WHIMSY FARM: A MAGICAL BYRON BAY HINTERLAND RETREAT
Whimsy Farm is a playful period estate positioned in Byron Bay’s picturesque hinterland.
3 min
Tucked away in Byron Bay’s coveted hinterland, Whimsy Farm is a traditional rural homestead surrounded by more than 16ha of lush fertile grounds with equestrian facilities and a host of whimsical additions including a fairytale-inspired maze.
Just listed with Sotheby’s International Realty Byron Bay, agents Denzil Lloyd and Will Phillips are running an expressions of interest campaign on the glamorous getaway with a price guide of $5.25 million to $5.75 million.
The romantic estate in Federal, 25 kms from Byron Bay dates back more than a century, but has been meticulously renovated by its current owners to attain modern day dream home status.
Back in 2016, the enviable property even featured on Foxtel’s short-lived reality TV show I Own Australia’s Best Home. The picturesque parcel has also been appreciated by location scouts and has appeared in a long list of fashion brand and magazine shoots such as Country Style and Queensland Homes.
Owner Melinda Boundy, founder of boutique interiors firm Melinda Boundy Design, was instrumental in reviving the historic Federal homestead. She has described the rural property as a “a respite from the world” where she and her husband have raised their two sons over the past decade.
“I brought my boys down 10 years ago to nurture their creativity, their boyhood,” Boundy said in a recent Instagram post announcing the impending sale.
“We found our farm with its double-storey treehouse and 40 acres the perfect place for two young boys to thrive.”
In addition to hiring out the estate for formal events, Boundy said the family had celebrated several milestones at the address.
“Many parties, sleepovers, friends staying and events have been held [here]. It has seen the filming of a TV show or two, music videos, location shoots and weddings,” she added.
“Now it’s time to pass the baton to another family to share the magic and wonderment of this beautiful compound.”
Lloyd agreed that the listing is a magical estate, ripe for the picking.
“It’s a wonderland. There’s the maze, but it’s also got the treehouse, teepee, dams, beautiful established veggie gardens and it’s perfect for those who love horse riding,” Mr Lloyd said.
“It really is an oasis with plenty of classical charm as well. It’s not an ostentatious home; it’s an original Queenslander from 1910.”
Living up to its storybook name, Whimsy Farm is home to a preserved traditional Queenslander residence with five bedrooms, plus a freestanding guest cottage. There is also a separate pool house and a combined shed or office on site, all capturing scenic hinterland views.
The main single-storey residence has a choice of entertaining spaces inside and out as well as bedrooms opening to private alfresco areas. A grand kitchen and the large living room both open to a vast terrace and pool area.
In the primary bedrooms suite there is a bay window overlooking the natural surrounds, an ensuite with double vanities, and out on the covered deck an outdoor bathtub is an idyllic spot for soaking under the stars.
The playful property has also operated as a holiday rental and offers up unique bonus features including a solar-heated semi circle pool, a double-storey treehouse, a teepee, horse stables, paddocks and a an Olympic-sized dressage arena.
A true tree change destination, the Federal address is home to 10 acres of regenerated forest, eight water tanks, two lagoons, extensive raised veggie gardens and a citrus orchard.
It is conveniently located a scenic 30-minute drive to Byron Bay and 20 minutes to Bangalow.
Whimsy Farm at 711 Federal Dr, Federal is listed through Sotheby’s International Realty Byron Bay through an expressions of interest campaign closing February 20, 5pm.
Paine Schwartz joins BERO as a new investor as the year-old company seeks to triple sales.
The sports-car maker delivered 279,449 cars last year, down from 310,718 in 2024.
A grand, heritage-style beach house with a tennis court, tower rooftop and bay views is redefining Sorrento luxury living.
2 min
It’s a beach house, but not as you know it. Despite its heritage-inspired facade, Tower House in the coastal pocket of Sorrento has all the hallmarks of a grand estate with the benefits of a contemporary build.
Although the striking residence with a tennis court and pool on Victoria’s coveted Mornington Peninsula was only built in the 1990s, it oozes old-world charm, echoing the classic Sorrento tower houses that pepper the beachside suburb.
Sorrento real estate has had a rollercoaster ride in recent years after surfing a significant price wave during the pandemic.
The 12-month median house price in the area was down 23.9 per cent to $1.75 million over the June quarter last year, according to Domain data – the steepest drop on the peninsula. However, by the close of 2025, REA Group’s PropTrack figures showed Sorrento was down only 3.2 per cent over the 12 months to December, indicating that values are on a slow climb.
Tower House has been held by the same family since 2002, last changing hands for $1.47 million according to CoreLogic records. Today, Rob Curtain and Danielle Vains of Peninsula Sotheby’s International Realty have listed the 1711sq m four-bedroom, four-bathroom property with a price guide of $7.3 million to $8 million.
Inside the palatial family residence, there are multiple living areas for formal and more casual entertaining spaces, which spill out onto traditional wraparound terraces.
The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, a double oven, a unique black-and-white checkered floor, and an adjoining sunroom.
All bedrooms have built-in wardrobes, three have their own ensuites and the fourth sits beside a full family bathroom. An additional multipurpose room could be a fifth bedroom or home office with a fireplace.
Beyond the entry portico and foyer, a statement spiral staircase rises up to the tower and vast rooftop terrace, complete with a built-in bar and sweeping views across Port Phillip Bay.
The grounds at Tower House have been designed for relaxed beachside living, ticking all the boxes for resort-style entertaining, from the full north-to-south-facing tennis court and heated pool to the spa and private manicured gardens. To showcase its peninsula setting, the property also features a row of iconic “Brighton beach boxes” as a colourful alternative poolside cabana.
Bonus features at the property include ducted heating, air-conditioning, and a double lock-up garage with loft storage.
Buyers seeking more space or an added income stream can seize a neighbouring opportunity with a three-bedroom, two-bathroom cottage on seperate title fronting Hotham Rd for sale by the same owners.
Tower House is close to Sorrento’s shopping strip, Sorrento Park, the beach and coastal walking trails.
The property at 3395 Point Nepean Rd, Sorrento is listed with Rob Curtain and Danielle Vains of Peninsula Sotheby’s International Realty.
A 30-metre masterpiece unveiled in Monaco brings Lamborghini’s supercar drama to the high seas, powered by 7,600 horsepower and unmistakable Italian design.
The era of the gorgeous golden retriever is over. Today’s most coveted pooches have frightful faces bred to tug at our hearts.
