Soon after talking with developer Rick Miller you appreciate that he has a firm grasp on the technicalities of building, as well as the economics. “I’m a licensed builder, not just a guy with white shoes.” After completing an economics degree he took up a building cadetship, adding a Bachelor of Building to his skillset. “You have better quality control and it helps with costings too.”

Miller’s latest project, completed in October 2006, is a short stroll from Neutral Bay Junction on Sydney’s fashionable Lower North Shore. The 1600 square metre site in a leafy side street holds 14 apartments ranging from 120 to 135 square metres. There is parking under for 22 cars and all but two apartments have three bedrooms. Prices range from $890,000 to $1.3 million. “For a unit of this size in this location that’s a good price,” he claims. “They are new, in a good location, and bigger than average.”

The project was designed by Timothy Moon Architects who came to fame in January 2007 as the designers of Australia’s most expensive residence. (The owners rejected a bid of $50 million for the harbourfront compound.)

Miller has specified the combination of Bowral Blue and Shorthorn Mix clay bricks “for a while now, probably about 10 years. They are a Federation style brick and suit the look that Mosman likes, both the council and the people.”

The Shorthorn Mix predominates, with 39,000 units as against 10,500 Bowral Blues. One thousand 45-degree squint bricks were also used. These character-filled bricks are made by the traditional dry press process at Austral Bricks plant at Bowral in New South Wales’ Southern Highlands (better known as the childhood home of Sir Don Bradman).

Commons clay bricks, mostly double height units, were laid for the inner leaf of the cavity walling, and in some partition walls. Walls between units comprise commons bricks in one leaf and 150 mm concrete blocks in the other. “Kevin Thomson and his team did a good job,”

Miller says commending the work of bricklayers, Mantra Contracting.