The property market is something Aussies spend more time thinking about than they’d 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.
Based on photos alone, you’d expect this beautifully designed home to be in the middle of nowhere. Yet it sits atop the foothills south of Hobart, just a 25-minute drive from the CBD.
Spanning more than 320 acres across two titles, the Rosevear Stephenson-designed estate exists in rare harmony with its surrounding landscape. The main residence boasts natural materials, framed vistas, and garden design that brings Kunanyi/Mount Wellington into daily life.
There’s also a studio, curated plantings around the home, as well as exceptional liveability thanks to its proximity to the Tasmanian capital. Offering acres upon acres of untouched eucalypt forest that promise total seclusion (without the tyranny of distance), this is ideal for anyone who needs to be near an airport, but doesn’t want the relentless hustle and bustle of city-living.
Address: 424 & L2/636 Summerleas Road, Fern Tree TAS 7054
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 3
Car spaces: 7
Price Guide: Offers over $3,900,000
Hidden behind a sweeping driveway and lush, secluded gardens, this converted 1890s warehouse reveals an extraordinary modern home, revived via a Max May renovation defined by timber-lined vaulted ceilings and vast open-plan living zones.
Spanning roughly 592 square metres, it balances cosy areas with palatially proportioned main spaces and features a central kitchen, dramatic northwest fireplace, media room, office, and even a study nook. There’s also a parents’ retreat, multiple living areas, and beautifully framed garden scenes outside – promising a rare Armadale sanctuary with undeniable architectural pedigree.
How bloody good.
Address: 9 Meryl Street, Armadale VIC 3143
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
Car spaces: 5
Price Guide: $7,750,000 to $8,500,000
If you live for the summer of cricket, we have a house that might pique your interest, given that it once belonged to former Australian cricket captain and batting great Michael Clarke. And based on a cursory glance at this spectacular Vaucluse mansion’s photos, there is no denying it’s beautiful. Though one question did keep nagging us:
“Where does Pup play backyard cricket?”
I guess when you’re a professional cricketer, you’re probably less interested in the “one hand, one bounce” form of the game. But it did leave me scratching my head about where the man himself drilled cover drives.
In lieu of a grass patch sporting a worn-in crease, the exterior of Clarke’s ex-residence features a large alfresco dining area and a pool – both of which are framed by lush gardens. Located opposite the historic grounds of Vaucluse House, the European-inspired residence pairs classical symmetry with a modern sense of luxury, featuring formal and informal living zones that effortlessly unfold as you move through the home.
There’s a refined marble kitchen, master suite with a private terrace, custom bar, gym, plus sculpted limestone finishes that only further elevate the property. So if you’re in the market and love the idea of playing a game of cricket on the same hallowed “turf” that Clarke once did come Christmas Day… this isn’t for you.
For anyone else house-hunting in Vaucluse, however, it’s remarkable.
Address: 51 Olola Avenue, Vaucluse NSW 2030
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 5
Car spaces: 4
Price Guide: From $20,000,000
