Gold Coast’s Trophy Market Fires Up for Summer. But It’s Not The Beach.
Prestige demand is shifting inland, where riverfront estates and acreage compounds are setting new records.
2 min
The Gold Coast prestige property market has ignited ahead of summer, but this time the heat isn’t coming from the beachfront. Instead, high-end buyers — both local and interstate — are turning their attention inland, where sprawling acreages and riverfront estates are redefining luxury living.
The latest headline-grabbing sale is Rivers Bend in Carrara (pictured), which has changed hands for a record $26 million — the highest price achieved along Main River this year and the second-largest riverfront sale in Gold Coast history.
Set on 6,300 sqm, the estate offers a masterclass in design and amenities. The primary residence features five bedrooms, including a master suite with a Nero Marquina marble ensuite and a 1.2-tonne freestanding bath. A gym, theatre room, 700-bottle temperature-controlled wine cellar, and garaging for 12 vehicles add to the home’s appeal.
Outdoors, the riverside entertaining terrace features a commercial-grade bar and kitchen. In contrast, the 18m saltwater pool — complete with spa, swim-up bar, firepit and TV — overlooks a championship-sized tennis court and rooftop pavilion. A self-contained two-bedroom guesthouse, complete with its own pool and spa, rounds out the estate.
The sale of Rivers Bend follows that of Redwood, the Currumbin Valley acreage that was quietly sold for $28 million earlier this year. The 2.88-hectare estate, last purchased for $2.55 million in 2017, was transformed by vendor Bridget Deer, wife of Ignite Travel founder Randall Deer.
The only other sale this year to break through the $20 million threshold was a Hamptons-style riverfront home in Southport, selling for $22 million.
Designed by Bayden Goddard, the four-level, 1,805sqm residence on Macmillan Court showcases century-old red ironbark flooring, Carrara marble, and chandeliers sourced from New York and Paris.
Among its highlights are five ensuite bedrooms, a chef’s kitchen with a cold room and three ovens, a 3,000-bottle wine cellar, an Aspen-inspired games den, and a six-bar basement.
The top floor is dedicated to leisure, featuring a gym, steam room, and a rooftop bar that accommodates up to 50 guests, complemented by open-plan living spaces that flow seamlessly into a north-facing saltwater pool and spa.
The newest addition to the trophy market is The Estate in Tallai, listed by former AFL player turned tech entrepreneur Brad Moran and marketed by Kollosche. Carved into the mountainside of its 8,888 sqm site, the ultra-luxury residence makes a statement from arrival, with a circular driveway of 75,000 hand-laid cobblestones and a five-element fountain finished in 24-carat gold mosaics.
The 2,240sqm home spans three levels and features 10 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a whisky bar, poker room, 16-seat cinema, and a wellness centre complete with gym, yoga studio, sauna, steam room, and hydrotherapy pools.
Outside, a “private fun park” includes a 160m go-kart track, putting green, basketball court, and 20m gold-tiled infinity pool.
Three self-contained “Sky Residences” cater for guests. At the same time, a glass-fronted garage gallery with space for nine cars — plus a race simulator and executive office — cements The Estate as one of the Gold Coast’s most spectacular offerings.
The 1860s Darlinghurst mansion Stoneleigh could become Sydney’s most expensive home ever sold under the hammer when it goes to auction. Clint Ballard is giving buyers a $28 million guide for the heritage-listed mansion on Darley Street, opposite Iona, the former home of Hollywood royalty Baz Luhrmann. Stoneleigh is being offered for sale for the …
Set on one of the city’s last absolute riverfront sites, The Riversdale by Mosaic combines irreplaceable waterfront ownership with one of Brisbane’s most significant residential opportunities.
3 min
At the northern tip of Point Piper, hidden from the street and positioned directly on Sydney Harbour, “Radford” combines cinematic views, rare waterfront access and a fascinating connection to one of Australia’s most storied estates.
The five-bedroom residence occupies land once belonging to Paradis Sur Mer, the celebrated three-block waterfront estate that made Australian property history in 1982. The original mansion became the country’s first home reported to have sold for more than $5 million—and may also have inspired one of its fastest and most profitable resales.
Property developer and yachtsman Bernard Lewis purchased the estate at auction for $5.25 million, only to sell it within hours to English betting magnate and thoroughbred breeder Robert Sangster. Lewis reportedly made a $500,000 profit in the process.
Sangster renamed the property Toison D’Or—French for “Golden Fleece” and the name of one of his racehorses—and established it as a Sydney base with his then-wife, Susan. The estate subsequently changed hands and identities again, becoming Paradis Sur Mer, or “Paradise on the Sea”, during Susan’s marriage to financier Sir Frank Renouf.
After another headline-making sale near the peak of Sydney’s late-1980s property boom, the original mansion was eventually demolished and the waterfront holding subdivided. “Radford” now stands on one of those prized parcels, carrying a thread of that extraordinary history into the present day.
Harbour views take centre stage
Designed by award-winning architect Victor Berk and constructed in the early 1990s, the three-level modernist residence has been planned around its exceptional position.
Panoramic views stretch from the Sydney Harbour Bridge across Shark Island and Rose Bay to Manly. A prized northerly aspect fills the home with natural light, while bedrooms and living spaces open to decks, balconies and terraces overlooking the water.
The main living areas flow to a broad alfresco entertaining terrace, sunny swimming pool and level harbourfront lawn. Beyond the garden, a private jetty completes the quintessential Sydney waterfront lifestyle.
Inside, generous proportions make the home equally suited to private family life and large-scale entertaining. The formal dining area can accommodate up to 14 guests, while a Gaggenau-appointed kitchen incorporates an island, walk-in pantry and casual breakfast area opening to the poolside deck.
A fireplace anchors the principal living space, complemented by high ceilings, travertine floors and expansive glazing that keeps the harbour present throughout the home.
A private sanctuary on every level
The main bedroom is accompanied by two walk-in wardrobes, a sitting area and an ensuite featuring a spa bath, separate shower and twin basins. Three further bedrooms each have an ensuite, while a gym with its own kitchenette, built-in storage and bathroom can serve as a fifth bedroom or private guest retreat.
Additional spaces include a fitted home office, an upper-level family area, sauna, two powder rooms and a substantial laundry. A lift connects all three levels, and the central staircase sits beneath an atrium-style glass roof fitted with an electric retractable blind.
Ducted and zoned air-conditioning, extensive storage and a security alarm add everyday practicality. Internal access leads to an oversized secure double garage, with additional driveway parking.
Set in an elite cul-de-sac on one of Australia’s most prestigious waterfront streets, “Radford” is close to Lady Martins Beach, Prince Edward Yacht Club, the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Rose Bay’s marinas and leading schools. Double Bay’s restaurants, boutiques and village amenities are only minutes away.
It is an exceptional harbourfront residence in its own right—but its connection to the record-breaking Paradis Sur Mer estate gives it a place within the wider story of Sydney real estate.
Property details
Address: Wolseley Road, Point Piper, NSW
Bedrooms: Five, including a flexible gym or guest suite
Bathrooms: Five, plus two powder rooms
Parking: Oversized double garage and additional driveway space
Key features: Northerly aspect, panoramic harbour views, private jetty, swimming pool, level waterfront lawn, lift, sauna, home office and Gaggenau kitchen
Architect: Victor Berk
Agents: Michael Pallier, Sydney Sotheby’s & Brad Pillinger, Pillinger
Records keep falling in 2025 as harbourfront, beachfront and blue-chip estates crowd the top of the market.
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