A six-bedroom home at 15 Freemans Rd, Mt Eliza, has sold for $12 million, close to the suburb's $12.4 million house price record. The sale was the biggest for a house in the suburb since 2017. The listing agent, Michelle Skoglund, called it a positive sign for The Block's House 1 renovation, which is set for auction this weekend. The property sits on 3502 square metres, with about 73 metres fronting Port Phillip Bay. Mr Cooley, a well-known auctioneer, will sell House 1 on the agent's behalf.
Authorities have shut 100 shops under newly granted powers aimed at stamping out the trade in illegal tobacco. Since those powers took effect on 9 September, the VIPER Taskforce and Tobacco Licensing Victoria officers have confiscated over four million unlawful cigarettes, roughly 70,000 vaping devices, three tonnes of leaf tobacco and close to $1 million in cash. The drive is directed at criminal networks that profit from the illicit product, including groups run from overseas. Retailers across a string of Melbourne suburbs have been inspected, and the operation is still underway.
Sunbury mother Jessica Gusew and her son Malachi are fundraising through Smart Pups Assistance Dogs after the death of Millie, the assistance dog they got in 2022. Malachi, 16, has brittle asthma and autism, and Millie helped him at hospital visits and appointments and gave him confidence. Millie died from bone cancer on 21 October. The family is now raising $25,000 to help train and place a new assistance dog, which costs the charity up to $50,000 for each child.
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Patrick Blume has transformed his Sunbury home into a Cannibal Carnival for Halloween, a new interactive haunted experience. Killer clowns will spook visitors, and new carnival games offer prizes for those who take part. Blume says the event is free, apart from the food truck, and suits a trick-or-treating stop. It runs from 3pm to 10pm on Saturday 31 October. He advises visitors to arrive early, as wait times may be long.
A community group in Sunbury is launching a campaign to stop Channel Nine's renovation show The Block from working on heritage buildings at Jacksons Hill. Channel Nine has acquired three former Sunbury Asylum buildings for the program, which has angered locals. The Sunbury Asylum Alliance wants the buildings protected, restored and placed under community ownership, and asks for a botanical garden to be explored.
Block 2025 winners Britt and Taz Etto are renovating a $1.41m property near Mandurah in Western Australia, though they have not ruled out returning to the reality show. Taz said he preferred to end on a high after their Daylesford win, but suggested his wife might persuade him to take part in the new all-stars spin-off in Sunbury. The couple bought a six-bedroom Tudor-style house on 2.24 hectares at North Yunderup in February. Taz said asbestos found throughout the 1981 home was the biggest challenge, though he understood it was non-friable and expected removal to be manageable.
Sunbury will get more shade as the Victorian state government invests $3 million in 23 greening projects across two programs. The first program will plant more than 100,000 trees across 13 projects, with $1.5 million directed to suburbs with less tree cover and greater heat exposure. Planting will take place across Melbourne's west and south-east, including 15,000 trees along the Maribyrnong River. The second program will give 10 busy shopping strips and streets a green makeover, including St Albans, Sunshine West, Brunswick and Melbourne's CBD.
Courtney and Sev have drawn with Adam and Jolene for the win on The Block after a dispute over discounted wine racks. Jolene and Lisa believe the girls broke the rules, but Courtney and Sev say their rack was classed as art and exempt from the 50 per cent discount limit. Courtney and Sev then struggle with landscaper Troy Lovett, who refuses to help cut costs after an unexpected carpentry bill. The girls have $25,000 left for their front yard and say they may be disqualified if they cannot finish the week.
Comedian Anh Do is returning to Kyneton Town Hall due to popular demand. He will perform his personal stories, blending real-life anecdotes with comedy. The show is on Thursday 22 October at 7.30pm and is rated PGR 7+. Adult tickets cost $74.90, while children aged 7 to 17 and concession holders pay $69.90. Do promises a mix of heartfelt moments about life's triumphs and struggles.
Labor has promised a $700,000 upgrade for the Gladstone Park Bowls Club if it is re-elected. The state government says the money would go towards all-weather facilities for bowlers. Sunbury MP Josh Bull said the funding would make a big difference for the club. The plan would involve working with the local council to build a dome that shelters a new bowling green. Community Sport Minister Ros Spence said the project would help local clubs bring people together.
Fawkner Highway Patrol have suspended the licence and impounded the vehicle of a driver allegedly caught 100km/h over the limit in Bulla. Police allege the Blue Ford Falcon was clocked at 186km/h in an 80km/h zone on Sunbury Road at about 6.50pm on Sunday 18 October. The vehicle was impounded at a cost of $1159. The driver received two fines totalling $2092. His licence was suspended immediately for a year.
Courtney and Sev and Jolene and Adam finished tied on The Block after a dispute over their wine cellars. Judges were impressed by both teams' joinery, but Jolene was angry that Courtney and Sev had secured a deeper discount on their wine rack. Sev said she classed the timber racks as artwork, where pricing is at the artist's discretion. Lisa and Rosco won the weekly budgeting prize of $10,000. Both tied teams won $5000 each.
The Beefsteak and Burgundy Club in Sunbury is inviting the public to a free information night on Thursday 22 October at 7pm. The event will be held at the Hume Global Learning Centre. The club has brought locals together for wine and food for more than 50 years. It was founded in Sunbury by four local businessmen and formally run by the national club from 1974.
Eight-year-old Issaiah Apap, from Sunbury, will play Young Fritz in The Nutcracker. The production opens at Melbourne's Ian Potter State Theatre on 24 October and runs until 31 October. Issaiah has danced since he was about one year old and trains at Flashdance Performing Arts. Rehearsals began on 13 October, and his family has rearranged school pick-ups and sport schedules to support him. The production follows Clara, a young ballet student, on a magical Christmas Eve adventure.
Sunbury will mark National Survivors’ Day with a morning tea and community gathering on Wednesday 28 October. Hosted by Just4Causes, the event from 11am to 3pm at the Hume Global Learning Centre will bring survivors, advocates, support organisations and community representatives together. Six guest speakers will address attendees, including National Survivors’ Foundation chief executive Clare Leaney and Sunbury local Paul Levey, who will share his experience of surviving abuse by a paedophile priest. Organiser Tracie M Oldham said sexual abuse remains a deeply taboo subject, particularly in regional communities.
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Local MP John Pesutto has criticised the Victorian government's planning process after two historic Hawthorn properties were approved for demolition without a permit for their replacement. The Riversdale Residents Group fears the site may remain vacant for years, and the proposed seven-storey apartment complex exceeds local height regulations. The planning minister has 13 days to consider the complex proposal before the state election caretaker period begins.
Tempers flared on The Block when host Scotty Cam evicted Rosco and Adam's families from the share house. Chantel had complained that their presence made her uncomfortable. Adam vowed revenge by revoking Chantel and Wyatt's access through his property. At a group dinner, Courtney rejected Jolene's claim that Wyatt had stood over her. Jolene responded by saying Courtney had no right to tell her how to feel.
Buyers looking for a new detached house have 28 new projects to consider across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Options include shovel-ready homesites, house-and-land packages and newly completed turnkey homes. Sovereign Hills in New South Wales and Riverlea in South Australia are among the new releases this month. Listed on realestate.com.au over the past month, release status and availability may change, so buyers should confirm details with each project team.
