Archive for August, 2009

Award-winning jeweller designs ‘Oracle’ Collection piece for Tara Moss

Monday, August 24th, 2009 No Commented

International jewellery designer, Ann Middleton OAM, has been commissioned to design an equisite jewellery piece to mark the launch of  The Oracle.

Niecon’s ambassador, international best-selling author, model and celebrity, Tara Moss, will unveil the piece next month when she visits the Gold Coast.

Tara will be on the Coast as part of her whirlwind Australian tour to promote her new book ‘Siren’.

Award-winning jeweller Ann Middleton has just finished a world collection for Olivia Newton-John. A famous Australian designer, she has created unique pieces for a host of celebrities and royalty including swimming legend Ian Thorpe.

Niecon CEO, Con Nikiforides, says that the piece will be as unique as The Oracle itself and it is the first time a developer has created a piece of jewellery to represent a development.

“It is a great honor to be asked to design a unique piece for such an iconic world-class development as The Oracle and to have Tara wearing it will certainly create immense media interest,” Ann said.

New Home Sales Edge Higher in June - HIA

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 No Commented

A new report released by the Housing Industry Association (HIA) has found new home sales rose 0.5% in June. Multi-unit dwellings were up 2.9% in the month, while sales of stand alone or detached houses climbed 0.3% in June.

Total new home saleshave advanced 13 per cent, in the six months to June 2009.

HIA chief economist economist Harley Dale believes the increase in activity over the first half of 2009 “clearly marked a healthy turnaround” in the market after a period of weakness in 2008.
Dr Dale states: “The lift in new home sales over the first half of the year was driven by low mortgage rates and first home buyer stimulus.”

In October last year the first home owner grant was increased by the Federal Government, to those buying a new home or building their own home to $21,000. This grant is due to be cut to $14,000 after 30 September this year.

It was interesting to note Detached or stand alone house sales rose by 18% in the first half of calender 2009, while multi-unit sales were down 20% over the same period, the HIA report said.