The most expensive houses in Australia represent the very top of luxury real estate. In this post, we’ll be exploring the 10 most priciest homes located down under. These homes are exemplary of architectural styles from around the world, both contemporary and historical.
Our list is curated based on research by Domain.
10 Most Expensive Houses In Australia
1. Fairwater
First on our list of expensive houses in Australia, we have a beautiful Federation Arts and Crafts-style home. The Fairwater residence is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register historical architectural design and cultural significance.
It was constructed between 1882 and 1970 under the direction of various owners. The Point Piper estate’s most recent buyer, tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes, snapped the property up for a staggering $100 million in 2018. Fairwater was owned by the Fairfax family for more than a century.
Price: $100 Million
Location: Double Bay, New South Wales
2. Elaine
The Elaine estate in Point Piper, New South Wales is another home recently sold off by the Fairfax family. It was Scott Farquhar, another tech billionaire, who purchased this property for $71 million in 2017.
Prior to Farquhar’s purchase of the estate, it hadn’t been renovated since 1950. One critic described the home, built in the 1860s as “underwhelming” as a result of its being left empty for decades.
Nonetheless, it became one of the most expensive houses in Australia — and the world. In 2017, it fetched the third-highest price of any home in the world, according to the Australian Financial Review.
Price: $71 Million
Location: Point Piper, New South Wales
3. La Mer
In 2015, before the two previous entries on this list were sold, La Mer fetched $70 million in a private sale. James and Erica Packer initially purchased the property and two neighboring homes in 2009 and 2010. They subsequently demolished the other two houses and enlisted Tzannes and Associates to craft an extension, significant portions of which lie underground.
Glancing at the property’s impressive six-storey mega mansion, it’s not hard to see why it became one of the most expensive properties in the world.
Price: $70 Million
Location: Vaucluse, New South Wales
4. Phoenix Acres
Phoenix Acres is another stunning property in Vaucluse. If the palatial home sold for its 2017 asking price of $80 million, it would have topped the list of most expensive houses in Australia. At its closing price of $65.25 million, however, it’s still nothing to balk at. Singaporean real estate tycoon Ow Chio Kiat sold the property to Dr. Jerry Schwartz, who made his fortune as a hotelier and cosmetic surgeon.
Price: $65.25 million
Location: Vaucluse, New South Wales
5. Altona
Altona is a Victorian Italianate-style mansion in Point Piper. MP and Supreme Court Judge Augustus James had it built in 1904 for himself and his wife Altona. Since then, it has passed through several owners, including publisher Deke Miskin and businessman Wang Zhijun.
Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reportedly lived a few doors down from the property as of 2016. Its most recent buyer is Jiaer Huang, who heads a printing company.
Price: $61.8 Million
Location: Point Piper, New South Wales
6. Portofino
Portofino offers stunning views of both the Sydney Harbour and the city’s skyline — all for a steep price, of course. Car importer Neville Chrichton sold the property at 3 Wingadal Place to Shanghai art collector Andy Song for $60.66 million in 2016. It is a charming example of Tuscan-style architecture, located in close proximity to several other houses that have fetched sums within the tens of millions.
Price: $60.66 Million
Location: Point Piper, New South Wales
7. Shein Family Home
This listing actually comprises the sale of two Vaucluse waterfront residences for a combined $60 million. The compound is now owned by Menulog co-founder Leon Kamenev. According to Domain, at the time of the sale it represented the highest sum paid for a compound with the intention of amalgamation.
Price: $60 Million
Location: Vaucluse, New South Wales
8. Mosman Park Mansion
Mining heiress Angela Bennett’s Mosman Park Mansion sold in 2009 for a then-record $57.5 million. Interestingly enough, the house’s selling agent held the record for selling Australia’s most expensive house back in 1980, although that one fetched a “mere” $2,150,000. Quite the difference from the vast sums these luxury estates command today, even when adjusted for inflation.The property comprises three buildings.
Price: $57.5 Million
Location: Perth, Western Australia
9. Stonington Mansion
Stonington Mansion is a historic property in Melbourne. In 1901, the Victorian Government rented Stonington Mansion as a residence for the Governor of Victoria. Several notable guests visiting Victoria between 1901 and 1931 stayed at the mansion, including King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
The property returned to the private market in 2006 and was sold for $33 million that same year. In 2018, it saw its most recent sale, which fetched a record-setting sum for the state of Victoria.
Price: $52.5 Million
Location: Malvern, Victoria
10. Villa Igiea
Last on our list of the most expensive houses in Australia, is Villa Igiea in Vaucluse. The 1920s landmark home was sold in an off-market deal to 27-year-old “Jim” Shangjin Lin.
According to Domain, Lin is no stranger to making massive real estate deals in Australia. The Chinese head of Aqualand oversaw more than $600 million in property acquisitions on behalf of the company. Villa Igiea’s previous owner was Wayne Burt, an entrepreneur who put more than $10 million into refurbishing the European-style home after he purchased it for just over $17 million in 2005.
Price: $52 Million
Location: Vaucluse, New South Wales
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