Dramatic, palatial, spectacular: Aussie architectural wonders for sale around the country

Want a home that makes an impression? Look no further than these ultra-modern marvels.

Your home may be your castle — or your retreat, but who doesn’t want to live in a place that also makes a design statement?

Here are four dramatic houses on the market around Australia — all new or near new — that are as much about charisma as comfort.

Riverside wonder, Tasmania

The facade of ‘River Rocks’ on the Tamar waterfront is “curved like the river and valley”, said architect David Luck, who envisioned “an earth-sheltered glass house” in a place that holds special meaning for him.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom spectacle at 279 John Lees Drive, Dilston — 10 minutes from Launceston — is a creation of 250 steel columns and glass, supporting 90 tons of soil on its roof.

Mr Luck designed and helped to build the home to reconnect with his childhood after 40 years in Victoria.

“My parents died 10 years ago. We lived in Launceston but had a farm on the Tamar river. Dad was a farmer, bulldozer driver and forester, so he was very close to the land. Building this house, digging down into the earth, felt like being a part of him; it was healing after his death.”

The result is dramatic — and a feat in engineering. Just four years old, the home stretches down the river, offering panoramic views from every room. A wraparound deck captures the bird song, bushland, passing boats and sunsets.

The property boasts a vast living and dining space with a sunken kitchen, a master suite with a private terrace, and a 6-star energy rating (the grassed topsoil on the roof offers natural insulation and solar mass).

Mr Luck sold River Rocks for nearly $1.3 million to current owner Jonathan Cecil, who’s enhanced it through extensive landscaping and the addition of commercial ducted heating and cooling plus a 100sqm shed. Mr Cecil has now listed the home for $2 million.

Agent Sam Woolcock at Elders Real said there’s been plenty of interstate and local enquiries. He said it would suit those seeking a hybrid lifestyle between Tasmania and the mainland.

“We’re seeing people from Queensland escaping summer heat, then returning for winter. And with easy travel into Launceston from Victoria or New South Wales, the journey is little different to going to a home on the coast.”

Mr Luck said he hopes the property will help establish Launceston as a “design region”.

“Dilston has some notable architect-designed houses. More along the river could make Launceston a design destination linked to the vineyards, like the Mornington Peninsula.”

Brighton beauty, Victoria

Nestled behind a serene, Japanese-inspired water garden, this spectacular tri-level home at 10 Farleigh Grove, Brighton, Victoria has been designed to impress. It’s your ultra contemporary home blending natural stone and warm timbers, taken to the next level in both design and technology.

Vendor Colin Clements aimed to create an open-plan entertainer’s house that’s both a status symbol and exceptionally livable.

“Everything’s high-end; there’s a million dollars spent on the Belgian handmade bricks alone,” he said. “My favourite room is the poker den or wine tasting room behind a hidden door, a secret room.”

Designed by Pleysier Perkins and built in 2021, the four-bedroom home showcases sophisticated entertaining zones opening to an undercover alfresco area; a Neolith marble kitchen; a home theatre with ‘starry night’ ceiling and plush seating; a heated pool and spa; a steam room and Tylo sauna; a seven-car underground garage with turntable; and a six-person lift. The poker den even has ‘Casino Royale’ wallpaper.

Technologically supercharged and app-controlled, the property boasts advanced lighting, cooling and sound systems — all managed from a dedicated comms room. There’s also keyless entry.

Agent Michael Hingston at Jellis Craig Brighton said the property justifies its hefty $11,000-$12,000 price tag.

“It’s one of the best homes I’ve ever walked into. We’ve had 15 groups through in two opens, with buyers coming from far and wide, so we seem to be off to a pretty good start.”

Mr Hingston said the property is in Brighton’s “most sought-after pocket”, just a walk to the beach, iconic Brighton Baths, Church Street and the train station.

Stately home on the hill, Queensland

Agent Denis Najzar at Place Woolloongabba is overjoyed with the interest in 45 Watson Street, Camp Hill.

This majestic five-bedroom residence, priced over $5 million, welcomed 111 groups during its first open home.

“It was my record property for open home attendance. In my 17 years of real estate, I’ve never experienced anything like it. It just presents exceptionally well,” Mr Najzar said.

Vendor Michael Weekes initially bought the original home on the site to live in while building his family home elsewhere. He then realised the corner block with city skyline views deserved its own unique creation.

“I really love the location; it’s one of the best parts of Camp Hill. So, instead of building a standard five-bedroom home, I decided to spend a lot more money and engage an architect and a builder that specialises in high-end, complex builds.”

The outcome, crafted by DAH Architecture, Aurelien Berson Construction and MKW Construction, is nothing short of palatial. The long white structure, set on a suspended concrete slab, features floor-to-ceiling sliders, louvres and skylights inviting sunshine, scenery and breezes. A turret with a glass roof houses the staircase.

A spectacular lounge and dining area flows into an alfresco entertaining retreat with a BBQ kitchen overlooking landscaped gardens and a heated pool. Additional features include a gym, sauna, master ensuite with an opulent freestanding bathtub and skylight shower, plus an upstairs lounge with a Juliet balcony to enjoy the views.

“The scale of the place is stunning, that’s my favourite thing about the house,” said Mr Weekes. “There are 3.2m concrete ceilings while the kitchen has a 6.3m void to let in the sky.”

Architectural sanctuary, Mornington Peninsula

When the vendor of a home leads a premium property development and construction firm, you know it’s going to be high-spec. Ongarello has created a number of contemporary and stylish residences on the Mornington Peninsula, and 24 Birdrock Avenue, Mount Martha is one of founder Christian Ongarello’s most cherished.

“The design is essentially a modern take on the traditional Mount Martha Beach House,” he said.  “It’s mid-century inspired, but still an ode to the Mount Martha building vernacular.”

Ongarello purchased the site years ago and collaborated with Wolveridge Architects to develop four homes, with the four-bedroom Honey House the last to be sold.

“The design features cross-flow ventilation, a northern aspect to the central courtyard, and raised ceilings in the studio suite, kitchen, and living areas, which is really special,” Mr Ongarello said.

Additional features include a wood-burning fireplace for cosy evenings, a heated swimming pool and spa, an outdoor shower and a self-contained studio.

Just a stroll from Birdrock Beach, agent Trent Cameron at Warlimont & Nutt Real said the majority of the buyers have been downsizers from Melbourne, typically keeping an apartment in the city while relocating a larger portion of their life to the peninsula.

“The quality of the finish and the attention to detail is absolutely outstanding,” he said.

The property seamlessly connects indoors and outdoors, with ceilings, walls and joinery made of Tasmanian oak, Travertine crazy paving floors with in-floor hydronic heating, feature picture windows on the roof for additional light, and curved stone walls — for no other reason than to create joy and elevate the ordinary.

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