Tim Gurner, founder, and director of luxury development company GURNER has set the global benchmark for opulent real-estate. This two-story penthouse is amongst 120 lavish apartments in Gurners $500 million “Saint Moritz” project located on the waterfront site of the former Novotel Hotel in St Kilda, Melbourne. The ‘off-market’ purchase by a former Domain Chief Executive and owner of world-famous boutique resort ‘Raes on Wategos’, Anthony Catalano, succeeds the previous $25 million benchmark set in 2015 by the penthouse in Southbank’s Australia 108 building.
This exquisite property with panoramic views will feature seven bedrooms, four living rooms, two pools, a private 7-car garage, infra-red saunas and steam rooms, poker rooms, art galleries, a cigar room, gym, sound-proofed home offices, and even recording studios. Calacatta gold features and marble walls imported from Europe, direct lift access and a solid Nero Marquina bathtub permeated by 180-degree water views will also adorn the apartment. If this wasn’t impressive enough, Gurner has also incorporated astonishing “gravity-defying” features, including an internal pool submerged between the two levels of the apartment, a floating fireplace, and a two-story cascading water feature. A sculptural spiral staircase leads to a room that will fulfil the fantasies of every wine enthusiast; a 1000 bottle, temperature controlled wine cellar.
“Literally anything is possible at St Moritz” Mr Gurner announces.
According to news.com.au, Mr Gurner had “no intention of selling” the highly regarded penthouse until the launch, however “once word got out we were swamped with interested buyers”. The penthouse quickly attracted five interested buyers, all “local Melbourne Identities”, two of whom “quickly became very competitive”, Mr. Gurner disclosed that Mr Catalano, a father of eight, was also enticed by the project in December late last year, with the sale negotiated over the past two weeks and the original plans for a six-bedroom in addition to a study layout increased to a seven-bedroom design. However, the ambitious project saw high-end real estate agents urging the initial 1300 square meter floor plan with an even higher asking price to be reduced to 650 square meters inside with a 175 square meter terrace.
“This penthouse has been designed to be the best in Australia and arguably one of the best in the world,” Mr Gurner revealed.
The “Saint Moritz” development is arranged to transform a 6000 square meter site on St Kilda’s ‘The Esplanade’ into three towers designed by architect Fender Katsalidis (in collaboration with Koichi Takada Architects), alongside acclaimed interior designer David Hicks and landscaper Jack Merlo. Each building will contain approximately 40 apartments, including a limited ‘penthouse collection’ release. David Hicks assured that the interiors embody the highest level of luxury home living, many of which possess direct lift access from their personal car parks straight into their individual private lobbies. According to The Urban Developer, Mr Gurner has accumulated a total of $78 million worth of sales following the record-breaking $30 million sale across five penthouses in the collection.
This included:
- A $16 million sale at Grand Esplanade Penthouse one. Approximately 400 square-meters with a rooftop pool and terrace
- A $16 million sale at Grand Esplanade Penthouse two. Approximately 480 square-meters a with rooftop pool and terrace.
- A $19 million sale at Grand Esplanade Sub Penthouse. Over 550 square meters with a terrace.
- A $15 million sale at Pacific House Penthouse One, with over 380 square meters with a terrace.
- A $9 million sale at Azura Penthouse One, offering more than 330 square meters with a terrace
Mr Gurner’s strategy for his astounding penthouse sales was to approach a list of key business and real estate identities with an exclusive invitation to view the penthouse offerings prior to the scheduled public launch. He also provided his buyers with the opportunity to custom design their residence and the remaining floor plates will be designed based upon the penthouse collection
The $30 million penthouse sale was the first signed by Christie’s International’s new Victorian affiliate, headed by former Marshall White director Sean Cussel. Mr Cussel, director of a notorious luxury real-estate agency in Melbourne, revealed that the apartment was “truly … unique and raised the bar in a way the development market has never seen before”.
When complete, the 120 residences within the Saint Moritz project will offer from two to six bedroom dwellings, with prices ranging from $1.4 million to more than $30 million. The residences offering unparalleled beachfront luxury are focussed on the exclusive, opulent segment of the market which Mr Gurner suggests has never been stronger. They are adorned by over 5000 square-meters of private amenities and a world-class hospitality venue staffed by professionals chosen by Mr Gurner who are notorious for providing bespoke, discreet and reliable service to each resident. The project is currently taking registrations of interest with sales to launch in the middle of the year.
“I think we will see a lot more very high-end apartment sales in Melbourne,” Mr Gurner proclaimed.
By Sian McCaffery