Hollywood stars who have spent millions on lavish Australian properties
A number of Hollywood heavyweights have made secret moves across the country, with some officially calling Australia home.
Hollywood superstars have fallen in love with Australia’s pristine coastlines and magnificent cities over the years. And some fell so much in love that they even decided to snap up their own homes here.
From High School Musical Star Zac Efron to Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe, there are film and television legends who have called the Sunburnt country home, or believe it’s the perfect spot for a holiday home.
Here are some of the property moves some actors and actors have made in Australia.
Zac Efron
The ‘High School Musical’ star has fallen in love with Australia after snapping up an acreage here and even filming an entire season of his travel documentary “Down To Earth” about the country.
The 37-year old purchased a 128ha property in the Glenferrie area of the Tweed Valley — an hour’s drive from Byron Bay and about 30 minutes from the Gold Coast — for $2m in December 2020.
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Efron’s application for “the most sustainable hom in the world” on the block was approved by Tweed Shire in November.
The proposal for the zero-waste, off-grid home at Tomewin comes with a $2.685m cost to build, overseen by Melbourne-based environmental activist Joost Bakke.
The application, lodged in August, refers to the dwelling as Futurecave — a six-bedroom, two-storey house in a series of pods designed by architect Frank Burridge.
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The pods, to be made off-site with hemp board building panels, will feature a green roof to retain water as a wicking bed for plants.
The documents submitted call it a “carbon-sequestering, habitat-creating home”.
Daniel Radcliffe
The Harry Potter star purchased a Toorak apartment in the mid-2000s when he was in Australia filming.
CoreLogic records reveal he bought the home for $1.9m in 2004 and sold it to his parents, Marcia Gresham and Alan Radcliffe in 2022 for $2m.
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The English born actor, now 35, has starred in several other films including The Woman in Black, Kill Your Darlings, Victor Frankenstein, Swiss Army Man, Now You See Me 2 Imperium and the television series Miracle Workers.
David Bowie
The late music superstar had a long love affair with the Harbour City and cemented it with the purchase of a luxury unit in exclusive Elizabeth Bay in Sydney’s east.
Bowie regularly visited the harbourside pad over the years to bask in its glorious harbour views from almost every room, the multiple balconies and sunnry resort-style living.
The home, walking distance to the old Kings Cross, was sold in 2023 for $8.8m.
“This home exemplifies a cosmopolitan Sydney lifestyle at its finest,” the listing for the home read.
“Admire harbour views from every room. Immaculate, expansive interiors open to the broad, wraparound, glass sheathed balcony to bask in this exquisite panorama.
“Boasting one of Sydney’s most extensive waterfront landholdings, Kincoppal’s pristine parklike lawns and gardens below flow to the water’s edge. The home features uninterrupted views of Rushcutters Bay, populated by the gently bobbing yachts of the iconic Cruising Yacht Club immediately opposite, the spire of St Marks over to Clark Island, Mosman and Manly shimmer in the distance.”
Flea
Red Hot Chili Peppers star Michael ‘Flea’ Balzary is a big fan of the laid back surfing lifestyle on the NSW South Coast.
The guitarist was born in Australia and lived here during his childhood before moving to California as a teenager.
Flea owned a five-bed, two storey home at Moruya, that included a home studio the RHCP used to record some of their most famous music. Flea and Chili Peppers vocalist Anthony Kiedis were often spotted in the line up catching waves during the Australian summer.
Flea owned the multi-million dollar home for three decades, before selling it in 2023 for $2.475m.
he home shows parallels with Flea’s unique approach to music and life.
“It has a rock-star vibe to it but also a relaxed holiday feeling that is really suited to the village of Congo,” local agent James Hamilton from LJ Hooker Moruya, who held the listing, said.
“Flea has written a lot of music at the property and has had band members, jamming in what was the music room downstairs. It has a contemporary Californian design that sprawls out towards the ocean with amazing views and really compliments the natural environment.”
The band also surfed the local break when they were in town and became well known to the area’s residents.
According to the home’s marketing collateral: “The custom-designed home opens to a magnificent entry with a bespoke spiral copper and steel staircase connecting two double-storey wings.
“Beautifully maintained, the property has undergone extensive updates over the past years. Its features include an open fireplace with stone detailing and a master retreat featuring a luxe ensuite with a mosaic-tiled plunge bath. Bi-fold doors open to an alfresco terrace with views across the property. There is also a multipurpose sports court.”
Mark Wahlberg
While he hasn’t purchased an Aussie abode, the Hollywood heavyweight Mark Wahlberg rented a mansion in the nation’s richest suburb, estimated to be worth as much as $100m.
The five-bedroom Point Piper house sitting on 1238sq m last sold in 2020 for $51m.
The Departed star was living in Sydney while he filmed Play Dirty alongside Tony Shalhoub, Rosa Salazar and Dermot Mulroney.
Overlooking the Harbour, the residence has a rooftop terrace, wet bar, private jerry, pool, fire pits and an alfresco entertaining area.
Wahlberg told The Daily Telegraph earlier that he wasn’t the homeowner, but it had been cool.
“The only difficult part is that I’m so far away from my family,” he said.
The Hemsworth brothers
Byron Bay has become synonymous with the Hemsworth brothers, Chris and Liam, after the film stars bought up big in the hinterland.
The duo are often spotting in and around the Byron Bay township with family or superstar friends such as Matt Damon.
Chris Hemsworth and wife Elsa Pataky set a Broken Head record paying $7m in 2014 for a 4.2-hectare holding outside Byron. Constuction began on what locals dubbed ‘Fortess Hemsworth’ in 2017.
The 4.2ha estate took three years to complete and boasts fantastic district views, all the way to the Pacific Ocean, six bedrooms, a media room, gym, spa and a massive 50m infinity pool.
The home is now estimated to be worth around $50m
Liam bought his part of Northern NSW paradise in 2021 for $6.8m and his building expenses are now expected to be around $14.5m.
His plans, by Melbourne architect firm SSdH include a pavilion-style dual-level home, that seeks to blend itself into the countryside, unlike his brother’s palace.
It will feature two open plan living areas, five bedrooms all with ensuites, a rumpus room that sits around an internal courtyard, a huge cabana, terrace, gym, sauna and 18m pool.
The home will be in addition to one Liam also owns in nearby Newrybar which boasts five bedrooms and four bathrooms.
Elton John
The ‘Tiny Dancer’ singer seems to want to buy a home in Australia but just hasn’t found the right one yet.
Elton John was linked to a luxury $50m pad on Sydney’s Lower North Shore early last year.
The condo style home at Kurraba Residences on Kurraba Point boasts some of the most jawdropping views of Sydney Harbour and The Bridge.
However the Rocket Man’s publicist later shot down speculation about the big purchase.
John was also linked with the purchase of a $100m+ Sydney Harbour home he named “Bang and Olufsen House”, because he thought it looked like a speaker set.
Set on a super private lot, Bang and Olufson house sits at the end of Wolseley Crescent, a quiet cul-de-sac off Wolseley Rd on Sydney’s Point Piper - the most expensive real estate in the country.
It is highly recognisable by its iconic tinted floor-to-ceiling windows and flat roof.
The three-storey home was built over a three year period in the 1980s.
Elton John was so enamoured by the home he was interested in buying it.
The singer/songwriter walked through the home and apparently even launched an $11m offer for the property before withdrawing it, after deciding he didn’t want to own real estate in Sydney.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban
Film legend Nicole Kidman and country music singer Keith Urban have spent about $25m on property around the world, including in Australia, in the last decade alone.
One of their real estate moves was in Milsons Point, Sydney where they snapped up around six apartments for $27.5m in 2024.
In the same year, they also bought another property for $7.725m in Sydney’s north side.
The pair have a country escape in the Southern Highlands called Bunya Hill Estate as well, which cost them $6.5m in 2008.
Spanning 45ha, the black Angus cattle stud has a 1878 Georgian mansion and a separate guest cottage.
Russell Crowe
Academy Award winner Russell Crowe made a savvy investment when he bought into the revamped Finger Wharf in Sydney decades ago.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs owner calls the Wharf home when in Sydney and has recently move to offload the luxury home “if the price is right”.
The agents understood to have the job of selling the whole-floor 1000sqm north-facing residence at the exclusive northern end of the landmark Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo, McGrath Double Bay prestige specialists William Manning and Luke Hogan, have refused to comment.
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Though a sprinkling of top-end buyers agents have whispered that they’ve been made aware of the impending sale, with a $42m-$45m price guidance.
Not surprisingly, given the property’s rarity — directly above one of the smaller (513sqm) apartments owned by Sydney’s recently retired “Golden Tonsils” John Laws that fetched $12.5m a year ago via Ray White’s Di Wilson — buyers are “lining up” to take a look, one buyer’s agent said.
Some of those that have been through the apartment suggested that the new owner will need to do a makeover of the level-four spread before moving in — he hasn’t done a reno since buying it from Nutrimetrics founder Imelda Roche and her late husband, Bill Roche, for $14.35m in 2003.
The northern end of the wharf has its own strata plan and is considered a “private club”.
And Rusty’s apartment, a consolidation of four apartments, comes with seven car parks and its own boat berth.
It’s not the first time that Manning’s presented offers to one of Australia’s most famous stars — $25m in 2017 and $35m in 2021.
But you just never know — if there’s a buyer out there who wants a very special waterfront pad, Russell — and his agents — may well soon have something to Crowe about!
Teresa Palmer and Mark Webber
Actors Teresa Palmer and Mark Webber offloaded their Scott Creek property in Adelaide at the end of 2024.
The modern three-bedroom home sits on 4ha of land and has an infinity edge pool and spa.
It’s understood the couple and their kids relocated to Byron Bay for Webber to work on a television series, and planned to be there for about a year.
Webber has acted in films like snow Day, The Laramie Project and Scott Pilgrim. vs. the World, while Palmer has starred in movies like Hacksaw Ridge, Lights Out and The Fall Guy.
Isla Fisher
Isla Fisher, who has starred in Confessions of a Shopaholic and Wedding Crashers, owned an Art Deco apartment in Woollahra, Sydney.
She purchased the two-bedroom unit for $171,500 in 1995 while she was acting in Home and away.
Fisher listed the apartment in 2024 which ended up selling for $930,000 that year, and had used it as a rental property she let for $400-$680 a week.
She was selling her home at the time she announced her separation from fellow Hollywood heavyweight Sacha Baron Cohen.
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sarah.petty@news.com.au
Originally published as Hollywood stars who have spent millions on lavish Australian properties
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