TWO South Yarra development sites worth more than $12 million have sold in the suburb's former industrial pocket, including the land of the notorious Salt nightclub.

Australia's third biggest home builder, Metricon Homes, has warned that the house design industry will be the loser in a decision by the High Court to refuse an application to appeal against a 2007 ruling that found the builder copied part of its home design from rival Porter Davis Homes.

A major split has developed within the Real Estate Institute of Victoria, with its biggest member threatening to withdraw over ethical concerns that the industry group allegedly underquoted one of its own properties - potentially breaking the law.

Kingsford, the South Australian farm used in Channel Nine's McLeod's Daughters, has sold to a local for $1.5 million. The network put the property on the market after announcing it had axed the Australian drama after seven years.