The unique multi-million-dollar Canberra homes awaiting their new owner

Every house hunter has a list of non-negotiable features when they make the rounds of open homes, but most of us don’t have a couple of million dollars stashed away for when we find our perfect property.

For this reason, the more unique multi-million dollar house can languish on the market for months or even years. These properties are certainly someone’s dream home, but that someone (with the cash to spend) just hasn’t come along yet.

Here are our top picks of the Canberra region’s multi-million dollar properties awaiting their perfect match.

O’Malley

11 Mialli Place

$2.39 million

Photo: Peter Blackshaw Real Estate

With an 8.5-metre high atrium and indoor gardens and water features, this is not your average mansion. And while it may not fit the mould of the stately O’Malley embassy, it’s easy to see why it received both an ACT and Australian HIA home of the year award. It’s a unique design, but it has many of the characteristics you’d expect of a foreign mission – the grand entertaining spaces, an en suite to each of the multiple bedrooms, a self-contained studio ideal for servant quarters and the all-important wine cellar. A creative country with an eye for Mediterranean detail could feel right at home here.

Kingston

101/13 Eastlake Parade

$2.1 million

Photo: Berkely Residential

A politician with a couple of million burning a hole in their back pocket would be very comfortable during sitting weeks at this Kingston sub-penthouse. The foreshore has proven to be a popular destination for those seeking a lock-up-and-leave lifestyle close to the Parliamentary Triangle. The new owner of this three-bedroom home won’t have to compromise on space either – this apartment is larger than the average house with 240 square metres of internal living space and 30 square metres of wintergarden balconies. With absolute water frontage, it also boasts postcard-worthy views across Lake Burley Griffin.

Campbell

14 Holmes Crescent

$2.25 million

Photo: Luton Properties

It’s the classic family house with a twist. Four bedrooms – two with en suites, a free-flowing floor plan and a stunning renovated kitchen at the heart of the home. What sets it apart is its size (a 2088-square-metre block), the no-expense-spared finishes and the striking architecture. The house has been extensively renovated over the last two years and every detail has been considered – bespoke cabinetry, a hand-crafted steel stair rail and double-glazed windows are among the inclusions. A family that doesn’t want to be boxed in (literally or figuratively) would be a perfect fit for this property.

Yass

22 Glebe Street

$3.95 million

Photo: LJ Hooker

This 1850s manor house gained national attention when it featured on The Lifestyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia earlier this year, however with 46 rooms including a ballroom and a dining room that can accommodate 50, it’s outside the scope of what the typical Yass buyer is looking for. It has operated as a war veterans’ home and hosted weddings and it would be well suited for use as an events venue, bed and breakfast or conference centre. The Selling Houses team has already worked their magic on the kitchen, the ballroom and an outdoor entertaining area, but there’s still plenty of space for the new owners to make their mark on this historic home.

Gundaroo

800 Shingle Hill Way

$3.25 million

Photo: Sutton Real Estate

Sydney’s cashed-up property buyers often crave the country weekender in the Southern Highlands, but Canberrans can find their own slice of storybook perfection just 30 minutes from their city. Green Acres is an 80-hectare estate featuring a grand craftsman-built home set amid pristine countryside. The productive grounds are the ideal setting for agricultural pursuits including cattle, horses or a winery. The home was constructed from an eclectic mix of materials including recycled Sydney bluegum and brushbox timber, diamond-cut Adelaide bluestone and refurbished cabinetry from 1930s Gundaroo homes.