Behind closed doors: exploring the opulent mansions of SEQ’s wealthy property tycoons
Indoor pools, rooftop bars, art galleries, shoe rooms and rotating beds. Take a look at the estates of some of Queensland’s wealthiest people.
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The list of Australia’s richest for 2024 has been revealed with 10 of the country’s top 50 moneybags having luxury home bases and trophy mansions in the Sunshine State.
With billionaire property developers and real estate gurus dominating the list, it is no surprise that they have some of the most opulent residences on prime real estate.
From private spas, Swedish-style saunas, indoor pools, rooftop bars, art galleries, shoe rooms with floor-to-ceiling mirrors, and even boudoir chandeliers, these exclusive properties are where the state's richest call home.
Top of the list, compiled by business magazine Forbes, is mining magnate Gina Rinehart, who owns two luxury waterfront properties on the Brisbane River and has dabbled in the real estate sector.
We look behind the front gates to explore the hidden grandeur of the mansions of SEQ’s tycoons who made their homes in Queensland.
GINA RINEHART
#1 Forbes 2024: $30.2 Billion
Aaron Ave, Hawthorne: $18.5 million (2017)
Suttons St, Chelmer $3.175 (2010)
Behind the street facade of a 2m brick fence covered in greenery, Gina Rinehart’s 4500 sqm tropical paradise includes an ornate two-level pre-1946 Queenslander, complete with horizon pool and sweeping views across Brisbane’s CBD.
The Brisbane mansion, with its feature wrought-iron verandas, was extended in 2022 with a master suite added complete with lounge room and its own rotunda.
Wingfield Ave Pty Ltd, paid a total of $18 million for the two adjoining Aaron Ave properties in 2014.
The property was not publicly listed for sale at the time, so little is known about it. But along with its in-ground pool, it does have a tennis court and spacious outdoor living areas on the decorative verandas and its own private pontoon and helipad.
Wingfield Ave Pty Ltd, also owns luxury properties in Brisbane at Sutton St, Chelmer which it bought for $3.175 million March 2010 and a riverfront home at Laidlaw Pde, East Brisbane, which it paid $4.95 million for in July 2008.
The four bedroom, three bathroom Sutton St property has sweeping views across a reach of the Brisbane River.
The architecturally designed home, includes a bathroom with a glass ceiling for those who like to bathe while stargazing. It also has a fireplace in a feature wall made of glass that stands more than 5m high to capture the view to the river.
The daughter of iron ore explorer Lang Hancock, also has a palatial residence in Perth, from where she oversees her mining ventures.
CLIVE PALMER
#13 Forbes 2024: $4.2 Billion
King Arthurs Court, Paradise Point: $20 million (2021)
Clive Palmer may have made his wealth from mining but the bigger-than-life businessman and former politician also loves his property investments and owns more than 34 residential blocks in Queensland alone.
From Townsville to Toowong, the ebullient resources giant, who first became a billionaire in 2019, owns luxury houses and penthouses along the Queensland coast.
He snapped up a $2.6 million house in Wool St, Toowong in 2021 along with three neighbouring properties in Botticelli St at Fig Tree Pocket, where he also owns a $5 million property in Jesmond Rd that he bought in 2020.
The burly businessman must love Brisbane’s western suburbs as he also bought a $7.5 million house in Needham St, Fig Tree Pocket along with properties in Graceville, Sunnybank and Southport. He also has 11 properties at the ritzy Paradise Point on the Gold Coast.
But his pièce de résistance is the $20,000 Chateau de Reves, the home he shares with wife Anna at King Arthur Court at Paradise Point.
Just like its owner, the 3070 sqm property has grand proportions with massive walls of glass towering over an 85m water frontage giving uninterrupted southerly views of the Gold Coast broadwater and Sovereign Island.
The home took three years to build and includes eight fully ensuited bedrooms, two studies, two kitchens, staff quarters, a full-size tennis court, spa, Turkish steam room, a 14-car basement garage, a convenient lift to all levels and a private full-size pontoon for a boat.
Its soaring ceilings and opulent contemporary finishes give the multi-level design a definite feeling of awe.
It has imported Venetian Murano glass windows, an Italian imported timber balustrade and Botticino marble floors.
An extravagant staircase, designed and manufactured in Italy and shipped in one piece, takes centre stage.
The spacious gourmet open-plan kitchen on the first level is pure opulence and features a custom-made teppanyaki table and white marble benchtops.
There is a second professional kitchen on the lower level for staff.
Along with a 16-seat formal dining room, the house has a wine cellar and a pool which is both indoor and outdoor and features 24ct gold tiles.
When Mr Palmer retires to his master suite, he can lie back and look at the spectacular water views on his lavish custom-designed rotating bed, while his wife can inspect her shoe collection in a 9 sqm dedicated shoe room.
LANG WALKER
#21 Forbes 2024: $2.45 Billion
Tedder Ave, Main Beach $1,025,000 (1991)
The late Lang Walker and his family business bought the penthouse in Malibu tower on Tedder Ave, main Beach in 1991 for $1.025 million.
The apartment has massive floor-to-ceiling windows looking out across The Gold Coast and its waterways. It has a rooftop private swimming pool with its own bar and entertaining area.
Mr Walker died in January, leaving his vast wealth to his wife Sue and their children Blake, Chad and Georgia.
Walker Corp, which develops office towers, industrial estates and residential projects, bought the luxurious Malibu tower less than a year after it was completed.
The company, originally started as A&L Walker in 1964, is still waiting for its plans to build residential high rises at Toondah Harbour to be approved by the federal Environment Department.
An executive team is overseeing the company’s $9 billion portfolio of prime assets.
BOB AND BRIDGET ELL
#24 Forbes 2024: $2.3 Billion
Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach: $22.6 million (2020)
Tycoon Bob Ell has vast land holdings and once owned the Victoria Point Shopping Centre. His company Leda Holdings, set up Ipswich Riverlink and Morayfield Shopping Centres.
Since building the $700 million Meadows masterplanned community of 2000 homes at Pimpama, the couple have made their home on the Gold Coast.
The Ells live in a mansion built over three waterfront blocks on Hedges Ave at Surfers Paradise.
When that wasn’t big enough for a tennis court, they bought another house across the road and own at least two other properties in the same street.
Mr Ell sold a palatial two-storey penthouse at Potts Point in Sydney for $15 million and his harbour-front block at Cremorne sold for $25 million after he abandoned plans for a nine-bedroom house, complete with two swimming pools and a rooftop tennis court.
Their home on Tedder Ave sprawls over 1214 sqm of beachfront land.
The architecture-design house has five bedrooms, four with ensuites and private balconies. The master bedroom includes a “grand hotel” ensuite, dressing room and large balcony with views across the ocean. The house includes a library, study, a private roof deck and a massive secure basement for at least seven cars.
A gym, cold room, storerooms, sauna, bathroom, and a second laundry are all downstairs.
The ultimate man cave includes a games room with pool table, bar, powder room and a massive four-screen television.
The tiled pool and spa is in the centre of the home which has a lift servicing all three levels. There is a large gourmet kitchen with an integrated cocktail bar and butler’s pantry.
A gas fireplace sits neatly under grand chandeliers.
A massive goldfish pond gives the entry a grand feel.
The couple also owns a $4.75m property on Main Beach Parade and land on Paradise Place at Surfers Paradise.
SAM AND PAUL CHONG
#36 Forbes 2024: $1.6 Billion
Mary Street, Brisbane $70 million complex (2017)
Paul Chong and his wife Lai Kion have an extensive property portfolio in and around Brisbane with a $70 million apartment and hotel development in Brisbane’s Central Business District.
Mr Chong, whose Malaysian-born father Sam owns the Jellinbah Group, which operates two coal mines in Queensland, made a move into property investment and development but also owns a cane farm in northern NSW.
His Felicity Hotel Group has property assets worth about $60 million on its balance sheet and employs 60 people. Felicity owns the $325m Mary Lane apartments in Brisbane, which include 184 luxury one, two and three-bedroom apartments.
Some of the apartments have private pool access and look out across the Brisbane River.
They are adjacent to the five-star Westin Hotel, near the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel.
JOHN VAN LIESHOUT
#37 Forbes 2024: $1.5 Billion
Witta Circle, Noosa Heads: $3.68 million (2011)
Nindethana St, Indooroopilly: $1.15 million (1992)
The homes of the founder of the Super A-Mart furniture chain, John Van Lieshout and his wife Linda, are impeccably furnished.
The family lives at Indooroopilly but splits its time at other properties including its Noosa Heads pad, which has incredible views across the prestigious Noosa Sounds.
The Noosa property on an island enclave, is cloaked in privacy but is only five minutes’ easy flat walk to the vibrant Hastings St shops and restaurants and Noosa Main Beach.
The Van Lieshout’s block is the premium location on a key corner giving it the best water views, privacy, and an outlook across to tree-lined riverbanks.
The home is beautifully sited to take advantage of the views, and has generous terraces for entertaining and relaxing.
A super-sized jetty is a feature that cannot be duplicated with current laws, and it even comes with its own boat ramp, sandy beach, and drive-through boat garage.
Although the Van Lieshouts sold Super A-Mart in 2006, the family retained the freehold to some stores.
The Indooroopilly home, on a massive 5760 sqm, has a private pool area, tennis court, cabana and barbecue and outdoor entertaining areas.
Mr Van Lieshout emigrated from the Netherlands in 1960 with his parents and 12 siblings.
The family’s wealth is now tied to a large property portfolio which includes shopping malls and commercial offices managed and run by Unison Projects, which has property interests in residential, industrial and commercial assets.
Along with the Noosa property, the Van Lieshouts also own a $9 million beachfront block, currently up for sale on Main Beach Parade at Main Beach on the Gold Coast.
They also own a $2.5 million farm on Mountain View Rd at Maleny and a $4.18 million property at King Arthur Tce at Tennyson as well as properties at Sandgate, MacGregor and Lawnton.
CHRIS WALLIN
#39 Forbes 2024: $1.43 Billion
Yallamurra St, The Gap: Undisclosed
Billionaire geologist Chris Wallin has lived in his suburban Brisbane home at Yallamurra St, The Gap, for more than 30 years.
Mr Wallin was the Queensland government’s chief coal geologist before starting his company, QCoal, in 1989.
His fortune has waxed and waned with the fluctuating price of coal and after being booted for the billionaire hot list in 2013, he returned to the ranks in 2019 after $300 million in QCoal dividends flowed into his bank account.
Not many details are known about his private property, secreted away down a long driveway in thick bushland.
The house overlooks a natural-style swimming pool surrounded by the bush setting.
He also owns properties at Monto, Springlands, Moorooka and Dalby.
BRUCE MATHIESON
#41 Forbes 2024 $1.35 Billion
Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach $11.6 million (2018)
Bruce Mathieson’s home is a peaceful escape from his life running his company Australian Liquor and Hospitality, a poker machine and pub empire joint venture with supermarket giant Woolworths.
After a board shake-up in January, Mr Mathieson took on a minority shareholder role in the listed Endeavour Group, of which his son Bruce was a board member.
Endeavour now holds both the Australian Liquor assets and Woolworth’s extensive liquor retailing business.
Mr Mathieson’s home reflects his passion for racehorses and the gaming industry with a large conference room and extensive entertaining areas overlooking the beach.
One of the home’s four bathrooms has a tub that has views across Mermaid Beach and down on to a barbecue area below.
An in-ground lap pool is great for relaxing and watching the waves roll in from a private outdoor sanctuary.
A large master bedroom has two walk-in robes and an ensuite overlooking the ocean.
Guests have their own pavilion and private entry.
The basement includes parking for six vehicles along with a large soundproof media room with bar and powder room.
STEFAN ACKERIE
Not on billionaires list
The Circle Hope Island: $5.8 million (2023)
Yachting guru and hairdresser to the stars Stefan Ackerie bought this breathtaking waterfront Gold Coast mansion last year to escape to luxury.
It has spectacular views and its resort-style living includes an open-plan design showcasing four spacious bedrooms, each with its own ensuite and a powder room.
The media room and study provide the perfect space for working.
But the house is really designed for the ultimate waterfront outdoor entertaining experience with an alfresco barbecue area and resort-style pool.
The very low maintenance 783 sqm block is also perfect for Stefan’s car collection. The garage features a car lift for two extra cars or buggy garaging.
SARINA RUSSO
Not on billionaire list
Main Beach Parade, Main Beach $6.25 million (2021)
10 Griffith St, New Farm $2.175 (2019)
Secretarial school business owner Sarina Russo hit the country’s rich list in 2022 with an estimated $267 million fortune.
She owns properties across the southeast with her most recent and most expensive private residential purchase being $6.25 million for a luxury Main Beach Parade apartment.
Ms Russo also owns an exclusive four-bedroom New Farm house, complete with lap pool and outdoor barbecue atrium, which she owns with Andrew Pennisi.
It is less than 50m to the Brisbane Riverwalk and City Cat ferry terminal is only 100m.
The fourth bedroom has its own private entrance and can be used as an office on the lower level.
The master bedroom has a walk-in robe and ensuite with double vanity, floor-to-ceiling mirrors and massive amounts of hanging space and cupboards.
The private balcony overlooks the swimming pool.
All bedrooms have ducted airconditioning and ceiling fans.
The ground level is designed around easy living with the kitchen and dining flowing out to two outdoor entertaining areas.
The lounge area is tranquil with a water feature.
A powder room, walk-in storage and laundry also located downstairs.
Russo also owns a $2.8 million property in Eagle St and a $2 million unit at Macrossan St, Brisbane.
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