NEWS
Pioneering The Ultimate Inner City Life
20 December 2007
Vision testimonial – Neville & Helen Newnes
Inner city living has never looked this good.
Brisbane couple Neville and Helen Newnes are the latest purchasers in Vision, the $970 million project that is one of Australia's largest residential, commercial, retail and tourism building, rising some 287 metres.
Already pioneers of inner city living, the couple couldn't be happier with their latest purchase – a multi-million dollar luxury high-rise apartment in the heart of the CBD.
"We see Vision as the start of a new chapter in our lives," Mr Newnes says from the balcony of the couple's current high-rise apartment in Brisbane's booming city centre.
"We were early converts to the idea of inner city living and we see Vision as taking that concept to a whole new level."
Mr Newnes, who has been the Belgium Honorary Consul to Brisbane for seven years and is an executive at the inner-city financial planning firm, Templeton's, says living at Vision will be like living in a five-star hotel.
"We adore living in the city," he says.
"For us, leading busy lives, it's ideal. There are no chores that come with living in a suburban house, like mowing the lawn. If we want to wake up on Saturday morning and do something for ourselves, we have the freedom to do that.
"Vision is an icon of the 21st century, a landmark building in the heart of a city that is constantly buzzing. A maze of restaurants, malls, cinemas and parks are literally on our doorstep, meaning travel expenses are also something of the past."
The 79-level tower is national property developer Austcorp Group's flagship property, under construction on a 5485sqm site between Mary and Margaret Streets in the CBD.
As well as being Brisbane's tallest building, it will also boast a full service concierge 24-hour a day, seven day a week.
Vision will comprise residential apartments, offices, shops, restaurants, lifestyle facilities and Brisbane's first observation deck tourist attraction, located on levels 60 and 61.
The Newnes' off-the-plan three-bedroom apartment, on level 52, is a spacious 273 square metres, with sweeping views of the city and accommodation for three cars.
"The views really are panoramic, taking in the loveliest aspects of Brisbane – from the Botanical gardens, Brisbane River and South Bank which are always buzzing, to the hinterland in the west with its gorgeous mountain views," Mr Newnes says.
"The price of our apartment is capped, with settlement in 2011/12, so we certainly believe it offers good value for money, particularly at the rate Brisbane's population is growing and how quickly property prices are rising."
The couple's love affair with inner-city living began 12 years ago when they moved from Brisbane's outer suburbs to Alice Street in the city's heart.
"For seven years we lived in Quay West and for the past five we've lived at Admiralty Towers II," he says.
"We'd done the acreage thing, with dams, ducks, horses and the like when our kids were younger, and as the kids began moving out of home we moved in closer, into the suburbs.
"Then we saw what was starting to happen at Kangaroo Point with the development of new apartment buildings and thought ‘wouldn't it be great if they would start doing that in the city'. Along came Quay West and the rest is history."
The couple aren't alone in their quest for the ultimate inner city lifestyle, with many of their friends now living a short stroll away.
"We have a number of friends who have followed our lead and moved into the CBD in recent years," Mr Newnes says.
"The Mauritian consul followed about a year ago, and our best friend, a magistrate, who had a big colonial house at Toowong, moved into the city about 18 months ago.
"Once he saw our apartment, he recognised that this was the way he wanted to live too.
"We couldn't be happier with our lifestyle and our most recent purchase. We can't wait to see Vision completed."
Neville and Helen's checklist for choosing high-rise inner city living:
- Save on travel time ? Central location to shopping, entertainment, work, ect
- Save on travel expenses
- Proximity to restaurants and clubs
- Like living in a 5 Star hotel
- No maintenance
- Great facilities, e.g., Pools, gym, sauna
- Security
- Close to river, bike tracks, gardens
- Excellent day and night time views
- Prime position for firework events
- Cooler, with river breezes
- Ideal for hosting overseas and interstate visitors
- No bugs! (Flies, mossies, cockroaches)
Read more about Austcorp's Vision.
Go to the Vision Brisbane website at www.visionbrisbane.com.au.
