When it comes to Sydney’s most historic homes, the suburb of Bellevue Hill has more than its fair share of palatial properties, with residents including the likes of the Packer clan, former Prime Minister Sir William McMahon and writer Helen Garner. Now, one of the area’s most spectacular estates has hit the market in the form of 53-55 Cranbrook Road, Bellevue Hill, which brings a taste of the Mediterranean to some remarkable views out across Sydney Harbour.
Known as Monkton, this five-bedroom, five-bathroom mansion was designed by one of the architects for the rich and famous during the 1980s in Espie Dods, but the property dates back much further with a laundry list of Sydney elites who have owned it. In the early 1920s it was the property of High Court judge Sir Dudley Williams, before he sold it in 1958 to British Conservative MP Lord Angus Maude who was in Sydney as the editor of The Sydney Morning Herald.
The expansive home was last sold in 2001 when its current owners, Goldman Sachs Australia investment banker Tim Burroughs and his wife Judith, purchased the property for $8.9 million, which they have enjoyed ever since. Now back on the market for the first time in more than two decades, the home sits on a sizable 1,252m² land parcel with no less than 37m of harbour frontage that can enjoyed variously from the terrace overlooking the pool or the balcony on the second level.
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After entering through the foyer that immediately faces out through a double door to the rear lawns, there’s a formal lounge room and separate dining room that enjoy soaring 3.2m high ceilings, as well as a large open plan kitchen and living area. The ground level is also home to the impressive wine cellar, while the upper level can be reached via an elegantly curved staircase that leads to the bedrooms, a home office, games room and even a second living room.
The topmost floor is the location of a private guest bedroom with its own ensuite, but the master bedroom is where you’d want to spend your nights, boasting a private balcony, ensuite bathroom and walk-in-robe. Joining the balcony of the master bedroom via a couple of steps is the continuation of the balcony that wraps around the harbour facing side of the property, before opening up as a second level terrace that serves as the perfect spot to enjoy an afternoon cocktail.
At the rear of the home is where the laws cascade down to the pool level, which not only entices you down with its sparkling blue waters but also the undercover cabana area to escape the heat during Sydney’s swealtering summers. Surrounding the home is a carefully maintained European garden, which is very much in line with the feel of the distinctly continental home, with its French doors and windows.
There truly aren’t many other homes in New South Wales that enjoy the same sense of undeniable grandeur both inside and out. The mansion at 53-55 Cranbrook Road, Bellevue Hill, has arrived on the market under the expertise of The Agency estate agents, with a price guide of $30 million to $32 million.
