Darlinghurst apartment in Harry Seidler's Horizon building hits the market for over $10 million

It might be wise to do a few neck stretches before inspecting this spectacular eyrie on the 40th floor of Harry Seidler’s Horizon building. There’s so much to take in, both inside and out, you’re likely to do a lot of head swivelling and you don’t want to hurt yourself before you’ve had a chance to look over the contract.

40/184 Forbes Street takes up the entire 40th floor of Seidler’s award-winning residential high rise, wrapping around the lift well and boasting uninterrupted 360-degree views. Its vast main living area is focused towards the city’s iconic duo, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, but with the abundance of glass throughout and the building’s cunning curved design, just about every room provides an opportunity to gaze out over a 180-degree expanse of Sydney that includes something appealing.

A separate one-bedroom apartment with north-easterly views and its own entrance takes up a modest but highly desirable slice of the floor plan. It’s on a separate title but the two apartments are being sold together. The one-bedder has a tenant at the moment, but it could be a great spot for storing teenagers, staff, guests or whichever member of your household/entourage you’re keen to see less of.

The interiors of the main apartment are in fine condition, but some of the finishes – the cream paint, textured carpet and gold tapware, for example – seem dated. We were particularly charmed by the “luxury spa en suite”, which is reminiscent of the famous ’80s Imperial Leather soap ad in which a family bathing in tubs aboard a private jet instruct the pilot, via an ornate cream and gold telephone, to set course for Tahiti.

That said, you’re not buying details and finishes here, you’re buying an outstanding location and views, an abundance of space, superb architecture and no fewer than eight car spaces. Plus, a buyer up this end of the market would surely have the wherewithal to bring in an interior architect from one of Sydney’s top-drawer firms – Arent & Pyke, Thomas Hamel or Tribe Studio, to name but a few – to give the place a marvellous make-over.

Need to know
Built in 1998; size 565 square metres, levies $24,255.65 per quarter,
Highest recorded apartment price in Darlinghurst in the past 12 months  – $5.8 million for 69/18 College Street in September,
Median price for units $900,000. Four bedrooms, four bathrooms, eight car spaces. 
For sale by expressions of interest with Bill Malouf, of LJ Hooker, Double Bay.
Expected to sell for over $10 million. See more at domain.com.au/2013369438.

Recent sales
$5,555,000 for 17/99-107 Stanley Street in March
$4.6 million for 52/18 College Street in April
$3,850,000 for 166/3 Kings Cross Road in June
Source: Domain Group