Wakefield Street attracts the celebrities

This ground breaking development was once home to radio presenter Jodie Blewett, and we were pretty excited a couple of years ago when we leased one of the apartments to 2 of the stars from McLeod's Daughters - Matt Passmore and Luke Jacobz.

Then we sold an apartment in the building to Amber Petty, another radio personality, and we thought that was pretty cool. But when Princess Mary visited Amber and stayed over, there was so much public attention with the national press gathered around the foyer area that we don't think it can ever be topped!

We have just sold one of the top level apartments for well in excess of $800,000, and will have 2 more for sale very soon. Now we just have to figure out how to include "Danish royalty stayed here" into our advertising. Just kidding!

Inside the Torrens Building

A contact of ours recently invited us to look through the rejuvenated interiors of the stately Torrens Building on Victoria Square. Built in 1879 as a Government building and named after Sir Robert Torrens (South Australia's third premier and pioneer of the world renowned Torrens Title system for transferring land), its beautifully antique exterior appearance matches its historical background. The Australian Heritage Database describes it as "the best remaining example in Adelaide of Italian Renaissance or Neo Classical style with a Palladian composition".

However, the ultra-modern fitouts within tell a completely different story. The building originally housed many State Government departments (including the Land Titles office where Peter used to work!), and was later used by community service groups after a 1999 refurbishment. As we blogged earlier, the major residents now are 3 prominent international universities - Carnegie Mellon, Cranfield University, and University College London (UCL).

The most recent upgrade was done for the UCL School of Energy and Resources campus. It is appropriately sponsored by Santos and boasts stylish furniture, contemporary fittings as well as the latest technology - computers, projectors and audio equipment allowing collaboration and combined lectures with other campuses in Great Britain. UCL is ranked in the top 5 universities in the world and has a global reputation for teaching and research with 20 nobel prize winners among former students and academics.

A work completely progressed

The fitout of Apartment 31/237 Wakefield Street Adelaide has finally been finished. Earlier 'in progress' photos of the apartment can be viewed here and here.

The building itself was completed about 10 years ago, and many of the spaces were sold as empty shells - giving buyers the opportunity to have absolute creative control over apartment interiors. Apartment 31 was purchased as a shell but never completed internally because the original buyer decided to stay permanently in Western Australia and instructed us to sell it for him.

Our good friend Graham at the design and development company Urban Edge took up the challenge, and the result is simply stunning. The 3 bedroom apartment extends over 2 levels and a roof deck, giving it fabulous city and hills views. With well over 200 square metres of space, some of the striking features include:

• Solid spotted gum timber floors and cavity sliding doors
• Full height frameless door jambs
• Integrated Miele appliances in a kitchen of stainless steel and solid american rock maple benchtops with telescopic power outlets and Paco Jaanson d38 mixer taps
• 2 hand made spiral staircases with stainless steel balustrades and Pirelli rubber treads
• Custom made cabinets and floor to ceiling tiling in the bathrooms and ensuite
• Laundry chute from upper bathroom to lower laundry

It is an exceptional apartment with an abundance of natural light and a delightful double height living space balanced with private and large bedroom accommodation in a wonderful iconic building.

Click here if you are interested in purchasing this apartment.

A work further in progress

When we last looked at this Wakefield Street apartment in August, it was just starting to take shape. Now it is just a couple of weeks from completion, and some of the finishes can be seen in the bathrooms and kitchen. We can imagine that it will soon be looking like some of the other apartments in the building.

It has a contemporary architectural design that captures fabulous light and a cooling breeze due to its flow through north/south aspect. The City views from the roof deck and the eastern hills views are also really special.

The building is well over 10 years old now but remains quite unique in its warehouse style of central city living. The podium landscaping and garden is looking superb, and the community of owners are to be congratulated for the efforts put in to create a stunning garden focus.

It is just moments from a great cup of coffee at Bocelli, and confirms the old real estate adage: "Location, Location, Location"!

Our new office?

Could this be the new premises of Buchan Lee Property Group?

We've been looking at potential properties in Stepney, Walkerville, Rose Park, and Norwood, however this fantastic warehouse style office/apartment above Wakefield Street in the Adelaide square mile looks to be the winner.

Check out the beautiful polished concrete floors and stunning boardroom table made from a huge piece of varnished redwood. The legs of the table are actually the 2 ends of a big water pipe!