'We're doing this for the kids': Why Jamie Durie's $33m Northern Beaches home is for sale
After many years of planning and construction, Jamie Duriesaid it had been an emotional move to sell the family Avalon Beach homeon Sydney's Northern Beaches.
"It's probably taken some time for us to make that decision, because we did build this as our forever home," the celebrity landscaper told View.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy."But we had a couple of great offers. We thought about it, and we looked at the children's age, and thought, 'if we don't make a change now and give them some time on the land, we're going to get trapped in the mouse wheel of private school and the city forever'.
"We're doing this for the kids really... We find the kids are different kids when they're on the farm. We want to nurture that, with nature."
After an off-market period, the six-storey 'Belah House' at Avalon Beach has been listed for sale with a guide of $33 million.
The luxury eco-home is for sale via expressions of interest, closing on November 11.
After facing "huge budget blowouts, rising interest rates, and massive construction costs", gardening expert, TV personality and author Durie and his fiancée, Ameka Jane, and their two young children, Beau and Nash, finally moved into the property earlier this year.
Earlier this year, in a caption posted to Instagram, Durie wrote, "Grateful. 10 years of planning, 2 years of construction and we're finally back home."
The project was documented on the Channel 7 TV show Growing Home with Jamie Durie, which captured the ups and downs the family experienced during the renovation.
Standout features
The absolute waterfront property is one of 24 homes on sought-after Stokes Point.
The six-bedroom, six-bathroom, two-car including guest house dwelling sits on 1017 square metres, and was designed by Silvester Fuller Architects and Durie Design.
Features include internal lift access, a wellness retreat, gym, sauna, ice bath, steam room and an infinity-edge pool.
There's also a home cinema, geothermal heating/cooling, solar power, Smart Home automation, air purification system, heated floors, a butler's pantry, a wine cellar, a rooftop garden, and 180-degree views of Pittwater and National parkland.
Waterfront facilities include an entertainment area with an outdoor kitchen, and a private slipway jetty.
Durie said he would definitely miss the home's "state-of-the-art" gym.
"The equipment is amazing," he said. "It's beautiful European gym equipment; mirrors everywhere, a beautiful sauna, an amazing steam room, and an outdoor Japanese ice tub.
"The whole well-being aspect of the home is extremely prominent. Living there, we've found that we feel incredible. We feel revived, fresh and energized.
"And having a gym in your own home where you don't have to rush off, and it's in the privacy of your own home is a real luxury.
"We've also got what's probably one of the best air filtration systems, both from a technical point of view and a naturalistic point of view in Australia."
Durie also said the home was "very interconnected with nature".
"Anyone who's interested in luxury wellness is the [next] owner of this home," he said.
Many years in the making
The creation of the sustainable, off-the-grid mansion was a lengthy project.
The TV star originally purchased the waterfront site for $2.275 million in December 2015.
At the time, the site featured a four-bedroom 1970s beach house with access to the Pittwater and spectacular views across to West Head.
But the build was not without its controversies.
Durie's original development application was rejected over a proposal to remove 17 native trees.
This initial DA sparked backlash within the community, leading to more than 50 objections to the Northern Beaches Council.
This proposal was scaled back to 11 trees, as well as a reduction of bedrooms within the home.
However, it seems this concern over tree removal was ultimately unwarranted as the biophilic home has no lack of trees or greenery.
The entire facade seems to blend into the natural surroundings through a series of hanging gardens that cascade down the property to complement the lush bush setting.
Does Durie envision undertaking another grandiose project like this in the future?
"I'll definitely give it a rest for a while," he laughed.
"It took a lot out of me, both physically and mentally. It was a very demanding build.
"If you had to build that house again now, it would be double the cost."
Durie also owns a hobby farm in Byron Bay's hinterland, purchased for $3.625 million in 2023.
The family plans to head to the 72-acre property - filled with "sheep, cattle, ducks and chooks" - when they sell their Sydney home.
"We love it," Durie said of the Byron home. "Fresh eggs every day; the kids wake up and run out to the field, and the first thing they do is collect the eggs."
'Really feels like a home'
The selling agent, James Baker from McGrath Pittwater said after a week on the market, the Avalon Beachhome had received strong levels of inquiry.
"The appeal for something of this nature is there really are very few properties of that scale that are ever going to come to market," he said.
"It's a massive task to take on, as Jamie would know, to go through council, build the property, and all the things you need to do to finish a home like this.
"There's very few properties in this area that are actually suitable for multi-millionaires or billionaires; people who just want the finished product, ready to go, that also have some conscience surrounding the environment as well.
"And this property really feels like a home. The architecture and construction is incredible, but it also feels like a real home with some real charm and character. And Jamie's touch in terms of the landscaping is next level."
Originally published as 'We're doing this for the kids': Why Jamie Durie's $33m Northern Beaches home is for sale
