HUNTER VALLEY TO GET FIRST NEW ULTRA-LUXURY RESORT IN 20 YEARS
A new 65-villa luxury resort complete with a longevity spa, vineyard villas and major Gillie & Marc art collection is coming to the Hunter Valley in 2027.
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A major new luxury resort development is set to reshape the Hunter Valley’s high-end tourism offering, with HVL Hotels unveiling plans for Laval Hunter Valley, a 65-villa resort opening in Pokolbin in 2027.
Positioned on the historic 165-acre Lindeman Estate site, Laval is being described as the first new-build luxury resort of its scale in the Hunter Valley in two decades.
The project is expected to generate about $49 million annually in economic activity while supporting up to 479 jobs across construction and ongoing operations.
HVL Hotels Managing Director Dominic Lambrinos said the development aimed to create a new benchmark for regional luxury tourism.
“Laval is more than the answer to a longstanding gap in the Hunter Valley’s luxury accommodation segment,” he said.
“It represents an ambition to do something that hasn’t been done before, on the most magical piece of land within the valley.”
The resort will feature 65 pavilion-style villas positioned throughout a working vineyard landscape, including a Wabi Sabi-inspired Presidential Villa designed by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer. Architecture will be led by EJE Architects, with interiors by Some Studio.
The development will also include a private helicopter landing facility, a 25-metre red-tiled pool overlooking Shiraz vines, landscaped meditation meadows, sensory gardens and a major ecological regeneration program involving more than 21,000 plants and 6,782 vines.
One of the resort’s defining features will be its art program, anchored by one of the world’s largest collections of Gillie & Marc sculptures. The collection will include 13 large-scale outdoor works alongside more than 130 in-room and digital pieces integrated throughout the property.
Food and beverage offerings will be led by chef Justin North, with signature restaurant Vallery drawing inspiration from Provence, coastal Spain, southern Italy and Japan. Poolside venue La Vida and a central lobby bar will round out the culinary offering.
A 10,000-bottle cellar and 1,000-label wine list curated by Jon Osbeiston will focus on Hunter Valley heritage alongside international producers.
Wellness will form another key component of the resort, with the two-level Veraia Spa spanning 1,000 square metres and offering 15 treatment rooms, thermal circuits and longevity-focused therapies.
The Hunter Valley project is scheduled to open in the second half of 2027.
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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
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