The Mediterranean meets Manly in Vince Squillace mega-mansion
This Vince Squillace-designed home would not be out of place on the Mediterranean. With incredible ocean views, and a north-facing spot above Manly’s Shelly Beach, it has the WOW factor.
Sitting in the dining room of Ray and Julie Balcomb’s is like being transported to a luxury Greek villa overlooking the crystal blue of the Mediterranean.
Pinch yourself and you are back in 38 Bower St. The view is just as breathtakingly beautiful, so close to the shoreline of Shelly Beach you can easily make out the rock formations in Cabbage Tree Bay.
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Turn your eyes north and all you see is blue ocean, as it stretches all the way up to the Central Coast.
The Balcombs have never tired of this view, and never taken a moment of living in their wonderful house for granted.
“We fell in love with it the moment we walked in, we knew it was the place,” Mr Balcomb said.
“It’s an amazing place, it really is quite extraordinary.”
The couple know how to spot something special. The Bower St home was, up until a couple of years ago, their weekend beach house. They lived full time in Duffys Forest, where they had spent 15 years creating one of Sydney’s finest world class equestrian estates.
Their daughter Lauren, now based in the US, is a champion eventer.
The Balcombs sold their estate a couple of years ago and moved to their beach house full time.
It’s an amazing location, perched above Shelly Beach but with a pathway offering direct access, it has privacy and plenty of space.
Designed by Vince Squillace, the home is on an 822sqm block and flows across three levels, with multiple living spaces that spill out onto terraces surrounded by tropical gardens. The flexible floorplan includes a self-contained flat, and there is secure, gated access to front garden.
A whole-floor home office opens to a wonderful rooftop terrace.
The Balcombs also love the neighbours — but they won’t be saying farewell when they sell.
They are only moving 150m down the street to a new project, an old Californian bungalow on a double block.
It was the lure of the extra land and more gardens that they could not resist, Mr Balcomb said.
“It’s going to be really special, we’re really excited about it,” he said.
The property is due to go to auction on July 6, at 10am, with a price guide: $15,000,000-$16,500,000.
For more information contact Cherie Humel, or Michael Clarke, of Clarke & Humel Property; or Jake Rowe, of Rowe Partners Real Estate.
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Originally published as The Mediterranean meets Manly in Vince Squillace mega-mansion