This exclusive Sydney property with an unmatched architectural pedigree is up for sale
The house has hit the market for the first time in 50 years, but it comes with a caveat or two
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A rare architectural gem has hit the market for the first time in 50 years. Fishwick House, designed by legendary architect Walter Burley Griffin in 1929, is located in Castlecrag on Sydney’s lower north shore, the estate American-born Burley Griffin and his wife, fellow architect Marion Mahony developed in the 1920s.
The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home set within a well-maintained native garden – also originally designed by Burley Griffin – is so exclusive, the vendors have requested that the address not be made public.
The house is being offered through real estate agency Modern House, which specialises in the sale of mid century homes. Director Marcus Lloyd-Jones says Fishwick House represents many of the ideals Burley Griffin – who was also responsible for the urban design of Canberra – and Mahony extolled about integrating the house into the landscape, maximising natural light and the functionality of the floorplan.
The fully restored two-storey home includes a spacious reception area, a dramatic sandstone fireplace and sunken study. Timber detailing and exposed sandstone have been beautifully maintained, while the master bedroom with curved window on the upper floor has a sense of living among the trees.
The house, which also enjoys extensive views of Middle Harbour, beyond its bushland setting, has been carefully restored and is included on the NSW State Heritage Register. It is the only house in Sydney built in the first half the of the 20th century and still a private residence to be listed at all three levels of government. It is considered one of the most important Burley Griffin buildings, not just in Australia, but the US.
Pictures: Tamara Graham
Address: On request
Price guide: $5.7m to $6.1m
Agent: Marcus Lloyd-Jones at Modern House 0424 005 531
More information: https://www.fishwickhouse.org/
This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.
His stallion once won the Melbourne Cup, now this late legendary horse owner’s thoroughbred harbourside home is on the market.
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A perfectly-positioned harbourside residence, formerly the home of a late Melbourne Cup-winning horse owner, has come to market with $14 million price expectations for its February 22 auction.
Sitting in one of Sydney’s most coveted enclaves on Waiwera St in Lavender Bay, the duplex with never-to-be-built-out gunbarrell views of both the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House was home to championship thoroughbred owner Michael Fergus Doyle. The Irish-born entrepreneur was part owner of Protectionist, the 2014 Melbourne Cup winner.
Bought by Doyle in April 2020, in an off-market deal totalling $11 million according to CoreLogic data, the two-storey Lavender Bay property is being sold by the racing legend’s family through Atlas Sydney & East Coast. Doyle, a prominent character in Sydney’s Irish community for more than 50 years after arriving down under in the 1960s with a 10 pound boat ticket, sadly passed away in November 2023 at the age of 77.
Doyle built his fortune by building a construction company from the ground up that eventually employed more than 300 people and had a contract with Sydney Water worth A$100 million a year. By 2009, Doyle sold the business to a company owned by the Singapore Government and breeding horses through Doyles Breeding & Racing became his next passion.
The contemporary four-bedroom three-bathroom property features 304sq m of internal living space with additional outdoor entertaining areas on both levels.
Beyond the impressive grand entrance foyer with a personalised floor medallion, the layout opens up to reveal a large everyday living level with a formal lounge room and casual sitting space featuring walls of windows to frame the Harbour City’s top icons. Thanks to a central skylight tower, this main living zone is also flooded with natural light.
A spacious chef-grade kitchen anchored by a long island bench is equipped with Gaggenau appliances, gas burners, dual ovens, and a grill plate. The adjoining dining area spills out onto a terrace with an integrated bar table plus a Luna Park and bridge backdrop. The entry level also houses a home office or guest bedroom with a Juliette balcony and integrated desks opposite a full bathroom.
In the main bedroom suite upstairs there is a deep full-width balcony with more landmark views, a vast walk-in wardrobe, plus a spa ensuite complete with twin vanities, heated floors and warming towel racks. Two more bedrooms on the upper level each have access via French doors to a shared street-facing terrace and built-ins with a common family-friendly bathroom.
Added extras include automatic awnings and privacy screens to the outdoor areas, marble floor tiles, and a double lock up garage with storage.
The designer duplex is located close to harbourside dining venues, foreshore parks such as Bob Gordon Reserve and Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Gardens, Kirribilli Markets and North Sydney’s bustling CBD.
Property 2 at 9-11 Waiwera St is on the market with Adrian Bridges and Daniel Chester of Atlas Sydney & East Coast with a price guide of $14 million. It is set to go under the hammer on February 22.
This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan
Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.
