Hi, it’s Adrian Bo. And today, I’m at the Goldstein Reserve at the junction of Arden Street and Coogee Bay Road in the glorious suburb of Coogee. Now a few days ago, Randwick CC resolved that the much loved Anzac Day dawn service would return on April 25th this year, to this very location here at Goldstein Reserve. In previous years, the service, which is held in partnership with the Coogee Randwick Clovelly RSL, has had over 10,000 attendees. But based on COVID-safe guidelines, this year’s service here at Goldstein will be seated and ticketed and only for 3,000 attendees. Tickets are going to be released through the local RSLs, as well as to those who are currently serving, with some being released to the community. Randwick CC will release more information regarding that in the next few weeks. The service will also be live-streamed for those who can’t attend. Goldstein Reserve itself was named after Coogee-based politician, Hyman Goldstein, who built a successful furniture and warehousing business. He became president of the Coogee Surf Club and also lived at 102 Beach Street in Coogee until getting embroiled in a major local controversy, which led to his passing in 1928. The controversy revolved around a local business called the Prickly Pear Company, which claimed to have formulated a poison to kill prickly pear, which was a weed which had become out of control on farms in New South Wales and Queensland.

Now Hyman Goldstein was a shareholder, as well as politician, Thomas Ley. And it was alleged that at the time Thomas Ley used insider trading knowledge that the poison was a dud and sold his shares before the market realised this. And then the shares soon became worthless. Once the story of the dud poison had unfolded, Hyman Goldstein led other shareholders in legal action against Thomas Ley. Goldstein mysteriously died falling from the cliffs between Coogee and Gordons Bay, just to the North of me here. The finger was pointed at Thomas Ley obviously, who immediately fled to the United Kingdom. The whole story of Thomas Ley, which included other nefarious acts as well as Goldstein’s alleged murder was published in his book the “Minister for Murder” by journalist Dan Morgan. At the Southern end of Goldstein Reserve, there is a magnificent national monument to officially recognise surf lifesavers who have perished during the war. The 2.1 metre high sculpture, which is a beautiful bronze statue of a digger and a lifesaver was created by Alan Somerville just before the Anzac Centenary Ceremony in April 2015. Now, back to the present day, and I was delighted to sell a property only a stone’s throw away from here on Saturday at auction. I set an initial price guide for the one-bedroom apartment being number two, at 174 Coogee Bay Road of $650,000. But after a very lively auction, my hammer came down at $685,000.

We had four registered bidders, after a very comprehensive campaign, realising 60 groups through and 8 contracts issued. My unique social media algorithm strategy proved to be successful yet again, creating over 20,000 video views through my Facebook and other platforms. I’m delighted for both vendors and the buyers. And what a great little beach pad it was. This is now the sixth property I’ve sold for that particular seller, who continues to entrust me selling their property with my selling approach that I’ve adopted over the last 20 years of our working relationship together with that particular client. I’m extremely grateful that 70% of my business is either repeat business like that particular client or referral-based business. By the way, in case you saw a mysterious object on Coogee Beach on Friday, the mystery was resolved. Because apparently, the flood deluge caused various items to be washed out to sea. And that huge object ended up being wedged just off shore. And it turned out to be a 20,000 litre water tank. So it’s a great move to re-establish the dawn service here at Goldstein Reserve to remember the 8,141 Australian soldiers who have died for our very freedom at Gallipoli. As well as the other 17,970 further casualties. So lest we forget. Covid shouldn’t stop us remembering our history. Now that the heavy rain is behind us. I hope you enjoy this beautiful Sydney autumn weather. And always remember your home is worth more with Adrian Bo.