Celebrated actress Cate Blanchett has decided to sell her palatial Sydney estate overlooking the Lane Cove River for circa A $20 million. Called “Bulwarra,” the property which was built in 1877 is about six miles from downtown Sydney in Australia’s oldest “garden suburb,” Hunters Hill. A sandstone-faced mansion set on a private 3,642 square meter parcel has undergone a carefully considered reinvention, linking the old with the new. Sweeping views over the distinctly Australian landscape can be enjoyed from a fluid sequence of indoor and outdoor living zones.
A streamlined chef’s grade island kitchen forms the hub of the home and features polished concrete floors, an adjoining utilities room, and level rear access to the garaging. Five bedrooms are all positioned on the upper level, with three that open out to a verandah overlooking the views, as well as a separate suite for guests. Occupying a private wing, the master retreat features a skylit dressing room and Boffi-appointed ensuite, its freestanding bath perfectly positioned to soak up the tranquil river and garden vistas.
The lower level incorporates a home office/library with dramatic double height ceilings, while an upper level family area opens to a sunny verandah.
The home’s many other features include a guest powder and cloakroom, solid American Oak floors, custom joinery, an enormous cellar, generous attic storage, and secure parking for four cars. A pool pavilion, championship tennis court, trampoline platform, guesthouse and direct river access set the scene for relaxed living and entertaining.
The heated pool is wrapped in raw-finished decking, and features a covered spa and dining pergola with a unique studio retreat hidden below.
Cate Blanchett and her theatre director husband Andrew Upton bought the home a decade ago for half the price they’re asking, then undertook a years-long eco-friendly renovation that reports at the time estimated at $1.5 million Australian – but that current reports claim added up to more than $8 million Australian.