Award winning Glebe home breaks tradition
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Award winning Glebe home breaks tradition

A bold, white vision of modern design, this award-winning Glebe home breaks from tradition with futuristic curves, arched windows and a $5.5m price tag.

By Kirsten Craze
Fri, May 30, 2025 10:38amGrey Clock 2 min

Straddling Sydney’s city fringe and the inner west, Glebe is known for its architectural heritage and peppering of period terrace houses. 

This Ferry Rd house is none of that. Its a boldly white, contemporary residence that merges futuristic curves and striking arches. The adventurous departure from the neighbourhoods historic streetscape paid off for the innovative architects, snagging the top Australian design award. 

In 2020, Surry Hills-based firm Chenchow Little earned the Wilkinson Award for Residential Architecture for Glebe House. 

Now the rare real estate find is on the market with Harriet France of Sothebys International Realty, set to go to auction on June 3 with a price guide of $5.5m. 

Tony Chenchow and Stephanie Little didnt have much to work with, just a small 374 sq m site surrounded by Victorian terraces and modern apartment blocks.

Their goal was to maximise the capacity of the tight block and create a functional, liveable space for a growing family. The result is a head-turning two-storey home with curves in all the right places. 

Unlike its traditional Victorian neighbours, number 38 is a modern marvel that is as remarkable as it is practical. The signature white-clad four-bedroom house is a grand design in a pint-sized spot. 

A dilapidated cottage on the site was demolished to make way for the award-winning home, which the architects crafted to be sympathetic to the existing built environment. The arched openings and windows have been created to pay homage to the grand portico entrance of the Victorian house next door. 

The ground floor houses the main living areas framed by vast arched windows and polished concrete floors. A multipurpose rumpus or work-from-home space features bespoke cabinetry. The Corian and oak kitchen has integrated appliances, and the open-plan lounge and dining room spill out onto a covered terrace and rock garden. 

There is also a concealed powder room and laundry, plus a store room all on the lower level, further showcasing the savvy use of space. 

Complementary to the external sculpted lines, a central curved staircase connects the two levels, while the double-height void allows for an abundance of natural light. 

Inverted-arch windows upstairs create a scalloped framework to capture the Anzac Bridge and city skyline views while providing privacy for the upper-level bedrooms and bathrooms. 

In the main bedroom, there is a shower en-suite with a skylight and built-ins, and the three remaining bedrooms share a full, family-friendly bathroom with a freestanding tub.  

Additional features of the Glebe property include off-street parking, underfloor heating, Sonos sound system, double glazing, ceiling fans, and air conditioning. 

Sitting less than 300m from the light rail and Glebe Rowing Club, the award-winning home is close to waterfront parklands, the eateries of Glebe Point Rd, as well as the University of Sydney and Broadway within easy reach. 

 

Glebe House at 38 Ferry Rd, Glebe  is listed with Harriet France of Sothebys International Realty, and will be auctioned on on June 3 with a price guide of $5.5m



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Property of the Week: 6 Bulkara St, Wagstaffe, NSW

A Central Coast trophy home with a habit of breaking records, Agave, returns to market.

By Kirsten Craze
Fri, Jan 9, 2026 2 min

Agave has a history of making headlines.

The luxury Wagstaffe weekender earned the prestigious HIA Australian House of the Year award in 2018 and then went on to reset the Central Coast price record two times over.

The Dennis Rabinowitz-designed waterfront residence was sold by the owner architect in mid 2020 for $9.5 million – at the height of the pandemic rush to the regions.

It then changed hands again only two years later for $16.2 million when it was snapped up by fallen Forum Finance founder Bill Papas.

Since then, Agave has operated as a high-end short-term rental appearing on Nine’s top 10 most expensive Airbnbs in Australia list; reportedly earning its owner more than $10,000 a night.

After briefly sitting on the market in 2024, the head-turning seven-bedroom two-storey property is now listed with a new agent and a fresh competitive price tag.

Mat Steinwede of McGrath Terrigal has put a $12 to $14 million guide on the glamorous beach house at a time when the Central Coast is tipped to recapture some of its post-Covid malaise.

Overall, Central Coast house values are approaching their 2022 pandemic-era high, according to Cotality data, with the median up 45.1 per cent over five years to reach a median price of $1.063 million as of November.

Sitting on a spacious 2188sq m block in the exclusive San Toy estate, Agave at 6 Bulkara St is in the sleepy hamlet of Wagstaffe 19kms south of Terrigal.

It has direct waterfront access to Brisbane Water and its north-facing aspect captures the best of the Central Coast’s coveted climate.

Created with a focus on free-flowing lanai-inspired indoor/outdoor living, the home features multiple terraces, a saltwater pool with imported Moroccan tiles, a private beach, a jetty, a boathouse cabana and a deep-water mooring suitable for a “super yacht”.

In total, the expansive layout includes 556sq m of internal living and 289sq m of alfresco space.

The sophisticated interiors include bespoke finishes crafted from natural materials, a contemporary kitchen with marble bench tops, as well as a fully-equipped butler’s pantry, wine cellar, and five ensuite bathrooms.

There is also an executive study and a palatial main bedroom suite located in its own ground floor wing complete with a walk-in wardrobe, and a five star hotel-inspired ensuite with bidet.

A second level houses six more bedrooms including a bunk room, ideal for multiple family getaways. All up, Agave can sleep as many as 14 guests at a time.

Manicured grounds are framed by established tropical gardens, and with secure entry gates plus an advanced security system, the residence is an idyllic private compound.

Additional features include total climate control, three separate living rooms, a double lock up garage and

The property is a short walk to Wagstaffe Wharf with direct ferry access to Palm Beach on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Agave is also close to Lobster Beach and Bouddi National Park.

Agave at 6 Bulkara St, Wagstaffe is listed with Mat Steinwede of McGrath Terrigal with a $12 to $14 million price guide.

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