Pizza pioneer’s $15m Wildhaven estate is a luxe hinterland retreat
WildHaven is a 42-hectare Booroobin compound of five residences with a resort-grade spa pavilion, guiding at $13 to $15 million.
WildHaven is a 42-hectare Booroobin compound of five residences with a resort-grade spa pavilion, guiding at $13 to $15 million.
WildHaven is the extravagant contemporary compound of a pizza pioneer, but despite all its toppings, the hinterland hideaway has no pizza oven in sight.
High above the Glass House Mountains on the Sunshine Coast, the vast 42ha estate has been home to former CEO of Domino’s Australia, Nick Knight and his wife Noni, since the pair paid $1.313 million for a classic Queenslander on the land back in 2016.
Today, the prestige property is being marketed through Melissa Schembri and Daniel Rees of Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty with $13 million to $15 million price expectations.
Knight began his career with the fast food giant as a 13-year-old “wobble boarder” (holding advertising signs on the roadside), then worked his way up to become a large-scale franchisee. He went on to become the Australia and New Zealand boss in 2015, just one year before buying Wildhaven. Knight retired in 2021 after 20 years with the company.
Their Booroobin estate near Maleny, 90kms from Noosa Heads, is an extensive retreat built for family and friends. It consists of five separate residences and a wellness centre including hot and cold pools, a sauna, steam room, gym and an infinity edge pool with a spa.
To rival the long list of must-have holiday house ingredients, the elaborate property along the Blackall Ranges also has stunning views of the Glasshouse Mountains, and Cedar Valley and Morton Bay.
A meandering driveway winds through private parklands and native forest to reveal manicured lawns with stone terraces and sculpted gardens.
WildHaven’s four-bedroom main residence is a fusion of coastal and country design elements. Beyond the timber-clad exterior with traditional wraparound verandas, the home has a spacious footprint with a state-of-the-art kitchen featuring Miele appliances, a triple-stack oven, wine fridge, timber cabinetry, stone bench tops and a concealed butler’s pantry.
The living and dining areas are anchored by a sculptural fireplace and built-in seating, with retractable doors opening out to vast covered decks and the grand wet-edge pool.
Three self-contained, architecturally designed guest suites sit away from the primary house, all with private outdoor areas and separate bedrooms. Each features Miele kitchens, smart home automation and mountain outlooks.
Carved into the hillside, it is The Pavilion at WildHaven that sets it apart. The private spa and entertainment hub, created to rival any five-star resort, is a 305sq m chill out zone curated for rest and relaxation. There is a curved glass spa, a rain head shower, a therapeutic steam room, a full kitchen, and a sunken outdoor lounge with a fireplace.
Other entertaining features include a professional-grade gym and cinema. For adventures in the great outdoors, the estate has tranquil creeks, three dams, trails for walking or cycling, plus an adrenaline-inducing motocross track.
There are also two fenced paddocks, an orchard, as well as a large machinery shed, a 12-car garage, C-Bus smart technology throughout, automatic blinds, ducted air-conditioning, a commercial cool room and laundry, 300,000 litres of water tanks, plus a solar battery room that could take the whole compound off-grid.
Wildhaven in the Glass House Mountains is on the market with a price guide of $13 million to $15 million through Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty.
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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.
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.
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.
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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