Revealed: Sydney’s great homes of the rich and famous
Sydney Harbour, its bushland and beaches are the perfect backdrop to some of the world’s great homes. Find out who owns them and take a look around in our ultimate guide.
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Ever wonder what homes the rich and famous return to each night across Sydney?
NewsLocal has compiled a list featuring the city’s most affluent people and their not-so-humble abodes.
From Sydney’s ritzy eastern suburbs and northern beaches to the best in the west and south, this is the eye-watering list of Sydney’s finest homes owned by the rich and famous.
MIKE CANNON-BROOKES – POINT PIPER
When the billionaire and co-founder of tech company Atlassian bought his Point Piper estate in 2018, reportedly for around $100 million, it was the most expensive home ever sold in Australia.
That record was smashed a year later when a buyer purchased a giant harbourside penthouse near Barangaroo for around $140 million (atop a yet-to-be-completed skyscraper).
Cannon-Brookes’ huge 1.12ha estate known as Fairwater is nothing short of breathtaking.
It was previously owned by the Fairfax family and backs onto Sydney Harbour with incredible views of the water and city.
The heritage-listed palace was built in the 1880s and is surrounded by sprawling lawns, trees and of course a pool.
Cannon-Brookes’ good mate, and fellow co-founder of Atlassian, Scott Farquhar lives next door on another impressive estate at Point Piper.
GUY SEBASTIAN – MAROUBRA
The artist and TV personality is a famous resident of Maroubra in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
His multimillion-dollar mansion, which he shares with his family, was completed in 2019 and enjoys incredible views over the ocean.
Purchased for about $3 million in 2013, Sebastian knocked down the original house and built his dream home which features four bedrooms across three levels.
Among its many bells and whistles, the home features a stunning spiral staircase and an expansive outdoor area equipped with a pool and tennis court. And, of course, his grand piano is a feature inside the home.
CHAU CHAK WING – VAUCLUSE
The businessman and property developer has one of the most impressive homes in Sydney.
Bought for about $70 million in 2015, the huge property in Vaucluse features a six-storey mansion overlooking Sydney Harbour.
The mansion has plenty of space for entertaining high flyers and reportedly has a garage with space for 20 vehicles.
The property was formerly owned by James Packer.
BRETT LEE – CLONTARF
Australian cricket legend Brett Lee snapped up a majestic home in northern Sydney last year.
Paying about $9 million, Lee and his family’s abode in Clontarf boasts seven bedrooms and an infinity pool, with spectacular views over the harbour.
The three-storey home also includes plenty of entertainment areas such as a spacious billiards room among its many features.
JENNIFER HAWKINS – NEWPORT
This remarkable house on Sydney’s northern beaches recently changed hands from one celebrity to another high-profile figure.
Supermodel Jennifer Hawkins and her husband built the award-winning home in Newport and were living there up until last year, when they offloaded it to billionaire Mike Cannon-Brooks for $24.5 million.
The four-storey, waterfront home has plenty of clever features including a lift, boathouse, gym and pool and an enviable walk-in wardrobe fit for a model.
New owner Cannon-Brooks, one of Australia’s wealthiest people, owns two properties on this list.
STEVE SHELLEY – BURRANEER BAY
Steve Shelley’s mansion in Burraneer Bay is so picture-perfect it won the coveted HIA-CSR Australian Home of the Year title in 2016.
Shelley, from Shelley’s soft-drink dynasty, is also the founder of companies Aero-Care and Deputy.
He decided to build his dream home in the Sutherland Shire where he grew up.
The six-storey mansion set on the water’s edge of Burraneer Bay includes seven bedrooms, guest pavilions, a bowling alley, a full-sized bar, a gym, a tunnel, and a private beach among its many features.
It is also close by to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s residence at Port Hacking.
RAY HADLEY – DURAL
The radio king has a sprawling estate in Dural, located on the outskirts of Sydney.
The estate includes a five-bedroom home, two swimming pools, a tennis court, a barn, beautiful spacious surrounds, and spectacular gardens.
However, Hadley may not be there for much longer as he recently put the property up for sale with a price tag of $7 million.
JAMES PACKER – BARANGAROO (SYDNEY CBD)
James Packer reportedly has plans to turn two levels of his One Barangaroo skyscraper, also known as Crown Sydney, into his own residence.
He paid $60 million for the two floors in the 75-storey tower, which has now been built. The tower boasts incredible views over Sydney Harbour and across the city.
The billionaire businessman formerly owned another eye-catching property on this list in Vaucluse.
NSW GOVERNMENT – MULGOA
Perhaps not an owner you would expect to see on this list for a trophy estate, the NSW Government bought a sprawling property and mansion known as Fernhill Estate on the outskirts of western Sydney in 2018 for a whopping $27 million.
The State Government has stated it was bought for “the use and enjoyment of the community” and the heritage-listed homestead on the property has since undergone repairs.
It was formerly owned by property tycoon Warren Anderson.
The Mulgoa property was reportedly set to be turned into a cemetery before community backlash shot down that idea, and it was later purchased by the State Government.
HARRY TRIGUBOFF – VAUCLUSE (SYDNEY’S EAST)
Development giant Harry Triguboff owns a sprawling property and mansion in Vaucluse.
However, the property is reportedly set to undergo a major revamp.
Triguboff has owned the waterfront estate for decades and plans were lodged last year to knock down the main residence and also subdivide the property.
Little is known about the Meriton owner’s grand plans for the property which potentially could see a new mansion erected on the grounds.
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