Property of the Week: Canberra’s award-winning architectural masterpiece on the market
Canberra’s 2025 HIA Home of the Year is back on the market and it’s asking $8.85 million-plus.
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In real estate, the term “award-winning” is often overused. But occasionally, there are homes that truly deserve a design gong.
Taking out the 2025 HIA ACT/Southern NSW Home of the Year, Icon House, designed by local architects Turco & Associates and built by Status Living, is a deserving winner.
The contemporary residence hit the market earlier this year, and the five-bedroom house has resurfaced with a fresh campaign and a new agent.
Number 5 Northcote Cres, Deakin, is now listed with Josh Morrissey of Hive Property with an asking price of “more than” $8.85 million.
In addition to its iconic design, Icon House has sweeping views of Canberra’s favourite landmarks from the Brindabella Ranges and National Arboretum to Parliament House and Telstra Tower.
Sitting on a vast 1795 sq m block, the house boasts an impressive 603 sq m of living space under its roof across three levels, including a full basement retreat.
Its standout exterior features dramatic cantilevered forms that appear to float above the hillside, while walls of glass frame the picturesque landscape.
The flexible footprint starts on the ground floor, where a gallery foyer breaks the layout into almost two pavilions: a main family-friendly zone and a guest wing, plus a formal lounge.
In the primary living area, the showcase kitchen anchors the entry level with an everyday lounge room and alfresco terrace to one side, and a dining room with yet another outdoor space and resort-style retreat to the other.
Cascata Grey honed marble, custom joinery and a suite of appliances fill the state-of-the-art kitchen and butler’s pantry, including high-end brands such as Liebherr, V-Zug, Electrolux, Miele, and ZIP HydroTap. There is also a Vintec 50-bottle wine fridge and a Fisher & Paykel CoolDrawer.
A three-sided Ortal marble fireplace takes centre stage in the main living room, and a huge family room offers another space for gatherings.
Outside, the entertainment continues with a heated 10m mineral pool, a six-person spa, a western red cedar sauna, plus a poolside cabana featuring a built-in Beefeater barbecue and gas fireplace. As an added bonus, an open-plan recreational area could be adapted for soccer, basketball, or pickleball.
Upstairs, via a private elevator, the main bedroom suite seemingly sits among the treetops and features a dressing room with a skylight and an ensuite including a freestanding bath and double vanities. Other bedrooms each have their own ensuites and there is a communal study nook on the same floor. Five designer bathrooms have custom walnut joinery, Villeroy & Boch fittings, Brodware tapware and marble finishes.
Down on the lower level, the huge four-car garage has EV charging provisions, as well as an adjoining home office or gym space. Beyond the garage, there is a mudroom and commercial-sized laundry with a dedicated drying room, plus a fully-equipped home cinema with a guest powder room.
Added extras at the award-winning Canberra home include additional gated parking, an integrated Sonos audio system inside and out, hydronic zoned in-slab heating across two, irrigated gardens, an advanced security system, 23kW solar, and underground water storage.
Icon House is close to Canberra Girls’ Grammar School, Deakin shops, Parliament House and the city centre.
On the market with a guide of $8.85m plus, Icon House at 5 Northcote Cres, Deakin, is listed with Josh Morrissey of Hive Property.
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The grand harbourside residence combines sweeping Sydney Heads views, resort-style entertaining and refined designer finishes with a reported $36 million price guide.
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Media executive Hamish McLennan and his wife Lucinda have just listed their elegant Sydney harbourside mansion, with a price guide of $36 million.
Their luxurious four-bedroom family home in Darling Point is being offered through an expressions-of-interest campaign with the Ray White Double Bay duo Elliott Placks and Ashley Bierman.
McLennan, who is chairman of ARN and REA Group, incoming chairman of DroneShield, and a director at Light & Wonder, and his wife, Lucinda, are reportedly planning to downsize from the 771 sq m block.
Last traded in 2023 for $29.25 million, the McLennans purchased 19a Eastbourne Rd from Olympic gold medal-winning recruitment executive Mark Kerry and interior designer Lynda Kerry.
The Kerrys had engaged architect Andrew Barnyak to completely transform the Californian Mission-style property after buying it for $11 million in 2020.
In March this year, a neighbouring home at number 15 sold for $21 million. That 1920s five-bedroom residence had undergone a thorough renovation by owners Tasmin Johnson and bespoke tailor Patrick Johnson.
Apartment developer, Eduard Litver, sold his six-bedroom residence at 29 Eastbourne Rd in 2022 for $24 million. According to Cotality records, the street price record was set in 2017 when number 21 sold for $31.8m.
Positioned on the harbour side of Eastbourne Rd, the three-storey home at number 19a offers panoramic northerly views of the water from Manly to Sydney Heads. It has 687sq m of internal living space, including a dramatic central double-height void at the heart of the footprint.
The spacious ground floor features several large formal and informal living areas. Past the stately arched entrance way, the central void opens up above the dining and kitchen area, creating a mezzanine gallery level crowned by a grand illuminating skylight.
In the commercial-grade gas and marble kitchen, there is a vast eat-at island bench, a hidden butler’s pantry and high-end appliances.
The spacious lounge zone features a Jetmaster fireplace, a sunroom nook, a separate media room with another fireplace, and French doors opening to a long terrace overlooking the harbour.
At the same level, a guest bedroom has built-ins and an ensuite bath.
Upstairs, there are two bedrooms, including a large main suite with extensive walk-through wardrobes, a hotel-style ensuite featuring a freestanding tub with a view, and a terrace that spans the full width of the home.
On the lower level, a spacious family retreat opens onto another terrace. This area includes an informal rumpus room with a fireplace, a sandstone wine tasting room and cellar, a bedroom, and a bathroom.
Resort-style alfresco features include a heated swimming pool and spa, complemented by a barbecue cabana with its own cosy fireplace.
The Darling Point home has a long list of added extras with a lift to all three levels, a big family-friendly laundry, luxury detailing such as high coffered ceilings, timber floors, premium wallpaper, and natural limestone finishes, plus a lock-up garage.
Eastbourne Rd is close to Double Bay shops, the Double Bay Sailing Club, wharf, Steyne Park, Double Bay Public School, and transport.
On the market via an expressions of interest campaign with Ray White Double Bay, 19a Eastbourne Rd, Darling Point is expected to sell around $36 million.
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