real estate Archives - Kenmore News

Rare Fig Tree Pocket Riverfront Block Draws Record Online Views As Development Potential Turns Heads

A sprawling riverfront block in Fig Tree Pocket has emerged as one of the most-watched property listings in Queensland during the first week of May, with buyers drawn by its sheer scale, architectural vision, and the rare possibility of developing or subdividing land this close to the Brisbane CBD.

Read: Olympic Coach Dean Boxall Lists Fig Tree Pocket Family Home

The 8,265 square metre site at 285 Kenmore Road has recorded 114 per cent more views than comparable listings, with around 90 per cent of that activity occurring in the past three weeks, according to realestate.com.au data.

What appears to be fuelling the interest is a combination of factors that rarely align in Brisbane’s inner-ring suburbs: genuine estate-scale land, 33 metres of direct Brisbane River frontage, and an approved flood-free building envelope of 1,319 square metres within a cleared riverfront area of roughly 4,500 square metres.

Concept image for 285 Kenmore Rd, Fig Tree Pocket (Photo credit: Place New Farm)

Then there’s the zoning. The site sits within an Emerging Communities zone, a designation that opens the door to potential development or subdivision, subject to council approval. For buyers with longer-term ambitions beyond a single residence, that adds a layer of strategic value that’s hard to find anywhere near the city.

High-end architectural renders released as part of the sales campaign have also played a role in driving engagement. The visuals give prospective buyers a concrete sense of what could be built on the site, with the listing agent noting that pairing land of this scale with an architectural vision helps buyers engage more quickly.

The current owner purchased the property with plans to build a private family estate, a retreat-style compound with a jetty, room to entertain, and space to eventually accommodate extended family within the bushland setting. A change in family circumstances has since prompted the decision to sell, opening the opportunity to another buyer.

The block is fully serviced and ready to build on, with all services already connected to the site. There is also scope for a private pontoon or jetty, subject to council approval.

Fig Tree Pocket’s property market on the rise

The listing arrives at a time when Fig Tree Pocket’s property market is performing strongly. The suburb’s median house price currently sits at $2.08 million, representing growth of 12.4 per cent over the past 12 months, a figure that points to strong and continuing demand in the suburb.

Fig Tree Pocket has long been considered something of a hidden gem by locals. The suburb sits roughly 11 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, around a 20 to 30-minute drive, and is known for its larger-than-average blocks, abundant parkland, and riverside walking trails. It’s a suburb that tends to fly under the radar compared to flashier inner-city postcodes, but that’s precisely part of its appeal for families seeking space and quiet without sacrificing access.

Read: Clive Palmer Expands Footprint in Fig Tree Pocket

Whether the eventual buyer opts to build a landmark private estate or explore the site’s broader development potential over time, the level of online interest suggests the market has already made up its mind about the land’s significance, even if the bricks haven’t been laid yet.

Published 11-May-2026

Olympic-Sized Pool and $7M in Renovations: Fig Tree Pocket Riverfront Estate Hits the Market

Photo Credit: McGrath Estate Agents

A remarkable Fig Tree Pocket riverfront estate is testing Brisbane’s prestige property market, with the seven-bedroom Mediterranean-inspired home at 12 Aminga Street expected to attract close to $20 million — a figure that would set a new suburb record.

Known as Casaminga, the property spans 9,561 square metres and boasts 79 metres of frontage along the Brisbane River, sitting just nine kilometres from the CBD. The home is being offered via expressions of interest through McGrath agent Alex Jordan, who has described it as the finest property he has encountered across nearly three decades in real estate.

Beyond its sweeping river views and expansive grounds, Casaminga carries a slice of Australian sporting history. Its 25-metre pool served as a private training venue for freestyle swimmer Ariarne Titmus during the COVID-19 lockdown period, when public pools were closed. Titmus went on to claim gold at the Tokyo Olympics. Jordan noted that a 25-metre pool is a rare find in any private residence, making it a practical facility for serious athletes at the time.

The estate’s current owners are understood to have invested more than $7 million in improvements to the property, both indoors and out. Wellness and lifestyle amenities include an infrared sauna, hot and cold baths, a bespoke gym, a pool house, and resort-style pool. Outdoors, the grounds feature a tennis court with a courtside lounge, a pétanque court set among edible gardens, a playground, a soccer field, and a treehouse — along with a pontoon capable of accommodating large vessels.

Interiors have been fully reimagined, with a gourmet kitchen fitted with solid timber cabinetry and Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. Light-filled living spaces offer river views from multiple aspects, with the design connecting indoors to the surrounding gardens and waterway.

Fig Tree Pocket has long attracted prominent residents. Mining magnate Clive Palmer owns a riverfront estate nearby on Needham Street, while technology entrepreneur Bevan Slattery and hospitality identity John Gambaro are among others who have been drawn to the suburb’s quiet, leafy character. Jordan described the neighbourhood as among the most prestigious pockets in Brisbane, with neighbouring properties on generous blocks and finished to an equally high standard.

Early interest in Casaminga has already come from interstate and overseas buyers. The property is expected to appeal to families seeking a resort-style private retreat, as well as boating enthusiasts with access to the river via the substantial pontoon.

If the home achieves its anticipated price, it would represent a landmark sale for a suburb that has quietly cemented its place among Brisbane’s most sought-after residential addresses.

Published 21-April-2026

Architect-Designed Kenmore Property Sets Non-Riverfront Suburb Record at $4.101 Million

Domain

A sprawling single-level family home at 45 Scenic Road in Kenmore sold under the hammer for $4.101 million on the weekend, setting a new record as the highest price ever achieved for a non-riverfront property in the suburb and ranking as Kenmore’s third-highest sale of all time.

The result landed as the top sale across south-east Queensland for the weekend, drawing a crowd of around 200 onlookers and six registered buyers, though only two local families actively competed at the auction. The underbidder, a young family, opened proceedings at $3.65 million before a series of $50,000 and then $25,000 bids pushed the price to $4 million. Smaller increments followed until the hammer fell above the undisclosed reserve.

A Home Built by a Family of Serial Builders

The Scenic Road property is the latest project from a family with an unusually deep relationship with residential design and construction. A practising architect within the family designed the Kenmore home, marking the sixth or seventh residence the family has designed and built for their own use. The decision to sell now comes with a characteristically ambitious reason: the owners’ daughter has recently graduated as an architect, and the family plans to design and build their next home together as a combined creative project.

Built in 2023 in collaboration with Giova Fellows Quod Architecture, the home sits on a 2,023-square-metre block and delivers 798 square metres of single-level living. The design incorporates landscaped gardens, a pavilion, sun terraces, a pool and a billiards and cinema room. Buyers rarely find single-level homes of this scale on sites of this size in Kenmore and across Brisbane’s western suburbs, where developers typically deliver large homes across multiple storeys.

Flood-Free Position Underpins Premium Result

The property’s flood-free status played a meaningful role in its appeal. Kenmore sits in a catchment where flooding is a genuine concern for sections of the suburb, particularly in pockets closer to the Brisbane River and Moggill Creek. Buyers seeking large-block, architect-quality homes in the western suburbs often face a trade-off between size and flood risk, and 45 Scenic Road sits outside that compromise entirely.

Co-selling agent Jason Scott of McGrath Paddington noted the home’s scale, design quality and flood-free position as the key drivers of buyer interest, describing the combination of a recently built, single-level home of this size as genuinely rare in the current market. The result, he said, showed that high-quality properties without compromises continued to attract strong demand even as conditions became more variable. One registered bidder withdrew before the auction after deciding against bidding unconditionally, citing exposure to recent sharp falls in global share markets.

A Patchy Market Around a Standout Result

The Kenmore sale stood out against a broader auction market showing early signs of caution. Across south-east Queensland, 168 auctions were scheduled for the weekend. Domain recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 51 per cent from 113 reported results, with 22 homes withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions count as unsold in clearance rate calculations, placing the effective rate lower than the headline figure suggests.

LJ Hooker head of research and economics Matthew Tiller described Brisbane’s weekend results as resilient overall but noted a noticeable softening in buyer and bidder confidence at individual auctions, driven by the recent interest rate movement and pressure on household budgets. Tight listing supply continues to support prices across Brisbane, with sellers offering far fewer properties than buyers need to shift the market balance across most price brackets.

Strong Demand for Exceptional Homes

In a suburb where the median house price sits around $1.4 million and most homes date from the 1970s to 1990s, the market delivered a notable milestone when a non-riverfront property sold for $4.101 million at auction. It confirms that premium, architect-designed properties in flood-safe pockets of Kenmore now command prices well above anything previously achieved outside the riverside precinct, and signals the depth of demand available for genuinely exceptional product.

Kenmore remains one of Brisbane’s most consistently owner-occupied western suburbs, with high rates of long-term family ownership, strong school catchments across both state and private options, and proximity to the CBD via Moggill Road and the Legacy Way tunnel. For buyers seeking large-block, quality-built homes within a reasonable commute of the city, it continues to attract serious competition when the right property comes to market.

For information on current listings in Kenmore, contact McGrath Paddington through mcgrath.com.au.

Published 27-March-2026.

Why Kenmore Hills Remains Brisbane’s Most Tightly Held Suburb

In a city where many residents move every few years, Kenmore Hills is different. Homeowners here stay for 21 years, on average, making it Brisbane’s most tightly held suburb. The appeal lies in its blend of space, greenery, and proximity to the city, offering a lifestyle that is increasingly hard to find within 15 kilometres of the CBD.

Read: Revisiting the Old Friary in Kenmore Hills

Kenmore Hills is known for its generous block sizes and many homes sitting on even larger parcels of land. Quarter-acre blocks, now scarce in many inner and middle-ring suburbs, are still a feature here. This space, combined with leafy surrounds, has helped the suburb retain a semi-rural feel while remaining connected to urban conveniences.

Median House Price: $1.35M

The suburb’s desirability is reflected in its property values. The current median house price sits at $1.35 million, placing it among Brisbane’s pricier middle-ring suburbs. Kenmore Hills also ranks in the top five suburbs closest to the city with the largest average block sizes, a rare combination of land and location.

Part of the suburb’s long-term appeal comes from its stability. After a wave of development in the 1980s, the overall character of Kenmore Hills has changed little. Unlike many other parts of Brisbane where older homes are frequently being knocked down for new builds, the suburb has largely retained its original streetscapes. Big blocks and established houses continue to define the area, accommodating growing families without the churn seen elsewhere.

Nearby areas such as Chapel Hill and Fig Tree Pocket share similar greenery and family-friendly appeal, while Brookfield offers a more acreage-focused lifestyle. But Kenmore Hills occupies a unique middle ground, where residents can enjoy privacy and bushland surrounds without giving up access to shopping centres, schools, and transport links.

Locals say this balance is what makes the area so enduring. One resident described it as “the best of both worlds,” with established native trees, room for children and pets to play, and enough distance between neighbours to feel a sense of space, all while being only a short drive to major shopping hubs and services.

Read: Brookfield and Kenmore Hills Report Higher Cancer Survival Rates Amidst Queensland’s Hotspots

With large blocks becoming scarcer across Brisbane, and demand for family-friendly suburbs growing, Kenmore Hills looks set to remain one of the city’s most tightly held addresses well into the future.

Published 28-August-2025

Local Real Estate Agent Dies in Tragic Mowing Accident at Pullenvale Property

Photo Credit: Brisbane Real Estate™

The Pullenvale community is mourning the loss of a well-respected local real estate agent following a tragic accident involving a ride-on mower at a private property on Grandview Road.

Ty Babbidge, 55, died after becoming trapped under the ride-on mower. Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 7:30pm on August 15 (Friday), but Mr Babbidge could not be saved.

Mr Babbidge had worked as an agent with Brisbane Real Estate for 10 years, serving the western Brisbane suburbs with distinction. His professional career saw him involved in numerous property transactions throughout the Pullenvale area, where he built strong relationships with local families and property owners.

The Babbidge family shared their grief with the community through social media, describing their profound loss whilst highlighting the man Ty was beyond his professional achievements.

Ty was greatly loved by his family, friends, and the community. His warmth, generosity, and genuine care for others touched countless lives, and he will be dearly missed.

They spoke of his warmth, generosity, and genuine care for others, qualities that had touched countless lives throughout the community.

His colleague of a decade, Kel Goesch, reflected on Mr Babbidge’s character, emphasising his generous and genuine nature. The colleague noted how Mr Babbidge was passionate about his family whilst also being a trusted friend to many in the industry.

The tight-knit western Brisbane community has responded with an outpouring of support for the Babbidge family. Social media tributes have painted a picture of a man who made lasting impressions through his kindness and professional integrity. Community members have shared memories of recent conversations with Mr Babbidge, remembering his positive demeanour and the happiness he brought to interactions.

This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety when operating machinery, particularly ride-on mowers. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reports that there are “hundreds of ride-on lawn mower injuries” nationally in Australia, along with about 2 deaths per year associated with ride-on mowers.

A study covering 1998 to 2002 found that out of 541 mower-related injuries seen in participating hospital emergency departments in Queensland, 65 (12 %) were from ride-on mowers.

Queensland Police have confirmed the incident was non-suspicious, with the forensic crash unit preparing a report for the coroner. The investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the accident as part of standard procedure.

The loss of Mr Babbidge represents more than the passing of a professional colleague; it marks the end of a decade-long contribution to Brisbane’s real estate sector and the loss of a community member who clearly meant a great deal to those around him.

The Babbidge family has requested privacy during this difficult time whilst expressing gratitude for the community’s love and support.

Published 17-August-2025

Massive Block, Half-Built Mansion: Moggill Property Seeks New Owner

Locals in Moggill may have noticed the unusual structure rising from the fields at the end of Landing Place — a part-built mansion that has sparked curiosity for years. Now, after nearly two decades of stop-start progress, the property is officially on the market again, and it’s looking for a new owner with vision.

Read: New Subdivision in Moggill Set to Boost Housing Options

Set on a rare 10,000sqm block at 29 Landing Place in Moggill, the property is unlike anything else currently for sale in the area. The site comes with the shell of an enormous home that was originally planned to include seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms, multiple kitchens, and a pool, but the project was never completed.

What remains is a massive concrete slab and brick framework. The roof, interior walls, and fittings were removed by the current owners to make way for a bigger build, which never eventuated. Now, the property is being sold as-is, for offers over $1.2 million.

While the structure itself might not be move-in ready, the land alone is something special. Flat, cleared, and close to local amenities like Moggill Village, Bellbowrie Plaza, and the Moggill Ferry, it’s a rare chance to secure acreage this close to the city.

For builders, renovators, or dream-home hopefuls, this could be the ultimate project. It could also suit someone keen to start fresh with a new home design, something that’s becoming harder to do as large blocks like this become increasingly scarce.

The last time the property sold in 2023, it was actually in a more finished state, with a roof, staircase, and bathrooms. The changes since then reflect the previous owners’ ambitious plans, which have now been shelved in favour of other opportunities.

Read: $4.35 Million Mansion Sets New Benchmark in Pullenvale

With Moggill’s median house price now sitting at around $1.2 million — up 24 percent in the past year — interest is expected to be strong, particularly from buyers who understand the area’s lifestyle appeal and growth potential.

For locals, it’s a familiar landmark with a story. For the right buyer, it could be the beginning of something spectacular.

Published 22-May-2025

Clive Palmer Expands Footprint in Fig Tree Pocket

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Jwmcdonald81

Mining magnate Clive Palmer has significantly expanded his presence in Fig Tree Pocket. The 70-year-old businessman has amassed a sprawling compound now estimated to be worth up to $60 million.

Palmer’s property holdings in Fig Tree Pocket now stretch across nearly half a kilometre of Brisbane River frontage. Since the pandemic began, he has tripled his footprint in the area, now owning seven titles that collectively form one of the largest private landholdings in the suburb.

**Clive Palmer started his spree with this Fig Tree Pocket home in 2018.**
Photo Credit: Ray White New Farm

The foundation of Palmer’s Fig Tree Pocket estate is the former property of Peter Bond, which he acquired in 2018 for $7.5 million, a significant discount from its original $12 million listing price. This 1.26-hectare property marked the beginning of Palmer’s expansion in the area.

**Mr. Palmer purchased a neighbouring property in 2020.**
Photo Credit: Facebook / Jason Adcock-Adcock Prestige

In 2020, Palmer acquired two neighbouring properties, each priced at $5 million. These acquisitions, made through his company Closeridge and in his own name, secured him control of the left side of the street leading to the Brisbane River.

The extensive river frontage of Palmer’s compound provides him with the unique opportunity to anchor his superyacht, “Australia,” adjacent to his residence.

Among Palmer’s neighbours in Fig Tree Pocket are his son Michael, who owns a nearby property, and Queensland tech entrepreneur Bevan Slattery, founder of NextDC and Megaport, who resides next door on the riverfront.

This significant investment in Fig Tree Pocket real estate comes as Palmer awaits a decision from an international court regarding its jurisdiction to hear his case against the Commonwealth.

Published 24-September-2024