The house, which feels as though it’s suspended over the water, was built to withstand the conditions it faces being so close to the ocean.
3 minLISTING OF THE DAY
Location: Flinders, Victoria, Australia
Price: $30 million
Dubbed “Horizon,” this recently completed five-bedroom mansion is perched on a dramatic cliff edge on Australia’s Mornington Peninsula near Flinders township, about 72 kilometres south of Melbourne.
In 2015, the family of legendary Australian rules football coach Jock McHale put the property, which includes a 1920s homestead called Pinnacle Park, up for sale. According to listing agent Rob Curtain of Peninsula Sotheby’s International Realty, developer Brooke Starbuck bought it, along with multiple adjoining titles.
“Unlike all of the other allotments offered, which have restrictive zoning regulations, the five-acre homestead did not fall into the same zoning,” Mr Curtain said. “So he saw an opportunity and subdivided the land into four separate plots while maintaining the original homestead.”
Peninsula Sotheby’s International Realty
Starbuck enlisted local craftsmen Williams Group and commercial architect Bruce Henderson to build the home. The process took five years. “He wanted to do the unique position justice and build a generational home that would withstand the harsh environment of living so close to the ocean,” Mr. Curtain said. “He also hired interior designer Mim Design for the internal fit-out based on Miriam Fanning’s renowned coastal work. It’s truly a modern-day masterpiece.”
The interiors feature St. Croix stone complemented by American oak flooring. The home’s elevated first level contains five ocean bedrooms all with en-suite bathrooms and ocean views, as well as a central chef’s kitchen, a fully appointed scullery and three living spaces oriented to maximize the views.
“The main open-plan living, kitchen, dining area is simply spectacular,” Mr. Curtain said. “The 13-foot ceilings with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and a 180-degree ocean view create the most surreal feeling of being suspended over the water. It’s an architectural and engineering triumph set on a truly spectacular landholding with 335 feet of oceanfront and tremendous 270-degree ocean and rural views.”
Peninsula Sotheby’s International Realty
Stats
The 2000sqm home sits on a 1.25-acre lot and has five bedrooms and six full bathrooms.
Amenities
The home has the latest in technology with world-class kitchen appliances from Wolf and Sub-Zero, integrated audio-visual by Sonos, zoned hydronic floor heating and VRV heating and cooling throughout. A comprehensive security system includes keyless entry and all home technologies are controlled via Elan. The residence is also 6-star energy rated and includes a solar panel system.
An elevator connects the upper level to the lower one, which has a professional gymnasium, sauna, cinema room, wine room and a garage. There is also a second gourmet kitchen servicing an al fresco spa terrace, where a suspended 20-person spa overlooks the ocean.
Neighbourhood Notes
“The beauty of this location is the views are all water and rural surroundings as the area is better known for the farming environment,” Mr. Curtain said. “But this home is only a five-minute walk to the Flinders township, golf courses and the Flinders Bay Beach. It’s also only a 60-minute drive to Melbourne’s central business district.”
Listing Agent: Rob Curtain, Peninsula Sotheby’s International Realty
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Designed by the late Kerry Hill and built by Hutchinson Builders, The Residence at Hayman Island blends tropical modernism with absolute waterfront luxury.
2 minIs this Whitsunday’s best home?
Hayman Island may have been ravaged by Cyclone Debbie in 2017, which saw the island, one of the smallest of the major Whitsunday islands, all but shut down, but the 390-hectare paradise has made an extraordinary comeback.
The InterContinental brand took over the island’s only resort, which was completely devastated by the Category 4 cyclone. The same year the cyclone hit, The Residence at Hayman was built, one of just two private residences on the island.
Constructed by Hutchinson Builders, a Tier 1 builder better known for delivering some of South East Queensland’s finest multi-residential developments, the lavish home is made from reinforced concrete with a blend of glass and timber battening.
It was designed by the late, internationally renowned architect Kerry Hill, widely regarded as a key figure in refining tropical modernist architecture. Hill was an island specialist, having designed several major resorts in Bali.
The Residence at Hayman spans three levels and offers over 1,400 sqm of living space, including around 580 sqm of internal living areas. The remainder comprises breezeways, terraces, and balconies designed to embrace the island’s subtropical climate.
Entry to the home is via the upper level, as the property tiers down the site with direct access to the beach. The top and lower levels accommodate most of the home’s eight bedrooms, as well as a study and a double garage with buggy parking, the preferred mode of transport throughout the Whitsundays.
The middle level is home to the main kitchen, living, and dining areas, complete with a full butler’s pantry. It opens to a large, L-shaped terrace featuring an outdoor kitchen, alfresco dining and lounge zones, and a sundeck. The terrace flows to the basalt-clad infinity swimming pool, deck, and cabana with integrated seating, as well as a pool house.
Owners or guests of The Residence also have access to the InterContinental Hayman Island Resort facilities, including 24-hour room service, butler assistance, private chefs, and the resort’s wellness centre.
Whitefox agents Cheyne Fox and Nic Whitehead are marketing The Residence as “a rare and extraordinary find.”
“This is more than just a home, it’s an opportunity to own a piece of paradise, a legacy to share with family and friends for generations to come,” Fox said.
The only other private residence on Hayman Island, Hayman House, is also on the market. Commissioned by Terry Peabody, former billionaire and Transpacific Industries founder, Hayman House was first listed last year with hopes of $27 million, later reportedly reduced to $20 million in early 2025.
Designed by Kerry Hill and also built by Hutchies (in 2010), Hayman House shares a similar design ethos to The Residence, albeit on a smaller scale. Its 18-week construction endured three cyclones, with all site access via the beach, which had to be reinforced to prevent heavy vehicles from sinking into the sand.
