BYRON HINTERLAND TROPHY HOME WITH STAR POWER RETURNS TO MARKET
Award-winning Byron hinterland estate Amileka returns to market, blending architectural pedigree, celebrity history and lucrative luxury retreat appeal.
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A Byron Bay hinterland trophy home that once starred on Love Island Australia has resurfaced for sale after making a brief appearance on the market last year.
Amileka in Federal, 24kms from the famous shores of Byron Bay, was listed for a short time in July with a guide of more than $8m, but is now asking $7m to $7.7m with Sotheby’s agent Will Phillips via an expressions of interest campaign, closing on March 12, at 5pm.
The contemporary homestead on 10ha last sold for $9.5 million during the regional post-pandemic boom in 2022. Since then, the iconic house has been earning its owners thousands of dollars a night as a glamorous short term rental.
Built in 2008, Amileka took home the Australian Institute of Architects (NSW country division) Architecture Award in the same year. The minimalist design on secluded Blackbean Lane was crafted by architect owner Sharon Fraser and her husband, Steve Esson.
Tom Lane, of the Oroton fashion family empire and his stylist wife Emma, then bought Amileka for $4 million in 2011. They sold up in 2015 for $3.5 million to the Johnson family, who offered up the compound to feature as the Love Island home for the Channel 9 dating show’s third season in 2017.
Later, in 2022, the remote residence was snapped up by Mikaela Lancaster, Spotify Australia managing director, and her husband Mark Britt, founder of video-streaming platform Iflix. Lancaster and Britt are now seeking Amileka’s next custodians.
The main home has a large sunken lounge room and a spacious dining zone seamlessly connected to the gourmet kitchen and multiple outdoor terraces. In the designer gas kitchen there are stone surfaces including a big island bench, and a discreet but large butler’s pantry.
Created for grand scale outdoor entertaining, Amileka’s alfresco options include a central courtyard, level lawns with rolling district views punctuated by ancient Black Bean, fig and pandanus trees, plus an 18m by 5m pool and a fire pit.
Internally, the house features a stately formal entry, honed concrete floors with solar hydronic heating, bespoke cabinetry, walls of windows to capture the leafy outlook, a dedicated media room, and five bedrooms.
Off the primary suite there is a large walk-in wardrobe, an ensuite with bidet and a private hot tub, plus the house has two more family-friendly bathrooms.
Additionally, the estate also has a three-bedroom caretaker’s cottage with its own swimming pool.
Famous for its legendary lush vistas, untouched rainforest and waterfalls, the Byron Hinterland is also known for picturesque sleepy villages such as Bangalow and eclectic fine dining options.
Federal is home to a small general store, the popular Doma Cafe, and is approximately a 25-minute drive from Byron Bay, 35 minutes to Ballina Airport and 50 minutes to Coolangatta International Airport.
Amileka in the Byron Bay hinterland is for sale with Sotheby’s International Realty via an expressions of interest campaign, closing on March 12, 5pm.
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Set on one of the city’s last absolute riverfront sites, The Riversdale by Mosaic combines irreplaceable waterfront ownership with one of Brisbane’s most significant residential opportunities.
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Abadeen, the Lower North Shore’s most active and prominent residential developer, together with investment partner Phoenix Property Investors, has lodged a State Significant Development Application to transform the former Honeysuckle Garden and Midas site on Military Road into 100 premium new homes.
With an estimated completed value of $230 million, the proposed development will transform the former Honeysuckle Garden and Midas site into a landmark mixed-use residential community comprising 100 premium residences, activated ground-floor retail and a resort-style rooftop wellness and recreation precinct designed to become one of the Lower North Shore’s most exceptional resident amenities.
The proposal has been carefully designed to respond to the site’s varied street frontages and surrounding neighbourhood. The building comprises predominantly five and nine storeys, steppingdown towards Hale Road to reduce its visual impact, with the tenth level rooftop
wellness facilities rather than residential apartments. This built form remains below the 12-storey outcome identified through Mosman Council’s recently endorsed Masterplan process, demonstrating a considered approach to delivering much-needed housing while respecting the site’s context and neighbouring properties.
Designed by leading Australian practice DKO Architecture, under the direction of Senior Associate Matthew Ritchard, the proposal has been conceived as a contemporary response to Mosman’s unique landscape, history and community.
Occupying a prominent position on Military Road between Cremorne and Mosman villages, the site is close to boutique retail, acclaimed dining, harbour beaches, leading schools and excellent public transport connections. Upper-level residences would enjoy panoramic views stretching north across Middle Harbour, south to the Sydney CBD skyline, east to Balmoral and Sydney Heads, and west across the Lower North Shore.
Abadeen Executive Chairman Justin Brown said the project represented an opportunity to deliver a new generation of homes for Mosman that responded to changing buyer needs while remaining respectful of the suburb’s established character.
“This is one of the most significant sites to come to market on the Lower North Shore in many years,” Brown says.
“The apartments have been designed as genuine long-term homes, with efficient floor plans that maximise usable living areas, generous internal storage, strong natural light and practical connections between internal and external spaces. A diverse range of apartment sizes and configurations provide greater housing choice for individuals, couples, families and local downsizers.
“The focus has been on creating homes that caters for a broad range of buyers, from young professionals purchasing their first home, to couples establishing themselves, growing families and local downsizers who want to remain in Mosman.”
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