Sydney’s most expensive homes sold in 2021: prices for luxe homes hit new heights during pandemic

They were already jaw dropping, but prices for luxe Sydney homes hit even more lavish heights this year, with the top sale coming in at $60m. See which homes sold for the highest prices.

Dial-A-Dump founder Ian Malouf, with daughter Ellie, was behind the highest purchase of the year. Picture: Toby Zerna

They were already jaw dropping, but prices for luxe Sydney homes hit even more lavish heights this year as pandemic panic encouraged wealthy residents to stockpile glitzy homes.

Nearly 20 residential properties traded for prices above $30 million over the year, including a city penthouse sold for $60 million – the country’s priciest home sale over 2021.

Most of the other properties topping this year’s list of highest sale prices were also inner city penthouses, including multiple units in the newly built 75-floor skyscraper Crown Sydney.

SEE LIST OF SALES BELOW

The highest price for a detached house was the $45 million paid for historic estate Rosemont in Woollahra by Balmain Group chairman Andrew Griffin.

An artists impression of Crown Residences in Barangaroo, where more than three sales topped $40m.

Housing experts revealed uncertainty over the economic impact of the pandemic was a key driver of the lofty prices, with wealthy buyers often viewing luxury homes as a “safe haven” for their millions.

There was also a considerable shortage of luxury properties in prime locations and this encouraged cashed up buyers to snap up luxe estates soon after they were listed for sale.

One luxury property on Wolseley Rd in Point Piper sold for $40 million just 10 days after being listed – faster than the average Sydney home sale, despite being about 40 times pricier.

And in Vaucluse, a six-bedroom home on Hopetoun Ave sold for $35 million four days after it was first listed. It was double the 2018 price of $17 million.

A few key players were behind many of the biggest deals, including Ian Malouf, the country’s richest garbo, who snapped up the penthouse of the ANZ Tower in the CBD for $60 million.

Rosemont,in Woollahra was the highest house sale at $45m. Picture: John Appleyard

The Dial-a-Dump founder also bought two homes in Double Bay this year for $35 million and $26 million and another in Palm Beach for about $20 million.

Billionaire Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon Brookes, who set a national price record in 2018 when he paid $100 million for a house in Point Piper, stockpiled a range of other properties in 2021.

They included weekenders in Newport and Pittwater’s Scotland Island and a Southern Highlands retreat snapped up for a combined $25 million.

Rich listers Anabelle Shamir and Adam Blumenthal, chairman of EverBlu capital, spent $30 million in Bellevue Hill, adding to Southern Highlands and North Bondi properties worth about $10 million.

Villa Florda on Tivoli Ave in Rose Bay sold for an undisclosed price reported to be near $45m.

The eastern suburbs Tzaneros family, owners of the country’s largest privately held freight company ACFS Port Logistics, also bagged an impressive array of properties.

Parents Terry and Anne Tzaneros bought a Point Piper waterfront house for $38 million, while son Arthur was reported to be behind a $32 million splurge on a Vaucluse house on Olola Ave.

Sydney Sothebys director Michael Pallier, who sold more than $1 billion in residential real estate this year, said it was “the best year ever” for prestige sales.

The market was roaring because of the pandemic, not in spite of it, he explained.

“Covid has fast tracked everything,” he said. “There’s been more of a focus on the home, it’s the safest place to be in a pandemic.”

This boatshed at 29A Wunulla Road, Point Piper sold for nearly $38.5m.

Mr Pallier added that wealthy buyers often jumped on mansion sales because of rampant competition.

“Wealth has exploded because of the internet. There’s more people who can afford these (luxury) homes, but there’s not many of them. Waterfront land is in short supply.”

Prestige agent Brad Pillinger, who was behind some of 2021’s biggest sales, said the profile of people buying up Sydney mansions was different to previous years.

“Back in the 80s you had to be a CEO or a rock star,” he said. “Today there is a much greater depth of wealth in the country. Demand is exceeding supply.”

TOP SYDNEY RESIDENTIAL SALES OF 2021

1. ANZ TOWER PENTHOUSE, SYDNEY CBD $60M

The view from the $60 million penthouse.

2. ROSEMONT, ROSEMONT AVE, WOOLLAHRA $45M

3. VILLA FLORIDA, TIVOLA AVE, ROSE BAY $45M*

4. CROWN SYDNEY, BARANGAROO $42M

5. CROWN SYDNEY, BARANGAROO $41M

6. CROWN SYDNEY, BARANGAROO $40.75M

7. 44 WOLSELEY RD, POINT PIPER $40M

The Wolseley Rd, Point Piper home.

8. 29A WUNULLA RD, POINT PIPER $38.5M

9. 1 WINGADALL PL, POINT PIPER $38M

10. HILLSIDE AVE, VAUCLUSE $38M

7 Hillside Ave, Vaucluse sold during lockdown.

11. 178 HOPETOUN AVE, VAUCLUSE $35M

12. SIRIUS PENTHOUSE, THE ROCKS $35M

13. 2A CASTRA PL, DOUBLE BAY $35M

14. FISHER AVE, VAUCLUSE $34.5M

15. 20A TIVOLI AVE, ROSE BAY $34M

16. 42A WOLSELEY RD, POINT PIPER $33M

17. OLOLA AVE, VAUCLUSE $32M

18. 96 VICTORIA RD, BELLEVUE HILL $30M

19. 9 KENNETH ST, TAMARAMA $29.2M

20. ALCOORINGA, VICTORIA RD, BELLEVUE HILL $28.5M