The property market is something Aussies spend more time thinking about than theyโd like to admit to, but everyone knows not all homes are created equal. Here at On The Market, we scour countless property listings to share the best of the best, from palatially proportioned waterfront palaces to meticulously designed studio apartments.
Itโs not very often that Australian architecture is so ambitious that it receives international attention, but thatโs exactly what Daylesford Longhouse attracted as a multi-hyphenate project by owners Trace Streeter and Ronnen Goren. Now, itโs arrived on the market for the first time since construction began over a decade ago, offering a remarkable opportunity to own both a piece of rural Victorian architectural history and several businesses, too.
The Daylesford Longhouse was notably featured on the Apple TV+ show Home โ and I was even lucky enough to interview Ronnen at the time โ who explained it combined a private home, Airbnb, and working farm, with livestock and fruit and vegetable growing under a single roof. Trace and Ronnen also hosted cooking classes for anyone interested (and Airbnb guests); as well as provided a place for backpackers to live in exchange for working on the property.
Measuring 110 metres in length, Daylesford Longhouse was the recipient of the Robin Boyd Award, the National Award for Residential Architecture, and Australian House of the Year (2019). Itโs also self-sustaining with a 27kW solar array (plus battery storage), and harvests more than 650,000 litres of rainwater a year. A very special home, indeed.
Address: 178 Mannings Road, Elevated Plains VIC 3461
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 4
Car spaces: 12
Price Guide: $7,500,000 to $8,200,000
Truly one of Sydneyโs most prized penthouses, this apartment enjoys the north-east corner of The Astor building thatโs stood for over a hundred years, counting notable neighbours such as Cate Blanchett, Barry Humphries, Lady Mary Fairfax, and more.
Drenched in art deco detail, it boasts harbour views, bespoke joinery and wardrobes, and even a marble-clad steam room.
Thereโs also a chefโs kitchen practically built for unforgettable nights of entertaining, a cocktail bar, herringbone timber flooring, as well as an entrance hall with 2.8-metre ceilings. Sydney CBD living doesnโt get much better than this.
Address: 121/123-125 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Car spaces: 1
Price Guide: Auction
Finally, we have a Toorak architectural masterpiece in the form of Sir Roy Grounds House โ designed by architect Roy Grounds as his primary residence and the winner of the Victorian Architecture Medal in 1954.
For those of you who havenโt come across the Grounds name before, youโll almost certainly know his work, with his most famous public buildings being the National Gallery of Victoria and the Arts Centre Melbourne.
While his Toorak home was created on a slightly different scale than his public works, 1/24 Hill Street is constructed on a perfect square, with a circular courtyard in its centre and rooms separated by dividers and hallways (rather than internal walls or doors). Thereโs even a lower basement with a wine cellar, while the rest of the home is modest in proportion.
Sure, $2,500,000 shouldnโt be considered particularly affordable for a two-bedroom home, though considering its historical significance, unique design, and Toorak location, it might be one of the best-priced homes weโve seen all year.
Address: 1/24 Hill Street, Toorak VIC 3142
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Car spaces: 2
Price Guide: $2,300,000 to $2,500,000
