Golf course estates are on the rise in Sydney

“There are two great views to capitalise on in Australia,” says Eugene Marchese, principal and chairman of architecture firm Marchese Partners. “The beach view or the golf course.”

Marchese has just finished designing a collection of luxury torrens-title townhouses named Parvenu overlooking Strathfield Golf Club.

While most land in Sydney that has even a cameo peek of a beach has been developed into housing, the peaceful green vistas of our golf courses remain relatively ignored.

At the same time as housing demand continues, governments and developers have turned their attention to the valuable real estate owned by golf clubs. Sydney alone has 38 square kilometres of land devoted to the sport. With 91 courses in its metropolitan area, Sydney has more land dedicated to golf than any other major city in the world.

Participation rates in the sport are dropping, however, and some clubs are struggling to remain financially viable. Enter the ever-hungry housing sector.

On Saturday, Mirvac will release the next 22 homes in its Brighton Lakes boutique development. A joint venture between Mirvac and the New Brighton Golf Club has culminated in 300 new architect-designed houses and apartments being built on a prime spot beside established fairways close to the banks of the Georges River in Moorebank.

The project will include the redevelopment of the club house ensuring its future survival, something both current club members and new residents see as an important social aspect of the project.

John Carfi, Mirvac’s head of residential, says they’ve found a general drop in membership of golf clubs. “For any major capital expenditure needed, golf clubs are now looking at releasing surplus land to free up capital in order to upgrade their facilities,” he says. That need fits nicely with the shortage of land for housing. “It’s logical for a community to free up land for housing and also for parkland and in this case, access to the river,” he adds. “It’s a trend that is increasing in pretty much all areas of the city.”

About a third of the homes at Brighton Lakes since its first release in 2015 have exchanged already, with sell-outs at each release to Mirvac’s VIP client data base.

Carfi is not surprised by the popularity of the project. “You may or may not be a golfer but overlooking a professionally maintained golf course is very appealing,” he says. “Also, as humans, we like to watch other humans. So you can sit at home and watch people playing golf, walking, mingling with each other.”

That broad appeal of living within a golf course environment was not overlooked when housing giant Sekisui House chose a site with an established 18-hole golf course in south-west Sydney’s Gledswood Hills. The masterplanned community The Hermitage is being built on part of the site of Camden Lakeside golf course with streets following some of the original fairways in order to maintain as many existing trees as possible.

Project director Development and Communities for Sekisui House Craig D’Costa says buyers appreciate the mature landscape of The Hermitage. “It’s not a vacant paddock,” says D’Costa. “We’re seeing a consistent theme of people being drawn to The Hermitage for its established character.”

From the outset, Sekisui House’s masterplan design intended to embrace the existing vegetation and green corridors. “We’ve worked on a balance of preservation and creation,” says D’Costa. “We’ve preserved existing trees and established new parks.”

People are aware of the existing 18-hole golf course at The Hermitage but buyers are starting to inquire about the new nine-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course that is under construction. D’Costa says the course will start to look green by the end of the year which he expects will create a spike in inquiry for the company’s SHAWOOD homes planned with views over the fairways.

Then there is the social facet of the club house. As D’Costa says, the great thing about building a residential neighbourhood beside a golf course is people come not just for the recreational facilities but also for the social aspect of a club. “It can become part of the community.”

Developer of the Marchese-designed Parvenu, Phil Leahy of Metro Property, has found that golfers constitute a very small proportion of buyers of his Strathfield development. “We’re not promoting it as a golf course development,” says Leahy. “Yes, you can walk out of your garden and onto the course but more so it’s a private enclave with no through roads.”

Metro Property bought the land in two tranches from Strathfield Golf Club after hearing it was experiencing financial hardship. It has settled on the first site, a practice fairway, and now the club can use the funds to build a new clubhouse with a bar and restaurant facilities on another site within the club’s land.

The project has been very well received by the public. “We know we pushed the envelope a bit with prices from $1.8 million to $2.5 million for the two and three-level townhouses but we were confident because of the quality of the development and the views,” says Leahy.

With such successes, the humble golf club looks to rival the traditional beachside residential development.

We feel like we are on holiday

Brunetta and Simana Kami with Isaak, 10, and Karmela, 9, have just moved into their new home Brighton Lakes in Moorebank. They are thrilled to be living near wide open space, a golf course, playground and swimming pool.

Brunetta and Simana Kami and their children, Isaak, 10, and nine-year-old Karmela were living in a two-bedroom unit in Narwee when they heard about Mirvac’s boutique residential development Brighton Lakes being built on the edge of the New Brighton Golf Course, which fronts Georges River at Moorebank.

“We were looking at upsizing,” says accountant Brunetta.

The Kami family upscaled in a big way. They bought a two-storey house with three bedrooms, a study and a double garage. “We went from a shoebox to a mansion,” says Brunetta.

Isaak and Simana are looking forward to taking golf lessons. For Brunetta, who has never been on a golf course before buying the property, says just having the green outlook, tranquility, and walking paths are the drawcards. “It’s starting to feel like ‘home’,” says Brunetta “but I still feel like I’m on holiday.”

On Saturday, Mirvac will release the next 22 architect-designed homes at Brighton Lakes, priced from $824,900 for a three-bedroom home with a study to $1,235,900 for a five-bedroom home with golf course views.
Phone 9600 6406. BrightonLakes@mirvac.com

Parvenu

An artist’s impression of Parvenu, Strathfield. Photo: Domain.com.au

88 Centenary Drive, Strathfield
Guide: $1.85m-$2 million

Residents of Parvenu, the new townhouse development on the border of the prestigious Strathfield Golf Club, will have a five-star asset on their doorstep. Waking to the tranquil views of manicured fairways is one of the attractions that have buyers from the area swapping their big, old Strathfield piles for the luxurious Marchese Partners-designed townhouses, and then pocketing the change.

More than half of the 50 three and four-bedroom townhouses sold upon release. Developer Phil Leahy of Metro Property said they found there was a gap in the market. “There were not enough townhouses in the Strathfield area and certainly none of this quality,” he says.

The location, just off Centenary Drive, was another drawcard. “You’re essentially in a private estate which is unique in such a busy city,” he adds. Buyers are drawn to the north-facing Torrens-title homes which vary in size from 303 square metres to 521 square metres. Built over two or three levels, the homes include studies, top-of-the line finishes, garages and large terraces overlooking the greens.

“They’re more like grand, traditional townhomes,” says architect, principal and chairman of Marchese Partners, Eugene Marchese. The properties are being sold through Strathfield Partners (9763 2277).

See more at: domain.com.au/2012896879

Wide open spaces

Bevan and Brianna Carson and their son at The Hermitage, Gledswood Hills.

Bevan Carson doesn’t consider himself an avid golfer but he is excited at the prospect of having a Greg Norman-designed golf course on his doorstep at The Hermitage in Gledswood Hills.

“It’s a Greg Norman first,” says Bevan. “If he is behind it, it’s going to be a prestigious course with all the bells and whistles. For every golfing enthusiast, they’ll … just roll out of bed and onto the course,” says Bevan.

Bevan, who works in the wholesale travel industry, and his wife Brianna moved into their new SHAWOOD home in January. The couple were keen to escape the “concrete jungle feel of Parramatta” where they own a two-bedroom apartment.

“Our son is at an age where he needs to go and kick a ball around in the backyard, run around and get his hands dirty in the garden,” says Bevan. “In south-west Sydney he can do that.”

The Carsons are thrilled with their four-bedroom, two-bathroom house. “The openness of the lounge and the rumpus room is incredible. The flow of the property and the house means there is so much space for us,” says Bevan. “Our little one loves it.”

The Carsons believe much of the appeal of The Hermitage comes from its wide open spaces, fresh air and the 50 kilometres of walkways and cycle tracks being developed along with the golf course.

“Once it’s complete, we’ll feel very close to nature with parks throughout, the creek and waterways down the road, and a leafy golf course,” Bevan predicts. “And, the golf course will assist with capital growth and attract buyers when we’re looking to sell.”

See more at: domain.com.au/project/792

Or try these

84 Golf Avenue, Mollymook Photo: Domain.com.au

84 Golf Avenue, Mollymook
Guide: $1.85m-$2 million

The owner of this South Coast property spent over $1 million renovating this six-bedroom house adding a new self-contained cabana, a studio and pool. It has views over Mollymook Beachside golf course and ocean, and golf-cart access via a path from the backyard. It’s a barefoot walk across the green to the famous Collers Beach surf break.

Agent Ray White Surfside Properties, 0427 553 923.
See more at: domain.com.au/2012633561

8 Lister Avenue, Little Bay, offers a north-facing view. Photo: Domain.com.au

8 Lister Avenue, Little Bay
Guide: $5.9 million

It’s hard to believe this spectacular north-facing view is just 10 kilometres from the CBD. Each of the three levels of this six-bedroom 2010 house opens to a terrace and the view. It also has a lift, gym, cinema, rumpus, pool and spa and borders The Coast Golf Course. Walk to the beach without crossing a road.

Agent LJ Levi, 0438 398 558.
See more at: domain.com.au/2012761005

An artist’s impression of the Octavia, Killara.

16/6A-8 Buckingham Road, Killara
Guide: $1.75 million

This three-bedroom garden apartment in the low-rise Octavia building looks onto Killara Golf Course. Covering 115 square metres inside, it has a Miele kitchen, two bathrooms, two car spaces, a 112-square-metre garden and low strata levies. Walk to Killara station. Due for completion late 2017.

Colliers International, 1800 986 880.
See more at: domain.com.au/2012848818