Island Icon With Architectural Pedigree
Award-winning and almost invisible by design, Azuris offers a rare chance to own a waterfront foothold on tightly held Hamilton Island.
2 min
Plenty of visitors check in for a short stay in the Whitsundays, but only a select few can stake a claim to their own piece of paradise.
Hamilton Island, home to around 200 permanent residents, is one of the only places in the Whitsundays chain where homebuyers can enter the property market.
Azuris, on the western side of the popular holiday isle, is a head-turning designer home with enviable views and an award-winning story.
The striking three-bedroom waterfront residence was completed in 2011, and a year later, architect Renato D’Ettorre was awarded a Queensland Building of the Year gong from the Australian Institute of Architects.
Now set to go under the hammer on May 10, as part of an uber auction event with Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty, Azuris will be among 12 other luxury beach houses up for grabs, including eight more on the tightly held island.
Because the Hamilton Island house is selling via auction, Queensland law forbids the agency from publishing a price guide; however, a previous attempt to list the home via private treaty sheds some light on expectations.
Last year, 5 Plum Pudding Close came to market with a guide price of $12 million.
Current selling agent Carol Carter, who is marketing the home with Sotheby’s colleague Wayne Singleton, said the overseas-based owner now travels down under less often, so has decided to offload the property.
Known locally as the “invisible house”, Azuris blends architectural pedigree with an unparalleled setting.
Positioned on a section of the island where the land falls steeply towards the water, the elevated concrete, stone and glass residence – that features a crowning layer of grass on the roof – is seemingly hidden from view.
When inside, grand disappearing glass sliding doors frame the coveted water views, while clean, contemporary lines and natural stone surfaces enhance the 21st-century beach house appeal.
On the main level, the kitchen features integrated Boffi appliances, and the open plan living space opens out to dining terraces, an outdoor kitchen, a pool cabana, and a dramatic infinity pool that merges with the Coral Sea beyond.
As an added bonus, a central tanning deck seemingly floats within the pool, positioned to take in the million-dollar views.
The main bedroom suite on the same floor has a dressing room and a large ensuite, and opens onto both the pool deck and a private lawn courtyard.
One level lower and there are two more bedrooms with en-suites and terraces, plus a second entertainment space.
Down at street level, there is a private buggy port, as no private cars are permitted on the island. Azuris also has access to a nature strip that directly connects to the water’s edge.
Hamilton Island properties are sold under a leasehold title.
The head lease of Hamilton Island is a perpetual lease from the Crown (Queensland Government), and individual properties are sold via subleases with a 99-year lease term and a further 99-year option.
The first expiry for all property subleases is 31 March 2078. Hamilton Island properties are also approved for purchase by international buyers under FIRB guidelines.
The largest inhabited island of the Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island has its own public airport with direct flights to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
Azuris at 5 Plum Pudding Close, Hamilton Island is set to go to auction on May 10 at 3pm with Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty.
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Australia’s capital city housing markets have continued to record price growth, although higher interest rates and economic uncertainty are beginning to temper momentum.
3 min
Capital city home prices have continued to rise in April despite higher interest rates and ongoing uncertainty about the outlook for inflation and the global economy.
Growth rates, however, have eased, reflecting the usual subduing effect of the lengthy April holiday month.
The national capital city median house price increased marginally by 0.2% over the April quarter to $1,297,798 compared to the March quarter, according to the latest data from My Housing Market.
Annual national house prices are, however, 10.2% higher and have now increased for 14 consecutive months.
Most capitals reported house price increases over the month, with Brisbane and Perth the top performers, each higher by 1.3%, followed by Hobart and Darwin, both up 1.2%, Adelaide up 0.2%, with Sydney steady. Melbourne prices, however, fell 0.7%, while Canberra prices fell 1.7%.
Most also report strong annual house price growth in excess of 10%, with Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, and Adelaide clearly the highest, up by 25.7%, 21.6%, 20.0% and 14.2% respectively.
National unit prices were also higher in the April quarter than in the March quarter, rising by 0.5% to $728,459, and have now increased by 8.2% compared to the April quarter 2025 result.
Brisbane was the top monthly performer in April, with unit prices rising by 1.7%, followed by Perth up 1.0%, Melbourne and Canberra each up 0.9%, Adelaide up 0.6%, and Hobart up 0.1%. Sydney unit prices were steady over the month; however, Darwin unit prices were down 0.8%.
Similar to houses, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and Darwin continue to record the highest annual unit price growth to April 2026, at 30.1%, 27.8%, 12.9% and 11.8%, respectively.
Analysis
Capital city housing markets have generally reported higher home prices in April, although growth rates have eased compared to March.
Easing housing markets reflect the usual dampening effects of the lengthy April holiday month, although higher interest rates and increased uncertainty about the economic outlook have weighed on affordability and confidence.
Robust annual home price growth, however, continues for most capitals with Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, and Adelaide still reporting boomtime results.
Although 2026 is still set to see home price growth generally in most capitals, the rising spectre of further interest rate increases and elevated uncertainty over the outlook for inflation and the economy will continue to dampen affordability and confidence.
Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin, however, are again set to lead capital city outcomes for both houses and units, but are unlikely to match the extraordinary 2025 results.
Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide continue to record higher median house prices than Melbourne, with Perth now closing in fast on Brisbane and set to lead all but Sydney.
Underlying drivers will continue to support overall housing market activity, although the outlook for RBA interest rates is more problematic, with inflation set to accelerate and economic activity to decline as a consequence of the recent sharp increase in oil prices.
The economy, however, remains strong, with a steady, still-low jobless rate, falling unemployment, continued robust job growth, and a high participation rate.
Housing demand continues to outpace a low and diminishing housing supply, and although high post-COVID migration levels have recently eased, numbers remain strong and will add to chronic housing undersupply, supporting high rents and low vacancy rates generally in capital city rental markets.
Following a period of easing in rental growth, the latest data continue to show extraordinarily low home rental vacancy rates and clear signs that rents are on the rise again.
High rents and higher prices continue to provide clear incentives for first-home buyers and investors chasing solid investment returns.
Ongoing government initiatives to support first-home buyers will increase demand and place further upward pressure on prices.
Capital city housing markets generally recorded higher house and unit prices over 2023, 2024 and surged over 2025, fuelled by rising buyer and seller confidence through sharp cuts to interest rates.
Although 2026 is again likely to see higher home prices, significant uncertainty has recently emerged about the near-term outlook for already-high interest rates and economic activity, which will generally dampen buyer and seller confidence.
Early signs are emerging in the recent weakening of home auction market clearance rates, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne.
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