A jaw-dropping clifftop mansion in Sorrento with a bizarre link to Angelina Jolie was the most-viewed home in Victoria on realestate.com.au this year.
It comes as no surprise that the 3520 Point Nepean Rd pad, also recently crowned the Herald Sun’s No. 1 home, had prospective buyers “drooling” at the thought of spending their summer at the luxe property.
Known as Blue Bay, the Rob Mills-designed home scored more than 80,000 listing views after hitting the market in February with a $25m-$27.5m price tag.
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The listing was later pulled before returning with an updated price guide of $20m-$22m.
Kay & Burton Portsea director Liz Jensen said the property had been popular among Melbourne-based buyers looking for a holiday home with the potential to become a permanent residence in the future.
“There’s not a person who doesn’t love it and doesn’t want it,” Ms Jensen said.
“It’s faultless, and even though all these people are looking online and possibly drooling, when people walk in and see the views … you can’t emulate it online.”
A glitzy Hawthorn mansion with its own private Yarra River pontoon was also viewed more than 80,000 times this year.
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An incredible Sorrento mansion that was crowned the Herald Sun’s best home was also the most-viewed listing on realestate.com.au
A riverfront home with a private pontoon was viewed more than 80,000 times this year.
Summer vibes at 29 New St, Brighton.
The three-storey pad at 2 Yarra Grove joined the ranks of the suburb’s most expensive houses after selling for about $21.5m in June via Marshall White’s Marcus Chiminello.
And a five-bedroom Palm Springs-inspired mid-century modern home in Brighton was eyeballed a whopping 73,000 times.
The 29 New St property is on the market with a $10m-$11m asking price with Marshall White Bayside director Andy Nasr.
Mr Nasr said it had been popular among local and interstate buyers who loved the design and its proximity to schools and the beach.
VICTORIA’S MOST-VIEWED HOMES OF 2023
Address, No. of property views
3520 Point Nepean Rd, Sorrento, 83,000
3520 Point Nepean Rd, Sorrento.
Stretching across 4446 sqm, the incredible Sorrento property backs directly onto the shores of Port Phillip Bay and was initially part of the Baillieu family’s Merthon estate.
The Mediterranean-style design was inspired by the current owner’s family holidays in France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, and includes heated French limestone tiles won in a bidding war with A-lister Jolie.
2 Yarra Grove, Hawthorn, 82,000
2 Yarra Grove, Hawthorn.
Set on 2963sq m of Palm Springs-style tropical gardens, the five-bedroom property is complete with a private river pontoon, self-cleaning pool and spa, tennis court, gym and temperature-controlled wine room.
Inside, a stainless-steel kitchen also comes with a butler’s pantry, cool room and built-in leather seating, while other materials throughout the home include concrete, oak and black steel.
29 New St, Brighton, 73,000
29 New St, Brighton.
The custom-built, resort-style family home comes with all the bells and whistles on the prized Brighton Beach triangle.
Its interiors were designed by a 2023 Architectural Digest 100 firm, with the fit-out including matte stone benchtops and terrazzo tiling.
An open-plan layout creates a seamless integration between inside and the covered outdoor entertaining area, complete with an outdoor kitchen and built-in barbecue overlooking the solar-heated swimming pool and floating basketball area.
120 Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Olinda, 73,000
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120 Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Olinda.
Out in the hills, this incredible Olinda house is centred around a 1980s-chic indoor pool and spa fed by a private spring water bore.
The four-bedroom pad also has its own forest of 300 pine trees, while the fresh mineral water feeds the water supply of the house and even the Olinda Springs bottled water.
It hit the market in May with a $2.4m-$2.64m asking price before selling for about $2.5m in July.
35-39 Albany Rd, Toorak, 66,000
35-39 Albany Rd, Toorak.
Late Australian billionaire businessman David Hains’ mansion hit the market earlier this year with a lofty $45m-$50m price tag.
The listing was later pulled for a cosmetic upgrade before returning with a $6m-$7.5m haircut to its asking price, now on the market for $39m-$42.5m.
Boasting 10 bedrooms, the 82-year-old home also features an open fire, butler’s pantry, timber panelled library, majestic reception hall, marble staircase and a huge main bedroom suite with a marble ensuite.
72 Donaldsons Rd, Red Hill, 64,000
72 Donaldsons Rd, Red Hill.
Seek.com.au co-founder Paul Bassat’s sprawling Mornington Peninsula property sold in October for about $10m after being listed with a $10m-$11m price tag.
Featuring Paul Bangay gardens and its own vineyard managed by Polperro Winery were included in the pricey package, with the luxe home first built by developer Michael Fox.
It also features a resort-style heated swimming pool, spa and tennis court.
44 St Vincent Place North, Albert Park, 62,000
44 St Vincent Place, Albert Park.
The site of the troubled Hambleton House boarding facility is for sale with a $10m-$11m asking price and could be transformed back into a magnificent mansion.
Boasting 11 bedrooms, the boom-style property has attracted interest from buyers interested in transforming it back to a single residence and revive its period features.
It is one of St Vincent Place’s largest properties with three street frontages and 20 principal rooms.
14 St Georges Rd, Toorak, 56,000
14 St Georges Rd, Toorak.
Reminiscent of a Mediterranean palazzo, the five-bedroom Toorak mansion on the illustrious St Georges Rd hit the market in September with a lofty $46m-$50m asking price.
Designed by architect AJ Ainslie in the 1920s, it features an Art Deco-inspired swimming pool and spa, tennis court and gym.
Public records show the property is owned by Melbourne-born businessman David Prior, who founded a sustainable packaging company with his father Malcolm and later established organic yoghurt brand five:am.
11-13 Lang St, Beaumaris, 54,000
11-13 Lang St, Beaumaris.
This rare mid-century Beaumaris pad has been held for more than 20 years by ex-Coles ‘Down Down’ CMO Tony Phillips.
The 1950 Yuncken Freeman-built pad hit the market earlier this year and is still for sale with a $6.75m-$7.25m price tag, inclusive of a solar-heated swimming pool and “Olympic-sized” in-ground trampoline.
Inside, lavish features such as timber, marble, terrazzo and European oak floorboards add to the appeal, as does a butler’s pantry, wine fridge and a walk-in 1500-bottle wine cellar.
18 Brighton Ave, Wollert, 51,000
18 Brighton Ave, Wollert.
A striking statement home in Wollert is for sale with a $2.9m-$3.1m price tag that could set a new house price record for the suburb if it sells within the range.
The glamorous dwelling is dripping in New York marble on the floors and walls, while each of the five bedrooms come with an ensuite.
Multiple pools and water features are also included, creating a serene setting.
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