A waterfront home at Clifton has fetched more than $3 million under the hammer, setting a record for the suburb.
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The property, located at 347-349 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Clifton is set on two cliff's edge blocks.
Designed by Sydney architects Lisa Saville and Steven Isaacs, the property offers impressive ocean views.
According to the selling agents, it attracted 300 inquiries - of which 240 were out-of-area buyers.
Records from the public auction earlier this month reveal that it sold for $3,375,000.
According to Pricefinder, the previous highest sale price for a Clifton property was $2.4 million in 2018.
The selling agents were McGrath Thirroul's Jeremy Hodder and Lashay Borg.
Mr Hodder said the buyers were a young family from Sydney's northern beaches who will use the three-bedroom, two-bathroom house as a holiday home.
"They had been comparing other options including Avoca Beach and Palm Beach," he said.
"In the end, they were attracted to the South Coast lifestyle, the quieter beaches and slower pace."
Upon being listed, prospective buyers reportedly included interest from Hong Kong, Singapore and London, and also from Sydney buyers on the upper and lower north shore and inner west.
With no visible neighbours, the listing also piqued the interest of some unnamed celebrity buyers.
"The interest from out-of-area buyers shows how attractive the Illawarra and South Coast are for buyers from all over NSW," Mr Hodder said.
"This home showcases the best of the Illawarra lifestyle."
The property initially went to market with a price guide of $3.7 million to $4 million.
The sellers were Cass Jones and wife Alison Wiig.
The UK expats, now Australian citizens, lived in Sydney before making the move south.
They are now downsizing, and staying in the Illawarra.
Mr Jones said they were sad to part with what he called a "magnificent house".
"We have had a wonderful ten years living here," he said.
"But it's time to move on, so that's what we're doing."
In 2006, the couple bought adjoining blocks, before knocking down a small cottage to make way for their dream home.
Do you have an interesting real estate story? Please email brendan.crabb@austcommunitymedia.com.au with details.
They commissioned Sydney architects Saville Isaacs for the design and enlisted structural, hydraulic and geotechnical specialists to meet the challenges posed by building into the unstable cliff edge.
The cantilevered design is the designers' answer to keeping the footings away from the jaw-dropping, eroding edge.
Orientated to face south-east, it's designed so that every room has ocean views.
The home also includes a downstairs library and fireplace.
"You're right on the ocean, so there's perfect views - you can sit and watch the whales go by," Mr Jones said.
"It's just beautiful, and you have such privacy; the neighbours are a considerable distance away.
"It's just a beautifully designed home."
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
