Domain Prestige - September 20, 2023

PRESTIGE

CURVE APPEAL

By KATE FARRELLY

Bellawongarah

Shoalhaven 801 Kangaroo Valley Road

$18 million-$20 million

7 4 4 JOSEPHINE HUYNH

We’re spoilt with a plethora of luxury homes on the market to dream of this week, but two in particular will have your jaw hitting the ground. The first is our cover property – a world-class family home on the shores of Sydney Harbour. It’s “at least twice the size of any property around it”, the listing says. There’s more to it than meets the eye. You have a contemporary build with sexy curves and immense glass walls on one side and the original antebellum-style house on the other, connected via a stunning glass walkway. Up in northern Queensland, a 2.5-hour scenic drive from Cairns Airport or 30 minutes by helicopter to the residence’s private helipad will take you to Alkira Resort House. The almost 30-hectare tropical paradise is located in the Daintree Rainforest alongside the Great Barrier Reef. It comes fully furnished, so all that’s left to do is win the Lotto.

OUR COVER

10 Poole Street

Longueville

Listed by Forbes

Global Properties

PAGE 9

Editor:

Josephine Huynh

Editorial producer:

Hailey Coules

Group picture editor:

Kylie Thomson

Senior designer:

Colleen Chin Quan

Graphic designer:

Emma Drake

National magazine

editor:

Natalie Mortimer

Associate editor:

Jemimah Clegg

Group content director: Mark Roppolo

Chief marketing officer: Rebecca Darley

Chief executive officer:

Jason Pellegrino

Residential sales:

Queensland

Amanda Vaughan 0413 370 004

New South Wales

Joe Pinneri 0408 694 223

Victoria, Western

Australia, South

Australia, Northern

Territory & Tasmania

Ray van Veenendaal 0438 279 870

New development sales:

Ivan Curic 0413 498 156

Media sales:

Sam Hill 0438 348 998

Contact: editorial@domain.com.au

Private sale

Agent: Belle Property Berry, Nick Dale 0419 425 166

On almost 70 hectares on Berry Mountain with views from Gerringong to Jervis Bay, Rockfield Park is a unique rural retreat. Crafted from sparrow-pecked sandstone, western red cedar and charcoal stone, the main residence impresses with its oversized timber beams, timber-panelled ceilings and picture windows. There’s also a secondary dwelling and a tiny home.

SAUL GOODWIN

Glenview

Sunshine Coast 15 Durham Place

$3.5 million

5 2 10

Private sale

Agent: McGrath Buderim, Damien Michael 0413 024 124

A central timber runway that stretches from the front door to the 21-metre infinity-edge pool is a highlight at this unique, single-level home set on 7385 square metres, including a spring-fed dam and huge shed. You’ll also find a tiered home cinema, an office, a rumpus room and open-plan living spaces.

Porcupine Ridge

Hepburn Shire 844 Porcupine Ridge Road

$5 million-$5.5 million 5

Expressions of interest: Close 5pm, October 12

Agent: McQueen Real Estate, Kim McQueen 0417 116 657 Perched high on a plateau and capturing panoramic views of Mount Franklin, the newly completed Sunset Lodge was designed by Interlandi Mantesso with landscaping by John Patrick. On 45 hectares, the property comes with a heated pool, a wraparound deck and farming infrastructure.

Sackville North

Sydney 818 Sackville Ferry Road

$8 million

4 4 12

Expressions of interest

Agent: Willu Property, Adam Heming 0418 299 366 Boasting an 80-metre frontage to the Hawkesbury River, this two-storey home showcases soaring ceilings, a Carrara marble kitchen with Neff appliances, and a mineral pool.

STACKS ON With a striking architectural design, the Odessa Log Holder by Coco Republic features a geometric, mattfinished steel frame resting atop a robust concrete base.

Blending rustic and modern aesthetics, it elevates both indoor and outdoor spaces. cocorepublic.com.au

Fireside chat

Join the cosy club with these innovative designs that nurture treasured moments by the fire. Compiled by PAULINE MORRISSEY

REFINED TOOLS Channelling the elegance of jewellery, the Port Fireplace Tools by Ferm Living infuse a graceful charm into fire tending. Made from powder-coated steel in a choice of a refined black or opulent brass finish, the set includes a stoker, spade, broom and stand. loam.com.au

GATHER AROUND Effortlessly hovering 40 millimetres off the ground, Oblica’s Float Firepit from the Life Space Journey collection is a sleek Corten steel masterpiece with an impressive 800-millimetre diameter, ideally suited for minimalist outdoor environments. oblica.com.au

ADD TO BASKET Infusing style into firewood storage, the Emma Basket by Eldvarm is both beautiful and multipurpose. Its sturdy steel structure is adorned with leather trims and brass fixtures, while the handle ensures easy manoeuvring around the fireplace. eldvarm.com

Alkira Resort House is ‘land art’ designed to sit in harmony with its rainforest environment.

By HELEN HAWKES

Brutal, yet elegant

ARCHITECTURE

It’s through a road enveloped by the Earth’s oldest and most unspoilt rainforest, then via a discreet side door, that you enter one of Australia’s most remarkable houses.

The understated access is in direct contrast to the overwhelming architectural achievement that awaits you on the other side.

Set on 29.52 pristine hectares, with 600 metres of private beach frontage, Alkira Resort House has been recognised by the prestigious Robin Dods Award for Residential Architecture and the Australian Institute of Architects Far North Queensland house of the year award. It combines revolutionary eco design with unrivalled escapism.

Melbourne and Port Douglas-based architect Charles Wright describes Alkira, located in the world heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef, as “an enigmatic bunker, both brutal and elegant”.

It is a category five cyclone-proof feat of hydraulic and structural engineering; one that has already survived a major weather event breezily, its concrete walls simply patinated by the forces of nature.

The six-bedroom Alkira Resort House sits on 29.52 pristine hectares in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest.

“When we were lucky enough to get the commission, in 2008, most peoples’ idea of what you built in the tropics was lightweight timber and tin,” says Wright, who originally trained in fine art as a sculptor and painter:

“But in true, wet tropics – effectively jungle and a very corrosive environment – steel buildings don’t last long, and timber can rot.”

Alkira is composed of concrete, steel and glass – its six massive wings protruding from the structure in a futuristic fashion and resting on deep foundations designed to reduce the impact of unpredictable tropical weather.

It is “land art” says Wright, whose compositional poise has been compared to Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen.

Visitors who pass through that unexceptional door cross to the heart of the home over a concrete boardwalk that straddles an engineered water ecosystem.

Any natural swampiness has also been artfully utilised by the installation of the man-made lake and, on a more esoteric level, the water mass on which Alkira appears to float “imbues

the home with a calm energy”, Wright says. “Building over the water also means the lake acts as a kind of moat for security.”

Mirrored in the water, where fish, turtles and eels undertake insect disposal, are forest, mountains and the home’s sculptural forms. From the boardwalk, it’s a step onto polished concrete floors, the first view is of a pool open to the sky, placed centrally in a vast communal area and illuminated at dusk.

Wright originally designed the home for an avid stamp collector and property developer, and the pool and surrounding roofline are based on the silhouette of Gwoya Tjungurrayi’s head, which featured on the “One Pound Jimmy” postage stamp issued in the 1950s.

Oscillating around the pool silhouette, landscaped with heliconias, are three sunken lounge areas, two dining areas, and a sleek, commercial-grade kitchen with a walk-in cool room, stainless steel bench tops and multiple Miele appliances.

Incredibly, the entire ground floor is naturally ventilated – no walls or windows, just glass barriers and balustrades – so that those in

residence feel a palpable connection with the 135-million-year-old rainforest that surrounds Alkira.

“The engineered concrete in the construction has been insulated to reduce its thermal mass and achieve a constant ambient temperature that doesn’t fluctuate,” says Wright, who adds that allied engineering disciplines were crucial for achieving both the practical requirements and the advanced sustainability initiatives of the home.

Alkira has its own on-site sewage treatment and irrigation system, and a 250,000-litre water tank that is concealed beneath the pool and fed from the roofline.

All energy is renewable, provided by a 17.5-kilowatt system that offsets the use of airconditioning and LED lighting.

In steamier months, two waterfalls that cascade from outside the glass barriers provide a cooling effect.

Air-conditioned bedrooms, that feature floorto-ceiling glass sliding doors leading onto marble balconies with timber bench seating, are designed so that each has a particular character by virtue of its orientation.

Custom silky oak and rosewood panels are used horizontally on the internal walls, and built-in joinery drawers with Chillagoe marble benchtops are incorporated in the design. Each bedroom has an en suite with marble floors and walls and a white stone basin – think environmentally conscious luxury.

The office wing includes two custom, built-in marble-topped desks and timber bookcases. A sixth bedroom and utilities, as well as a 2400-bottle, temperature-controlled wine cellar are on the lower floor. There is a fully equipped gym within the garage.

“For those seeking a secluded, exclusive, ecoretreat, Alkira is another dimension in luxury set in a unique location,” says Lynn Malone of Queensland Sotheby’s International Reality.

“Access is via an easy, scenic drive, that takes you into the heart of the rainforest, or you can land at this property on your own helipad.”

Cape Tribulation

Shire of Douglas

3726 Cape Tribulation Road

6 6 7

Auction: October 12

Agents: Queensland Sotheby’s International Reality Port Douglas, Lynn Malone 0408 772 880 and Barbara Wolveridge 0418 760 004

Hover your camera over the code to see Domain listings in Cape Tribulation

SAUL GOODWIN

On any given day in Longueville, the scene is one of pure serenity. Residents relax in expansive foreshore parks, children dash about wide, treelined streets, and city commuters choose a relaxed ferry ride over the city’s frenzied trains.

While there’s no shortage of green pockets in Sydney, Longueville embraces its leafy nature wholeheartedly, being nestled on the Lane Cove River’s shores and cushioned by native bushland.

Laid-back in Longueville

In a city kissed by watery wonders, Belle Property Lane Cove principal Simon Harrison distinguishes Longueville as a peninsula enclave purely residential in character, home to only around 700 residences, many with sprawling gardens and tranquil harbour views.

“On one side, we’re greeted by the mesmerising harbour, and on the other, by the lively Lane Cove village,” he says. “It’s a balance that’s hard to find elsewhere, so families here rarely move away; instead, they transform their homes to fit their evolving needs.”

Harrison paints a vivid picture of life in Longueville, involving families splashing about Greenwich Baths during the warmer months, cherishing gatherings at the local rowing and sailing clubs, and seeing kids off to local schools.

“The suburb’s market resilience is largely due to its unique charm and the unwavering demand for

quality homes in this area,” he says. “The waters surrounding Longueville not only offer recreational opportunities but also provide unparalleled views – of the city’s skyline, the iconic Harbour Bridge and beyond.”

A canvas of creativity

Such splendid sights kindled the creativity of iconic artist Brett Whiteley. His formative years were anchored in his family’s 1920s Longueville residence, last on the market in July 2018.

Brett’s sister, Frannie Hopkirk, sheds light on their childhood days in her book, Brett: A Portrait of Brett Whiteley. She recalls their father, Clem, crafting a workbench for a young Whiteley.

“Clem built him a long workbench at the window, where he would sit for hours drawing the bay with its collection of boats,” Hopkirk writes.

“For almost 20 years, it was the background for our childhood myths.”

The grandeur of Longueville’s landscapes, reminiscent of Whiteley’s masterpieces like The Balcony 2, is mirrored in many of its luxurious residences. A prime example is the home blessed with splendid vistas at 10 Poole Street, a prestige property listed with a speculated price guide of around $50 million.

“Few homes on Sydney’s shores could rival its scale and magnificence,” says listing agent Ken Jacobs of Forbes Global Properties.

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Longueville

Sydney 10 Poole Street

$50 million

9 8 8

Private sale

Agent: Forbes Global Properties, Ken Jacobs 0407 190 152

Commanding a picturesque stretch of harbourfront, this magnificent estate melds a historic homestead with a modern marvel designed by acclaimed architect Ian Gross.

Embraced by bushland and almost surrounded by water, Longueville is a haven of calm.

Leafy, lovely Longueville is in a waters-edge world of its own. The families who live here never want to leave.

By PAULINE MORRISSEY

Hover your camera over the code to see Domain listings in Longueville

Overseas property: Pleasure or pain?

By SUE

Ever fancied investing in a holiday home overseas that you’d rent out to earn income when you, your family or your friends weren’t in residence?

Depending on your choice of location, property, investment strategy and travel schedule, it can provide the best of all worlds –or the worst.

“It can be something that ends up a massive headache if you don’t do enough due diligence, or you can’t debt fund, or you don’t understand the legal system in the country where you’re buying,” says Scott Aggett, who founded expert property negotiators Hello Haus and has bought properties in Japan and the UK himself.

“You need to know if you can take full ownership. For instance, in Bali, it’s more leasehold rather than freehold – who’s responsible for what on settlement and likely repair and maintenance costs?

“It’s great to have a Japanese ski lodge, but the extreme cold in winter and heat in summer can make it expensive to maintain, and demand is likely to be seasonal.”

Property prices rose around the world during COVID, and while there are still places where it can be economical to buy, are they your preferred holiday spots?

A recent report from MoneyTransfers.com has looked into the cheapest European cities for

at $216,000. But, again, would you really want to spend time there every year?

“I always think buying a holiday home overseas can make sense if it’s all about having great holidays, creating happy memories and having a lot of fun,” says Brett Evans, the Dubai-based managing director of Atlas Wealth Management, which provides tax, financial and investment advice to Australian expats.

“But in terms of an investment, generally a holiday home isn’t a valuable income-earning asset. It can serve to diversify your portfolio but it can be complicated, and expensive, to manage on an ongoing basis. We hear so many horror stories, for example, of managing agents not letting them out, but living in them instead.”

Evans says an overseas property can save you money if you’re planning to spend three to six months there every year, but otherwise can prove a very expensive luxury indulgence.

expats to purchase property in, and finds seven of the top 20 are in Romania, and more than half in Eastern Europe.

Topping the list is Bitola in North Macedonia, where the price of a 100-square-metre apartment is just $153,300. Next is Plovdiv, Bulgaria, at $214,500, and Chisinau, Moldova,

Ray White chief economist Nerida Conisbee says it’s critical to research all the options first. Countries like the UK, France and Japan are comparatively easy to buy into, while others like Bali and Thailand are much more difficult. It’s important, too, to check the tax implications, and if the property has to be a cash purchase or need local finance.

“There may be restrictions on renting property out, laws may change ... and you do need someone to manage it,” she says. “Buying overseas can be very worthwhile, but it will always be risky.”

Owning a holiday home in a foreign country can be a dream or easily turn into a nightmare if you don’t do your due diligence.

WILLIAMS

“Generally a holiday home isn’t a valuable incomeearning asset.”

The city of Plovdiv in Bulgaria is the second-cheapest European city for expat investors.

Eco-luxe Oasis + DA Opportunity in a World Heritage Wonderland.

Sometimes you need to sail across the globe to find the world’s most perfect untouched paradise. Nestled between two World Heritage wonders, “Nemourna” is an 8.5ha oasis offering the allure of island living with the advantage of a mainland connection. Basking in pristine rainforest, Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea views, “Garners Beach House” is a sprawling testament to sustainable luxury. A former “House of the Year” that boasts seamless indooroutdoor living and entertaining spaces, a coveted lifestyle awaits: watch breaching whales or exquisite sunsets from your private beach, savour a moonlit spa or listen to the rainforest’s melodies from a choice of five protected patios.

Enticingly, this opportunity includes DA approval for ten elevated residential blocks with sweeping rainforest and ocean vistas. Likely one of the last coastal developments authorised in Queensland, the lots are cleared and construction ready.

6/8 QUAMBY PLACE, NOOSA HEADS

If love is a privileged location on a salubrious stretch of the pristine Noosa River, with one neighbour, swoonworthy front row seats on a north-facing terrace with several metres of lawn to the water’s edge, plus a feast of seagull’s eye views stretching 180-degrees from the Noosa River mouth to yachts sailing near park-fringed Noosaville, this is the moment of reality. You have found holiday heaven.

Similarly spectacular and plentiful, are effectively defined spaces all light, bright and whitewashed with beachy sophistication, sumptuous sofas, wispy sheers and custom cabinetry suggesting living and loving the good life not only revolves aroundindoors, but its unimpeded connectivity to outdoors, where sunsets over Mount Cooroy and shimmering waters in the forefront are mesmerising.

Auction Friday 6 October 11am

Agent Jesse Stowers 0414 367 282

jesse@offermann.com.au