Latest news with #Realestate.com.au
Sky News AU
22-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
'Ridiculous': The Block host Scott Cam lashes out at Adrian 'Lambo Guy' Portelli in extraordinary spray after show's controversial billionaire hung up his bidding paddle
Scotty Cam has declared that he will not miss Adrian Portelli at The Block auctions, as his absence will only allow more families to purchase houses. Portelli, also known as "Lambo Guy" for the luxury vehicle he's known to drive to the show's auctions, announced he would retire from bidding after the 2024 season finale, in which the billionaire businessman, 35, purchased the lot for a massive $15.3 million. The owner of luxury giveaway company LMCT+ had dropped a total of $31.68 million on The Block houses since his first appearance on the hit renovation series in 2022, where he posed as a 'phoney' buyer to up bids. He earned a reputation as a predictable figure at the season finales thereafter, thanks to his polished appearance, designer accessories, and habit of arriving in a yellow Lamborghini to snap up the homes. The host of The Block on Monday said he "won't be nervous at all" at the next auction later this year after Portelli dominated the previous two. 'You know, we might not get ridiculous prices, but we're going to give mums and dads the opportunity to buy one of these houses," Scotty told 'And we're going to get families the opportunity to buy one. Or holiday houses for people. It's going to open it right up. We want these homes to go to families. "They eventually do when Portelli buys them, but this way we cut out the middleman. Let's just get them to the families.' Portelli is hoping to offload all five Phillip Island properties he purchased in 2024 to a single buyer after his December lottery for the resort failed. The winner of his giveaway, 34-year-old Holly from Ballarat, opted instead to take an $8 million cash prize, leaving the homes with Portelli. About six months later, in June, the business announced the sale of the mega Block complex via an Instagram callout. 'For Sale. EOI. The Phillip Island Block Resort. Selling complex complete. Everything included. Will not sell houses separately,' he wrote. With Portelli having hung up his bidding paddle, Scotty said he and co-host Shelly Craft hope the 2025 Blockheads can all get over reserve. He said the auction day is always a "very trying time for Shelley and I, adding, "It's the only day we get nervous" for the contestants, whom the hosts want to win and not be set up to fail after all their hard work. As for Craft, she isn't entirely convinced Portelli's Block run is over and wouldn't be surprised if he showed up at the next auction unexpectedly. Although she confirmed Nine hasn't heard from the TV star ahead of The Block's 2025 premiere next Sunday at 7:30 on Nine, she said "who knows" if he will eventually stun everyone with a shock appearance. Blockhead Em, one half of the married couple Emma and Ben, meanwhile, told she is 'a little worried' about Portelli's absence. However, she said she is confident the pair have "created a beautiful house" that one buyer will be "very interested" in. The fresh round of Blockheads will this year build homes from scratch, rather than renovating them, in the Victorian town of Daylesford. As well as building from the ground up, the Blockheads will no longer be allowed to work on their properties overnight, Domain reported. Portelli was embroiled in a scandal earlier this year, when former Today Show sports presenter Alex Cullen made national news after accepting $50,000 from a billionaire to refer to him on air as "McLaren Man". The moment triggered a media firestorm and led to Cullen stepping down from his role at Nine, followed shortly by his departure from the network.
Sky News AU
04-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Lucy Turnbull slammed online after praising transformation of multi-level car park into social housing project in Paris
Lucy Turnbull has been roasted on social media after the multi-millionaire praised architects for transforming a multi-level car park into a social housing complex in Paris. The wife of former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who was dubbed "Mr Harbourside Mansion" by Peta Credlin, shared a post on Thursday about a seven-storey parking garage which has been converted into 10 levels of public housing. Ms Turnbull was wowed by the development and shared it to X. "This is how to do it! Good design plus affordable housing," she wrote. But the former Sydney Lord Mayor was quickly skewered by Australians online questioning whether she would be as receptive if a similar project was erected next to the Turnbulls' own multi-million-dollar Point Piper mansion. "When you live in a $150 million house and advocate for others to live in social housing, what's that called?" one social media user wrote. Another commented: "Honestly Lucy, would you like to live in it?" "Fantastic! Hopefully they build a couple of those 'affordable housing' projects right next to your place - so you can truly enjoy them in all their glory," a third added. "Lol, you and Mal are real popular with the masses hey Lucy? Stay in your ivory tower," a fourth user said. A lot of users mocked the millionaire couple and suggested Point Piper could also play host to social housing. "Fantastic! Hopefully they build a couple of those 'affordable housing' projects right next to your place - so you can truly enjoy them in all their glory," one said. "Could get a few of these in some old buildings around Point Piper," another added. Ms Turnbull, who have a reported combined net worth of about $200 million with her husband, is an urbanist and former Lord Mayor of Sydney in the early 2000s. She has previously advocated for more social housing, urban renewal around inner Sydney. The inner-city suburbs where Ms Turnbull has called for more "affordable retail housing and market-priced housing" are a far cry from the glamorous streets of Point Piper. The Turnbulls bought their Tuscan-style palatial abode in 1994 for more than $5.4 million. But their home is now valued at a whopping $150 million, according to "The waterfront property, the only in the area with direct access to Lady Martin's beach, is estimated to be worth about $150m," the website says. "Mr Turnbull bought the home in 1994 for $5.45m, considered an astronomical price at the time, and later expanded the waterfront by snapping up part of the property next door." The former prime minister even turned his back on the grand official residences of his lofty office and opted instead to reside at his waterfront abode. The Paris building underwent "extensive" renovations which saw three additional floors included using a mixed-wood metal structure, frame facade and wood cladding. The restoration will "preserve" almost the entire 1957-built garage, located in the 11th arrondissement of the French capital, and includes courtyards and gardens. In an opinion piece in The Sydney Morning Herald, Ms Turnbull suggested there was an opportunity to renew publicly-owned land at Redfern-Waterloo and Surry Hills. Currently occupied by public housing, Ms Turnbull said it could be renovated and turned into "affordable retail housing and market-priced housing". "In Redfern-Waterloo we have an abundance of new transport infrastructure and not enough new housing. This has to stop," she wrote in the SMH in March. "We need a model for public-private partnerships where publicly owned land is not completely divested. There has to be a smart blend of publicly and privately owned housing. "An important general question is how and where should new housing be located? "What new housing can be delivered at least cost to government so it can afford to deliver more of it? There is not enough consideration given to this, and the public needs to be able to understand the nature of the problem too."
Mercury
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mercury
Margot Robbie's secret Gold Coast hideaway up for sale
Don't miss out on the headlines from Celebrity Life. Followed categories will be added to My News. A luxurious property hidden away on the Gold Coast hinterland, and a favourite of Hollywood star Margot Robbie, has hit the market. Known as The Orchard, the 7.4 acre property surrounded by rainforest and national park is a secluded hide-out for the Oscar nominated actor when she returns to her Gold Coast hometown. Coastal real estate agent Ed Cherry said Robbie had visited the property, located down the road from where she grew up, multiple times. A favourite Gold Coast hideaway for Hollywood star Margo Robbie has hit the market. (Photo by Robert Smith/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images) The secluded 7.4 acre property is surrounded by rainforest and national park in the Tallebudgera Valley. Picture: 'It is one of her favourites,' he told NewsWire. 'She loves that it's got that Byron Bay feel, but it's in the middle of Tallebudgera Valley so it's central to the Gold Coast, airport, the amenities down at Currumbin Creek and everything you want to do in the area,' he said. 'It has a hobby farm feel, but it's very private with a big gate at the front, which you enter over a concrete bridge. 'The property is surrounded by a creek then backs onto the Tallebudgera hinterland with old growth forest and national park behind you.' The Queenslander style home sits on a hobby farm but has been renovated with modern amenities inside. Picture: The home has been renovated to have the same feel as a modern home or apartment. Picture: The private and peaceful sanctuary is described as a haven for people seeking wellness and tranquility with modern luxury. The property has more than 30 fruit and nut trees and a veggie garden to enjoy as you soak up the beauty of nature, as well as an in ground pool, cabana and other amenities. 'It's got a really calming wellness feel to it,' Mr Cherry said. The property has more than dozens of fruit and nut trees and a veggie garden. Picture: The private and peaceful sanctuary is described as a haven for people seeking wellness and tranquility with modern luxury. Picture: 'When you enter the property you see it's had extensive renovations that have been done, it looks like an old Queenslander, but it has a very modern cottage feel inside. 'It's everything you feel from a modern home or a new apartment in a cottage-style home on the hinterland.' The property is open to offers over $4.9 million Originally published as A Gold Coast hideaway of Hollywood star Margot Robbie hits the market
Perth Now
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Hollywood star's Aussie hideaway for sale
A luxurious property hidden away on the Gold Coast hinterland, and a favourite of Hollywood star Margot Robbie, has hit the market. Known as The Orchard, the 7.4 acre property surrounded by rainforest and national park is a secluded hide-out for the Oscar nominated actor when she returns to her Gold Coast hometown. Coastal real estate agent Ed Cherry said Robbie had visited the property, located down the road from where she grew up, multiple times. The secluded 7.4 acre property is surrounded by rainforest and national park in the Tallebudgera Valley. Credit: Supplied 'It is one of her favourites,' he told NewsWire. 'She loves that it's got that Byron Bay feel, but it's in the middle of Tallebudgera Valley so it's central to the Gold Coast, airport, the amenities down at Currumbin Creek and everything you want to do in the area,' he said. 'It has a hobby farm feel, but it's very private with a big gate at the front, which you enter over a concrete bridge. 'The property is surrounded by a creek then backs onto the Tallebudgera hinterland with old growth forest and national park behind you.' The Queenslander style home sits on a hobby farm but has been renovated with modern amenities inside. Credit: Supplied The home has been renovated to have the same feel as a modern home or apartment. Credit: Supplied The private and peaceful sanctuary is described as a haven for people seeking wellness and tranquility with modern luxury. The property has more than 30 fruit and nut trees and a veggie garden to enjoy as you soak up the beauty of nature, as well as an in ground pool, cabana and other amenities. 'It's got a really calming wellness feel to it,' Mr Cherry said. The property has more than dozens of fruit and nut trees and a veggie garden. Credit: Supplied The private and peaceful sanctuary is described as a haven for people seeking wellness and tranquility with modern luxury. Credit: Supplied 'When you enter the property you see it's had extensive renovations that have been done, it looks like an old Queenslander, but it has a very modern cottage feel inside. 'It's everything you feel from a modern home or a new apartment in a cottage-style home on the hinterland.' The property is open to offers over $4.9 million
Sky News AU
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Gold Coast farm getaway frequented by Aussie star Margot Robbie hits the market for $4.9 million
A secluded Gold Coast estate frequented by Aussie movie star Margot Robbie has been put on the market for offers in excess of $4.9 million. The sprawling estate is located in the Tallebudgera Valley rainforest and has played host to the Barbie star and her family on multiple occasions. Real estate agent Ed Cherry is overseeing the listing and confirmed to that Robbie liked staying in the home as a 'retreat'. 'This is a very special place... it's been Margot's retreat,' he told 'She stays in the guest accommodation when she is here. 'It feels like a slice of the Byron Hinterland paradise but in the middle of the Gold Coast, where you have privacy, proximity.' The lavish property boasts a renovated main house plus a rustic-style guest house and is encircled by lush national parklands. The main house is spread across two levels and features three bedrooms, three bathrooms, timber floors and a show-stopping kitchen with a butler's pantry. Complete with a 900mm freestanding electric oven, induction cooktop and integrated dishwasher, the lucky buyer can cook up a feast sourced direct from the estate. Blending contemporary minimalism with lived-in charm, timber floors add warmth and character, while expansive windows frame views of the surrounding hinterland. Spanning a double-storey, the main house also features a spacious open-plan living and dining area where Robbie and her family likely enjoyed many summer evenings. Among the show-stopping features, the 7.4 acre-estate hosts a 'thriving' vegetable garden and a private creek. 'Boasting more than 30 fruit and nut trees, a thriving veggie garden and landscaped grounds - along with over 500 metres of your own private creek to explore and enjoy - it is a hidden, high-end escape to reconnect, rejuvenate and simply soak up the beauty of nature,' the listing said. Robbie, 34, who recently welcomed her first child with husband Tom Ackerley, boasts an impressive property portfolio of her own spanning three continents. The growing family currently split their time between Robbie's $2.73 million mansion in Hancock Park, a bungalow in Hollywood Heights, and a compound in Venice Beach. It is understood the two-time Oscar nominee also owns homes on the Gold Coast and in Ackerley's native United Kingdom.
