Homestead living without leaving the city
Your friends will be thinking you’ve moved to the country but this property is still within city limits
< 1 min
If there’s anything we’ve learned from the past few years, it’s how to balance connection and seclusion.
This property at 14 Lancewood Drive, Dural in the heart of Sydney’s Hills District offers the best of both worlds. Surrounded by lush bushland, the 2.02ha site includes a gracious four-bedroom home, a classic rectangular pool with purpose-built pool house, as well as two separate outbuildings and lock-up double garage, all set in beautifully maintained gardens.
Indeed, there’s not much reason to leave home, with easy access to a spacious north-facing open plan living area, as well as a generous separate drawing room with bay window. There’s something of the homestead feel about this property, with the ground floor bedrooms all opening onto the wraparound verandas offering ample outdoor living space, as well as providing thermal comfort to the interior spaces. A separate study with French doors onto the veranda will appeal to those who have adopted the hybrid working model.
On the upper floor, it’s the ultimate parents’ retreat with a large corner bedroom leading onto a full ensuite and spacious walk-in robe. The perfect hideaway, the bedrooms also leads onto a separate library which, in turn, leads onto a media room.
Ideal for quiet nights in front of the stone fireplace or for hosting a crowd of family and friends, this property is the getaway you can enjoy without leaving the city.
Address: 14 Lancewood Drive, Dural
Price guide: On request
Inspection: By appointment
Agent: Elise Lau, McGrath Real Estate, Castle Hill 0414 548 130
A haven for hedge-fund titans and Hollywood grandees, Greenwich is one of the world’s most expensive residential enclaves, where eye-watering prices meet unapologetic grandeur.
Rugged coastal drives and fireside drams define a slow, indulgent journey through Scotland’s far north.
Mount French Lodge offers a rare mix of privacy, scale and hospitality potential as demand grows for prestige estates beyond beachside hotspots.
2 min
Mount French Lodge, one of the most remarkable private estates in Queensland’s Scenic Rim, has been brought to market, offering a glimpse into the growing appetite for high-end lifestyle properties beyond the state’s traditional beachside enclaves.
Located in the tiny locality of Charlwood, around 100km inland from Brisbane and home to just 146 residents at the 2021 Census, the estate stands in stark contrast to its quiet surroundings. Set across nearly 100 acres and positioned some 600 feet above sea level, the property occupies a commanding vantage point beneath the escarpments of Mount French.
It’s this combination of elevation, scale and seclusion that defines the estate, not just as a private residence, but as an experience-led destination. Mount French Lodge has been recognised in both the 2024 and 2025 Best of Queensland Experiences, reflecting a broader shift towards luxury rural retreats that blur the line between home, hospitality and investment.
Last sold for $3.65 million in 2021 to Brisbane-based entrepreneur Tim Woodhouse, the estate has since evolved into a multifaceted holding. At its core is a central lodge, complemented by guest accommodation, entertaining spaces and resort-style amenities spread across two distinct plateaus.
In total, the property comprises 12 bedrooms configured across eight self-contained apartments within multiple lodges. At its heart is the Great Room, a central gathering space anchored by a large living area and fireplace. Nearby, a fully equipped outdoor pavilion with barbecue facilities sits alongside the estate’s swimming pool.
The property is being marketed as a private compound, ranch, corporate retreat and a wedding venue, highlighting its potential as a lifestyle asset with income-generating capability. This kind of flexibility is increasingly resonating with buyers, particularly as demand grows for properties that can serve as multigenerational homes, wellness retreats or boutique accommodation offerings.
Despite its sense of isolation, Mount French Lodge remains within relatively easy reach of Brisbane, around an hour by road or just minutes by helicopter. That balance of accessibility and privacy underscores the broader appeal of the Scenic Rim, which continues to emerge as a quiet achiever in Queensland’s prestige property market.
The listing is being handled by Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty agents Sandy Davies and Nicholas Miranda, and is expected to attract interest from both domestic and international buyers.
Two coming 2027 models – the first of the “Neue Klasse” cars coming to the U.S. early next year – have been revealed.
Three-Michelin-starred chef Massimiliano Alajmo will host an intimate Mediterranean sailing aboard Crystal Serenity, redefining fine dining at sea.
