Domain Prestige - April 03, 2024

ANOTHER PROJECT BY

Lake Kawana and Glasshouse Mountains Outlook, Artist Impression

By KATE FARRELLY

Tallebudgera Valley

Gold Coast

697 Tallebudgera Creek Road

5 7 8 JOSEPHINE HUYNH

When you close your eyes and go to your “happy place” where does your mind go? What do you see? My projection looks a little something like this week’s cover property in Wentworth Falls. Well, I’m not sure it classifies as a conventional property – the former residence, an architectural masterpiece by Peter Stutchbury, was destroyed by fire in 2019. But what remains is a majestic garden estate on 1.52 hectares in the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains. Its plantings date back 50 years, and more recently landscape architect Craig Burton has enhanced the grounds, designing a layered storybook of whimsical spaces with water rills, an orchard, a lily pad-filled lake with a charming row boat, an amphitheatre, sculptures, terraces, stone staircases and pathways, and a Japanese-inspired tea house. The sanctuary has got to be seen to be believed.

OUR COVER

PAGE 5

Editor:

Editorial producer: Hailey Coules

Group picture editor: Kylie Thomson

Senior designer: Colleen Chin Quan

Graphic designer: Emma Drake

National magazine

Group

Chief

Chief

Contact:

Auction: 11am, April 19

Agent: Kollosche, Michael Kollosche 0411 188 815 With space to host the grandest of events, M Estate is a private, 1.65-hectare property with a tennis court, 25-metre pool and helipad, all set 12 kilometres from a smorgasbord of beaches, shops and restaurants. The 1495-square-metre house features four-metre-high arched French doors, Italian marble and travertine finishes, and a commercial-quality kitchen.

GEORGE

Toorak

Melbourne Macquarie Road

Wentworth Falls

Blue Mountains 168-176 Falls Road

$4.7 million-$4.9 million

Private sale

Agent: McGrath Blue Mountains, Matthew Gale 0404 463 636

Pirramimma could well be heaven on earth for gardeners and nature lovers. Across 1.52 hectares and three titles adjoining a national park, the awardwinning estate comes with an orchard, water features, sculptures and an ornamental lake, plus a light-filled studio and Japanese-inspired tea house.

Mandemar

Southern Highlands 35 Mandemar Lane

Expressions of interest

Agent: Forbes Global Properties, Michael Gibson 0418 530 392

Architect Ilario Cortese worked with interior design firm SJB to create this palatial, four-level home, set on an elevated 3200-square-metre block with Paul Bangay-designed gardens, a pool and a tennis court. Luxury finishes include textured wallpaper, silk carpets and hand-trowelled plaster walls.

Private sale

Agent: Drew Lindsay Sotheby’s International Realty, Samuel Lindsay 0404 647 609

Yaraandoo offers a farming oasis alongside a substantial country home built in 2012, a twobedroom guest cottage and an ornamental lake.

DESIGN DIGEST

Travertine tales

Designers remain captivated by travertine’s natural beauty, extending its rich design legacy. Compiled by PAULINE MORRISSEY

HOUR

the highlights is the Vivi Dining Table, featuring a distinctive “cut-out” chequered base. racheldonath.com.au

CARVED IN STONE En Gold’s Vessel series goes beyond simple decor, embodying elegant sculptural forms. Made from premium materials like fossil stone, marble and travertine, these vases gracefully balance atop a lucite orb. engold.com.au

ADAM

RAY OF LIGHT

Exhibiting the raw, untouched allure of travertine, Menu’s

Reverse Table Lamp pairs a cone-shaped travertine base with a bronzed aluminium shade. Fitted with a dim-to-warm LED light, it creates a play of light and shadow across its surface. trithouse.com.au

RIPPLE EFFECT The Fluted Coffee Table by Chelon, handcrafted from creamy-toned natural travertine, echoes classic European architecture with its unique textured details. Available as both a side and a coffee table, its honed, matt finish brings sophisticated warmth. chelon.com.au

GOLDEN

Rachel Donath introduces her newest capsule collection, Golden, inspired by the honeyed tones of the golden hour. Among

PELICAN WATERS

Top-notch facilities, kilometres of water frontage and sprawling mansions combine for an enviable lifestyle. By PAULINE

In the heart of Caloundra, where Queensland’s long summers and timid winters hold sway, Pelican Waters unfolds as an 810-hectare master-planned waterside enclave.

Since its humble beginnings in 1989, the once quiet area has flourished into one of the state’s fastest-growing lifestyle destinations.

Through mindful expansion, residents now enjoy top-tier facilities, including a multimilliondollar marina, a Greg Norman-designed golf course, and an extensive network of canals and green spaces.

Rising tide of real estate

Linda Feltman of Henzells Agency says its waterfront mansions, trendy terraces and expansive sites attract a varied clientele, including retirees, young families and professional couples looking for luxury and convenience.

“The sale of around 3000 residential lots since its inception mirrors the suburb’s magnetic allure,” Feltman says.

“Investing in Pelican Waters offers the exclusive chance to own a piece of waterfront paradise, complete with private marina berths that grant an unmatched gateway to some of the state’s most treasured waterways.”

She points out the dwindling availability of waterfront properties in south-east Queensland, which fuels the demand for Pelican Waters.

MORRISSEY

The latest Domain House Price Report underscores this trend, noting a median property price of $1.26 million – a staggering 66.1 per cent increase over the past five years.

“Affirming its status as one of the Sunshine Coast’s real-estate hotspots, Pelican Waters properties have an average hold time of 7.7 years,” Feltman adds.

A berth of fresh air

Since its opening in mid-2023, the $16 million Pelican Waters Marina has become a cornerstone of the community.

“This marks the only new marina infrastructure built on the Sunshine Coast for many years,” says Les Binkin, a marina design visionary and a pivotal figure behind the facility. “Boasting 127 floating wet berths, a 160-slot dry stack storage, fuel services and mixed marine facilities, including an upcoming waterfront dining spot, the marina is a testament to the area’s flourishing spirit.”

Binkin’s ties to the area are shaped by four decades of holidaying on the Sunshine Coast and a decade devoted to the marina’s development.

“For me, there’s nothing like cruising the Pumicestone Passage, with its proximity to Moreton Island and snorkelling over the Tangalooma shipwrecks, or coasting the canals of Pelican Waters [and] inspecting magnificent homes,” he says.

The homes of masterplanned Pelican Waters enjoy access to an extensive canal network and broad green spaces.

5 5 5 YOU MAY LIKE ...

Pelican Waters

Sunshine Coast 26 North Point Crescent

$5 million-$6 million

Private sale

Agent: Henzells Agency, Linda Feltman 0412 805 362

On a large corner lot with over 30 metres of water frontage, this modern marvel exudes grandeur, from its vast entrance void and five king-size suites to its private pontoon.

Hover your camera over the code to see Domain listings in Pelican Waters

The four-storey 1920s mansion on the island of Syros has been completely restored and brought into the 21st century.

By JIL HOGAN

A 10-room boutique hotel or a luxurious Greek island getaway? Whatever you use it for, Aristide is the property of your dreams.

For some, it’s Italy that lures them for European summer getaways. For others, Spain eternally calls their name. For me, it’s always been the Greek islands. There’s just something about the combination of azure waters, dramatic coastlines with buildingdotted cliff faces, plus the vibrant food and culture that makes it unlike anywhere else.

Sitting south-east off the coast of Athens is the island of Syros, and nestled in its town of Ermoupoli is Aristide, a fully restored neoclassical mansion currently listed for sale for €5.5 million (about $9.1 million).

The mansion has plenty of history. It was built in the 1920s by a prominent family of textile merchants and shipping magnates, who called it home until the 1980s. It also once served as the Cycladic Tax Authority.

More recently, it’s undergone a meticulous restoration and transformation into a luxury

residence, preserving its period details while incorporating modern comforts.

It’s a home exuding elegance and sophistication, marrying old-world charm and art deco features with contemporary luxury.

Behind its captivating pale pink facade, the spacious four-storey mansion has 10 bedrooms, each with a corresponding bathroom.

“We fell in love with the house and wanted to keep all the original details but also the feeling of spaciousness,” says owner Oana Aristide.

“Almost all the rooms and spaces are large; hallways are round or square, the ceilings are almost five metres high. [We decided] to restore the house and upgrade the utilities – electricity, plumbing, air-con, windows, insulation are all 100 per cent new — with minimal interference with the original philosophy of the space.”

Stepping inside is like stepping back in time. A dramatic marble staircase greets you, flanked

FOREIGN AFFAIR

37.4418° N, 24.9404° E

by soaring ceilings adorned with intricate decorations, calming olive green walls, and doric columns crafted from Pentelikon marble –the same as the Acropolis.

The lower ground floor boasts a fully equipped professional kitchen, a one-bedroom suite, and utility and storage spaces. The ground floor hosts the lobby and three-bedroom suites, while on the first floor are five more bedrooms and an art gallery space. The top floor features another bedroom suite and a stunning 220-squaremetre roof terrace with ocean views.

The property also has three plunge pools, a garden, smart-home features and triple glazing.

Ample wood, glass, brass, and marble throughout give a contemporary, luxe feel.

Bathrooms blend original ceiling decorations with modern updates like marine-grade stainless steel and rain showers, while each room is adorned with hand-picked interiors. The home is being sold fully furnished, minus the private art collection.

“Most of the rooms have a sea view, and the rooftop is a wonderful, large open space with

ERMOUPOLI

The captivating property is being sold fully furnished, apart from the vendor’s private art collection.

panoramic sea views,” Aristide says. Almost all the spaces, both indoors and outdoors, have a particular grandeur.

“We think that our choice of keeping all period details but decorating the house with contemporary furniture and lighting makes it very airy and alive and avoids it feeling like a museum as can happen in historical properties.”

If you’re looking for a holiday home that offers returns as both a luxurious getaway and an investment, this one delivers in droves. It currently operates as a boutique hotel and hosts two bars — one in the lobby and one on the roof.

“We’ve made every effort to retain the feeling of a stately home, and we hope that nobody sees our rooms and thinks ‘hotel room’,” Aristide says.

“Apart from the particular architectural details, it’s a very unusual property for a Greek island in terms of both size and style –a completely modernised large neoclassical mansion, five minutes from the sea, with a private green space.”

As for the lifestyle, Syros has avoided mass tourism and retained a feeling of authenticity. It’s about 2.5 hours by ferry from Athens or Mykonos, and there are daily flights to Athens.

“Imagine a small historic European university town, but with eight months of summer and surrounded by sea,” Aristide says.

“There are many restaurants and bars but very little by way of clubbing. There are archeological sites and a nature reserve that is superb for hikes in the cooler months.”

Ermoupoli

Syros, Greece Aristide

€5.5 million ($9.1 million)

10 10

Agent: Welcome Beyond, Oliver Laugsch realestate@welcomebeyond.com

GEORGE NEGREA

Murray Bay Road, Whitsundays

Contact Agents

Lynn Milsom | +61 415 039 060

Wayne Singleton | +61 416 024 168

The gateway to the Whitsundays.

MURRAY BAY ROAD, WHITSUNDAYS

Welcome to a world of exclusivity, where opportunity is as limitless as imagination. Embedded within the picture-perfect Murray Bay, this stunning Whitsunday property is a masterpiece of privacy and sophistication.

Steeped in heritage, this prime-position property stands at the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. Spanning close to 9 acres with over 250 metres of beachfront, the potential for this property is boundless. Under tourism/residential zoning, this property ofers fexibility in use. Whether you envision a premium resort, caravan park, lifestyle hotel/licensed venue, or you wish to retain this slice of paradise as your own private retreat, this estate ofers a curated canvas for your grandest aspirations.

Going above and beyond

By HELEN HAWKES

As everyday, AI-fuelled life becomes more hectic, and even owners of multimilliondollar homes find space shrinking, it is rooftops that are providing a luxury refuge.

Prestigious Melbourne-based landscape architect Sam Barber says he has “experienced an increasing demand for rooftop, penthouse and upper-level landscapes”.

“When crafting either private or communal gardens and amenities, our projects harness themes such as restoration, rewilding, biophilia and bathing; active, passive and cognitive recreation; and, of prime importance, connection to nature and to people,” he says.

“[They] consider the infinite benefits of exposure to fresh air, sunlight, movement, heat, cold and growth.

Green rooftops and elevated spaces, like this Melbourne example by Barber Design, not only provide a wow factor but improve our connection to nature and our wellbeing.

“Listening, researching and engaging in a myriad of studies and practices enables our studio to create these elevated spaces that simply make people feel good.

“Adding usable square metres and creating a tailored environment for a client considerably elevates the value of their property.”

Belle Property Daylesford’s Annette Leary says that, besides giving a property an immediate

wow factor, “a rooftop garden can double your entertaining space while providing your home with excellent insulation and great foodgrowing opportunities as people look for more sustainable options”.

Award-winning Sydney-based garden designer Adam Robinson says they are a green oasis for inner-city residents, as well as a restful and exclusive place to commune with friends.

“We use beautifully appointed planting selections to create bountiful layering of colour and texture, while designs include all facilities needed for a modern lifestyle,” he says.

“Rooftop gardens are about expansive living and entertaining and clients want multi-use spaces that include dining, lounging and sometimes a pool, as well as an environment that speaks of both nature and luxury.”

Like Barber, he believes that creating spaces where residents are surrounded by greenery can have significant mental health benefits.

“Even the simple action of picking a lemon can contribute to wellbeing,” says Robinson, who has craned in trees up to three metres high to give an instant, Eden-like effect that envelops rooftop visitors in a botanical embrace.

Daylesford

Macedon Ranges 50a Railway Crescent

$4.9 million

Private sale

Agent: Belle Property Daylesford, Annette Leary 0407 917 054

Set high on 2.99 hectares, the main house of Wombat Hill Farm was designed by sustainability guru Joost Bakker and features his trademark grassed rooftop with stairway access.

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

TOP TIER

‘THE

3 Kootingal Street Ashmore

7 bed | 5.5 bath | 7 car

Gold Coast Riverfront estate brimming with timeless charm.

A rare opportunity has come available to purchase one of 12 blocks located on an undiscovered stretch of inner city acreage backing onto the picturesque Main River. This waterfront estate features an architecturally-designed two-level residence which has been impeccably designed to invoke warmth and character.

For Sale

Expressions of interest

Inspection

By private appointment

Presented by

Katrina Walsh 0429 899 295

Guy Powell 0413 030 851

Dane Atherton 0412 182 582

coastal.com.au