Château Immanuel: A Grand Hinterland Escape with a Private Lake
Tuscan elegance and Hollywood glamour come face to face in the Sunshine Coast’s coveted hinterland with the award-winning Château Immanuel.
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Created by the current owners Helene and Nick Van Der Merwe, the European-inspired five-bedroom mansion was listed a year ago but has just resurfaced with an $11 million price guide through Melissa Schembri and Daniel Rees of Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty.
An iconic estate behind a secure gated entry, the 1340sq m property features a long tree-lined driveway leading up to a stately turning circle and grand water feature, manicured lawns, ornamental gardens and a private lake.
Unfolding across one of the hinterland’s most tightly held pockets, the landmark residence was even crowned the Master Builders Sunshine Coast House of the Year upon its completion in 2012.
Château Immanuel was a two-year labour of love for the pair. Mrs Van Der Merwe said the couple, who have decided to relocate to a cattle farm, will miss the home’s year-round versatility.
“I’ll miss the serenity for sure. When the gate closes behind you, the busy world is left behind. It’s private and quiet, our own little bubble of paradise. In winter, I enjoy sitting in front of our bedroom fireplace with a good novel, chocolates, and red wine. In summer, I love being outside on the patio, sharing fabulous food and laughter with friends,” she said, adding that the house is a great entertainer inside and out.
“It’s grand and spacious, yet warm, comfortable, and inviting. Everyone loves dancing under the stars,” she said.
Hand-picked finishes include Italian flagstone flooring, Portuguese limestone fireplaces, ceiling roses imported from the US and French chandeliers.
The residence’s main wing has a dramatic foyer with 9m ceilings, which opens through to multiple formal and informal living areas focused on the vast covered patio for seamless outdoor entertaining.
The contemporary kitchen has stone bench tops, a long, expansive central island, a walk-in pantry, and commercial-grade appliances including a double oven and gas cooktop tucked behind bespoke cabinetry.
The outdoor room has multiple seating zones with bronze chandeliers, an integrated alfresco kitchen, and a stone fireplace overlooking a 14m swimming pool and gazebo.
A palatial primary bedroom suite sits in its own wing and is home to a sitting area, private terrace, fireplace, walk-in robe, a deluxe dressing room and a spa-like ensuite with a sunken tub.
An upper level houses a second spacious retreat with a bath ensuite, fireplace and balcony.
Across the expansive layout the self-contained guest annex adds more flexibility for extended family or visitors, containing three more bedrooms with ensuites, a separate kitchen, an open plan living zone and a courtyard.
Additional features at Château Immanuel include ducted air-conditioning and vacuuming, an integrated sound system, security, a 10kW solar system with a generator backup and an irrigation system. The grounds have a self-contained artist’s studio, a large shed, a dog run, ornamental ponds, antique statues and a four-car garage.
Château Immanuel is close to Maroochydore CBD and the international airport, 30 minutes to Noosa, and under an hour to Brisbane.
Offered through an expressions of interest campaign, Château Immanuel has a guide of $11 million via Melissa Schembri and Daniel Rees of Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty.
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A rare 41-hectare Southern Highlands farm is on the market with a $10 million guide, as demand for prestige lifestyle estates continues to surge.
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A rolling 41ha parcel of farmland in the Southern Highlands, which last sold back in 2012 for $3.05 million, has come to market with a price guide of $10 million.
The sprawling rural estate, once featured in Highlife Magazine showcasing its colourful gardens, is listed with Anne Stone of McGrath Bowral through a private treaty sale.
Beyond the stately front gates and meandering driveway, the working farm consists of a five-bedroom main residence coupled with a three-bedroom guest cottage, as well as a private self-contained studio space.
Also known as Dragon Farm, the picturesque pocket sits 10kms west of Robertson and 47kms from the shores of Kiama.
Near the sleepy hamlet of Wildes Meadow, the provincial property houses 17 fenced paddocks, a championship-sized tennis court with a pavilion, plus a wellness area including a gym and steam room.
Just in time for the Australian Open, McGrath recently highlighted the value of a home grown tennis court in its 2026 Prestige Residential report.
The demand for lifestyle properties with sporting amenities has surged since the early days of the pandemic in 2020, with tennis courts proving to be a big hit.
Along Australia’s east coast, the study showed there were 71 prestige properties with tennis courts sold in the 12-months to October 2025.
New South Wales accounted for 46 per cent of those transactions, and the McGrath paper reported a price premium of 42 per cent achieved for listings with a tennis court during that period.
“Super-prestige properties equipped with tennis courts remain tightly held. Rather than being transacted for a premium they’re being land banked, as the increasing rarity of estates on large parcels will likely drive value over the longterm,” said McGrath research analyst, Michelle Ciesielski.
The main homestead at the Southern Highlands property makes the most of its panoramic setting with district views from three separate living areas and covered wraparound verandas.
Within the 323sq m footprint of the primary residence there is a modern country style kitchen, a central courtyard and main bedroom with a study nook and ensuite.
Ideal for visitors or live-in staff, the rustic cottage measures approximately 140sq m and has an open plan living zone with kitchen flowing through to a traditional veranda, plus three bedrooms with built-in wardrobes and one ensuite.
Beside the cottage an original dairy shed has been transformed into an entertainer’s space with an outdoor kitchen and the separate studio retreat dishes up more accommodation with an alfresco area and fireplace.
Additionally, the tennis court cabana is also set up with a kitchenette and wellness area.
Within the property there are established internal roads, cattle yards and multiple sheds to support livestock or equestrian pursuits.
Currently, the land is home to 35 cows, two bulls and 25 calves grazing across the lush fertile pastures.
The grounds features a potager vegetable garden, a woodland walk and a sculptural Celtic-inspired garden with a maze and two dams.
Listed with Anne Stone of McGrath Bowral, 100 Blencowes Lane, Wildes Meadow is on the market via a private treaty campaign with a price guide of $10 million.
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