No. 1 agent Alexander Phillips is set to open up a Ray White office in Woollahra.

Australia’s No.1 real estate agent Alexander Phillips is set to open a new Ray White office in Woollahra.

The award-winning 45-year-old, who has won the No, 1 title with Real Estate Business for a decade and been a partner at PPD alongside Jason Pantzer and Debbie Donnelley for 13 years, bought Kids Stuff and Steve Costi’s Fish Market in Queen St for $7.25m last December.

“And Ray White Managing Director Dan White is doing the fit out for him,” one reliable source, who wanted to remain anonymous, said.

But it’s understood there has been some argy bargy about the name of the new office, with Phillips wanting it to be called the Alexander Phillips Group, in a similar vein to Gavin Rubinstein’s TRG (The Rubinstein Group).

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Phillips bought 126 and 126A Queen St, Woollahra for $7.25m in December.

“Ray White Managing Director Dan White is doing the fit out for him,” a source claimed.

Phillips, who is tipped to remain as part of the PPD brand until the end of the financial year, had no comment when contacted. Dan White has also been approached for comment.

The PPD website describes Phillips as “the best in the business”.

It goes on to say he has held his place as the No.1 sales agent in Australia for 10 consecutive years from 2016 to 2025, according to Real Estate Business, with more than 200 sales annually across the east. He has been particularly strong on the eastern beaches.

Few could argue that bringing him and his team of four agents and two support staff into the Ray White stable is a major coup for the brand.

TRG founder and Ray White’s No.1 principal Gavin Rubinstein, who continues to have a Woollahra office although his headquarters is now in Rose Bay, said: “If it happens cool, it would be awesome.

“High tide raises all boats, I’m not across it, I stay in my lane, but if he ends up at Ray White it will be great for the broader company.

Jason Pantzer, Alexander Phillips and Debbie Donnelley in 2013 when they set up PPD, previously known as Phillips Pantzer Donnelley. Picture: John Appleyard

Phillips (left) with real estate mates Mitchell Lambert, Ivan Bresic and Adrian Oddi on holidays last winter in the South of France. Source: Instagram

“I support every decision Dan makes, he’s one of the smartest people I know.”

Rumours have been flying within the industry about Phillips’s plans for months, with one source saying he was unhappy with PPD’s recent focus on property management.

“Alex just wants to sell houses,” the source said.

Another said: “I heard a few weeks ago there was trouble in paradise, but then I thought he’s got his own brand, he doesn’t need Ray White, but there you go.”

Phillips had started out as an assistant 24 years ago and, when contacted, Donnelley denied there was any animosity with Phillips saying: “I wish him all the very best with his new venture.

“We had a successful partnership for a very long time but that’s come to an end.”

She said that PPD was “powering on”, signing up Christian West and Daniel Cachia as partners recently.

Jason Pantzer said: “I 100 per cent agree with Debbie, there’s been no dispute, we’ve been business partners for 17 years and it’s just run its course.

“I wish Alex every success and he’s currently still a shareholder in the PPD property management business.

“I’m pretty excited about the prospects of PPD moving forward, we’ve merged with Ray White Unlimited Bondi Beach, with Charlie Beaumont and Conrad Panebianco running that office with Ron Baeur.

“We’ll be 2000 landlords strong, our business is strong and we’re excited about the future.”

The trio had all worked together previously at Goodyer Donnelley, deciding to set up PPD, then known as Phillips, Pantzer Donnelley, in 2013.

Pauline Goodyer set up her own agency, and has now, incidentally, decided to join Sothebys.

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The views from Opera Bar, which is getting ready to shut its doors. Photos: Supplied

If you’re visiting Sydney or wanting an iconic harbourside experience, there’s nothing like heading to Opera Bar and House Canteen to look out over Sydney Harbour while sipping an Aperol and eating a delicious meal.

Despite having to ward off the seagulls, it’s the ideal spot to meet up with friends before a show at The Opera House or show the city off to out-of-towners as you devour some of Sydney’s best views.

Yet those planning to show Sydney off at the iconic spot in the next few months will be out of luck and may have to find new plans as both venues prepare to close their doors.

Over the course of 2026, both Opera Bar and Canteen House will be shut for periods of time, as the popular harbourside dining precinct undergoes renovations – and its happening soon.

Opera Bar and House Canteen are preparing to shut their doors. Photos: Supplied

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House Canteen will be the first to close on March 9. The venue’s kitchen and cafe will be closed during the renovation, reopening in June 2026 with a new look and offering.

The refresh will focus on elevating the dining experience and improving guest amenities, as well as a rebrand.

Located next door, Opera Bar’s doors will remain open servicing the whole outdoor area and coffee will be available from a pop up cafe each morning until House Canteen’s renovation is complete. Then it too will close its doors once House Canteen has reopened. .

The perfect spot for a drink in summer. Photos: Supplied

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The upgrades at the harbourside destination aim to improve the dining experience, with a new kitchen, bar and additional indoor seating.

The works on Opera Bar will take place during winter, with the venue expected to reopen just in time for summer.

Applejack, who are behind a number of successful venues including Forresters, Sandy’s and Taphouse, were appointed the operator of Opera Bar and House Canteen in August 2025, following a competitive public tender process.

The 10-year agreement with the world-renowned landmark marked a new chapter for the popular venues.

The venue with the best views of the harbour. Photos: Supplied.

The new team swiftly mobilised to bring the Applejack touch to the venues, with locally driven menus, a refreshed music program and operational upgrades designed to elevate the visitor experience.

The upcoming refurbishments plan to elevate the dining experiences, reimagine spaces, improve guest amenities.

Further details on the reopening dates will be announced closer to completion.

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There’s a lot to organise when buying a home. If you’re a first home buyer, you tend to learn the process as you go.

To help demystify the process, we’re shedding light on one vital area that requires your attention: utilities.

Here’s what you need to know.

What do I need?

When it comes to utilities, the four main ones to consider are:

• electricity;
• gas;
• water, and
• internet

How do I connect my utilities?

For all of the above utilities, plus pay TV, you can connect them by registering and scheduling a connection date with the individual providers.

For electricity and gas, you will need to consult with an energy retailer. For water, it’s your local water authority. For internet and phone, it’s a telco provider.

However, you can do it all in one place.

Get your utilities and internet connected in one place with connectnow. Picture: Pexels

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Connectnow is the best route if you’re feeling overwhelmed and want to make your move easier. They offer a free service* to help you get all your home moving needs sorted quickly, and can connect your electricity, gas, internet and pay TV over the phone.

Essentially, it eliminates all the extra work involved in contacting each of these service providers individually, by contacting just the one place.

How much do my utilities cost?

There are both initial or upfront costs for utilities (such as connection or installation fees) and ongoing bills, dependent on usage.

Connection fees:

Set-up costs and upfront fees vary among utility services and providers. For instance, when it comes to internet you may need to purchase a modem along with your plan. You may also need to pay a set-up fee to cover an installation technician and other administrative costs. This could total anywhere between $70 to over $250.

If you want WiFi when you move in, organise your internet hook-up in advance. Picture: Pexels

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Similarly, electricity providers tend to charge a set-up fee that ranges considerably from around $15 to $90.

If your home already has a gas connection, set-up can cost as little as $10 to $50. However, this will rise considerably if you wish to have a gas line installed.

If you’re lucky (or if you shop around), you may grab yourself a plan with no set-up fees at all.

Ongoing fees:

It’s difficult to know exactly what your average bills will be unless you know how many litres or kilowatts your household uses. However, in general the size and location of your home, the number of residents and the price of your plan will determine how much you spend.

Consumer review and comparison website Canstar Blue offers these findings:

Electricity: average annual costs range from $1012 in Victoria to $1444 in South Australia. (Research January 2021. Note: only including results from NSW, VIC, QLD and SA)

Gas: average quarterly bills range from $108 in Western Australia to $367 in Tasmania. (Research February 2021)

Water: average quarterly bills range from $234 in Western Australia to $365 in Tasmania. (Research May 2020)

Water rates change depending on location. Picture: Pexels

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Meanwhile, the average Australian household pays $69 per month for nbn internet with little variation between states.

It’s also worth mentioning that you can reduce energy and water costs long-term by investing in sustainable household alternatives, such as solar panels or rainwater capture.

Do I need a phone line?

You may elect to have a home phone but most households – especially first home owners – don’t even have a landline on their radar. According to a 2020 report from the Australian Communications and Media Authority, 60% of Australians were ‘mobile-only’ when it came to voice calls at home. This is up from only 29% five years ago.

However, just because you don’t use a home phone doesn’t mean you won’t need a phone line. It may depend on the property you buy.

For example, if you’re buying an existing home with a home alarm system, the system may rely on a functioning phone line to operate. However, newer alarm systems are less likely to be connected to phone lines.

Meanwhile, most nbn internet doesn’t require a phone line but if you’re still operating via ADSL or you live in a remote area, a home phone line could be crucial.

Otherwise, you may just opt to have a landline installed as a back-up system, but chances are you’ll get more bang for your buck simply operating via mobile.

*While connectnow’s services are free to you, standard service provider connection fees and charges may still apply.

As the Australian Open serves up big crowds and big hits, there’s set to be a resurgence in smaller rackets – recreation centres slicing and dicing in pickleball and squash.

With the 2026 Australian Open gathering topspin momentum, a lot of people are no doubt dusting off their racquets and best tennis whites… and realising how hard the sport can be.

Pickleball is winning fans for its more accessible play. Picture: Getty

While squash might seem like ‘such a ‘90s thing’, the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will feature the sport as a first.

Pickleball, too, is gathering momentum, favoured for its more accessible play, smaller court size, and slower pace than tennis, which typically has a higher learning curve.

A standard pickleball court size is 13.41m by 6.1m, while a squash court is typically 9.75m by 6.4m – both much smaller than a tennis court, allowing for business opportunities in higher-density areas.

Major investors in pickleball include Lebron James, Tom Brady and tennis’ own Naomi Osaka to name a few.

What this means is that for developers, there is potential for the rebirth of the rec centre, with these two racquet sports to be a recreational mainstay for the next decade.

Rebirth of the rec-centre

There are two standout squash-centric listings up for sale on realcommercial.com.au.

There’s one outside of Sydney at 3-5 Young Street, Lithgow, and one at 244-252 Kitchener Road, Stafford Heights – a middle-ring suburb of Brisbane.

Stafford Squash Centre is for sale for the first time in more than 55 years. Picture: realcommercial.com.au

Young Street, Lithgow, is co-listed by Jamie Giokaris of LJ Hooker Lithgow and Peter Seeto of Cabmon Property, and is a 1970s relic.

A substantial three-storey landmark in the Blue Mountains region, the agents have called it a “blank canvas” but there’s room to revive it to its former glory.

The rec centre is only a few hundred metres to Lithgow Station and is close to other amenities that Lithgow has to offer.

The Stafford Heights squash centre is also brimming with opportunity, offered by Jeff Smith of Real Estate Doctor Buderim.

Located just off main arterial Gympie Road, Stafford Heights is fast becoming a blue-chip location in Brisbane’s popular northern corridor.

Close to shops, cafes, and Chermside shopping centre, Stafford Heights squash centre is ripe for revitalisation.

Offered for sale in the first time in more than 55 years, the health and fitness centre is already well-established in the community and sports six squash courts, a gym and fitness centre, physiotherapist, and a coffee shop out the front.

There is a strong opportunity to modernise the facilities and build pickleball or paddleball courts – or stick to squash and hopefully catch the momentum heading into the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Restore Lithgow’s squash centre to its former glory or ride the pickleball wave. Picture: realcommercial.com.au

Sport spend continues to sizzle

Despite Aussie households continuing to battle with the cost of living, there is still money to be spent on sport and recreation.

For viewing, the opening day of the Australian Open saw record crowds, with 73,235 through the gates on opening day, exceeding the previous record 68,883 on the middle-Saturday of the 2019 Open.

The ABS’ household spending indicator shows that in November (the latest available data), recreation and culture expenditure increased 1.7% over the month, which was the third-largest category in terms of growth.

Commonwealth Bank’s household spending insights report for December showed recreation spending was up 0.2% on the month, and 7.9% on the year.

CBA head of Australian economics Belinda Allen. Picture: Commbank Media

“The shift higher in consumer spending through all of 2025 was driven by improvements in income and wealth,” said Belinda Allen and Lucinda Jerogin, CBA economists and authors of the insights report.

“Households have also rebuilt savings buffers through this period highlighting households have been both saving and spending over the past year.

“However, the lift in spending through the later stages of 2025 were stronger than anticipated and suggests households’ willingness to spend is stronger than we had expected.”

This is also reflected in higher prices, with one of the main drivers of December 2025’s inflation uplift being recreation and culture.

The ABS’ consumer price index showed that inflation hit 3.8% in the 12 months to December, and recreation and culture inflation hit 4.4%.

The uplift in the category’s prices from November to December was 7.4%, which the ABS partly attributes to sport attendance such as the 2025 Ashes cricket series.

January’s inflation data will be one to watch, which encompasses the Australian Open and the ATP 250 series including the Brisbane International and Adelaide International.

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Renders of Teak development at Mudgeeraba.

A landmark multimillion-dollar development is set to revolutionise a Gold Coast suburb with a new pub and retail hub.

Construction is set to start on Teak, a mixed-use commercial development in Mudgeeraba offering space for 14 tenants.

Renders of Teak development at Mudgeeraba.

Renders of Teak development at Mudgeeraba.

Renders of Teak development at Mudgeeraba.

It’s the first commercial project for local residents Lauren and Mitch Milne, who have completed 10 residential developments in the past five years.

Teak replaces the historic Woodchoppers Pub on Railway St, which is set to be demolished this week.

The new development is expected to become a hub for both operators and the wider community with new opportunities for hospitality, health and fitness, medical and retail businesses.

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Renders of Teak development at Mudgeeraba.

Woodchoppers Pub will be demolished to make way for Teak.

Renders of Teak development at Mudgeeraba.

Councillor Glenn Tozer says Teak represents confidence in Mudgeeraba’s future. Photo: Annette Dew

Division 9 Councillor Glenn Tozer said developments like Teak played a critical role in strengthening Mudgeeraba’s local economy.

“This project creates new commercial opportunities that will attract quality businesses across hospitality, health and fitness, and retail — industries that directly benefit local residents and enhance the vitality of the village,” Cr Tozer said.

Renders of Teak development at Mudgeeraba.

A key feature of the development is its nod to local heritage — the original Woodchoppers site will be paid homage through a new restaurant and pub secured by The Australian German Club.

“It’s encouraging to see a development that acknowledges the history of an iconic site while reimagining it for a growing community,” Cr Tozer said.

“Retaining a hospitality offering here ensures that the spirit of the Woodchoppers site lives on,

while delivering a modern destination that reflects where Mudgeeraba is heading.”

Renders of Teak development at Mudgeeraba.

Construction, to be handled by NthStar Constructions, is expected to take 12 months.

A number of commercial sites remain for sale or lease, offering businesses and investors an opportunity to secure a position in one of Mudgeeraba’s most prominent new developments.

“Teak represents confidence in Mudgeeraba’s future,” Cr Tozer said.

“It sends a clear message that this is a place worth investing in — a community that supports business, growth and quality development.”

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