Prestige Property: 20 Thompson Street, Tamarama, NSW

Superlatives are often bandied around in property with little substance. Yet here, in the highly sought-after cul-de-sac end of Thompson Street, overlooking the glamorous Tamarama beach comes a truly unique home.

Designed by award-winning architect Andrew Baroukh, this 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom, 5-car parking home is a rare opportunity to secure a contemporary family sanctuary, minutes from Sydney’s most covetable waters.

Set atop 525sqm of level beachside land, the three-storey home blends seamlessly into its natural surrounds through the extravagant use of glass showing both the coastal views and the sandstone on which the home is built. This is paired with the heady use of limestone floors — fully heated throughout the home — and exposed concrete beams creating a light, calming, neutral palette in the residence.

The open, gleaming upper level of the home sees the seamlessly connected living, dining and kitchen spaces which open out to the terrace via an astonishing 3-metre tall, curved sliding door custom-engineered by A&G and built to cyclone standards.

The kitchen is fitted with custom joinery and sees European appliances and a 5-metre single piece stainless steel benchtop.

The home’s lowest level sees a double lock-up garage paired with a laundry and wet bar (complete with wine storage), a living area and spare bedroom. It’s here one side of the property is flanked by a glass feature that showcases the sandstone.

This area leads outside to the unique garden with level lawn and sundrenched saltwater heated pool, covered entertaining area and built-in barbecue.

From here one can either take the Domus lift, which services each floor, or the polished concrete staircase to the entry-level which houses the accommodation.

It’s here one finds the master suite which is complete by an expansive ensuite, finished with Boyd Alternatives bathtub and vanities and custom joinery that extends into the walk-in dresser.

Further, this level sees another bathroom, a study and two bedrooms. While other mod-cons include a ducted vacuum system, zoned air conditioning and a Sonos sound system throughout the home.

The listing is with Goodyer Real Estate’s Pauline Goodyer (+61 411 521 888), and while there is no price guide given for this home Robb Report understands the recent sale of the 27 Thompson Street for $25.5 million is being referenced. Goodyer.com.au

Affluent Aussies with a savvy financial mindset have been sharing the expense of their luxury lifestyles for years through yacht and private jet syndicates, and now the idea has stretched to high-end holiday homes.

A concept known as Second Home has reached the millionaire playground of Queenstown, New Zealand and the idea is tipped to soon take flight across the ditch.

Longtime co-ownership pioneers John and Sharon Russell started selling shares in luxury boats in Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast in 1999 and have now entered the holiday home space with Second Home.

Investors can purchase shares in a fully-managed vacation property, but unlike a timeshare, each owner’s name is on the title. As a result, the shares remain a sellable and appreciating asset.

“This is very similar to buying into a boat syndicate where you own a share and can use it as if it’s yours, without the full cost and responsibility of owning the boat outright,” Mr Russell said.

“With Second Home, you are purchasing the bricks and mortar of a New Zealand holiday home valued at over A$2.5 million – with your name on the title, and access to it and all the wonderful activities in and around Queenstown for six weeks each and every year.”

Currently under construction in the Kiwi ski town, there is a three bedroom apartment in the Jacks Point development on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, pictured. Eight shares of the architecturally designed, fully furnished apartment are available, from A$325,000 and include six weeks usage of throughout each year.

Mr Russell said the concept is a far cry from the better known short term rental schemes.

“This is not a hotel or Airbnb with tourists coming and going – the only people who stay in the home are the owners and their guests, who we encourage to get to know each other,” he explained.

“Second Home is ideal for people who aspire to own a holiday home and return with family and friends to enjoy the same region each year, but don’t want to invest so much capital in owning an apartment outright, only for it to be locked up for months on end.”

Additionally, he said the ongoing costs of owning a holiday home are also shared among owners.

“In the case of Jacks Point, each investor’s share of expenses is about $7000 annually, which covers body corporate and management fees, insurances and maintenance,” he added.

“Overall, that’s still significantly cheaper than booking accommodation each time they’d like to holiday in New Zealand.”

Property prices in Queenstown have increased by approximately 7 per cent a year over the past decade, with property experts tipping the median will continue to rise.

While Queenstown property prices have come off their post-pandemic high, the longterm snapshot of the popular holiday destination show that it has experienced incredible growth.

Data from realestate.co.nz showed from the beginning of 2015 to the end of 2024, average asking prices in Central Otago-Queenstown Lakes rose 106.6 per cent.

After hitting a peak in November 2022, house prices fell 5.27 per cent before bottoming out in December 2022. The average price of a Queenstown property in December 2024, according to CoreLogic NZ, was A$1.65m with values up 2.17 per cent over the three months prior.

“There can be some very lucrative capital gains to be made by buying into a shared holiday home,” Mr Russell said.

Second Home’s other NZ location is a six-bedroom, French-style chateau in the Carrick Winery in Central Otago. It comes with a Land Rover Defender 130 and six e-bikes. There are 13 shares available, valued at A$445,000 each, with annual expenses of around A$8,600.

The Russells also have one $40,000 share remaining of thirteen in a four-bedroom villa near Florence, Italy, where shareholders can enjoy an authentic Italian rural lifestyle for one month every year.

Prestige Property: 20 Thompson Street, Tamarama, NSW

Elevated beachside living in one of Sydney’s most coveted locations.

An intriguing new holiday home concept is emerging for high net worth Australians.