What does your dream home look like?
- Ten islands that cost less than an average home
- Wow-factor homes: the rise of the new luxury digs
- Buying a Bali villa: how Australians can get it right
Browse Australia’s high-end homes and many could easily double as top-flight boutique holiday resorts.
Paul Arthur, of Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty, agrees. He says many of the market’s finest prestige homes easily match its most luxurious resort accommodation for amenity, style and seclusion.
“Only a few years ago it would have been sufficient to offer prestige property buyers multiple-car garaging, for example,” he says. “That would have exemplified resort grandeur.
When home is a resort: The former holiday retreat at Vasey Esplanade, Trinity Beach, is now a private residence. Photo: Supplied
“Now we often see helipads and space to accommodate private jets – not just the owner’s but their guests’ too.”
His colleague, Simon Cowan, adds: “We are finding the high-net-wealth buyers are looking for an escape when choosing their homes, where privacy and tranquility is important as are all the feature comforts and refinement of a home, but set within their own oases.”
Because scarcity is a driving force when selling real estate, property with “wow” resort-style factors will often fetch higher prices provided they are what buyers wants, says Tony Rindfleisch, of The Advocates.
“Buyers are becoming increasingly discerning and demand more for their money,” Rindfleisch says.
“But at the upper end of the market they are usually prepared to pay top price for features they love.”
If these four properties are anything to go by, those dollars are well spent.
Trinity Beach, Queensland
![The saltwater pool and wrap-around sundecks at Vasey Esplanade, Trinity Beach.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170508042613im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/n/9/x/g/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1492505288347.png)
The saltwater pool and wrap-around sundeck at Vasey Esplanade, Trinity Beach. Photo: Supplied
Formerly a holiday retreat and now a private residence, it is easy to see why “a lot of discerning visitors” have unrolled beach towels at the sprawling and secluded five-bedroom oasis at Vasey Esplanade, says agent Paul Arthur.
Bordered by the Coral Sea, it offers total privacy 15 minutes north of Cairns.
The breezy single-storey dwelling covers about 1000 square metres of its landscaped 7586-square-metre double title. Features include a gym, sauna, den, library, commercial-scale bar with wine fridges and ice-maker and a saltwater pool with wraparound sundecks.
Hawthorn East, Victoria
![821-823 Toorak Road, Hawthorn East boasts seven unique living zones as well as a tennis court.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170508042613im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/n/a/9/h/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1492506610493.png)
The house in Toorak Road, Hawthorn East has seven living zones as well as a tennis court.
Photo: Supplied
Straddling 1,753 square metres of prime inner-city land over two separate titles, the nine-bedroom mansion at 821-823 Toorak Road fills its space with amenities.
With seven living zones, two family rooms, a teens’ retreat and extensive outdoor entertaining spaces beside the full-size tennis court, its corner block position is accessed via quiet Lawson Street.
“I haven’t seen this extent of land available in Hawthorn East for a long time, and that’s what makes it unique,” says agent Jeff Phillips, of RT Edgar Boroondara.
Dalkeith, Western Australia
![86 Victoria Avenue, Dalkeith has an open-sided outdoor entertaining hut beside the pool.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170508042613im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/n/a/b/y/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1493621951158.png)
No.86 Victoria Avenue, Dalkeith has an open-sided outdoor entertaining hut beside the pool. Photo: Supplied
Blending British Colonial with Balinese design and decor, 86 Victoria Avenue nestles into its 1456-square-metre block and overlooks luscious tropical gardens and koi ponds.
An open-sided timber-and-thatch outdoor entertaining hut beside the pool embodies resort living, as does the decadent use of cedar, bleached jarrah and granite throughout the breezy house with its Swan River views.
Listed with Acton Dalkeith, every room of the property opens via custom cedar doors to the deep timber verandah, which encircles the house. There is also a cellar, office and workshop.
Port Douglas, Queensland
![26 Murphy Street, Port Douglas.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170508042613im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/n/9/i/p/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1492504543177.png)
The house at 26 Murphy Street, Port Douglas, has uninterrupted views of Port Douglas Marina, the ocean and hinterland. Photo: Supplied
With a rock ‘n’ roll edge, “The Glasshouse” commands attention at Flagstaff Hill’s peak. Full of luxury resort-style sass, it is also the Charles Wright-designed home to musician publicist Patti Mostyn.
The high-profile vendor often used the tri-level property’s vast outdoor entertaining areas to host rock industry royalty, agent Callum Jones of Tony McGrath Real Estate Port Douglas verifies. Set on 1897 square metres of land, the striking house has uninterrupted views of Port Douglas Marina, the ocean and hinterland.