A prolific r/AusFinance Reddit poster has just dropped another piece of video gold, this time showing the cost of servicing a mortgage in Australia from 1970-2020 in inflation-adjusted dollars.This follows previous videos showing how far Australian house prices have risen since 1970 as well as a racing bar chart of property prices from 2003 to 2020.“This chart shows average inflation-adjusted monthly mortgage repayments (principal & interest) from 1970-2020,” the Reddit user explains. “The assumed loan term is 30 years, and the assumed deposit amount is 20%. So in other words, if the average house price is $1,000,000, this model assumes you have a $200,000 deposit and will pay the principal off over 30 years.”

“What’s interesting to me is how, at least in Sydney, we’re close to the 1990 peak, but for different reasons. In 1990, interest rates peaked at 17% but the average house price was still relatively low. Now in 2020, despite record low-interest rates we’re seeing a similar repayment burden because of how much the principal (i.e. house price) component has increased.”

The user claims the sources he used to create the graph are the RBA, Domain and a Macquarie University research paper.In response to the findings there was much debate. While some of it was in jest (“‘But we had huge interest rates! Stop eating avocado!’ – some boomer probably”) others were more reflective.“In all seriousness this is kind of scary. To be in the same ball park of the infamous 17% rates when our interest rates are at 0.1%,” one wrote.Another, in response to that very “to be in the same ball park of the infamous 17% rates when our interest rates are at 0.1%” comment said, “Yeah wow, I’d never thought of it that way. Kind of crazy. I guess a positive way to look at it is that a larger proportion of the repayments are going to the principle and therefore capital. Assuming house prices don’t fall, of course. But lowering interest rates are a signal of a deflationary environment, so I’m not sure I’d want to be paying a mortgage right now.”Another remarked, “What this doesn’t show is that wage growth is higher than inflation and has been (apart from a blip here and there) since ‘boomer time’. So if something in inflation dollars is the same cost now as in 17% days, as a proportion of real wages its a lower proportion of income. Because income has increased more than inflation.”

“In other words – people paying the same in inflation adjusted dollars today are better off than people paying the same inflation adjusted dollar amount however many years ago.”

One other user took a much simpler message away from the whole thing: “Note to self. Don’t live in Sydney.” Though we understand the sentiment, we’d encourage anyone feeling its siren call to read the following cautionary tales before relocating…

Read Next

• Sydney Man’s ‘Unbearable’ Experience Reveals The Perils Of Moving Too Far Away From The City
• ‘Super Cycle Of Debt’: The Real Reason Sydney Property Continues To Defy All Logic

The post 'Intimidating' Graph Reveals Truth About Servicing A Mortgage Right Now appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The Australian fashion industry has always been a tough place to succeed in, and 2020’s only made that more true. The fashion industry globally has been one of the most impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, which has affected everything from supply lines and fashion showings to consumer confidence.While Australia has faired much better than most countries this year, we’re not out of the woods yet, and the economy is still suffering. Business owners and investors are naturally very cautious at the moment – which is why it’s so surprising that one Sydney tailoring outfit (pardon the pun) has decided to double down and open a new luxury suiting boutique at a time when many businesses are downsizing or closing their doors.Eastern Sydney locals Miles Wharton and Rami Mikhael, two of the country’s leading menswear authorities and the brains behind The Bespoke Corner, have opened a stylish new boutique on Glenmore Road, right in the heart of bohemian Paddington. This comes off the back of the successful launch of their South Yarra boutique in Melbourne over two years ago, as well as their industry-leading online presence.It’s a ballsy move and a very positive sign for the Australian fashion industry. To quote the SAS’ motto, ‘who dares wins’ – The Bespoke Corner has already started to taste success with their new Sydney boutique, hosting plenty of customers and even an event with Italian beer brand Peroni, the first of many more to come.DMARGE had the chance to chat with founder Miles Wharton about the new boutique, and what inspired him to defy conventional wisdom in such a big way.“We’re going against the market [with this new boutique] because there’s a massive demand for quality. Household income is up, and people are willing to spend a bit more on a suit, especially because they can’t travel.”RELATED: Why Australians Should Spend This Year’s Holiday Money On Luxury Goods

“It’s all about you; it’s a bespoke experience… We don’t try and push a style on anyone. We just make the perfect suit for you.”

We chatted with Wharton earlier in the year about the future prospects of men’s suits in Australia, with 2020’s ‘work from home’ revolution (necessitated by The Pandemic) threatening the future of formalwear. He had this to say:“There has been a lot of talk over the years of the ‘suit being dead’ and heralding the smart casual or casual office look, [but] if you consider the various menswear categories outside of activewear, the sartorial or tailored wear category is one of the only categories growing year on year. Why is that? Do the media have it wrong? The answer is YES – completely and utterly wrong.”RELATED: Menswear Experts Explain What Will Happen To Australia’s Suit Culture If We Don’t Go Back To WorkThe Bespoke Corner’s Sydney boutique can be found at 223 Glenmore Road, Paddington – less than 10min from the CBD. Alternatively, you can visit their Melbourne boutique at 24 Toorak Road, South Yarra. For our readers in the Northern Hemisphere, don’t fret: they’ve also got plans to open a Dubai boutique in the near future.Stay sharp…

Read Next

• Louis Vuitton’s Digital Moves Evidence That Luxury Brands Are Finally Taking E-Commerce Seriously
• Guy Sebastian’s ARIA Watch Flex Highlights How Australian Celebrities Are Subtle Style Leaders

The post Sydney Suitmaker's Ballsy Boutique Launch A Positive Sign For Australian Menswear appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We’re finally on the home stretch of what’s been a truly ridiculous year.But while it’s certainly been stressful avoiding The Bat Kiss for the last few months, another big stress factor looms on the horizon: finding Christmas gifts for your friends and family. It doesn’t help that some of the most popular options are off the table, too – plane, movie or concert tickets; it’s near-impossible getting a booking at a nice restaurant or finding a pet to adopt; they probably already have enough OnlyFans subscriptions…Never fear: we’ve found the perfect gift for you. It’s the ultimate present for any watch lover in your life, and is sure to secure your place at the top of the Yuletide heap… Alternatively, it’s the best festive gift you can ever give yourself.CHRONEXT, a Switzerland-based online watch marketplace that bills itself as having Europe’s largest selection of luxury watches, has come up with the world’s most luxurious advent calendar. An almost 2m tall, piano black behemoth of a thing, it simply beggars belief. Behind its 24 illuminated doors hides a selection of luxury watches worth 1.25 million euros (~2.04 million AUD / 1.51 million USD), curated by the company.That’s a bit nicer than a square of Swiss chocolate.CHRONEXT’s CEO and co-founder, German-born businessman Philipp Mann, took to Instagram to show off “the world’s most expensive advent calendar”, revealing some of the pricey goodies inside.So far, 3 of the 24 watches inside have been revealed: an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked (ref. 15407ST.OO.1220ST.01), a Patek Philippe Nautilus ‘Four Dot’ (ref. 3712/1A-001) and an A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange Jumping Seconds (ref. 252.025) – a very strong start. If the other watches contained within are just as luxurious and desirable as these three, then it’s sure to be an exciting December for whoever buys this advent calendar par excellence.The Royal Oak is one of the world’s most coveted watch models. The brainchild of legendary watch designer Gérald Genta, the Royal Oak is available in a wide variety of sizes, complications and materials. This example, a 41mm model in stainless steel, stands out with its skeletonised dial which shows off the intricate automatic movement, the jewels that keep its moving parts in check clearly visible. This reference normally retails for around 170,000 AUD.RELATED: Justin Bieber Combines Rare Formula 1 Jacket With Solid Gold Audemars Piguet WatchThe Patek Philippe Nautilus was also designed by Gérald Genta and boasts a huge number of different models. It too is highly desirable. This 42mm reference’s stainless steel construction and blue dial are a classic combination, this Nautilus ‘Four Dot’ also features a built-in moon phase, plus small seconds and power reserve indicators. This bad boy tips the scales at around 175,000 AUD.Finally, the A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange Jumping Seconds is a limited-edition piece from Germany’s most famous luxury watchmaker. A manual-winding, 40mm platinum beauty, there’s only 100 of these in existence, and originally retailed for around 127,000 AUD – but with a piece this rare, the retail price is a moot point. We wonder if all the advent calendars will come with one of these…

Read Next

• Why 2020 Became The Year Australians Started Buying Luxury Watches Online
• Joe Biden’s Understated Timepiece Reaffirms ‘Unspoken’ Presidential Watch Trend

The post Crazy German Bastard’s $2 Million Advent Calendar Leaves Luxury Watch Lovers Speechless appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

To say Australia has had trouble opening its interstate borders would be like saying Wim Hoff’s ice baths are mildly uncomfortable.

As confirmed cases of the virus have become more controlled, however, and political negotiations have finally got somewhere, Qantas has thrown a bunch more flights back onto one of the routes Australians have been waiting for much of the year to return: flights from the east coast to Western Australia.

“Qantas and Jetstar will operate more than 65 additional return flights from Perth to Melbourne and Sydney each week following the Western Australian Government’s decision to ease border restrictions,” Australia’s national carrier announced yesterday.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @mayhem85

The extra flights, beginning from the 14th of December will make quite a difference, with just nine return flights currently being operated by the airlines each week. To put that in perspective: Qantas will go from operating five flights per week to Perth from Sydney and Melbourne to almost five per day.

Both airlines will look to add further flights from the 8th of December.

In addition, The Qantas Club at Perth Airport will reopen in early December, joining the Business Lounge which is already open.

Qantas has introduced a number of initiatives to help customers book with peace of mind in 2020 (and beyond), including permitting a flight to be moved free of charge, as well as introducing additional health and safety measures through its Fly Well program.

RELATED: The Little Known Tropical Travel Bubble Most Australians Have No Idea About

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce, a vocal advocate for opening borders as soon as safely possible, said of the new flights: “New South Wales and Victoria have done such a great job getting the virus under control that it makes complete sense for Western Australia to open the borders to Sydney and Melbourne.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Western Australia (@westernaustralia)

“This is news that many families and tourism operators have been waiting so long to hear, but they don’t want borders shutting again when there is a temporary spike in one state or another.”

“Australia as a whole needs certainty about state borders staying open, particularly when the testing and tracing framework is now so well established. We continue to our call for a consistent set of rules that apply nationwide.”

The post Qantas Gives Australians What They've Been Waiting For All Year appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Some male celebrities are real fashion bellwethers – think Kanye West or Harry Styles.Justin Bieber is not so consistent. The Canadian popstar has a constantly-evolving wardrobe and personal style, which usually follows trends instead of kicking them off. It’s captivating to watch, but not always in a positive sense: sometimes he’ll debut outfits that are so impeccably stylish that we’re surprised he doesn’t just give up music entirely and focus on modelling, like this ‘softboi’ outfit or this workwear-heavy ensemble…But then the very next day, he’ll step out in something truly atrocious like Crocs – ‘the footwear contraceptive for men’ – or weird colour choices and combinations that make him look like an eight-year-old who’s dressed themselves for the first time.This time however he’s ahead of the curve – showing off a colourful pair of trousers on his Instagram Story that we think just might be the canary in the coal mine for men’s fashion in 2021.

Ignoring the fact that Bieber’s fly seems undone, the lightweight pants look slick. The green and gold is also an inspired choice, seeing as they’re Australia’s national colours – could this be a hint that he’s coming Down Under soon? Maybe that’s just optimism on our part.RELATED: Best Men’s Pants That Will Instantly Polish Any Look For Work & PlayWhile 2020 has been a tough year for haute couture, luxury loungewear and quality basics have started to see their day in the sun. Men are increasingly prioritised comfort over formal style during the COVID-19 crisis, with brands like JJJJound, Reigning Champ, Needles and Champion Reverse Weave uniquely poised for success in what’s otherwise been a disastrous year for the fashion industry.With The Pangolin Parade marching on into 2021, perhaps we’ll see more pants like Bieber’s as we continue to work from home – although Australia’s leading tailors would have something to say about that…

Read Next

• Guy Sebastian’s ARIA Watch Flex Highlights How Australian Celebrities Are Subtle Style Leaders
• Travis Scott Asks Followers To Take Ultimate Leap Of Faith With Bizarre New Cologne

The post Justin Bieber's 'Holiday Pants' Might Start 2021's Biggest Men's Fashion Trend appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

From sighing at entitled passengers to losing your seat belt, we all have business class bug bears. And that’s at the best of times. When flying during a pandemic that tension is tripled, with even the most minor mishap potentially making blood boil.

Of course, to a degree, with a pandemic in full swing, community spirit has also soared. In line with 2020’s pronounced hygiene concerns, most people are pulling together.

There is still one area we can improve on though and that is disembarking. As a video by business class blogger Zach Griff, posted in August, shows, one pet peeve appears to still be firmly in place: passengers standing up as soon as the plane lands.

Not only is this irritating at the best of times, but many are aggrieved to see it happen during a pandemic.

In the below video, Mr. Griff urged airlines to fix this phenomenon.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Zach Griff (@_zachgriff)

“The pandemic has caused airlines to rethink many elements of the travel journey. But in the video above, you’ll see the one major social distancing challenge I’d like to see airlines fix — deplaning,” Mr. Griff wrote.

“On both of my recent flights, passengers popped right up when they heard the ‘chime,’ despite repeated announcements to stay seated… Not sure exactly what airlines can do about it, but it needs to be addressed.”

On that note, DMARGE spoke to Australian Wellness Ambassador for Etihad, Kiara Graham, who stepped up to her role in June (“I’ve undergone special training to ensure I’m across all the latest travel information and updates”) to seek an industry perspective on this issue.

Even though the above video (and the phenomenon in general) has mostly been observed on US domestic flights, Graham still had some savvy words on the phenomenon – which DMARGE, pre pandemic, has noticed on many international flights too.

“As you can imagine, with constantly changing Government regulations and advice, there is a lot to be across. Each week I do online refreshers and new courses to keep up to date with the latest developments,” Graham told DMARGE, speaking about the general nature of her role.

As for the ‘chime crime’ of impatiently standing up upon arrival, Graham said, “This is always such a hot topic and I think it’s understandable that a lot of passengers will do things that they’ve always done when travelling – and it does take a bit of time to adapt to a new way of travelling.”

“For me, communication is key here. We have to re-educate passengers on how to travel. It’s my job to make sure passengers have absorbed this new information and feel comfortable with these changes. It takes time to get used to, but we understand that everyone is trying their best.”

People were less sympathetic in the comments of the aforementioned video. One (hopefully) tongue in cheek ‘solution’ proposed involved spikes in the cabin ceiling (“if you get up too fast you get a nasty prick, and develop a psychological disincentive to react to the chime too quickly”). Others were simpler: “mute the chime and keep the seatbelt light on and just have the flight attendants dismiss row by row.”

“Keep the entertainment systems going so people have a distraction while waiting for their turn to deplane.”

“It was a huge issue before Covid,” wrote another. “You would think that people would be more conscious about it now. Hopefully they can come up with a practical solution. It definitely needs addressing urgently.”

RELATED: Business Class ‘Slammertime’ Trend Sparks Outrage At 40,000ft

Other comments suggest this could be a uniquely American problem. One British flyer wrote: “I flew BA twice yesterday – my 1st flight since COVID and they made the same announcements and everyone did as they were told (may be a British thing) worked rather well.”

One Italy based flyer wrote: “I currently live in Italy and every airline I’ve flown thus far (Lufthansa and Alitalia) everyone sits until it’s their turn to deplane. Like it’s insane how well people listen. They don’t even need to make the announcement, it’s just an understood rule here and everyone follows it. It’s quite incredible. It’s like clock work.”

Other commenters argued it was not the airlines’ responsibility, emphasising that if passengers listened to the rules it would be a non issue: “Not sure if you’ve flown @delta recently but we make an announcement in the air and once we land about staying seated until the row in front of you is six feet away and retrieved their items.”

“The challenge you’ll face on any airline is enforcing said rule and people’s ability to listen to the PA announcement with Boise noise canceling headphones. Some things are simply out of the airlines’ control but we make a solid effort.”

To this Mr. Griff responded: “Absolutely… The same announcements were made on my JetBlue and United flights. As you said, people just don’t hear or care to listen… I’m not sure exactly what can be done about it (unlike boarding when you have a gate agent metering the process). But at least it’s a conversation starter.”

Learn more about how business class has changed in 2020 below.

Read Next

• Future Of Inflight Snack Service Leaves Travellers With Sour Taste
• How My First Ever Business Class Trip Ruined Me For Life

The post Business Class Passengers Urged To Stop Committing Infuriating 'Chime Crime' appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Travis Scott is one of the most successful hip-hop artists of the 21st century. A cultural tour de force, the Houston rapper’s famous for his trap-inspired beats, enigmatic personality as well as his relationships with the Kardashian family: he has a daughter with Kylie Jenner, and frequently collaborates with Kanye West.Like Kanye, Travis (real name Jacques Berman Webster II) has cultivated his own artistic universe; his ‘Cactus Jack’ brand far more than just a record label. 2020 alone has seen him secure collaborations with sportswear giant Nike, fast-food chain McDonalds and multiplayer video game Fortnite; release chart-topping singles and co-produce the soundtrack for Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending film Tenet; and now he’s dipped his toes into the world of fragrances.Scott has collaborated with Swedish luxury fragrance house Byredo on a signature cologne and candle collection titled ‘Space Rage‘, a reference to Scott’s certified triple-platinum third studio album ASTROWORLD. Normally, colognes have a short list of fragrance notes, so that buyers know what to expect from the cologne. However, Byredo continued the spacey theme even there, cryptically describing the ‘Travx Eau de Parfum’ as having notes of “cosmic dust”, “dark nebulae” and “the scent of supernova”.Like anything with a Travis Scott co-sign, the fragrance immediately sold out, despite costing 197€ for a 100ml bottle. Which begs the question: who’s crazy enough to spend that amount of money on something that apparently smells like the vacuum of space?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BYREDO (@officialbyredo)

Of course, it’s no secret why it sold out so quickly. Not only are Scott’s fans so dedicated that they’re happy to drop big bucks on his cologne, but collaborations like these are sure to fetch huge premiums on the aftermarket – there’s money to be made. In the same way that Supreme accessories or Rolex Submariners get snatched up quicker than Travis Scott’s Lamborghini, anything ‘Cactus Jack’ attracts hypebeasts like moths to flame. Maybe people don’t even care what it smells like?RELATED: ‘Same Three Questions’: Perils Of Owning The Rolex Everyone WantsAnd while describing the fragrance with silly terms like “atmospheric vapour” or “antimatter particles” doesn’t paint a specific nose picture, most cologne’s fragrance notes are just as indecipherable. Take another one of Byredo’s colognes, ‘Eleventh Hour‘, which is described as having notes of ban timmur, carrot seeds, cashmere wood and tonka bean. What the heck is a tonka bean?At that point, you may as well want to smell like “starlight”, even if that does seem to be impossible. Space Cadets Unite!

Read Next

• I Rocked Henry Cavill’s Moustache For A Month & It Was Completely Humiliating
• Luxury Perfume’s Most Prolific Ingredient Is Under Threat

The post Travis Scott's Fans Take Ultimate Leap Of E-Commerce Faith With New Luxury Release appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

There are numerous stereotypes surrounding property purchasing. One of them is the idea that mind games can help your dream house magically fall into your lap. Another is the belief that those who work in the industry must be the best when it comes to buying houses.Rest assured: being on top of every tasty off-market and being a negotiation master isn’t a free ticket to a smartly picked crib. DMARGE recently caught up with Edward Brown, director at Australia’s leading real estate provider Belle Property, who told us real estate agents are actually some of the worst icons to emulate when you are buying a house.“How does one buy property like a real estate agent? Don’t be like a real estate agent when you’re buying property: we become too emotional. We’re probably the worst… we become too competitive.”Instead, Brown advises would-be buyers to keep calm and do their research – without getting neurotic: “Educate yourself, don’t try to overthink what a property might or might not be worth.”That said – there is a balance to be had. Brown also acknowledges emotion, to a certain degree, plays an important role.

“Pay what you think it is worth and be prepared to have a buffer but also pay that little bit more to secure the property.”

“You don’t want to be that person who just keeps missing out because you keep trying to be too pragmatic about price of the property,” Brown added. “Ask yourself: ‘how important is your time and the journey in the search for a new home?’ If you find something that ticks most of the boxes for you; jump at it because there might not be another one.”This links in with another discussion Brown had with DMARGE earlier this year, in which he said that smart buyers would do well to avoid the following ‘lowball’ mistake.“Biggest falling market mistake? Lowballing on the assumption people have to sell. Of course, no one wants to pay too much money – they [the lowballers] have just taken a realistic and pragmatic approach – but [the truth is] you’ve got to have a bit of emotion running around.”And when “a lower amount than you hope is going to be accepted doesn’t work,” you may find yourself backed into a corner, or having pissed off the vendor who knows that, if they are in an area with more demand than supply, they can get more money by waiting.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Empire Lounge (@empireloungesydney)

“A house is worth what someone is willing to pay,” Brown told us. “But if you’re trying to run around putting lowball offers on everything, there’s a reason why your offer will be accepted on something – no-one else wants it.”

“Good quality homes will sell for a fair and reasonable price – maybe not the same price they could have once achieved in a booming market, but good homes will always have demand in any marketplace.”

“Everyone’s going to share their view. But, in reality, if it’s a couple buying (or if it’s a bachelor or bachelorette buying), they should think about what it’s worth to them,” Brown added.RELATED: Incredible Video Reveals How Far Australian House Prices Have Jumped Since 1970“Do your research, look at realestate.com.au, look at Domain, see what’s been selling that’s similar, get a bit of a feel for what things are worth and take that into your value – every real estate agent, buyer, broker, all have an opinion – it’s whether or not it has any relevance.”

“Family members are always going to say – don’t pay more than such an such – but what we always see is people having regrets that they should or would have paid more for a property, had they had their time around again.”

“The opinion was said to them that they shouldn’t pay any more, that they should walk away – but one of the biggest mistakes people tend to make is they ask too many opinions of everyone and then pass up good opportunities.”So, all up, if you lowball, with no wiggle room for negotiation, you are both putting yourself in a weak position to own the property, and also risking offending the vendor (it’s also a sign you’re just not looking at the right properties for your budget).“People make offers and if they make an offer well below, sometimes the vendor just doesn’t want to deal with them,” Brown says.

“Not saying you need to go crazy – it’s worth what your willing to pay – but add to the consideration; it’s someone else’s property.”

Founder at The Rubinstein Group, Gavin Rubinstein made similar comments to DMARGE earlier this year. One big regret Rubinstein sees all too often is: “Waiting for the market to fall, (nobody can pick the bottom of the market) and missing out – only to find themselves still looking 12-24 months later.”“Something many buyers could have done sooner is engage a reputable buyer’s agent to help them through the buying process,” Rubinstein added.

“Beware of ‘paralysis by analysis’ – one must be practical when buying real estate, but with the homes I sell, being family homes, most of which are unique there is an emotional factor that needs to be accounted for.”

The solution? According to Rubinstein, “If it feels right, ticks 8 out of your ten boxes, is within budget and seems fair priced based on similar properties that have traded, don’t waste time with moving forward because with supply issues in the East it’s questionable when another opportunity of the same calibre will come up again.”Rubinstein then told us that smart buyers trying to get into the Australian property market should “look for opportunities where there is a spike in new listings.”

“The boost in supply means more options for buyers and this puts downward pressure on prices.”

So: now you’re sorted on not buying like a real estate agent, but rather like an informed buyer, you might like to know if now is really a good time to buy? Check out the following articles to learn more.

Read Next

• ‘Super Cycle Of Debt’: Experts Reveal WTF Is Going On With Australia’s Housing Market Right Now
• Sydney Man’s ‘Unbearable’ Experience Reveals The Perils Of Moving Too Far Away From The City

The post Why You Should Never Buy Property Like A Real Estate Agent appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Living in Sydney is like driving an Alfa Romeo or supporting Collingwood. It can be joyous at times, but it can also be a real pain in the arse. Oh, and you’re almost certainly going to attract criticism from nosey Melburnians who think they know better.Indeed, The Harbour City can be hard to love, in between its insanely inflated property market, bougie proclivities and ‘culture-less’ reputation.But one thing is undeniable: it’s a pretty beautiful place. Sydney boasts a unique combination of historical charm, suburban bliss, urban hustle-and-bustle and unparalleled natural beauty, all in the one city. That’s to say nothing of its world-class beaches…

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Southeast Asia’s Finest (@unforgettable.holidays)

Sydney’s most famous beach is also one of its most beautiful. Bondi is a little slice of paradise only 10 minutes from the CBD, known all around the globe for its stellar surf and social scene. It’s also home to – in our view – the world’s most photogenic bar: Bondi Icebergs, perched on the southern end of the beach. Founded as a winter swimming club in 1929, Icebergs has since become one of Sydney’s most famous venues. Whether enjoying a dip in the ocean pool or sipping something cold and alcoholic whilst looking out over the ocean, Icebergs is a Sydney icon.RELATED: ‘Babylonian’ Beach Scene In Italy Sparks Age-Old DebateFor those of you unfamiliar with the famous Bondi spot, if you jump on Instagram and explore the #bondiicebergs hashtag (which has 78,497 posts at the time of writing to its name), you’ll see just what we mean about its aesthetic chops. But you’ll also get an insight into the other reason it’s so famous.Namely, you go there to people watch, and to be watched.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Justine Gordon (@justinegordonphotography)

Posing in front of jealousy-inducing vistas isn’t anything new. Anywhere even remotely touristy will have a hashtag filled with that sort of commercial navel-gazing and FOMO flaunting. The same is true for #bondiicebergs – it doesn’t take much scrolling to find dozens of photos of activewear, bikinis and more white linen than you can shake a pair of Serengeti sunglasses at.We’re not necessarily against all this (see: our impassioned defense of FOMO flaunting here). Hell, we’re guilty of it ourselves. But the reason it comes to a head at Bondi Icebergs is because its reputation precedes itself. Icebergs attracts the young, rich and famous (or those who aspire to be one of those three) like moths to a flame. It’s like how no self-respecting millennial’s trip to Bali is complete without a photo op at Mrs Sippy.RELATED: I Went ‘Undercover’ At Bali’s Most Instagram-Famous OasisSuch is the reputation of Icebergs that the #bondiicebergs hashtag is used by influencers and brands in the same way they’d use other popular hashtags to get traction. We found this account using #bondiicebergs to sell swimwear, alongside other hashtags like #shoplocal, #healthy, #supplements and #usa… Not sure what America has to do with a swimming club/bistro/bar in Sydney…

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Bondi Icebergs Club (@icebergsclub)

Bondi Icebergs’ fame feeds back in on itself: because it attracts such a motley crowd, it’s the perfect place to people-watch in Australia. And Australians love people-watching. It’s our hidden passion. Maybe it’s because we’re a naturally curious people with few inhibitions. Maybe it’s our all-pervasive tall poppy syndrome that likes to mock those who dare to express self-confidence or trumpet their success. Maybe it’s because we like comparing bikini and boardshort tan lines?And isn’t browsing an Instagram hashtag the digital equivalent of people-watching, anyway?

Read Next

• Controversial Bondi Beach Photo Depicts Scene That Could Never Happen In America 
• Photographer Captures Australian Winter Ritual Americans Will Never Understand
• Bondi’s ‘Amalfi Coast’ Ambition Forgets Uncomfortable Truth About European Beach Culture

The post 'Bondi Icebergs' Instagram Hashtag Reveals Little Known Australian Obsession appeared first on DMARGE Australia.