Hi and welcome to August,
The winds of change abound – latest inflation figures indicate a downward trend, and although the RBA held rates steady last month, it feels that the pressure is building on them to start lowering them. And if this happens, then inevitably more money will start flowing into the property space. In the meantime, auction clearance rate in Melbourne last weekend was 67% compared to 57% this time last year and 73% in Sydney compared to 64% this time last year, so potentially the market is starting to factor in interest rate changes coming through the next 6 months.
And from conversations, I’ve been having with developers and development buyers’ agents over the last few weeks – they’re all starting to talk much more positively than even earlier this year – confidence is returning well and truly to the market.
But not all is rosy, and maybe it’s a short to medium-term timing window before something changes – there are some concerning issues on the horizon – Australia’s level of debt is amongst one of the highest in the world,d as per the chart below:
The price of gold has been reaching record levels, which typically is a defensive asset for investors if they start to become bearish:
On a macro level, there may well be some calamities in the next 12 to 18 months, so we’re in for a bit of a bumpy ride.
So the time to be in the property market is right now, while we’re in the upswing.
Media Articles of Interest
Architecture After Attention: Slowness as Spatial Strategy
Surprise state has the second-best economy in the country
Breaking: Annual inflation hits 2.1pc in the June quarter, down from 2.4pc in March
How Australia leveraged a housing bubble
What the newest display homes reveal about the future of Aussie housing
One 11 Dendy Street
This month’s featured project is One 11 Dendy, an architectural statement in which our photomontages articulate the epitome of living at its finest. We completed a set of 3D CGI images for an upcoming marketing campaign for these ultra-luxurious residences in Brighton, one of Melbourne’s most prestigious suburbs. The level of detail and finish was second to none and our main objective was to translate the developer’s vision into images that would suit the campaign.
Click here to check out the project
Jacob Vince – Economics Driving Land & Infrastructure Development
Episode 17 of The Land Pioneers Podcast is live— and this one dives deep into the economics behind land and infrastructure strategy. Jacob Vince, associate director at Atlas Economics and one of Australia’s leading minds in land economics, joins us. From the early days in NSW Health’s property teams to advising on significant national developments, Jacob’s path has turned complex economic frameworks into clear, actionable insights. If you’re curious about what drives land development—from feasibility to long-term value—this episode delivers practical clarity with strategic depth.
Click here to check out the podcast episode
From Setbacks to Surprises: Behind the Scenes of Yuliya Klymenko’s SALA Exhibition
Preparing for this year’s SALA exhibition has been a beautiful whirlwind. Over the past month, Yuliya poured her heart into three new paintings—each continuing her journey exploring identity, migration, and resilience through bold colours and Ukrainian symbolism.
But as she reflected on the lead-up to this show, she was constantly reminded how unpredictably art—and life—can unfold.
She was invited to exhibit during Refugee Week in May a few months ago. It was a last-minute invitation and while she didn’t have enough completed pieces to fill the space, and so she reluctantly included one painting that she wasn’t completely happy with and wanted to finish. It wasn’t how she’d imagined showing her work, but had little choice.
So here’s the twist: that piece was accidentally damaged during the exhibition. She was totally devastated. But then, something unexpected happened. A couple approached her. They were drawn to that painting and asked if she could repair it, as they would love to buy it. She told them that she wasn’t happy with the painting and would love to finish it. And so she did, and once it was complete, they purchased it. Not only that, but they also bought another piece from the show.
What started as a “disaster” ended in connection and joy. It reminded her that sometimes, the things we worry about most can lead to the most meaningful outcomes.
As SALA opens, she carries that lesson with her. Art doesn’t always go to plan—but often, that’s when the real magic happens.
Come and see what that journey looks like on canvas.
Click here for the link to the exhibition.
I hope you have a fantastic month and we’re eager to hear your thoughts!
Stan Zaslavsky.