Inside Australia’s craziest castle homes

A man’s home is his castle, just ask Darryl Kerrigan.

Around the country, Aussie homeowners have taken the saying to new heights, ditching the standard home for properties that are truly traditional — medieval castles.

With drawbridges for driveways and turrets over terraces, these eye-catching homes are straight from the set of Game of Thrones.

Versace Castle, Nippards Track, Woorarra West, Victoria.

Versace Castle on Nippards Track in Woorarra West, Victoria, is the life’s work of Italian-Australian Fabio Versace.

The castle stands mightily atop a 68 acre block in Victoria’s south.

Swords, banners and a custom suit of armour — all handcrafted by Mr Versace — are among the home’s fantasy features. Even the arched window panes and embellished doorways were his creation.

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Watch out for the knight in shining armour on your way through the hall.

The dining room is the ideal setting for a royal feast.

His wife, Louise Martin-Versace said the project took over 20 years to build.

“It’s been a labour of love,” she said.

“There was a drawing that he did when he was five years old of a castle.”

“I said, ‘Let’s make it happen’.”

The details of the home have been meticulously crafted by Mr Versace.

Ms Martin-Versace said their grandchildren used to love visiting the castle.

“When they were smaller they would tell everyone ‘my nonna owns a castle’,” she said.

“They would sit in the big king’s chair and get a photo holding a goblet.”

The property is a lifelong dream achieved for owner Fabio Versace, pictured in his custom armour.

The couple are selling the home and looking to downsize as Mr Versace suffers from Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a rare neurodegenerative disorder.

The property is listed for $1.15-1.25m.

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Leumeah Castle, Leumeah, NSW.

In Sydney’s southwest, Leumeah Castle is something of a local landmark.

The extraordinary medieval-style home in the city’s southwest is complete with turrets, arrowslits, a moat and knightly decor throughout.

While the owners were previously testing the water — of the market, not their moat — they have recently bolstered their attempt to sell with a new real estate agent and new renovations.

There is a $1.5m guidance for the medieval manor.

It may be the best lounge room in the country to watch The Crown in.

The home’s moat provides extra defence in the event of a siege.

RE/MAX Prestige agent Devak Arutla said most interested buyers saw the property as an investment opportunity, particularly as an Airbnb.

“With the new airport coming next year … it’s going to be a good tourist spot,” he said.

According to Mr Arutla, the castle was also attracting interest as a retirement home.

“Living like this, in a castle, will be a good memory for the grandkids.”

Mr Arutla said there have been several owner-occupier inquiries as well.

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Owners Sonita and Gopal Ganda pictured in 2014 after purchasing the home. Picture: Jeremy Piper.

The sellers, Gopal and Sonita Ganda, bought the property for $480,000 in 2014.

The couple are regular attendees at medieval themed events, and even arrived at the open inspection in medieval garbs.

Leumeah Castle was originally built by Ron and Joan Farmer, an English couple, in the 1970s.

It took 10 years for them to build the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home.

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17 Forsythia Dr, Tamborine Mountain, QLD.

Seventeen Forsythia Dr, Tambourine Mountain captured the imagination of Queenslanders this past week, being the most viewed property of the week on realestate.com.au.

Tucked away in Tamborine Mount, west of Gold Coast, the home includes a cobblestone tower that adds a splash of medieval influence.

It was built by its long-time owner and sits on a private block right next to Tamborine Mountain’s Botanical Gardens.

The agent said the inside could use some renovating.

Selling agent Louis Bartle, principal of Bartle Real Estate said 60 groups came through the property during the first open home.

“Buyers were a mix of people wanting to renovate the property and live in it themselves and others looking for an opportunity to get into the market,” he said.

According to Mr Bartle, renovation would likely be needed for the castle’s interior.

“It’s quite charming from the outside and there is a lot of craftsmanship that has gone into it, but internally it’s tired,” he said.

The home’s value is estimated by property.com.au to be $946,000.

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The home is surrounded by nature, being adjacent to Tamborine Mountain Botanical Gardens.

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