three years, but it will increase over time,” he says.

“With property, I advise my customers to hold on to it for a minimum of ten years. If you hold on for that long, I’m sure you will get something.”

Being in it for the long haul is Alex’s motto for business, too—his clients sign up for a lifetime of service.

“For me, a client is a friend for life. Even if you pay off your mortgage in ten years, you’re going to upgrade or invest further so it’s going to be a long relationship.”

Visit www.newerafinance.com.au for more.

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“You shouldn’t base your decision purely on how property has performed historically, but consider an area’s future.”

Nixon Alex

New Era Finance’s Nixon Alex.

Leadership & Investment

W I N E

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HER GYPSY HEART

Summer 2015 | Crown Group

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The designer behind the successful Camilla label recently celebrated the launch of her 13th Australian store, in Chadstone, Victoria, with plans to open a boutique in Los Angeles next year.

Vivacious, unstoppable and all heart, Camilla Franks has come a long way from the young woman who first showed her designs at Australian Fashion Week in 2004. Back then the sum total of her fashion industry experience was making kaftans and costumes to support her fledgling acting career. As she tells it, “I had no idea what the hell I was doing, but I invited everyone in the fashion industry anyway.”

That first showing—a highly theatrical, choreographed event in the round, complete with an aria-trilling opera singer suspended in a 20-foot pot and women of all ages and shapes draped in flowing kaftans—netted department store David Jones as a stockist.

Camilla then hit the road, armed with nothing but her designs and a determination to succeed. She dragged suitcases all over the world, season after season, rejection after rejection—the other constant being her unwillingness to give up.

“I believed in myself and had a dream, and no-one was going to slow me down,” she says.

Her persistence paid off, with some of the biggest department stores now signed to the brand and more than 260 stockists worldwide.

Below: Camilla plans to open a new store in Los Angeles next year.

Camilla takes none of this for granted, quick to point out that her success comes down to a lot of hard work and never taking no for an answer.

“I’ve always trusted my creative gut instinct,” she says, “and I truly believe that with a lot of hard work comes a lot of luck, and I’ve been a lucky girl.”

While the perennial appeal of the kaftan is something that few saw coming, Camilla isn’t surprised. “I was just doing what I was passionate about, but the kaftan has been around for decades,” she explains. “Look at [model] Veruschka in the ’60s … and, of course, places like Morocco and India where it’s part of the culture.”

Camilla’s kaftans are a flamboyant riot of colour and patterns, often embellished with embroidery and beading. Inspired by her travels, each piece tells a story and can take up to nine months to create. That includes cataloguing some 15,000 photos of her travels, creating the fabric design (usually made up of a combination of 20 of those images), preparing the crystals, garmenting, and silhouetting the design in different fabrics.

Travel is the primary source of Camilla’s inspiration. “It fuels my imagination and becomes inspiration for my collection,” she says. This collision of personal experience and imagery translates into the evocative prints that make her designs so contemporary. It’s also the backstory that is particular to the Camilla brand.

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Arts & Fashion

Camilla’s latest collection, My Wandering Heart, is the result of her pilgrimage to Spain, Portugal and Turkey, where she visited basilicas, churches, cathedrals, ruins and coastal villages.

Inspired by the backstreets of Istanbul and its kilim (rug) weavers, to the creative vibrancy of Spain’s Antonio Gaudi, My Wandering Heart is teeming with rich colours and intricate details.

There are also new silhouettes and shapes, including a flared long-sleeved dress and midriff frill top.

While other labels have disappeared or been bought out, the Camilla brand continues to evolve and expand. Camilla concedes this has as much to do with hard work and a great team as not following trends. “I’ve always walked to the beat of my own drum,” she says. “I don’t conform to what, I guess, a fashion designer is meant to be—and I probably couldn’t, even if I tried.”

If the success of her brand is anything to go by, Camilla could be right. Her designs are worn by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Kate Hudson and Beyoncé and countless other women around the world.

These days, the Camilla range includes menswear, children’s wear, swimwear, shoes and accessories, with plans for a candle and tea range by year’s end. Then there’s the US market, which accounts for almost half of Camilla’s export business and is one she is keen to expand into.

Camilla’s bucket list is brimming with ideas and dreams. First, there’s the Los Angeles boutique and a new range inspired by a recent trip to Africa. New York Fashion Week is also in her sights. Then there’s the dream of opening a Camilla-themed restaurant, a lifestyle department store with a bar, and a healing retreat in Africa.

Considering her achievements to date, it seems there’s nothing Camilla can’t do. As she puts it, “With big dreams you need an amazing team, and I’ve got that.”

Summer 2016 | Crown Group

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Arts & Fashion

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Arts & Fashion

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Arts & Fashion

F LO R E N C E B R OA D H U R S T, O N E O F A U S T R A L I A’ S M O S T R E M A R K A B L E C R E AT I V E S , C O N T I N U E S TO SURPRISE , WRITES HELEN O’NEILL.

“She was difficult to ignore, yet somehow easy to take for granted.”

Summer 2015 | Crown Group

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Florence Broadhurst’s story beggars belief. Born in 1899 to a poor farming family near Mount Perry in rural Queensland, she had a strong contralto voice, singing her way out of the bush and then, using the name ‘Bobby’ Broadhurst, out of the country as part of a vaudeville troupe that spent the roaring twenties touring Asia.

In Shanghai she changed tack and launched her first business, the Broadhurst Academy, a finishing school where the daughters of wealthy British expats could learn everything, from elocution to the Charleston, from Florence and her ‘expert’ staff.

By the 1930s Florence had reinvented herself again, this time becoming the chic Madame Pellier, a French couturier based in London who claimed to be a ‘genuine dress artist’ engaged by the rich and famous.

In the 1950s, back in Australia, a whole new Florence emerged. This time she masqueraded as an aristocratic Englishwoman visiting the colonies to recuperate from the ravages of World War II. She painted landscapes, claimed to know the British Royal Family, and happily likened her modest artistic style to that of the great impressionists and Leonardo da Vinci.

Florence embedded herself in Sydney’s high-end social scene as a businesswoman, public speaker and charity fundraiser, at one point even announcing that she wanted to be Australia’s ‘Ambassadress’. When her landscapes failed to impress, she moved on to portraiture, concentrating on images of people she considered significant. But that didn’t work out either.

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In desperation, as her marriage broke down and her business endeavours faltered, she launched what would become her defining venture: a Sydney wallpaper business.

During the ’60s and ’70s Florence produced a stunning kaleidoscope of handprinted wallpapers from bespoke, hand-drawn designs.

She took the colours of the time and magnified them, but it’s the sheer range of images in her design archive that continues to surprise— everything from conservative European tapestries to interlocking geometrics, romantic florals, psychedelia and charming Chinoiserie.

Yet, however dynamic the wallpapers were, Florence seemed more startling still—a tiny woman with bright-red hair, a penchant for false eyelashes and dramatic clothes. She did as she pleased, picking up younger boyfriends and living life to the full. She was difficult to ignore, yet somehow easy to take for granted.

On 15 October 1977 the 78-year-old was brutally murdered in her Paddington wallpaper showroom. Despite an intense police investigation, her assailant was never found.

Then an even stranger thing happened. Florence and her designs were somehow forgotten, disappearing from view.

“Do you think there could be a biography in this woman?” I was asked back in 2003. I answered immediately before I’d even had a chance to see the images of Florence’s work, which was then gradually being restored by Signature Prints, the Sydney business that held what was left of Florence’s designs and silk screens.

Arts & Fashion

Executive Airlines

Clockwise from right: Florence Broadhurst lived life to the full; Floral flair at its best; Psychedelic designs were a Broadhurst hallmark.

Comfort, Safety and Peace of Mind

“If what you’re telling me is true, I don’t understand why there hasn’t been a biography already,” I said.

Much has happened since then. Fashion designers such as Akira Isogawa and Nicky Zimmermann have incorporated Florence’s patterns into their own creations. Interior designers have used her designs everywhere, from Melbourne and Fiji, to London and Las Vegas. Florence has also developed a celebrity following, with Elle Macpherson, Marc Jacobs, Gwyneth Paltrow and Courtney Love believed to own examples of her work.

When my biography of Florence Broadhurst was released in the US in 2007, it caught the eye of Deborah Lloyd, President and Creative Director of luxury brand Kate Spade New York, who then made Florence’s designs a key part of the label’s 2012 range, stocked in every store.

Deborah emailed me to say, “Thank you so much for writing the book that started this love affair.”

Florence’s reach continues to grow as Signature Design Archive, a company that evolved from Signature Prints, finds new partners to license her work across the globe. Already you can sleep with Florence (there’s a range of bed linen), eat with her (using specially designed crockery) and do the gardening with her (using a trowel and fork featuring one of her designs).

Florence is back for good and her trajectory shows no sign of stopping. Indeed, she looks set to travel further than even she imagined.

Helen O’Neill is the author of Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret & Extraordinary Lives, published by Hardie Grant Books, $65.

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Summer 2015 | Crown Group

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When anyone mentions the word ‘iconic’ and ‘motorcycle’ in the same sentence, chances are they’re talking about the venerable US brand Harley-Davidson.

Since the first prototype was tested in 1903 and for the next century and beyond, the Harley-Davidson brand has continued to reflect freedom and hard-edged glamour with an exceptional degree of brand loyalty and admiration. A 2013 survey placed Harley-Davidson as the fourth most respected brand in the USA with global sales in excess of 250,000 bikes.

But ask any owner, even aspiring ones, and the purchase of a Harley-Davidson is not based on any financial analysis. It comes from within and is driven by a desire for self-expression with a middle-finger salute to the fashion conformity and mundane treadmill of modern life. Let’s not beat around the bush here—it’s pure escapism in the form of a raw, aggressive, sexualised icon.

Just like cosmetics, soft drinks and fast food, brand alignment is key and product placement crucial. The number of celebrity owners reads like an Academy Award roll call and the motorcycle itself is a star in its own right with innumerable movie appearances throughout the decades.

Cinema-goers will be quick to recall the scene from 1991’s Terminator 2 when Arnold Schwarzenegger rode the Harley Davidson ‘Fat Boy’ like he stole it. Which he did. Or 1969’s unforgettable Easy Rider, where ex-police HydraGlides were converted into the famous pair of choppers, Captain America and Billy Bike, ridden by Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda.

Movie trivia buffs will know exactly which motorcycle Marlon Brando rode in the 1953 classic, The Wild One—and it wasn’t a Harley.

But notwithstanding, the star did own a black 1970 FLH Electra-Glide and it recently fetched more than $250,000 at auction.

Other high-profile actors on Harleys include George Clooney (Road King), Elvis Presley (’56 KH), Justin Timberlake (several) as well as the original ‘wild hog’, John Travolta, who owns a Fat Boy. Many Hollywood stars are so enamoured with their brush with Harley-Davidson fame that they have become owners. And we’re not just talking about the stereotypical tough guy either. Many no-nonsense glamour gals don’t mind their million dollar bottoms on the seat of a Harley-Davidson.

In fact the list of leading ladies astride HarleyDavidsons includes Brigitte Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor, Tina Turner, Angelina Jolie, Bree Turner, Cameron Diaz, Cher, Demi Moore, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, Lauren

Hutton, Lindsay Wagner, Lisa Hartman Black, Pamela Anderson, Queen Latifah and Sheryl Crow.

Cashing in on the feminine appeal, HarleyDavidson commissioned a series of titillating video and photoshoots with American supermodel Marisa Miller. Instead of just being a bit of pin-up decoration for the boys’ workshop or shed, the leggy blond whose credits include Sports Illustrated and Victoria’s Secret, is also an owner of a 1200 Nightster and an ambassador for the brand.

“People see me as a supermodel on the cover of magazines but no-one would ever guess I do actually ride a Harley,” says Miller, “so it’s important to see that if I can do it, anybody can do it. Whether you are a guy thinking about it and don’t know how to go about getting into it, or a woman who may be intimidated, just go for it. Challenge yourself and break free!”

The model range of Harley-Davidson motorcycles has been static for some time, with the staple models regularly receiving cosmetic and equipment updates instead of major re-engineering. Brand diehards were set all atwitter, however, when Harley-Davidson introduced its first all-new model in 13 years with the radical, lightweight, liquid-cooled Street range comprising a learner-approved 500cc and a bigger 750cc unit. Only the smaller 500cc bike is available in Australia. The thinking behind this departure was to allow Harley-Davidson an entry point into the SE Asian market, in which it currently has little impact.

In Australia, the Street 500 is the only bike approved for LAM scheme in all states, providing an opportunity for new riders to join the brand and ride with dignity while serving their time on L-plates.

“Harley’s first learner legal bike has been a huge success, with a price tag of $10,750 ride away. Right now, the Softail Breakout remains the most popular model followed closely by the Street 500 and the ever-popular Nightrod Special,” says Buckeridge.

The recent launch of the 2016 range of full-size ‘heavy’ motorcycles is spread over seven model categories with the new Street making eight.

The new Iron 883 and Forty-Eight models, Harley-Davidson claim, are the purest expression of their Dark Custom design movement yet.

Add to this the most powerful cruiser lineup in company history and a broad range of performance and styling enhancements throughout the range and you have an eternally exciting offering that keeps the brand relevant and highly desirable.

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ENTER THE DARK CUSTOM

“Harley-Davidson’s new Dark Custom range is aimed at the customer who wants that bare bones stripped-down look around the ‘chrome don’t get you home’ theme,” says John Buckeridge, GM Fraser Motorcycle Group.

Buckeridge claims not everyone appreciates a motorcycle stripped down to its raw essence and it takes a certain rider to appreciate the potential of a bike that’s ready to be customised any way they want it.

For the chosen few willing to ride like this, these basic bikes are positioned at an aggressive price point, making them easier than ever to throw a leg over.

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WING ING

LEADING THE LIFE OF A J E T S E T T E R M AY N OT B E T H E U N AT TA I N A B L E D R E A M YO U I M AG I N E , S AY S RODERICK EIME.

Summer 2016 | Crown Group

We’ve all seen them. The super-rich glitterati and the celebrity superstars in their limousines drive right up the door of their private jet. Burly blokes in dark suits standing aloof while our VIPs stroll nonchalantly up the stairs to the immaculate aircraft to be whisked away to an undisclosed location.

Yet, corporate jet travel is not just for the more-money-than-sense poseurs. Thinking of the convenience, it means no more airport queues or the irritations of arriving at the airport hours before the flight as well as dealing with the crush of the unruly public or cranky security staff.

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Owning your own private jet, whether for your personal or corporate use, may seem the stuff of fantasy, but you might be surprised how easy it is to charter flights instead.

“Our clients appreciate the convenience and flexibility of a bespoke itinerary,” says Jessica Graham, General Manager of Essendon-based charter company Executive Airlines. “We quite often build custom itineraries for corporate VIPs, Hollywood stars and visiting performers who appreciate the privacy of their own aircraft.

For example, we might put together an itinerary that includes their business meetings as well as

leisure stops at locations like Hamilton Island, Kangaroo Island or Uluru.”

Graham notes that clients from mainland China, Hong Kong and even Russia are particularly keen on the private charter option utilising aircraft such as EA’s 8-seat Citation Sovereign once they arrive in Australia.

Charter allows you the same convenience of owning without the added cost of storage and maintenance. You can fly where you want, when you want, jet to the deal that seals your fortunes and have the right to have these words come from your mouth: “Let’s just take my plane.”

And while a price of at least $14 million is what it takes to dip your toe into the private ownership market, increasing numbers of savvy travellers are using charter firms to take advantage of a mode of travel that can rightly be described as beyond first class.

“There are clear advantages particularly for people who value their time and privacy,” says Darren McGoldrick, Australasian Vice President of multinational charter firm ExecuJet that has a fleet of more than 160 jets for hire including the current gold standard of luxury, the Gulfstream 650.

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Travel & Indulge

While ‘Learjet’ may have become the generic term for corporate jet, the US-built Gulfstream G650 is the biggest and fastest 18-seat, twinengine, T-tail jet and has been flying since 2008.

The G650ER variant, introduced in 2014, can fly between Sydney and Singapore at Mach 0.85 and back without refuelling. That’s easily as fast as any commercial airliner and has become the must-have jet for the world’s wealthiest celebrities like Sir Peter Jackson and corporations like Nike, Starbucks and Dyson. Pricetag: $US65 million.

McGoldrick explains that the larger and longer-range private jets like the G650ER have broken into the traditional domains of the intercontinental airlines. Along with new levels of luxury, it means exciting times for private jet travel.

While the Australian business jet market is still small by comparison, many of our business high flyers can afford to fly their own aircraft. Clive Palmer, James Packer, Solomon Lew and Lindsay Fox jet around in $40m Bombardier Global Expresses, while Toll Holdings’ Paul Little owns a sleek Gulfstream G550. Beyond that, the Australian Business Aviation Association estimates that around 150 jets are privately operated either by companies or individuals, some of which are available to charter.

A big part of the market, says McGoldrick, is overseas nationals flying to Australia on commercial airlines and then travelling within the

Summer 2016 | Crown Group

country on charter jet. The price? An ExecuJet LR45 will take you from Sydney to Melbourne return for around $17,000. For that you’ll get a sleek Learjet that seats up to six. As a comparison, if you were wanting to stop in Canberra en route, six business class Qantas seats will cost $7500.

But Qantas won’t fly you into one of the winegrowing districts between Sydney and Melbourne for lunch in the vineyards. Extrapolate those figures for groups of 12 to 18 executives and you have a proposition.

It’s one hell of a selling point, shifting the dynamic from the passenger being servant to a plane schedule or the annoying regulations of regular air travel, to it being at your beck and call.

Want the pilot to give you a rollercoaster ride in the sky? They’ll do it. Or smooth flying to a degree that commercial airlines can’t match?

They can do that, too.

At a graduation speech for Duke University, talking about the secrets of wealth and success, Oprah Winfrey declared: “Anyone who tells you that owning your own jet isn’t great is lying,” for the good reason that it is true.

Even in this age where ostentatious displays of wealth are gauche, private jetting remains one of the great material perks that money can buy. It’s just that now you don’t have to be a billionaire to do it.

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R E ADY J E T S E T G O Based at Melbourne’s Essendon Airport, Executive Airlines operates a range of aircraft that includes the 12-passenger Cessna Citation Sovereign. For more information call 1300 249 538 or visit www.executiveairlines.com.au.

Headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, ExecuJet manages 160 business jets from bases in six regions—Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

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Summer 2015 | Crown Group

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Travel & Indulge

J A PA N E S E – A U S T R A L I A N C U L I N A R Y S TA R T E T S U YA WA K U DA S P E A K S W I T H W I N S O R D O B B I N A B O U T A L I F E I N F O O D. In Sydney he’s a culinary icon, a survivor for over a quarter of a century in one of the most competitive restaurant markets in the world. In Singapore he’s the relative newcomer whose tiny eatery keeps garnering award after award.

And in Tasmania he’s simply ‘Tets’, the gourmet ambassador who can’t stay away.

The story of superstar chef Tetsuya Wakuda is a remarkable one by any measure: the tale of a young Japanese immigrant who became recognised as one of the best chefs in the world.

His Sydney restaurant, Tetsuya’s, became a regular on international top-100 restaurant lists soon after it opened in 1989. Waku Ghin, Tetsuya’s Singapore outpost at the glitzy Marina Bay Sands resort, is ranked among the top 10 restaurants in Asia; its staff of 32 has catered for just 30 diners each night since it opened in 2010.

Two years ago Tetsuya earned the unprecedented honour of being named Master of Cuisine by the Japanese Government—the first overseas-based chef to be recognised as such. The late American chef Charlie Trotter described Tetsuya as being among “an elite group of international chefs that has influenced other chefs through their personal styles and unique approaches to food”.

These are quite extraordinary achievements for someone who arrived in Australia at the age of 22 with very limited English language skills

Summer 2015 | Crown Group

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and sought work as a kitchen hand in a country where he expected to see kangaroos and koalas.

Along the way, this quietly spoken man has devised a culinary philosophy centring on pure, clean, fusion flavours, which has been much copied but rarely bettered. Think dishes such as scampi tail with scampi oil and chicken liver parfait (Sydney’s up-market surf and turf) or marinated botan shrimp with sea urchin and oscietra caviar (at Waku Ghin, where a 10-course degustation is served at two sittings each night).

“I made up quite a few things along the way and, luckily for me, people liked the way they tasted,” Tetsuya admits.

When he was presented with the Diner’s Club Lifetime Achievement Award – Asia 2015, he described his two restaurant businesses as “something that I believe in, and something that I love to do. But it is actually not my talent, but … everybody together, so this award is for the team.

“This kind of award is usually given to someone who has put in many years and is ready to retire.

But I am not ready to retire yet,” he is quick to add.

Tetsuya’s humble attitude has made him one of the few superstar chefs about whom no-one in the industry has a bad word to say. He also freely admits to discovering ideas every time he eats out, which is often. “You have to have a passion for eating first, and from that comes a passion for cooking,” he says.

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Wine & Dine

THE SUITE LIFE HUGE SAVINGS! BOOK NOW! THE MOST INCLUSIVE LUXURY EXPERIENCE

Clockwise from above: Confit of Petuna ocean trout with konbu; Marron salad with truffle; Wakuda is a regular visitor to Tasmania.

Summer 2016 | Crown Group

Born in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, Tetsuya arrived in Australia in 1982 with a small suitcase and big dreams. He found employment as a kitchen hand and then worked for Tony Bilson, the chef superstar of his day, at Kinselas, Sydney, where he learned the classic French techniques that would help him create his own culinary style.

After several short stints at other eateries and a spell as part owner of a small restaurant called Ultimo’s, where he cooked Asian–French fusion dishes, Tetsuya’s star began to rise. In 1989 he opened Tetsuya’s in a small terrace house in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of Rozelle; bookings were soon hard to come by and waiting lists were the norm.

A move to larger, classier premises in the city followed, along with international recognition.

Back home, Tetsuya’s success was being noted, and in 2006 he was named as the first Sake Ambassador outside of Japan.

Since 2003, Tetsuya has been the International Food and Beverage Ambassador for Tasmania, a state he visits regularly and for which he has great affection. A few years ago he had a wooden fishing boat built from local timber, which he uses on his frequent trips to the island state. He treated hundreds of locals in Franklin, where his $800,000 motor cruiser ‘Belle’ was built, to a slap-up breakfast to celebrate the launch.

This November, Tetsuya will be the star attraction at Effervescence, the annual celebration of Tasmanian sparkling wines, at which he will cook on the opening night.

In addition to his ambassadorial role, he has

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supported many small producers on the island and his signature dish is a confit of Petuna ocean trout from Tasmania.

A fiercely private man with a broken marriage behind him, Tetsuya says his staff are his family.

“To be honest, I think it’s amazing that other people find time to be a father, a chef and a restaurateur,” he told me a few years ago. “I may not have family here, but I have people I can call family—some very dear friends—so I am very fortunate.

“Like most chefs, I only ever wanted to cook my own food, in my own way, and I am thankful that people continue to enjoy that.”

As for the future, he has considered opening a small Japanese-style tavern in Tasmania when he retires. But right now he’s just too busy.

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*Fares are per person, in USD, valid for new bookings, based on lowest available double occupancy accommodation and include all savings, port charges, government taxes, surcharges, fees and onboard gratuities. Select pricing is based on a cabin guarantee basis. Prices correct at 9 October 2015 and valid for a limited time. All fares are capacity controlled and subject to availability, may not be combined with other offers and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Fares may not include Personal Charges, Optional Facilities and Services Fees as defined in the Terms and Conditions of the Guest Ticket Contract. ^FREE Unlimited Shore Excursion reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and number of shore excursions are subject to availability. Restrictions apply and cancellations received 36 hours prior to shore excursion start date may incur penalties. Excludes Regents Choice shore excursions. Regent Seven Seas Cruises reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares or promotional offers at any time. Complete terms and conditions can be found in the Guest Ticket Contract at www.RSSC.com. Ships’ Registry: Bahamas ©2013 Regent Seven Seas Cruises®. Agents may charge service fees and or fees for card payments which vary. Qantas Frequent Flyer members receive one Qantas point for every $1.50 spent on Cruiseco holidays. You must be a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program to earn points in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. Points are not awarded on port charges, government fees, on board gratuities and air taxes. Qantas Frequent Flyer complimentary membership is non-transferable and not available with any other offer. To be eligible you must have made final payment on your package arrangements. Offer may be withdrawn at any time.

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THE

GINSIDERS GUIDE

G I N I S N OT O N LY I N , I T S R E V I VA L I S T U R N I N G H E A D S FA S T E R THAN THE DEVIL IN A BLUE DRES S, REPORTS MIKE BUTLER. Consider this a public service announcement: If you like your martinis and other cocktails with vodka, and gin isn’t to your taste, it might be time to stop and smell the botanicals, so to speak.

While vodka strives to be tasteless, the mysterious and often misunderstood gin is the polar opposite. Like whisky, gin is a ‘drinker’s drink’ that is made to be recognised instead of anonymously downed in a shot glass. Infused with juniper berries and other botanicals, gin is enjoying a revival, thanks in part to the cocktail renaissance.

“It’s a really exciting time to be drinking gin,” says Pernod Ricard Brand Ambassador and selfconfessed ‘ginophile’ Ben Davidson.

Summer 2016 | Crown Group

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The revival began in London’s bar scene in the late ’90s when British bartenders started exploring how gin’s flavours gave new life and complexity to cocktails. That was followed by an explosion of boutique backyard gins in the US, where distillers began diminishing the juniper in preference for other botanicals, such as peppers, citrus fruit, fennel, almond and even capsicum. It created more all-mouth flavour profiles to be integrated into drinks.

“It’s a style called New Western Gin,” says Ben, who made it onto the 2015 Bartender Magazine Top 100 Most Influential List. “They’re really interesting and each one is different,” he adds, singling out Aviation American Gin from

Oregon for its distinctive yet subtle note of lavender.

Australia, too, is making its own distinctive modern gins, led by Margaret River’s The West Winds Gin. Launched in 2011, the distillery’s The Sabre and The Cutlass gins pole-vaulted onto the international scene by taking the double gold and gold medals, respectively, at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In addition, The Broadside gin won double gold at the 2014 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition. “[The first accolades came] within a month of us launching, so it was a pretty good start,” says Jeremy Spencer, one of the four pals who banded together to create the brand.

The West Winds blow in three varieties and all are definitely worth raising a spinnaker for. The Sabre is a nod to traditional London dry gin, but with the addition of wattle seed, which gives a

creamy texture to the tongue. It’s perfect in a classic gin-and-tonic with a slice of lemon.

The Cutlass gin is bold and will put hairs on your chest for various reasons, namely the muscular 50 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV).

This is a serious gin that pairs native bush tomato with coriander seeds to produce a headstrong and very drinkable drop. It’s a drinker’s drink best consumed with lots of ice, a splash of tonic and a slither of green capsicum—preferably on the verandah at sunset.

And then there’s the latest, The Broadside.

Let’s just say it’s for pirates with style. Jeremy, who’s a bit of a swashbuckler himself, likes to sip it straight up on a cold winter’s evening or appreciate its fulsome flavour in a dry martini with a grapefruit twist.

Tonic water not to your taste? It’s probably because you’ve only ever tasted synthetic

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Above: Gin is infused with a variety of botanicals to provide a rounded and stimulating taste.

Wine & Dine

Four Pillars began with a love of gin, craft, cocktails, distilling, and modern Australia. We wanted to get all of the into a bottle, so you could taste all of that in a glass.

And now we’ve opened our fabulous new distillery door in Healesville, Yarra Valley so you can get handson with our growing family of award-winning gins.

Enjoy Four Pillars Gin responsibly.

Don’t drink more, drink better. fourpillarsgin.com.au

quinine, which gives regular tonic water its flavour.

Premium tonic waters, however, use natural quinine and the taste is an eye-opener. My pick is CAPI tonic water, which uses cinchona bark (a source of quinine) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. CAPI is made in Melbourne to a purist’s formula and can be found in the better bars and bottle shops.

Similarly, if you’re a martini drinker, pay attention to the vermouth (a type of fortified wine) your bartender uses. If you see the bottle gathering dust on the bar, order something else because the vermouth is probably past its prime.

However, if the bartender pulls the bottle out of the fridge, order two, because you’ve arrived in martini heaven. Cinzano, by the way, isn’t the only brand available, so start experimenting.

Another Australian gin that’s winning fans is Four Pillars. Made in Victoria, it went to market in late 2013 after “a solid 18 months of toying around with up to 80 botanicals”, says its creator, renowned winemaker Cameron Mackenzie. He settled on a mix of 10 ingredients, including whole oranges, cinnamon, Tasmanian pepperberry, cardamom and star anise.

Also look for Moore’s Vintage Dry Gin made by Distillery Botanica, which is located in acres of garden at Erina on the NSW Central Coast.

Summer 2016 | Crown Group

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As the name suggests, this boutique distillery grows and hand-picks many of the herbs and fruits that give its spirits their distinctive floral character.

Established gin-makers are also wading in.

The mainstream Beefeater, which hasn’t altered its London Dry Gin recipe since the late 1800s, now makes the premium Beefeater 24. It’s in keeping with the quality of Beefeater, but with the addition of botanicals such as Chinese and Japanese teas.

It’s a renovation of the traditional London dry gin style, yet it’s not too far out of the box to destroy the classic Beefeater experience.

Another is Tanqueray. It became a leader of the gin revival when it launched the boutique label Tanqueray No. Ten in 2000 and redefined the martini with botanicals such as white grapefruit and lime and a hint of chamomile.

As you can see, even if you’ve never been a fan of gin, the time is ripe to see this classic spirit in a new light—either sipped neat or used to mix the myriad cocktails that demand it.

Black Penny bar in Sydney’s Surry Hills has more than 20 Australian gins to try.

Visit www.blackpenny.com.au.

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Category Type

What’s been your best dining experience ever?

A TASTE OF THE GLOBE

V B Y C R O W N G R O U P ’ S R E TA I L S PA C E S W I L L P R O V I D E PA R R A M AT TA R E S I D E N T S A N D PAT R O N S WITH DIVERSE DINING OPTIONS INSPIRED BY S O M E O F T H E B E S T P L AC E S I N T H E W O R L D. W E H I T T H E S T R E E T S O F SY D N E Y T O F I N D O U T A B O U T YO U R FAVO U R I T E D I N I N G E X P E R I E N C E S .

Brian, Rhodes NSW “I love pho noodles in my native China.

There’s actually a few great noodle restaurants right here in Sydney’s Chinatown that come close to being as good as home.”

Pauline, Belgium “I had a great cheese board at a local restaurant in my hometown in Belgium.”

Lauren, Manly NSW “I used to live in Italy and the real gelato you can get over there can’t be beaten.

It’s so authentic.”

Sera, Gold Coast QLD “This bagel place in Williamsburg in New York was amazing—best bagels ever!”

Summer 2015 | Crown Group

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Jessica, Belgium “In Naples, the pizza was amazing.

Italian pizza is the best in the world and it’s cheap!”

Gene, Wollongong NSW “We actually went to Speedo’s Café at Bondi Beach today—that was pretty special. It was a great experience and the food was really well presented.”

Tully, Gold Coast QLD “Nobu in Malibu in the USA was the most delicious restaurant I’ve ever been to; it was filled with celebrities and you felt like an A-lister.”

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Mattia, Italy “Italians take their food seriously and my favourite place to eat is Ostaria Boccadoro in Venice. The view is beautiful and you can eat anything you like—seafood, pasta—and all fresh.”

Wine & Dine

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TRUE TO FORM

M E T I C U LO U S P L A N N I N G A N D I M AG I N AT I O N C A N H E L P YO U S T Y L E YO U R D R E A M H O M E , S AY S DA R R E N PA L M E R . D O M I N I Q U E K U H N E S AT D O W N W I T H T H E C H A R I S M AT I C S T Y L I S T TO G E T T H E LO W D O W N ON LIFE OUTSIDE THE B LO C K , A N D AVO I D I N G THE ‘TREND TRAP’.

You were appointed as a guest judge on The Block back in 2011. How did you end up on one of Australia’s biggest reality television hits?

It all started with setting a goal in 2008 to get more exposure for my business. I received a Facebook message from a mate with a link to an audition to be a contestant on a design show. I auditioned for HomeMADE on Channel Nine at the very last minute, unsure if I should go down that road. It was all a whirlwind once I was accepted. Two months later, I was one of two finalists. In that time, I got to know the executive producers pretty well, which led to my role as a guest judge a year later on The Block—it’s created by the same executive producers. The following year I was asked to be a full-time judge and I’ve now been on air for eight series.

Outside your TV commitments, what do you like to do in your spare time to switch off and relax?

I work quite a lot, but when we have our son I prioritise time with him doing fun stuff that builds good memories. We rough and tumble, watch cartoons together, jump on trampolines, or play games or video games together. Another big favourite is building Lego together and you can’t go past good old Hide and Seek. We hang out at the beach, as we live a five-minute walk from beautiful Bondi, and take our dogs for walks.

Basically just good family fun is the way I spend my down time.

Summer 2016 | Crown Group

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What are the biggest faux pas people make when styling their own home?

Buying things that they personally like without regard for whether they actually work together.

The result is a bunch of—probably—lovely furniture, but an average-looking room, at best.

Simply planning the pieces you want in your space gives you the best chance of a great result.

But … the opposite can be true also.

You’ve been described as ‘the nice guy of design’. Do you see it that way?

I don’t take myself too seriously. There is no place for ego on TV or in clients’ homes. The things I’ve been blessed with in life and my career could just as easily stop in an instant so I know it’s not wise to buy into any prestige or pageantry. It’s very easy to feel like grand results equal entitlement, but at the end of the day my outlook is that if a designer does a great job people end up with great-looking homes and a feeling of prosperity. If we mess it up, no-one dies. Being relaxed often gets great results. It’s always good to keep things in perspective! I think this outlook lets me be ‘the nice guy’.

Can you describe your personal style aesthetic for your home?

Haha okay, for my home the aesthetic is comfortable and practical. I have a six-year-old son, three dogs and an old cat so our house is a tangle of toys and hair. I don’t see any joy in being precious about things. Things aren’t what is important in life, relationships are. There are times when I’m out at a beautiful home, like recently when I styled a place in Annandale for a Vogue Living shoot and my next book, and I thought, ‘Man I’d love to live like this all the time’.

But the truth is no-one lives in a photoshoot— no-one with young kids and three dogs at least!

So you have quite the menagerie in your home?

Yes! Furniture and inclusions need to be washable, removable or spray-and-wipeable.

It also means that we have a very relaxed home with non-fussy interiors.

You now live in Sydney, but your roots are in Queensland. Did you know from a young age that you were destined to live in a bigger city?

No way! I studied French at school for one year as it was mandatory, but didn’t do it when it was my choice. I thought I would never leave Australia so why bother. Little did I know I would travel so much and end up married to a Frenchie.

I wish I’d learned more than, ‘je m’appelle Darren’.

Apartment living is on the rise. How important is savvy interior styling for this style of living?

A home needs to be a home. The only way to get this is to imprint your own personality onto it. That means understanding what makes you tick and what you want to achieve. Once you understand what you want then plan, plan, plan, and buy cleverly by searching first and buying when you have all the problems solved and choices made. If you can’t manage this for yourself, hire a designer to do it for you.

How can people steer away from short-sighted trends when it comes to styling?

Go for classic and timeless inclusions and materials, and layer in small-cost replicable trend items like cushions or decor. These can be stored or sold when the trend passes. The bigger and more expensive the item, the wiser it is to find something versatile and enduringly beautiful.

Any current projects?

Plenty. We’ve just completed an apartment for the BoysTown Charity Christmas prize draw.

We are working on my next book, finishing my own renovation to sell in October this year, working on my second rug range, plus expanding into different product lines.

Favourite Sydney restaurant?

China Doll, Woolloomooloo.

Favourite holiday destination?

Anywhere I can take a plane to. In Australia though, it would have to be Hyams Beach.

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Architecture & Design

“When it comes to products, I’m interested to know more about them - where they were made, who designed them, what influenced them,” explains Natalie. “Nothing is just an object to me - it’s something to understand, and learn from.”

DORF+ N ATA L I E WA LT O N

Featuring the Dorf Myriad Cross Collection

Leading Sydney stylist Natalie Walton partners with Dorf as the first collaborator in a series of strikingly imaginative work.

Both Natalie and Dorf believe in timeless simplicity and intuitive design. That is, the end result serves a clearly defined purpose, but is also very refined.

“It’s always important to me to create spaces where people want to be,” says Natalie.

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Collection THE CROWN GROUP

R E D E F I N I N G T H E PA RA M E T E R S O F I N N OVAT I O N

Architecture & Design

Clockwise from left: Top Ryde City Living Viking by Crown outdoor swimming pool and Crown Group Leasing’s Anthony Caudullo.

’TIS THE SEASON TO MOVE

CURRENT PROJECTS

Crown Group Leasing opened its doors in 2011 and today manages more than 250 investment properties.

Spring is typically the season for fresh starts.

Tell us about the spring rental rush.

One season rules them all when it comes to the property market and that’s spring! The change of season floods the market with exciting, new options for renters. If you’re looking for the perfect home, spring is typically a good time to start looking—you are likely to get the opportunity to consider a wide variety of options.

What are people looking for in a rental property?

Well-located, premium properties within 15 kilometres of the city and access to transport are highly sought after. Tenants are looking to secure a value-for-money lifestyle package.

Amenities and resort-style facilities are high on wish lists. Renters are becoming more and more astute, factoring in routine costs such as gym memberships and assessing how they compare to an all-inclusive lifestyle offering. I encourage investors to put themselves in tenants’ shoes to understand what they’re really looking for.

W I T H WA R M W E AT H E R H E R E A N D A F L U R R Y O F N E W P R O P E R T I E S H I T T I N G T H E M A R K E T, SY D N E Y ’ S L E A S I N G O U T LO O K I S I N F I N E F O R M . D O M I N I Q U E K U H N E S AT D O W N W I T H H E A D O F C R O W N G R O U P L E A S I N G , A N T H O N Y C A U D U L LO, TO C H AT A B O U T W H AT ’ S A H E A D I N T H E C O M I N G M O N T H S .

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Should investors feel at ease listing their property in spring?

Yes. While we typically see more properties available for lease, this upward trend in availability is timed with a spike in potential tenants ready to make a move before Christmas.

People like to start the New Year on the front foot and Christmas is a busy time, so naturally spring represents an opportunity for landlords to capture peak interest in the market.

More and more people are opting for apartment living. Why is this the case?

These days many tenants who can afford to live in a house prefer the convenience of living in an apartment. People don’t want to spend their weekend mowing the lawn or sitting in traffic just to get to the cinema or café. Reducing the time spent on home maintenance means people have more time to spend doing the things they really love.

What does Crown Group Leasing have available this spring?

While it is impossible to predict what’s on our future roll, there’s a strong chance we will have properties available in the award-winning Top Ryde City Living project and the innovative Viking by Crown project at Waterloo. Both residential projects represent excellent opportunities for renters to secure a state-ofthe-art lifestyle close to shops, transport, local amenities and infrastructure.

How does Crown Group Leasing optimise the leasing process?

We’ve found that about 40 per cent of our enquiries are coming in between 5pm and 10pm; we’re recognising these trends in the market.

Crown Group Leasing uses a custom-designed 24/7 software, Register Online, to allow our prospective tenants to book numerous inspections around the clock and receive uninterrupted service and immediate appointment confirmation.

Top Ryde City Living is a seven-tower, 653apartment residential development located above Top Ryde City Shopping Centre. The development features expansive common facilities including a music room, library, media theatres, indoor and outdoor function areas, a children’s playground and a pool.

Viking by Crown is a ten-storey residential development located in the suburb of Waterloo, within Sydney’s upcoming Green Square precinct and moments from artistic Danks Street and East Village shopping centre.

To find all the apartments available to rent, visit www.crowngroup.com.au/leasing.

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The Crown Group Collection

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DOLLARS

SCENTS

YO U K N O W T H E S AY I N G , ‘ P R O D U C T I O N M I N U S S A L E S E Q U A L S S C R A P ’ . N O M AT T E R W H AT B U S I N E S S YO U ’ R E I N , I F YO U ’ R E N OT M A K I N G S A L E S YO U W O N ’ T B E I N B U S I N E S S F O R LO N G .

A S A I R A R O M A’ S J O H N VA N R O E M B U R G T E L L S R O D E R I C K E I M E , S C E N T M A R K E T I N G I S R I G H T O N T H E M O N E Y.

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Expensive television commercials and newspaper advertisements are one route, but have you considered a more subtle yet effective way to market your brand—one where you don’t have to say a word?

Humans are complex, acutely sensory creatures and their decision to proceed to purchase is a combination of numerous factors ranging from urgent need to whimsical desire. Bringing a customer to the point of commitment (ie, closing the sale) requires skilful communication and deft manipulation of perception.

During your sales presentation, the customer— whether they’re aware of it or not—is deciphering audio cues and observing body language and facial expressions, as well as absorbing some of your sales message. What if there was something else you could do to tip the scales in your favour? This is where scent marketing and the mysterious, subliminal art of persuasion comes in.

John van Roemburg, CEO of Air Aroma, has spent more than 15 years helping businesses implement scent as part of their overall branding strategy. “Scent marketing is used to create an atmosphere that encourages and relaxes the

customer,” he says. “Smell is linked to pleasure, wellbeing, emotion and memory; therefore it can influence a customer’s mood. The fragrance should be pleasant and subtle so [the customer] can connect on an unconscious level.”

As Air Aroma’s marketing material explains, “A signature scent is most effective if customers can closely associate the smell with the brand; therefore it should be used like a traditional graphic logo and be present in every possible customer contact point.” According to the Sense of Smell Institute, “A brand with an olfactive [relating to the sense of smell] logo has a 65 per cent chance of being remembered. An unscented brand has a 50 per cent chance of being forgotten within the first three months.”

There are some obvious situations where scent marketing could be decisive in creating a positive outcome. “The most popular applications of scent marketing and signature scent creation are in industries where customer service and brand perception are critical,” van Roemburg says. “Most installations are currently in hospitality environments such as hotels and casinos, the finance industry, retail settings, fitness centres, airlines and residential buildings.

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“One of Air Aroma’s most interesting residential projects was a 10,000m2 palace in the Middle East that required more than 40 scenting units and a unique signature fragrance for the occupants. Careful consideration was required when selecting each ingredient to match the desires of His Royal Highness and the culture, as well as the palace’s interior colours, textures and materials. We also had to consider the very hot, dry climate and blend the fragrance accordingly.

“Casinos have reported revenue increases of up to 40 per cent after the addition of scent to the gaming area,” van Roembug continues, “as customers spent more time (and money) in a more conducive environment. Retail stores have reported similar increases in gross sales.”

While higher revenues in spending environments are certainly a key outcome, what other applications are possible? “Scent marketing techniques can be applied to spaces you wouldn’t necessarily expect,” van Roembug says. “Our clients include funeral homes, hospitals and dental clinics. Ambient scents of orange or lavender in dentists’ waiting rooms have been shown to reduce anxiety and improve mood in patients.

“We’ve even developed some very specialised fragrances for a wide range of artistic functions.

On one occasion, Air Aroma teamed with fashion label Romance Was Born to develop a bespoke Australian essential oil blend to scent the Bush Magic-themed grand finale at the 2015 Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival.

“Another time we worked with Cirque du Soleil to enhance particular moments of the show, and a delicate newborn-baby scent was developed to emphasise crucial moments of a Melbourne play, e-baby. We’ve even bottled the unmistakable smell of opening a brand-new MacBook for use in an art exhibition.”

Air Aroma fragrances can also be used by anyone in their home, shop or office, using small self-serviced diffusers with the flexibility to change aromas at will. A welcoming scent for guests or visiting clients can be changed quickly and easily to something suitable for children’s homework or other creative inspiration. Plus, there are no naked flames, toxins or messy spills that can occur with other methods such as perfumed candles or oil burners.

Recently, Crown Group developed its own signature scent, Infinity, which debuted at the event A Night of Infinite Luxury. This resort-style signature scent incorporates lush green nuances and fresh oceanic notes to complement Crown Group’s revolutionary urban developments, such as Infinity by Crown Group within Sydney’s new Green Square Town Centre, which “is designed to create seemingly endless forms of living space to enjoy reaching beyond the horizons of contemporary style”.

Carefully chosen fragrances can have many beneficial effects, including reducing irritation, stress, depression and apathy and enhancing happiness, sensuality, relaxation and stimulation.

So lead by your nose—it could be your path to success.

Clockwise from above: Air Aroma’s range of Aroslim diffusers and CEO John van Roemburg.

“A SIGNATURE SCENT IS MOST EFFECTIVE IF CUSTOMERS CAN CLOSELY ASSOCIATE THE SMELL WITH THE BRAND ...

LIKE A TRADITIONAL GRAPHIC LOGO.” Summer 2016 | Crown Group

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COMMUNITY Summer 2016 2015 足| Crown Group

From left to right: 1. Ronaldi Wisastra, Jessica Irawan, Iwan Sunito, Arie Mentari and Ishak Budiman 2. Tony Davies, Betty Lee Lo and Karen Chia 3. Jane Hakiki, Arie Mentari and Henny Lo 4. Febrina, Silvia Lin, Hany Chen, Shenny Faith, Iwan Sunito, Arie Mentari, Henny Lo and Jane Hakiki 5. Dino Patti Djalal, Iwan Sunito, Sari Kusumaningrum, Dean Syahmedi and Ennita Pramono 6. Tom Haythorn, Dominique Kuhne, Louise Halloran and Adam Yip 7. Roy Marcellus and Sam Pang 8. (centre photo) Dino Patti Djalal, Rosa Djalal, Sarah Prastya and Wahyu Prastya 9. Members of the Crown Group construction team

From left to right: 1. Steve Gray and Gary Cory 2. Iwan Sunito, Koichi Takada and Georgia Wilson

10. Herman Suwito, Franky Johannes and Nina Johannes 11. Sharan Jyoti and

3. Megan Gale 4. Kevin Vertzagias, Evelyn Vertzagias, Liana Sunito and Iwan Sunito 5. Ian and Prisca

Piper Reid 12. Liana Sunito, Iwan Sunito, Darren Palmer and Kate Prideaux

Edwards 6. Kylie Gillies 7. Stuart King and Naomi Simson 8. Peter Moore and Lord Mayor Clover Moore 9. Leigh Morris and Diego Russo 10. Wellih Tan, Imelda Fransisca and Au Bintoro

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The Crown Group Category Collection Type

BRIGHT IDEAS FOR BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS FROM HÄFELE.

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Let yourself be seduced by some of the world’s most innovative solutions. Perfectly engineered for today’s modern kitchen, this is storage as it should be – simple, stylish and effective. From the elegant CONVOY Premio, to the luxurious LeMans II, no space is wasted. Everything is in place. Everything is within reach.

To find out more information visit www.hafele.com.au info@hafele.com.au

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www.hafele.com.au

1300 659 728

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M MENTS TO REMEMBER What does Indranil like about working in sales?

“I love helping people to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle in everyday living,” he said. “V by Crown Group in Parramatta is my favourite— I love its unique features, exceptional value and the cutting-edge lifestyle it offers.”

Similarly, another new recruit to the team, Project & Commercial Sales Director Colin Lee loves it when the pressure is on to guide buyers through the complicated maze of buying a property in NSW. “I love guiding my clients through the often-challenging process of buying real estate. I like bringing comfort to clients through informative and consistent updates throughout the sales process,” he said.

With design underway for the next spectacular Waterloo development, the sales team can’t wait to share the highly guarded details and reveal what’s next.

The Sales Team Go to any of Crown Group’s stunning sales suites and you’ll be greeted by one of our property-obsessed sales executives.

The Sydney residential sales team is a multicultural 12-person team of professionals with mixed backgrounds and a wealth of combined experience.

The sales team’s newest member, Indranil Halder, spends most of his days at the Infinity by Crown Group sales suite in the up-and-coming suburb of Waterloo.

Clockwise from above: Indranil Halder and Nicholas Abbott.

VIEW ALL THE CROWN GROUP MOMENTS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA

Clockwise from left: Colin Lee, Ada Chen, Ivone Hendarta and Colin Lee, Prisca Edwards and Alison Zhang and Jennifer Tan.

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Water Street, Strathfield

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Eko, Newington

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Millennium, Homebush

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Eastlakes by Crown Group, Eastlakes

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The Crown, Bondi Junction

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Icon, Homebush

18-20 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo

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The Bondi, Bondi

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Gallery, Parramatta

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Crown on the Hill, Pennant Hills

Completed Projects

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Viking by Crown, Waterloo

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Oasis by Crown Group. Ashfield

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Genesis, Epping

Coming Soon

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Infinity by Crown Group, Green Square*

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Top Ryde City Living, Ryde

Axis, Rhodes

SILVERWATER RD

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Parramatta Road, Five Dock

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Arc by Crown Group, Sydney CBD*

48 O’Dea Avenue, Waterloo

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Skye by Crown Group, North Sydney*

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Now Selling

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V by Crown Group, Parramatta*

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The Crown Category Collection Type

LAST WORD

SWEET SOUNDS

Jamie Lawson Jamie Lawson RRP $19.99 jbhifi.com.au

Dutourdumonde Photography / Shutterstock.com

Delirium Ellie Goulding RRP $19.99 iTunes

O N E S TO WATC H

Listen To Me Marlon (2015) RRP $24.98 jbhifi.com.au

Spy (2015) RRP $19.99 jbhifi.com.au

With exclusive access to personal archives, this is the definitive Marlon Brando cinema documentary. Charting his exceptional career as an actor and his extraordinary life away from the stage and screen, this film fully explores the complexities of the man by telling the story uniquely from Marlon’s perspective.

Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) is an unassuming, deskbound CIA analyst and the unsung hero behind the agency’s most dangerous missions. But when her partner falls off the grid, she volunteers to go deep undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer and prevent a global disaster.

Jurassic World RRP $14.99 jbhifi.com.au

The Walking Dead (Season 5) RRP $46.99 jbhifi.com.au

A new theme park is built on the original site of Jurassic Park. Everything is going well until the park’s newest attraction—a genetically modified dinosaur—escapes containment and goes on a killing spree.

Something of a phenomenon, The Walking Dead tells the story of the months and years after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by former police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home.

Summer 2016 | Crown Group

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Keating

By Kerry O’Brien RRP $39.95 booktopia.com.au The life of one of Australia’s most intriguing public figures, former Prime Minister Paul Keating, as told to the country’s most influential political interviewer, Kerry O’Brien.

This long-awaited collaboration is a biography unlike any other.

Live What You Love

By Naomi Simson RRP $29.99 dymocks.com.au In Live What You Love, groundbreaking Australian entrepreneur Naomi Simson will show you how to love what you do every day and live life to the fullest. Naomi built one of Australia’s major tech success stories, RedBalloon, from a simple idea.

CONTRIBUTORS

Editorial & Advertising Faye James Group Editor Ellie Corrigan Editor-In-Chief Kate Prideaux General Manager of Communications & Public Relations Dominique Kuhne Communications Executive Chris Waite National Group Sales Manager Design & Publishing Geoff Campbell Publisher

I Cry When I Laugh Jess Glynne RRP $14.99 jbhifi.com.au

Simply Nigella

By Nigella Lawson RRP $59.99 booktopia.com.au Simply Nigella taps into the rhythms of our cooking lives with recipes that are uncomplicated, relaxed and always satisfying.

From quick and calm suppers to stress-free ideas for catering to a crowd, these are recipes guaranteed to make everyone feel good.

Sapphire Skies

By Belinda Alexandra RRP $29.99 harpercollins.com.au Bluenote Café Neil Young RRP $22.99 Google Play

Giverny Reid Creative Director Guy Pendlebury Production/Pre-press Photography Jake Richardson jakerich55.com Crown Group Head Office Level 29/1 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000 p +61 2 9925 0088 e sales@crowngroup.com.au w crowngroup.com.au Edge Head Office

From the pomp and purges of Stalin’s Russia through the horrors of war and beyond, this epic saga combines secrets and lies, sacrifice and redemption, and enduring love and terrible betrayal.

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Level 4, 10–14 Waterloo Street Surry Hills NSW 2010 p +61 2 8962 2600 e chris.waite@edge.agency w edge.agency

The Crown Group Collection

Sisal - timeless style

Residences

45 MACQUARIE STREET, PARRAMATTA

V by Crown Group

Don’t miss the final release A luxurious collection of studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments start from $503,000 with city, district or garden views. Renowned Crown Group resort style facilities include a 25m lap pool, sauna, gymnasium, theatrette, library and wine room, heralding a new level of luxury in Parramatta.

The stunning apartments sit above retail spaces that will provide residents and patrons with a variety of unique dining experiences.

Colin Lee 1300 554 071

Brought to you by Crown Group and:

SYDNEY | MELBOURNE | BRISBANE | PERTH 1800 339 379 AUCKLAND 0800 862 377

ENQUIRE NOW Vist our Sales Suite open 7 days, 10am to 4pm or by appointment 31-39 Macquarie Street, Parramatta, Sydney

www.interfloors.com.au

crowngroup.com.au facebook.com/crowngroup

twitter.com/crown_group

instagram.com/crown_group

Disclaimer: prices are correct as at 30th November 2015 Images are artists impressions and indicative only

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