UNRIVALLED LUXURY IN THE HEART OF WAHROONGA
A reinvented estate five years in the making, delivering unrivalled luxury in Sydney’s Upper North Shore.
3 min
Sydney has its fair share of trophy homes, but when it comes to a mansion with every modern must-have, few could compete with this reinvented Wahroonga residence that’s been five years in the making.
Owned by actuary Julian Lipman and listed with David Walker of Ray White Upper North Shore, the extraordinary estate is expected to sell in the vicinity of its $18 million price point.
From the tennis court built to Australian Open standards to the award-winning swimming pool; the home dance studio to the imported greenhouse, this lavish property has plenty of wow factor at every turn.
Curated to be the ultimate entertainer’s retreat, the dream house doesn’t disappoint with an unparalleled home theatre by Signature Cinemas, built to standards rarely seen in a private home.
Alberto Vangi of Signature Cinemas said there is an extraordinary level of detail used to create the space.
“We created a room within a room to give it the ultimate acoustic treatment and to soundproof it with the least chance of any vibration. It has silk leather seating, and four-way masking so that no matter if you’re watching normal TV content, or a CinemaScope movie, the masking can move in four directions, giving you the ultimate size screen,” he explained, adding that the cinema also has a separate projection room.
“There are cinema-grade speakers specifically chosen to give you the most realistic sound possible. The time, detail and work that went into this project is next level.”
The fully appointed space has a commercial-grade projector, extensive acoustic treatments, ATMOS surround sound and a 4.9m screen.
On a vast 4047sq m parcel with a head-turning 1271sq m of internal living space, the grand homestead is a whole lot of house over three levels.
Beyond the stately double height entry foyer, the ground floor footprint alone is larger than the average Aussie house with a collection of elaborate entertaining areas for all occasions. The open plan lounge and dining zone is anchored by a statement Real Flame gas fireplace separating the formal and casual spaces and sliding doors spill out onto the expansive grounds.
A commercial-grade kitchen is home to Valcucine cabinetry, granite and timber surfaces, two fridges, an under counter freezer, Washtech dishwasher, osmosis water filter, Waldorf gas cook tops, a teppanyaki plate and Rational combi oven. There is also a huge butler’s pantry, island bench and a breakfast nook, as well as a full outdoor kitchen overlooking the pool.
That unique 25m heated infinity pool by Premier Pools earned a gong from the Master Builders Association back in 2023 and features in-floor cleaning, waterfalls, automated pool covers, sound speakers, a spa and lane markings.
Beside the pool, the neighbouring Plexicushion Prestige north/south-facing tennis court, which has an adjoining cabana with a wet bar, is suitable for professional play. Throughout the designer gardens there are established plants, a vegetable patch, a Hartley Botanic green house with heat lamps, lighting and SONOS sound, plus golf course-rated Sir Grange lawns.
There is an abundance of additional living space on the ground floor including a combined play room and study for the kids, a separate home office, a media room, a professional gym or dance studio complete with sprung floor, as well as TV systems, speakers and mirrored walls. A guest bedroom on the same level offers privacy with a walk-in wardrobe, a courtyard and shower ensuite.
Upstairs, a wide balcony overlooks the grounds and there are four more bedrooms with walk-in wardrobes and ensuites, however the primary suite is the real showstopper. It includes a dressing room with backlit display shelving, ensuite with a solid cast-iron bathtub, Onyx fireplace and a personal terrace.
The list goes on with a host of five-star inclusions such as a climate-controlled 2500-bottle wine cellar and tasting room, a 100sq m workshop beside the four-car garage featuring two EV chargers, a Crestron home automation system, a lift to all levels, zoned ducted air-conditioning and filtered air, hydronic under floor heating of all tiled areas, 21mm solid Tallowwood flooring, Louis Poulsen imported light features, Markilux electric awnings and electric blinds, Toto Neorest toilets, 60,000L buried rainwater tank.
The estate is close to Wahroonga Public School, the local train station, Knox Grammar, Barker and Abbotsleigh.
The Carrington Rd home is listed with David Walker on 0414 184 911 and Belinda Edwards on 0451 672 977.
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4 min
Toorak’s reputation has been built on grand estates, tightly held boulevards and some of Melbourne’s most valuable residential land. Yet one of its rarest attributes is largely hidden from the street: direct frontage to the Yarra River.
Although the river traces much of Toorak’s northern boundary, just over 20 homes in the blue-chip suburb are believed to border the water—and fewer still provide genuine river access. There is no definitive public register of Toorak homes with private jetties, but prestige agents have consistently described them as only a handful.
It is rare, then, for a property offering both river frontage and direct water access to become available in Melbourne’s so-called billionaire’s playground. The newly built Solara on Orrong Road presents precisely that opportunity.
Set on approximately 1,129sqm, the five-bedroom residence descends towards the river, culminating in a private, double-tiered jetty. Here, the Yarra is more than a distant outlook: it becomes part of daily life, offering a place to launch a boat, relax beside the water or travel towards the city from home.
That distinction is significant in Toorak. Many of the suburb’s finest properties offer scale, security and architectural pedigree, but very few combine all three with direct access to the river.
Architecture shaped by the site
Designed by Melbourne studio Alta and constructed by EASTON, Solara has been conceived as a series of interconnected levels descending towards the Yarra.
Rather than presenting as a single imposing volume, the house responds to its sloping site through stepped terraces, landscaped outdoor areas and large expanses of glazing. The architecture gradually reveals the water, drawing the eye through the interior and towards the river below.
The design has earned Solara a nomination in the 2026 Master Builders Excellence in Housing Awards.
Inside, a restrained material palette allows texture, proportion and natural light to carry the design. Stone, timber, glass and finely detailed joinery establish a sense of permanence without overwhelming the river setting.
The principal living area is arranged beneath a dramatic double-height ceiling, giving the room the scale expected of a major Toorak residence while maintaining a strong connection to the garden and water.
Full-height glazing opens the house to its outlook, while multiple living and entertaining spaces allow the property to transition between intimate family use and larger gatherings.
A private resort beside the Yarra
Solara’s principal living spaces open onto an expansive river-facing terrace containing a swimming pool and spa.
The outdoor area has been positioned to take advantage of both the northern light and the relative seclusion of the riverbank. Mature landscaping provides another layer of privacy, softening the architecture and creating the atmosphere of a private resort.
Below, the grounds continue towards the double-tiered jetty.
The residence also incorporates a dedicated wellness area and gym, reinforcing the sense that the home has been designed to provide a complete lifestyle within its boundaries.
Its accommodation includes five bedrooms and six bathrooms, with the principal suite occupying a private domain of its own. The house also provides garaging for four cars—an important consideration in a property of this scale.
Across the residence, the emphasis is less on overt decoration than on volume, outlook and craftsmanship. Sightlines have been carefully managed so that the river is encountered repeatedly, rather than being confined to a single formal room.
A different expression of Toorak prestige
Toorak’s luxury market is often associated with historic mansions and large European-inspired estates. Solara represents a more contemporary interpretation of the suburb: architecturally ambitious, highly private and organised around lifestyle rather than formality.
Its position also places it within a particularly scarce segment of the market.
Riverfront homes have previously appeared along addresses including St Georges Road and Edzell Avenue, although they tend to remain in the same ownership for long periods. Even among these properties, private jetties and convenient access to the water are not universal.
That scarcity separates Solara from other prestige homes that may offer river views without actually reaching the river.
For buyers operating at the upper end of Melbourne’s residential market, the value proposition is therefore not simply the size of the house or its list of amenities. It is the combination of new architecture, substantial land, resort facilities and an attribute that cannot readily be recreated: private access to the Yarra from Toorak.
Solara is being marketed with a guide of $16.8 million to $18.3 million through Jamie Mi of Kay & Burton.
Property snapshot
Address: 803 Orrong Road, Toorak, Victoria
Guide: $16.8 million–$18.3 million
Agent: Kay & Burton agent Jamie Mi
Land: Approximately 1,129sqm
Accommodation: Five bedrooms, six bathrooms and four-car accommodation
Design: Alta
Builder: EASTON
Key features: Private jetty, direct river access, gym, indoor spa and double-height living volume
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