Hercules Hits the Market: Byron Hinterland Estate with Breathtaking Ocean Views Listed for $30M
A property that packs a powerful punch, Hercules in Byron Bay’s hinterland is an estate to go down in history.
2 min
Befitting its majestic name, Hercules is a mammoth 5.59ha property occupying the largest parcel of flat land along the Byron escarpment. Thanks to its prime position, the estate has head turning ocean views out to Broken Head National Park and the famous Cape Byron lighthouse.
Two homes share the unparalleled parcel along with a tennis court, two pools, separate guest accommodation, a function centre, music studio, a dam and even a thriving citrus orchard.
Billionaire developer and CEO of retirement development group GemLife, Adrian Puljich, and his wife Jessica, who runs interior design firm House Society, are selling Hercules after less than three years of ownership.
The prominent over-50s developer launched his latest venture Allure in September last year. With a $500 million pipeline of land lease communities to roll-out in Queensland by late 2025, Allira will house more than 1000 homes for seniors.
Listed with Nick Dunn of McGrath Byron Bay, the prestige property is sporting a $27 million to $30 million price guide. Although the hefty sum is an impressive price tag for a regional non-waterfront property, the greater Byron benchmark is significantly higher. That record was set in 2023 when tech entrepreneur Benjamin Bray reportedly paid $37 million for The Range, a 48ha luxury escape nearby, also in Coopers Shoot.
Mr and Mrs Puljich bought the estate for $22 million in June 2022 from previous owners Robert and Deborah Wild, co-directors of the Evolve College school of massage training. Back in 2014, the Wilds had bought the retreat for $7.9 million from international music producer Tom Misner, founder of SAU University College.
Although Hercules is not located on the coast, the ocean is still the headline act with a sweeping Pacific panorama from almost every turn, including two observation decks at the cliff face and a ionised horizon pool which appears to be at one with the big blue.
In the five-bedroom main residence there are multiple formal and informal rooms for grand scale entertaining, a wide ocean view terrace for alfresco gatherings, as well as an internal Travertine barbecue courtyard.
The contemporary kitchen has a full suite of German appliances, and each bedroom has its own ensuite. Other features of the 895sq m primary dwelling include a private office, a wine cellar, a first-floor games room and a six-car garage.
Throughout the rest of the resort-like property there is a modern two-storey three-bedroom health retreat with its own pool, a championship-sized tennis court with flood lights, a gym and steam room, plus a 100sq m state-of-the-art film and sound recording studio with a make up room, bathrooms and adjacent offices. A conference centre offers 200sq m of training space, as well as consulting, treatment and meeting rooms, a kitchen and toilets.
Additional features of the expansive property include a solar system, gated entry with video security system, an extensive data network, high electrical power connection capacity with substation upgrade to 315kVA, a water bore with irrigation and a 200,000L rainwater tank.
Hercules is an approximate five-minute drive to Byron Bay or Bangalow and about 30 minutes from Balinna Gateway Airport.
Listed with McGrath Byron Bay’s Nick Dunn, Hercules is on the market via private treaty sale with a price guide of between $27 million to $30 million.
From making unpopular decisions to learning when to listen, leaders from five businesses reveal what nobody prepared them for — and how running a company has challenged their expectations.
Technology and semiconductor shares fell sharply as investors questioned the debt financing the AI infrastructure boom and confronted higher rates and Chinese competition.
4 min
Toorak’s reputation has been built on grand estates, tightly held boulevards and some of Melbourne’s most valuable residential land. Yet one of its rarest attributes is largely hidden from the street: direct frontage to the Yarra River.
Although the river traces much of Toorak’s northern boundary, just over 20 homes in the blue-chip suburb are believed to border the water—and fewer still provide genuine river access. There is no definitive public register of Toorak homes with private jetties, but prestige agents have consistently described them as only a handful.
It is rare, then, for a property offering both river frontage and direct water access to become available in Melbourne’s so-called billionaire’s playground. The newly built Solara on Orrong Road presents precisely that opportunity.
Set on approximately 1,129sqm, the five-bedroom residence descends towards the river, culminating in a private, double-tiered jetty. Here, the Yarra is more than a distant outlook: it becomes part of daily life, offering a place to launch a boat, relax beside the water or travel towards the city from home.
That distinction is significant in Toorak. Many of the suburb’s finest properties offer scale, security and architectural pedigree, but very few combine all three with direct access to the river.
Architecture shaped by the site
Designed by Melbourne studio Alta and constructed by EASTON, Solara has been conceived as a series of interconnected levels descending towards the Yarra.
Rather than presenting as a single imposing volume, the house responds to its sloping site through stepped terraces, landscaped outdoor areas and large expanses of glazing. The architecture gradually reveals the water, drawing the eye through the interior and towards the river below.
The design has earned Solara a nomination in the 2026 Master Builders Excellence in Housing Awards.
Inside, a restrained material palette allows texture, proportion and natural light to carry the design. Stone, timber, glass and finely detailed joinery establish a sense of permanence without overwhelming the river setting.
The principal living area is arranged beneath a dramatic double-height ceiling, giving the room the scale expected of a major Toorak residence while maintaining a strong connection to the garden and water.
Full-height glazing opens the house to its outlook, while multiple living and entertaining spaces allow the property to transition between intimate family use and larger gatherings.
A private resort beside the Yarra
Solara’s principal living spaces open onto an expansive river-facing terrace containing a swimming pool and spa.
The outdoor area has been positioned to take advantage of both the northern light and the relative seclusion of the riverbank. Mature landscaping provides another layer of privacy, softening the architecture and creating the atmosphere of a private resort.
Below, the grounds continue towards the double-tiered jetty.
The residence also incorporates a dedicated wellness area and gym, reinforcing the sense that the home has been designed to provide a complete lifestyle within its boundaries.
Its accommodation includes five bedrooms and six bathrooms, with the principal suite occupying a private domain of its own. The house also provides garaging for four cars—an important consideration in a property of this scale.
Across the residence, the emphasis is less on overt decoration than on volume, outlook and craftsmanship. Sightlines have been carefully managed so that the river is encountered repeatedly, rather than being confined to a single formal room.
A different expression of Toorak prestige
Toorak’s luxury market is often associated with historic mansions and large European-inspired estates. Solara represents a more contemporary interpretation of the suburb: architecturally ambitious, highly private and organised around lifestyle rather than formality.
Its position also places it within a particularly scarce segment of the market.
Riverfront homes have previously appeared along addresses including St Georges Road and Edzell Avenue, although they tend to remain in the same ownership for long periods. Even among these properties, private jetties and convenient access to the water are not universal.
That scarcity separates Solara from other prestige homes that may offer river views without actually reaching the river.
For buyers operating at the upper end of Melbourne’s residential market, the value proposition is therefore not simply the size of the house or its list of amenities. It is the combination of new architecture, substantial land, resort facilities and an attribute that cannot readily be recreated: private access to the Yarra from Toorak.
Solara is being marketed with a guide of $16.8 million to $18.3 million through Jamie Mi of Kay & Burton.
Property snapshot
Address: 803 Orrong Road, Toorak, Victoria
Guide: $16.8 million–$18.3 million
Agent: Kay & Burton agent Jamie Mi
Land: Approximately 1,129sqm
Accommodation: Five bedrooms, six bathrooms and four-car accommodation
Design: Alta
Builder: EASTON
Key features: Private jetty, direct river access, gym, indoor spa and double-height living volume
Chinese carmaker GAC will expand its Australian electric vehicle line-up with the city-focused AION UT hatchback.
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.
