Inside stunning house that overturned top home of the year

A sprawling resort-style estate has beaten dream houses up and down the coast, overturning rankings for top home of the year after people power rocketed it to lead position. SEE INSIDE

This estate has been voted the Readers' Top Home of the Year.

A sprawling hinterland estate built like a private resort has been voted the top home of the year, overturning a list released in December thanks to its popularity with readers.

The stunning Rancho del Cielo – Spanish for ranch in the sky – at 1 Fischer Road, Carbrook, was ranked 43rd out of 50 in a list of the Top 50 Homes of 2023, but readers decided it deserved top gong, rocketing it into first place.

MORE: Nate Myles’ mum Janet Evans’ ‘live, work, swim’ legacy for sale

Gen Z influencer family Norris Nuts flip $10m Gold Coast site

Revealed: Qld’s 50 cheapest streets, and 50 most expensive

A peaceful retreat for the owner.

Readers decided this was the top home of the year.

The home has resort-style facilities.

The 4.65ha estate located in the hinterland at Logan, halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast is the ultimate in dream homes, with every whim catered for from a private floodlit tennis court, to a 25-metre resort style infinity edge swimming pool, enormous poolside entertaining pavilion, horse paddocks, pond, fully equipped gym, sauna, recreation room with bar and pool table, executive offices as well as river and mountain views.

Listed for sale in September as “your very own piece of paradise” by real estate agent Rachael Spinks of Spinks & Co Residential, readers may well be too late to snatch it up completely, with the home now under contract for what’s believed to be a new suburb record.

Ms Spinks said the top home accolade was “well deserved and the readers have got great taste”.

A beautiful set up across over 4 hectares.

Muted tones add to the restful vibe.

The wine cellar of the ranch style home.

Rancho del Cielo – which is also the name of former US president Ronald Reagan’s ranch – was extensively renovated by the seller over 2003 and 2005, Ms Spinks said.

“It was his home, but over a period of time because he lived overseas quite a lot he did have it rented out to people for weddings and functions,” she said.

“We had buyer inquiry from far and wide, international, interstate, across Queensland, but the buyer ended up being a Brisbane local.”

“It really attracted a lot of people because I think this is just an extra special property. The owner loved living there for the privacy, the river and the view to the mountains. It’s fabulous for entertaining. It’s hosted lots of great parties and functions but it’s also a very beautiful private retreat to escape to.”

Perfect winter spot.

There are multiple rooms to lounge in.

Indoor-outdoor flow.

“The sunsets are beautiful and you’ve got the birds and the Logan river which is really lovely, and it’s still so close to everything – 20 minutes down to the bay, 40 minutes to the coast or 30 minutes to the city. It’s really like an undiscovered treasure, just paradise.”

It’s unclear as yet if the new owner will continue an arrangement with the award-winning team at Maleny Manor which would give readers a chance to stay there. The property was listed for special events like weddings at the property when it was not being used as a private retreat by the seller. It was priced from $1500 a night or as much as $2,500 a night with breakfast by a private chef, with the estate available to sleep 10 people maximum across five fully serviced suites. The extra-curricular activities included helicopter flights, fishing or scenic cruise charters, golf and limousine hire.

There are six bedrooms at Rancho del Cielo.

One of seven bathrooms.

Room for everything in one of the walk-in closets.

SEE THE LATEST PROPTRACK HOME PRICE INDEX

Among the homes Rancho del Cielo surged past to the top was Cremorne at 34 Mullens St, Hamilton, which sold for $8m in June last year. Readers voted Cremorne into second place from its 14th ranking in December.

Readers also pushed a minimalist home at 20/7 Tari Place, Trinity Beach up from 48th position to third place, drawn by its Balinese-inspired architecture and stunning hilltop position.

A Brisbane home called Kinauld at 116 Dornoch Terrace, Highgate Hill jumped from 18th to fourth place in the Readers’ Top 50. The home built in 1888 is one of Highgate Hill’s original landmark homes and has been owned by the same family for over three decades. The seven bedroom stunner is currently listed for sale.

In fifth place was Villa De La Mer at 37 The Beacons, Airlie Beach – a spectacular triple storey home with absolute beachfront views and its own private 30 metre multihull marina berth which jumped from 19th to fifth spot.

CLICK ON THE READERS’ TOP 50 BELOW

FOLLOW SOPHIE FOSTER ON X