Artist impression of the luxury Opera Residences in Sydney, which broke two apartment records this year.
Artist impression of the luxury Opera Residences in Sydney, which broke two apartment records this year.
If you're still trying to get into the property market then you may want to look away now. While everyone is searching for their dream home, these properties took that to a whole new level.
Featuring 11 car garages and harbour views from the bath tub, they are the most expensive homes to be sold this year.
RECORD BREAKERS
Two major national real estate price records were broken this year: the most expensive property sale and the most expensive apartment sale.
The gong for the most expensive sale went to a group of four waterfront properties in one of Sydney's most prestigious suburbs, Vaucluse. The four homes on Coolong Street, held by three different families, were sold for just shy of $80 million (NZ$83.8m) to Russian refugee and co-founder of Menulog, Leon Kamenev in April this year.
Mr Kamenev, who arrived in Australia in 1990 as a refugee from the old Soviet Union and learnt English by day and delivered pizzas by night, bought the four exclusive properties to build his own private compound.
According to online sales records, a breakdown of the sale included A$60m for the double waterfront properties at 13 and 13a Coolong Street and just shy of A$20m for the smaller street-front properties 15 and 15a Coolong Street.
Meanwhile, Australia's apartment price record was also broken this year - twice. A penthouse apartment in the new Opera Residences Development in Sydney's Bennelong Point sold for a cool A$26m off-the-plan in November, only to be beaten the very next week by a second luxury penthouse in the same development, which sold for A$27m off-the-plan.
Working out to be more than $95,000 per square metre, the sale set the record for Australia's most expensive apartment. The buyer wished to remain anonymous but it is understood to be a local buyer.
The Australian apartment record was previously held by the A$25m penthouse in what's expected to be one of Australia's tallest buildings, the Australia 108 in Melbourne.
4 Robertson Street was briefly Melbourne's most expensive home before it was beaten by another Toorak trophy home. Photo / Supplied
But as a record was lost in Melbourne, a new record was gained. The title of Melbourne's most expensive house changed hands twice this year. In July, a seven-bedroom mansion in Toorak was sold for just over A$24m. Number 4 Robertson Street, which was owned by business scion Tony Smorgon and wife Jennifer, took just three weeks on the market to break the price record. But it didn't hold the title long before another billionare Toorak trophy home swooped in and stole its thunder.
This immaculate Toorak mansion broke Melbourne's price record after it sold more for than $26 million. Photo / Supplied
The lavish 9 Towers Road sold for an estimated A$26.25m just in time for Christmas. The four-bedroom "architectural icon" was sold by billionaire property developer Daniel Besen and his wife Danielle. Mr Besen is also the son of Melbourne retail royalty, Eva and Marc Besen, who built the Sussan fashion chain.
Created by Wood Marsh Architecture, the design is raw and minimalist with timber floors, exposed concrete and marble. The home features a gym, custom-lit gallery, hidden wine and cigar lounge, and an expansive underground garage.
Melbourne's most expensive home features a private wine and cigar lounge. Photo / Supplied
SYDNEY SMASHES
Sydney's Eastern Suburbs was in hot demand for luxury property this year. This seven-bedroom mansion in Wolseley Road, Point Piper - Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's stomping ground - sold for A$21m in May to an undisclosed local buyer.
The harbour view from 158 Wolseley Road, Point Piper. Photo / Supplied
Also topping A$20m in Sydney's illustrious east was 28A The Crescent, Vaucluse, which sold for A$20.3m in February. The three-storey waterfront home was sold to Menulog co-founder Dan Katz and features five bedrooms, a gym, a private jetty and a giant pool.
Menulog co-founder Dan Katz bought this spectacular Sydney home for more than $20 million. Photo / Supplied
Another day in Sydney, another harbour-view penthouse. The 'Anadara' penthouse in Barangaroo sold for A$12.5m in June. More than half of the 543sq m floor space is dedicated to terraces overlooking iconic Sydney Harbour.
More than half of the floor space in this Barangaroo penthouse apartment is dedicated to terraces soaking up the harbour views. Photo / Supplied
The four-bedroom high-end penthouse features floor to ceiling glass walls; even the bath tub in one of the four bathrooms has water views.
Harbour views from the bath tub, now that's the life. Photo / Supplied
QUEENSLAND CATCHING UP
Queensland's Mermaid Beach had one of the most expensive sales this year, after former Billabong executive Scott Perrin sold his beachfront home on Albatross Ave for A$25m in October.
Tidemark, the Mermaid Beach mansion owned former Billabong executive, sold for A$25 million. Photo / Supplied
A mystery interstate resident bought the six-bedroom, 2833sq m home called 'Tidemark'. The home features an 11 space car garage, two gourmet kitchens with a beachfront Teppanyaki pavilion, and a main bedroom complete with a steam room, sauna and spa. It was designed by multi-award winning architect Bayden Goddard.
Elsewhere in Queensland, this inner-city pad in Yeronga, Brisbane, sold for A$5.5m in January. The five-bedroom home overlooking the Brisbane River features a gym, home theatre, billiard room and climate controlled cellar.
Can you believe this five-bedroom dream home is less than 10km from Brisbane's CBD? Photo / Supplied
But that's not the only inner-city Brisbane pad which sold for top dollar this year. This six-bedroom home Federation home in New Farm sold for A$5.1m.
This gorgeous Federation home 12 Elystan Road, New Farm, sold for $5.5 million. Photo / Supplied
Named 'Elystan House', number 12 Elystan Road was designed by architect Kevin Hayes and boasts a 30 metre street front. Inside, it features 10 foot pressed metal ceilings, polished hardwood floors, lead light windows and a fireman's pole.
Elystan House also features every wine connoisseur's dream cellar. Photo / Supplied
