Prestige Property: 7 Hillside Avenue, Vaucluse, NSW

Set in a truly enviable setting, this hillside pile in Sydney’s blue-ribbon suburb Vaucluse arrives with sweeping vistas of the eastern suburbs and harbour.

Designed by Howard Tanner of DKT architects in the early ’00s, the nearly 2000sqm site sees a 7-bedroom, 7-bathroom, 10-car parking mansion offering unadulterated luxury at every turn.

The home boasts natural stone flooring and timber underfoot, with soaring ceilings and extensive use of glass used to form its character.

Making the most of the home’s lofty location, the design maximises the views and embraces its many courtyards and manicured gardens designed by Paul Bangay.

A grand entry foyer welcomes one into the home, here the double0heigh ceiling is warped in glass while showcasing the grand two-way staircase.

All the living areas are found on the ground floor. Here, the formal dining is elegance exemplified with an ambient gas fireplace and French doors to the gardens.

Also on this level is the kitchen. Built for entertainers, it features a Corian benchtop, enormous island bench, an array of appliances including an eight burner Barazza cooktop. A butlers’ pantry is also found here.

Four spacious bedrooms alongside a family room comprise the upper level. The lavish master boasts a glamorous ensuite – replete with marble – and freestanding bath, ‘his’ and ‘hers’ walk-in-robes, the latter with more breathtaking views.

Downstairs, the basement sees a 10-car garage – perfect for the avid car collector – with an expansive cellar.

Elsewhere the home features a gym on the ground floor, well-appointed office and a separate guest house complete with its own kitchenette, living and bathroom.

Outside is where the home really shines, with a poolside terrace making it easy to lounge and enjoy the surrounds. Here, a powder room is accessible through the terrace and is adjoined by a Wisteria clad arbour.

The home is found in an exclusive cul-de-sac setting and is close to Kincoppal Rose Bay School, Hermitage Foreshore reserve and within walking distance of Rose Bay’s vibrant village centre.

The property is listed with Ken Jacobs (+61 407 190 152) of Christie’s International Real Estate. Price guide $38m; hillsideavenue.cve.io

Is 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.

Prestige Property: 7 Hillside Avenue, Vaucluse, NSW

A rare trophy home in Sydney’s east hits the market.

Designed by the late Kerry Hill and built by Hutchinson Builders, The Residence at Hayman Island blends tropical modernism with absolute waterfront luxury.