SPECTACULAR city views and waterfront locations have topped the list of must-haves in Queensland’s most expensive streets.
Aaron Ave, Hawthorne, was rated number one, based on a median average value of more than $3.999 million.
Second was Austral St, St Lucia with an average of $3.767 million, followed by Minyama Island, Minyama at $3.706 million.
Rounding out the top five were Witta Circle, Noosa Heads, at $3.695 million and Dickson Tce, Hamilton, averaging $3.569 million.
The figures, supplied by RP Data for August, were based on the median house values in a street. An automated model was used to determine values, independent of how many sales had occurred.
Homes along Aaron Ave have Brisbane River frontage with views to the CBD.
Of the 12 houses in the street, most are on large blocks. A number of properties are more than 1000sq m and one is on a total of 3457sq m over five titles.
The most recent sale was a two-storey, four-bedroom, three-bathroom home with a jetty and pontoon.
RP Data records show the home, situated on two blocks with a land total of 1051sq m, settled in March. The price tag was $4.3 million.
The neighbouring home, a three-bedroom, two-bathroom Queenslander set on 1705sq m, sold for $6.03 million late last year.
Austral St grabbed its high ranking due to a luxury unit block built in 2010.
St Lucia real estate agent Karen Mortland, who has worked the suburb for 16 years, said the street was mostly populated with 30-year-old unit blocks and a few “nice townhouses” before the six-storey St Lucia Quays was built.
Prior to that Austral St was pretty much an average waterfront location,” she said. “These units have pushed it to another level.”
Belle Property agent Rashmi Mangar, who has 20 years experience including 13 working in the western suburbs, agreed.
Ms Mangar is currently marketing the last unit available in the Quays, a three-bedroom plus study, ground-floor residence with its own inground pool.
It is on the market for $4 million-plus. The other units have all sold for between $3.5 million and $4.35 million.
The Sunshine Coast’s Minyama Island is a tightly held pocket of just 23 homes.
Experienced agent Mark Unkel of Elite Lifestyle Properties sold 7 Minyama Island earlier this year for $6.75 million.
While there are three properties now for sale on the island, Mr Unkel said this was unusual with most of the residents still the original owners from when the site was developed in the early 1990s.
The prime waterfront homes have access to safe, deep water moorings suitable for large luxury cruisers. They are also just an hour from Brisbane airport, a key for business people who regularly travel overseas.
At Witta Circle, a four-bedroom luxury home with Noosa River frontage is on the market for $4 million plus.
Richardson and Wrench agent Jennifer Carr said the price sat comfortably with a recent $4.67 million sale in the street.
Ms Carr said the Circle was within walking distance of Hastings St. The site was developed in 1978.
“Back then you could buy a block of land for $16,000,” she said.
Buyers looking for a spot in Dickson Tce can choose between the five-bedroom, five-bathroom Loa Langta residence or a 917sq m vacant block of land, now for sale.
Both have spectacular city and river views.
Havig and Jackson marketing agent Gail Havig said Loa Langta – a four-level, 1991 reproduction of an 1860s Victorian mansion – took almost two years to build.
Features include soaring ceilings, ornate cornices, hand-carved cedar mantels, hand-painted tiles and Brazilian mahogany joinery.
There are 67 solid cedar four-panel doors throughout. The fireplaces date to 1860 and were taken from Sydney House which was demolished for the Darling Harbour project.
The 100-year-old cast iron veranda railings were salvaged from St Mary’s Convent at South Brisbane, demolished in the 1970s.
Loa Langta is being marketed through an expressions of interest campaign which has already received four offers.
The vacant land in Dickson St, priced at $3 million-plus, is in a corner position with three-street frontage and the possibility of being split into two blocks.
Mrs Havig, who has worked in Hamilton for 36 years, said she had sold most of the homes in Dickson St at least once during her career.
“It is one of the most expensive streets because it offers spectacular city and river views as well as its elevation overlooking the river,” she said.
There have been some very large and expensive homes built in that area.
TOP 10 QLD STREETS (average median value)
1. Aaron Ave, Hawthorne. $3.999m
2. Austral St, St Lucia. $3.767m
3. Minyama Island, Minyama. $3.706m
4. Witta Circle, Noosa Heads. $3.695m
5. Dickson Tce, Hamilton. $3.569m
6. Kootingal St, Ashmore. $3.345m
7. Wendell St, Norman Park. $3.314m
8. Mossman Court, Noosa Heads. $3.036m
9. Scott St, Kangaroo Point. $2.914m
10. Wesley Court, Noosa Heads. $2.906m
Original article pubished at www.news.com.au by Paula Shearer, Home Editor, The Sunday mail (Qld) 14/9/2013