Wikipedia/Picassa
Ah, how the other half live, or should we say, the other 0.00001 per cent. Right now the megarich are living it up in trophy mansions across Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, where these top 10 most expensive luxury homes in Australia are. Some of these mansions have a fabled history, some have famous owners. You may be surprised at the story behind the houses at numbers 1 and 2. Here’s the countdown.
10.Villa Igiea
Where: Vaucluse, NSW
Owners: Aqualand boss Shangjin Lin
Pricetag: Bought for $52 million in 2015
According to property agents Pillinger, this estate dates back to the 1920 and is inspired by the grand villas of Palermo. Ange and Brad stayed here once as have Beyonce and Jay-Z, and Stevie Nicks.
9. Stonington mansion
Where: Malvern, Victoria
Owners: Unknown
Pricetag: Bought for $52.5 million in 2018
This mansion was built for John Wagner, a partner in Cobb and Co coaches. A former government house, Stonington gave its name to the City of Stonnington in Melbourne (they added an n).
8. Mosman Park mansion
Where: Mosman Park, WA
Owners: Mining magnate Chris Ellison
Pricetag: Bought for $57.5 million in 2009
Iron ore heiress Angela Bennett sold this mansion to mining magnate Chris Ellison and his wife Tia who are now also the proud owners of two adjoining properties.
7. Shein family home
Where: Vaucluse, NSW
Owners: Menulog co-founder Leon Kamenev
Pricetag: Bought for $60 million in 2016
Menulog co-founder Leon Kamenev started his days in Sydney delivering pizzas but now has spent $80 million for four properties in Vaucluse to build his own private compound.
6. Portofino
Where: Point Piper, NSW
Owners: Stock trader Andy Wenlei Song
Pricetag: Bought for $60.66 million in 2016
According to property agents Pillinger, this is one of Australia’s most acclaimed addresses, enjoying a world-class deep waterfront position on the exclusive Point Piper peninsula.
5. Altona
Where: Point Piper, NSW
Owners: Businessman Jiaer Huang and family
Pricetag: Bought for $61.8 million in 2016
The house neighbours ex-PM Malcolm Turnbull’s estate, luckily relations should be cordial, owner Jiaer Huang is a Liberal Party donor.
4. Phoenix Acres
Where: Vaucluse, NSW
Owners: Hotel developer Dr Jerry Schwartz and wife Debbie
Pricetag: Bought for $65.25 million in 2017
Owner Dr Schwarz not only has interest in or owns hotels such as the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, he’s a cosmetic surgeon as well.
3. La Mer
Where: Vaucluse, NSW
Owners: Businessman Chau Chak Wing
Pricetag: Bought for $70 million in 2015
This is the former estate of James and Erica Packer. The former couple spent $30 million acquiring three properties, before spending another $40 million to build the six-storey mansion La Mer.
2. Elaine
Where: Point Piper, NSW
Owners: Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar and family
Pricetag: Bought for $71 million in 2017
This harbourside property was once owned by the Fairfax publishing family, who bought it in 1891. Farquhar’s software company, Atlassian has been a huge success, putting him, together with business partner Mike Cannon-Brookes amongst the 10 richest Australians.
1. Fairwater
Where: Point Piper, Sydney
Owners: Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes and family
Pricetag: Bought for $100 million in 2018
Feast your eyes on this glorious medieval-inspired harbourside mansion. Known as Fairwater and previously owned by the Fairfax family for more than 100 years, this 1.12 hectare estate is now in the hands of tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes, wife Annie and four children. The house is the largest privately held property on Sydney Harbour. It also means that the two software founders now live right next door to each other. Reportedly there’s a shortcut to get to each other’s properties so the kids can play.
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