Russell Crowe’s former home in Sydney is going for a cool Dh100 million

Standout features include a central kitchen crafted from Calacatta marble – Michelangelo’s favourite material; intricate stained-glass windows; and a space to moor your boat.

The five-bedroom villa offers 6,250 square feet of living space. Courtesy Christie’s International Real Estate

Berthong, Elizabeth Bay, Sydney, Australia

Asking price: Dh100 million

A storied beginning, prime location, award-winning architecture and celebrity owners: Berthong ticks all the boxes on the luxury real estate checklist. The five-bedroom waterfront villa offers 6,250 square feet of living space, set on a 17,900-square-foot plot. Formerly owned by a music tycoon, an advertising magnate, a media mogul and an Oscar-winning actor, Berthong is one of the few free-standing residences left in the affluent neighbourhood of Elizabeth Bay.

Berthong may be best known as Russell Crowe’s bachelor pad, but it was originally built in 1886 as part of a women’s college. After the Australian federation, it became a private residence and was bought in 1936 by sheet-music publisher Frank Albert, who sold it to adman Michael Ball, who in turn sold it to the Murdoch family in 1995. Rupert Murdoch used Berthong as his Sydney base before Crowe bought it in 2001.

In its current form, the house retains touches by famous Melbourne decorator Leslie Walford, who was known for his soft lighting, elegant patterns and use of pastel colours, as well as Corben Architects, which restored the 130-year-old main residence in 2005. The firm won the prestigious Master Builders Association design award for its work, which included a new entry hall and stairs connecting the two storeys; a large stone-paved terrace leading across the swimming pool all the way down to the water; a butler’s pantry for mess-free entertaining; and six mod-con bathrooms. Other standout features include a central kitchen crafted from Calacatta marble – Michelangelo’s favourite material to carve his sculptures on; intricate stained-glass windows in the dining room; a wraparound veranda; a separate two-level guest house; ducted air conditioning and CCTV; a double garage accessible from the street; and a space to moor your boat at the foot of the garden.

Berthong sits alongside the historic Boomerang House, which has been ranked as one of Australia’s most expensive residences, and offers an unparalleled location, along with spectacular views all the way from the Garden Island naval base to Clark Island. Grazing the edge of Sydney Harbour, the inner suburb of Elizabeth Bay is a rare example of an oasis that sits in the heart of an urban centre. Despite being a perfectly secluded enclave, it’s well connected to the main city, and just a short walk from the arty Kings Cross district, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the cosmopolitan Pitt Street area, so once you’re done luxuriating by the waterfront at your doorstep, you can make the most of Sydney’s lavish cafe culture.

The property is currently on the market for 37 million Australian dollars through Christie's International Real Estate.

Read this and more stories in Luxury magazine, out with The National on Thursday, June 15.