One of the most significant homes ever built in Sydney and Australia is set to come to market next week.
The palatial trophy home at Burraneer in the Sutherland Shire is simply epic, with 3965sqm of internal space across six floors — three of which are below ground.
Being marketed as “Australia’s finest house”, the property is owned by entrepreneur Steve Shelley, who purchased four adjoining homes and spent a reported $30 million over four years to build the masterpiece.
And Mr Shelley, who was best known as the founder of software start-up Deputy, has not wasted one inch of the 3965sqm inside, with there being seven bedrooms, six kitchens, 19 bathrooms, a theatre, wine tasting room, bowling alley and a “bat cave”.
Named after the seashell — Nautilus also has two bars, three commercial lifts, an archery range, 20 car garage, Turkish steam room, a day spa, swimming pool, private beach and marina.
So it won’t surprise anyone that the property overlooking Burraneer Bay comes with pricing expectations of over $50 million.
The wine tasting room is simply epic.
The garage has timber flooring.
Highland Property Group’s managing director David Highland said while there was no formal guide, he and LJ Hooker Double Bay’s Bill Malouf and David Malouf, would instead be quoting “over $50 million” based on replacement costs.
This would easily break many property records including the $11 million Sutherland Shire high set in 2018 by a Kangaroo Point mansion and the Burraneer benchmark recorded last year following the $9.1 million sale of 191 Woolooware Rd.
It would also be higher than the $24.5 million northern beaches record after Jennifer Hawkins sold her Newport residence to Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes, and the $25 million Mosman benchmark held by Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham.
Mr Highland said Nautilus was without doubt one of the best homes to have ever been offered to the market.
An epic home theatre.
“There is nothing else like this in Sydney and even Australia — it is a never to be repeated opportunity,” he said.
“The level of finish seen throughout is like nothing that I have seen before.”
Mr Shelley enlisted Sammut Developments to build a property that he wanted to be “Australia’s best house”.
A total of 750 tradespeople worked on Nautilus over the four year construction period, which saw 2300 cubic metres of concrete used, reinforced by 300 tonnes of steel. There is also a 8m deep 15m long tunnel dubbed the “bat cave” that allows the beach to be accessed without the use of stairs
There is also a 25m lap pool.
The property has 3200sqm of internal living.
Mr Highland said the most impressive feature was that despite its scale it still felt subtle and understated.
“The design took into consideration its surroundings as to not look out of place,” he said.
“It is very proportioned in that despite its size, it is still very easy to live in.”
Sammut also carried out the landscaping work including the restoration of a heritage listed boat shed and the demolition of a harbour pool to build the beach.
The property has two guest pavilions, a bowling alley with two lanes and a 2000 bottle wine cellar that looks like Dan Murphy’s.
Other features include a safe room, an ensuite bathroom with steam shower, yoga and pilates studio, teppanyaki BBQ and a gymnasium. There is also a genuine WWII torpedo in the basement.
Luxury everywhere.
Mr Malouf said the property would easily be Australia’s most expensive if it was located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney.
“If this house was on the waterfront in the eastern suburbs, it would be a $120 million house,” he said.
The finished product resulted in the Housing Industry Association awarding Nautilus the Australian Home of the Year, and the People’s Choice award in 2016.
Mr Highland is expecting strong interest from buyers based in the Shire, as well as from Sydney and expats returning home.