Illawarra luxury: Mansions, villas and Parramatta Eels interim head coach Trent Barrett’s home - Did they sell

A number of the Illawarra’s most impressive homes remain for sale - some of them after several months on the market.

They range from lavish mansions to a former NRL star’s impressive home.

Perhaps it’s time to buy that Lotto ticket and dream away?

Villa Carla

The palatial Balgownie mansion of flamboyant Wollongong businessman Vito Pennimpede has a price guide of $7.5 million.

‘Villa Carla’ is located at 65 Wellington Drive, Balgownie.

Following previous attempts to sell with other agents, the mansion returned to the market in January 2023 with a Sydney-based agent. At the time, it was listed with a price guide of between $9 million and $10 million.

The original owners spared no expense in sourcing the best materials, including imported Italian tiles - some with 22-carat gold leaf - marble, granite, sandstone and three-metre chandeliers.

Features of the home include a floodlit tennis court; marble flooring and soaring double-height ceilings with Hollywood-style crystal lighting; a large formal lounge with a fireplace and a home cinema.

Minnamurra Mansion

This one isn’t currently for sale but remains one of the region’s most recognisable properties.

Despite slashing the price by $1 million, the dilapidated ‘Minnamurra Mansion’ in Dunmore failed to sell and was pulled from the market last year.

The property, featuring six bedrooms and nine bathrooms, is a large run-down and unfinished two-storey building located at 71 Fig Hill Lane.

The 39.44-hectare property also contains an extensive frontage to the Minnamurra River.

The selling agents last year confirmed the property had been withdrawn from the market, but declined to comment otherwise.

Barrett’s impressive home

Buyers are reportedly still showing strong interest in the luxury Barrack Point home of Parramatta Eels interim head coach Trent Barrett.

The Mercury revealed last year that Barrett had listed the home for sale, with expectations that it could attract a record-breaking price.

Since that time, the home has been listed with a price guide of $7.5 million-plus.

Selling agent, Amanda Bonnici of Ray White Shellharbour City said there continued to be strong buyer interest in the home.

The five-bedroom, five-bathroom Hamptons style new-build has a prime waterfront position along with plenty of high-end inclusions.

Highland Park

The 77-acre property, ‘Highland Park’ is located at Lot 54, 61 Mount Ousley Road, and sits high on the Mount Ousley escarpment with views up and down the coast.

The acreage property includes a vineyard and a sizeable vegetable garden.

However, despite dozens of bids being placed, the home failed to sell at auction in April.

Co-selling agent, David Medina from NSW Sotheby’s International Realty said there had continued to be strong interest in the home, but there wasn’t a price guide available.

The property has been in the ownership of the Fera family since 1978; the family owned a series of shoe stores in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands.

Solar passive home

A luxury Shell Cove home that incorporates energy-efficient features remains on the market after being listed in February.

The four-bedroom, five-bathroom home sits on 962 square metres and is located at 17 Lakelands Close, Shell Cove.

Selling agent, Monique Field from Monique Field Property said the home retained a guide of $5 million to $5.5 million.

She said interest in the home was predominantly from Illawarra-based buyers.

Features of 17 Lakelands Close include a 7.125 kW PV Solar System; multimedia room; polished concrete flooring; a kitchen boasting a butler’s pantry; 25-metre Lautner edge lap pool with an automated pool cover, saltwater system, solar heating, and a control system; and a six-car garage.

‘The ultimate beach house’

A waterfront property dubbed “the ultimate beach house” was recently listed for sale.

The home is located at 9 Coledale Avenue, Coledale.

This home has a flexible layout, providing the potential for a dual-living scenario.

The top two floors comprise a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home, while the ground floor has two bedrooms, one bathroom and direct access to the water’s edge.

Selling agent, Mattias Samuelsson from Ray White Helensburgh said the home had a price guide of $6 million, with interested buyers largely from the Illawarra who loved the location.

A piece of history

This Jamberoo property is available for only the second time in its 165-plus-year history.

The five-bedroom, six-bathroom residence, located at 467 Jamberoo Road, Jamberoo, sits on 12 acres.

The property initially had a guide of $6 million to $6.6 million, but now has a guide of $5.95 million.

The selling agent, Andrew de Montemas from Drew Lindsay Sotheby’s International Realty said he was confident the right buyer would come along for the “unique” listing. He said there had been regular interest from Sydney-based buyers who liked the home’s “historical value, character, style and grandeur”.

The house is heritage-listed, being included on both state and national registers.

Historic estate

Coolangatta Estate, near Berry, is on the market for just the second time in its 202-year history

The estate operates as a boutique 28-room resort, vineyard, wedding venue and wine brand, with the estate-grown fruit successfully converted over the decades by Tyrrell’s in the Hunter Valley.

Listed earlier this year, there isn’t currently a price guide available.

The selling agent, managing director of the Monopole Group, Adam Morris said there continued to be strong interest from a “range of buyer profiles”, including local buyers.

Established in 1822, Coolangatta Estate is believed to be one of Australia’s oldest continuous farming enterprises.

This article originally appeared on view.com.au.