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Slava Jezek remembers when Canberra was a ‘single set of traffic lights’ town.“There was only one set of lights when I arrived here in the late 1960s,” Slava recalls.“They were on Northbourne Avenue. Canberra was very much a bush town.”The brand new suburb of Mawson was welcome relief for Slava, his mother, grandmother and two siblings, who arrived in Canberra as refugees from the Czech Republic in March 1969. A Soviet Union-led pact had invaded their country and was enforcing mandatory conscription. Having Slava forced into the Army was terrifying for the Jezeks, so they fled.<img alt="IMG_0077" class="richtext-image full-width" height="546" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0077.width-800.jpg" width="800">At the same time, another family from the Czech Republic, the Jelinkovas, had also left the country, bound for O’Connor, Canberra. The daughter of the family, Georgina, joined her parents in the inner north in September 1969 from London, where she’d been working as a Nanny.“I got off the plane and the taxi driver headed toward O’Connor, where my parents were living,” Georgina recalls.“I ended up saying to the taxi driver, ‘When will we actually arrive in Canberra?’“He said, ‘What do you mean? This is it.’“I’d just been in London – one of the biggest capitals in the world – and here I was in Australia, in the capital, and it was just bushland.”<img alt="IMG_0081" class="richtext-image full-width" height="554" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0081.width-800.jpg" width="800">In a coincidence that would change the lives of both families, the Jezeks and Jelinkovas – who ”knew of each other” — ran into each other in front of Monaro Mall (now the Canberra Centre) in front of David Jones in early 1970. Slava had never seen Georgina before but right there and then he invited her to Batemans Bay for the weekend.“She said yes,” Slava says.“The rest, as they say, is history.”Over the next 54 years the Jezeks built a life they loved in Canberra. As newlyweds they lived in Holt, had two children, Monica and Mark, and then moved southside to Pearce in 1982 to be closer to a new business they’d started at Chifley shops.<img alt="IMG_0083" class="richtext-image full-width" height="543" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0083.width-800.jpg" width="800">That business was the Bavarian Bakehouse, and if you grew up in Canberra in the 1980s and 1990s, you’ll know it was a Canberra institution. Saturday mornings saw lines around the block for the bakehouse’s pastries (which Slava taught himself to make) and the bakery’s award-winning caraway seed rye bread.“People came from all over to buy the rye bread – from Sydney, even from Melbourne,” Slava recalls.“People would call and say, can I order 50 loaves of bread? And take them home to Sydney and freeze them.“Then I started making different types of cakes, my own recipes so that no-one could copy.<img alt="IMG_0076" class="richtext-image full-width" height="567" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0076.width-800.jpg" width="800">“Danish pastries, poppy seed strudels, walnut strudels, poppy seed croissants, cheese and bacon, custard with almonds. We were just enjoying feeding the people of Canberra.”The Jezeks sold the Bavarian Bakehouse in 2008 and spent time turning <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/4-mclaren-crescent-pearce-act-2607-88687/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the family home into their dream home</a>, with the addition of an extension, a pool, brand new kitchen and bathrooms, and to Georgina’s delight, in-slab heating.<img alt="4-mclaren-crescent-pearce-act-2607-88687-image-0-20231018230151257458-thumbnail-1920x1920-70" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/4-mclaren-crescent-pearce-act-2607-88687-image.width-800.jpg" width="800">But now they want to be closer to their grandchildren and have purchased a block at South Jerrabomberra. Their McLaren Crescent, Pearce, home will be auctioned on 11 November.“This has been a wonderful home, so close to the shops, our business, and all the work on the home has kept us busy over the years,” Slava says.“We hope another family can love this home like we have.”Number 4 McLaren Crescent, Pearce, goes to auction at 1.30pm on Saturday 11 November 2023.<a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/4-mclaren-crescent-pearce-act-2607-88687/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the full listing.</a>

Former Bavarian Bakehouse owners Slava and Georgina are selling the family home of 41 years

It was just before a house inspection they were hosting in Fadden in 2001 that <a href="/agents/rick-and-tina-meir/">Rick and Tina Meir</a> knew they were destined to become besties.As clients were literally walking up the front steps to view the home (Rick was selling it, Tina was representing the buyer about to walk through the property) the pair struggled to gain composure from a shared joke before the buyers were due to arrive.“We realised we had a very similar sense of humour,” Tina laughs.“And from that point on, we became great friends.”<img alt="2913_HBH_008h" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1200" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/2913_HBH_008h.width-800.jpg" width="800">From work colleagues to husband and wife, Rick and Tina both had outstanding individual careers in real estate sales across a number of agencies in Canberra’s south.But in 2016, they decided ”it was time” — uniting their sales skills to become one of Canberra’s powerhouse couples of real estate. Today, the Meirs’ hold the suburb records for Weston and Waramanga, and the previous suburb records for Hughes, Throsby, Strathnairn and Denman Prospect. They sold 59 properties last year alone.In a move that plays to the couple’s creative strengths (Tina is an acclaimed singer and actor, while <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtlWmmnBFKO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rick’s dance moves set Instagram on fire</a> last month), the Meirs’ have donned the pink pastel and joined the team at <a href="https://zango.com.au/agencies/home-holly/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">home.by holly</a>.<img alt="Screen Shot 2023-07-25 at 5.59.11 pm" class="richtext-image full-width" height="778" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Screen_Shot_2023-07-25_at_5.59.11_pm.width-800.png" width="517">The home.by holly agency “already feels like home”, Tina says, and the couple is excited to “smash the stereotype” of traditional property marketing: something the home.by holly team is famous for.“We were drawn to the agency’s values, culture and their standout marketing,” Rick says.“The home.by holly team is creative, people-focused, and genuine. There’s a real values alignment there for us.”While Woden and Weston Creek is their heartland, Rick and Tina will continue to sell homes right across the capital. They’re looking forward to “continuing to specialise in suburbs on the southside that we live and work in”, Tina says, and supporting locals.<img alt="12-phyllis-frost-street-forde-act-2914-82988-image-0-20230712223133427295-crop-c0-5__0-5-1600x750-70" class="richtext-image full-width" height="375" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/12-phyllis-frost-street-forde-act-2914-82988-i.width-800.jpg" width="800">“And just being ourselves,” Rick says. “There’s an energy around the creative freedom we’ll have to market our listings that we can’t wait to build on and work with.”The couple’s hot tip for takeaway on the nights you can’t be bothered cooking?“A curry from Masala Hut in Weston or a pizza from Two Blind Mice in Curtin,” Tina says.“Shantung chicken from Timmy’s in Manuka,” Rick says. “Can’t beat it.”<a href="https://zango.com.au/search-property/real-estate-agents/rick-and-tina-meir/?listing_type=sale&amp;status=current" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View Rick and Tina&#x27;s current properties for sale.</a>

Rick and Tina Meir don the pastel pink to join the home.by holly team

If you thought spas, gyms, saunas and pools were the height of luxury when it came to apartment living, say hello to <a href="https://zango.com.au/developments/the-shard-phillip-act-2606/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Shard</a> - a designer building in the heart of Woden that comes with a Pilates studio, a business lounge and - wait for it - a piano bar.The 15-storey apartment complex will be erected at the intersection of Melrose Drive, and Brewer and Corinna streets, with 218 of 273 available apartments sold so far.<img alt="the-shard-32-corinna-street-phillip-act-2606-44355-image-0-20220804024_h19HwcK-crop-c0-5__0-5-1600x750-70.jpeg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="375" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/the-shard-32-corinna-street-phillip-act-2606-4.width-800.jpg" width="800">Due for completion in mid-2024, The Shard is the vision of Zapari Group, designed by Cox Architecture, and will be the third residential tower to rise in Woden’s central business district, joining <a href="https://zango.com.au/developments/wova-phillip-act-2606/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WOVA</a> and <a href="https://zango.com.au/developments/the-melrose-phillip-act-2606/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Melrose</a>.The Shard sales agent <a href="https://zango.com.au/agents/keenan-veraar/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Keenan Veraar</a>, of <a href="https://zango.com.au/agencies/lj-hooker-project-marketing/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LJ Hooker Project Marketing</a>, says many Canberrans are swapping suburban homes in the neighbouring suburbs of Chifley, Lyons and Mawson for luxury and location.<img alt="the-shard-32-corinna-street-phillip-act-2606-44355-image-0-20220804024_wPJlGY6-thumbnail-1920x1920-70.jpeg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="585" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/the-shard-32-corinna-street-phillip-act-2606-4.width-800_lJoZ3OR.jpg" width="800">The penthouse level of The Shard is attracting a diverse range of buyers, from couples and families, to members of the Canberra property industry.“One couple we sold a Glasshouse [penthouse] to have grown up sons, so they purchased another apartment on one of the lower levels,” Keenan says.“The face of Woden is changing significantly, and people want to be close to the action.“Work on the Woden extension of the light rail has begun, along with a major upgrade of the Phillip CIT campus.”<img alt="the-shard-32-corinna-street-phillip-act-2606-44355-image-0-20220804024_YytAXgU-crop-c0-5__0-5-1600x750-70.jpeg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="375" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/the-shard-32-corinna-street-phillip-act-2606-4.width-800_MO5dgr3.jpg" width="800">According to Keenan, the demand for luxury living in the heart of Woden was obvious the moment the marketing campaign for The Shard went live.“We had a huge focus on digital and social media advertising early on with several buyers coming through those channels,” he says.“Word of mouth plays a big part in Canberra, especially when you’re working on a project of this size and scope.”<img alt="the-shard-32-corinna-street-phillip-act-2606-44355-image-0-20220804024_Z0ZOa5M-crop-c0-5__0-5-1600x750-70.jpeg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="375" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/the-shard-32-corinna-street-phillip-act-2606-4.width-800_UkYM5E2.jpg" width="800">The artist’s impressions of life at The Shard are breathtaking. The building will feature a wine cellar and a modern retail space on the ground floor, just steps away from Westfield Woden.With The Shard, Cox Architecture responded to Canberra’s demand for luxury living across every single one of the building’s 273 apartments, Keenan says, which all have penthouse-style inclusions like Smeg appliances and Villeroy &amp; Bosch tapware.<img alt="the-shard-32-corinna-street-phillip-act-2606-44355-image-0-20220804024_edps17f-crop-c0-5__0-5-1600x750-70.jpeg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="375" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/the-shard-32-corinna-street-phillip-act-2606-4.width-800_yAfh5Sy.jpg" width="800">“The Shard offers a level of luxury currently not on offer in surrounding developments,” he says.“Buyers downstairs are loving the penthouse level finishes and inclusions on every floor. What’s considered elegant elsewhere is only the standard at The Shard.”

Next level luxury: The Woden development with its own business lounge and piano bar

Buyers have swooped on apartments in Zapari’s proposed development on Woden’s western edge opposite Westfield shopping centre, breaking six sales records.Zapari plans to build a 16-storey, L-shaped, 273-unit apartment building with nearly 500 square metres of ground-floor retail on the 2,570 square metre site bordered by Melrose Drive to the west, Brewer Street to the south, and Corina Street to the east (Blocks 4, 5, and 7 Section 12).Zapari says the <a href="https://zango.com.au/developments/the-shard-phillip-act-2606/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shard</a> development, designed by Cox Architecture, will reinvigorate what has become a tired and degraded part of the Town Centre.<img alt="Shard-2.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Shard-3.width-800.jpg" width="800">Marketing agent LJ Hooker said 150 dwellings had sold in three months of pre-sales to be Canberra’s fastest-selling development in recent times.Records were broken in off-the-plan sales of one, two, three, four and five-bedroom apartments, while two penthouse purchases sales doubled previous records.A four-bedroom penthouse sold for $2.275 million and a five-bedroom for $2.817 million to a Canberra downsizer and a local family, smashing the previous Woden record of $1.145 million.A four-bedroom apartment sold for $1.4 million, a three-bedroom for $915,000 and a two-bedroom for $765,000, all to Canberra downsizers.A Canberra first home-owner paid $517,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.<img alt="Shard-5.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Shard-5.width-800.jpg" width="800">LJ Hooker Projects General Manager <a href="/agents/andrew-ligdopoulos-3/">Andrew Ligdopoulos</a> said location, quality and floor size had drawn strong interest, especially from downsizers.“While this may seem high to some, the size and quality of the penthouses on offer has never been seen in Woden before and previously, you would have to look in the City or Inner South to find a similar offering,” he said.“These two larger penthouses with 280 square metres of living space sold well beyond what is typically seen in Woden.“These prices and quality are on par with penthouses found in the City; however, The Shard residences are larger and therefore buyers are getting more out of their investment.”<img alt="Shard-4.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Shard-4.width-800.jpg" width="800">Mr Ligdopoulos said more than 90 per cent of the buyers were local residents looking for quality.“Many buyers now put quality above price on their apartment shopping list, particularly owner-occupiers, so we are seeing buyers drawn to the level of inclusion unheard of in Woden,” he said.“And then there is location, with The Shard literally on the doorstep of Westfield Woden. It is the only new residential building which passes the shopping trolley test, where you can truly walk to your apartment carrying your groceries.”Mr Ligdopoulos said the price records and rapid sales meant The Shard had led the way for Woden to pivot into more premium apartment offerings, proving the appetite is there.<img alt="Shard-2.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/Shard-2.width-800.jpg" width="800">Zapari last month revised the development on advice from the National Capital Design Review Panel, also dropping a central atrium after being told it was not appropriate for the building.View the full listing with the listed agent for <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/the-shard-32-corinna-street-phillip-act-2606-44355/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Shard, Phillip</a> on zango.⁠Article was originally written and published by <a href="https://the-riotact.com/zaparis-shard-shatters-woden-sales-records/501724" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The RiotAct.</a>

4 news articles with tag woden_1

Former Bavarian Bakehouse owners Slava and Georgina are selling the family home of 41 years

Rick and Tina Meir don the pastel pink to join the home.by holly team

Next level luxury: The Woden development with its own business lounge and piano bar

Zapari’s Shard shatters Woden sales records