Burleigh’s New Architectural Gem: A Contemporary Coastal Masterpiece
The reimagining of this Burleigh Heads beach house into a sophisticated designer residence has seen this home transported into the 2020s with class.
2 min
Burleigh Heads is fast becoming an address associated with enviable contemporary architecture, and the latest listing with Ray White Malan & Co fits the designer brief.
Lawyer Jess Fitzgerald bought a classic brick bungalow five years ago and set about transforming the old school property into a modern dream home, only 400m from Burleigh’s coveted coastline.
Recently finished, the near new four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence at 1 Symonds Rd is a stylish take on the 21st century beach house designed by local architect Jayson Pate.
Pate, a former Southport Sharks AFL footballer and a survivor of the 2002 Bali bombings, is making waves as a Gold Coast designer known for his signature use of slab work, curves and free-flowing indoor-outdoor spaces.
Bought in 2020 for $965,000 prior to its epic transformation, the home, on 440sq m, is due to go under the hammer on February 7. In keeping with Queensland regulations regarding auction pricing, there is no guide on offer.
Pleased with the end result, the Fitzgeralds are now moving on with an even greater knockdown rebuild reinvention by Pate nearby.
Inspired by a Palm Springs aesthetic, the Symonds Rd home features a natural earthy colour palette with sophisticated finishes.
Crafted for everyday living that can move effortlessly into glamorous entertaining when the mood strikes, the spacious ground floor layout is home to a sleek kitchen complete with SMEG integrated appliances, a large central island bench, a big butler’s pantry and a stylish arched bar nook incorporating a wine fridge.
With warm oak timber floors throughout, the combined dining and lounge zone spills out to a covered alfresco space that is the perfect gathering place for friends and family. There is an integrated barbecue, manicured low-maintenance gardens, honed concrete surfaces, custom sliding screens, and a refreshing magnesium swimming pool.
Down on the ground floor, the guest bedroom also has a private ensuite, plus a view of the pool and gardens.
Upstairs, a second living space anchors the footprint with two bedrooms featuring walk-in wardrobes and sharing a family-friendly bathroom with a freestanding tub and two handy vanities.
In the palatial main bedroom there is a dressing room, as well as an ensuite with dual showers and basins.
Created with the latest in meticulous design finishes, the home has a convenient mud room with ample storage and bench seating, a powder room with Venetian rendering, a purpose-built desk in the lounge room, ducted air-conditioning, a Hikvision intercom system, and a secure gated entrance with a double car port.
Positioned in the coveted pocket known among real estate agents as the “Burleigh triangle” the house is close to beaches, eateries and bars.
Number 1 Symonds Rd, Burleigh Heads is listed with Ray White Malan & Co agents, Conner Malan on 0419 706 296 and Daniel Donovan on 0431 649 784. The home is to go to auction on February 7.
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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
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