Iconic Gold Coast mega mansion hits market

An iconic Gold Coast home with an impeccable Gold Coast property pedigree has been placed on the market for the first time in 18 years.The riverfront home on Commodore Drive, Paradise Waters was designed and built in 1987 by then fledgling builder Soheil Abedian, of Sunland Homes, for his client Max Christmas, one of the Coast’s most influential real estate figures.Sunland Homes later became Sunland Group, a publicly listed company and now the city’s most high-profile luxury residential developer.Sitting on a massive 1767sqm - the only north-facing riverfront double block in Paradise Waters - the waterfront residence is going to auction on November 17 with agent Jackson Paradise, of Ray White Prestige Gold Coast.The home has five bedrooms and seven bathrooms as well as a completely detached pool guest house and large outdoor entertainment area including a kitchen, bar and barbecue.Rounding out the property’s wealth of Gold Coast lifestyle features are the boat room, oversized jetty and one of the largest private swimming pools in the city.Ray White Surfers Paradise Group CEO Andrew Bell said the home was located on arguably the best-positioned parcel of land of this size in the 4217 postcode.“Max Christmas could have, at that time, built his home anywhere on the Gold Coast,” he said.“He knew that real estate value was all about position, position, position; he also knew what the very best position in the city was and that is where he bought and built.“This is one of those homes that comes up for sale once in a generation. It has been 18 years since it was last on the market and it may well be decades before the opportunity presents itself again.“Unfortunately you don’t get to choose when a property like this comes on the market, but those who appreciate the unparalleled position, uniqueness and iconic nature of the home will seize the rare opportunity to become its new owner.”Mr Christmas later sold the property and its current owners have decided to downsize after two decades.Reminiscing about his former residence, Mr Christmas said the property reflected timeless design and Sunland’s solid building credentials.“It took design cues from Italy and Greece to create a very contemporary European feel throughout,” he said.“The home itself will never move or crack; it is a brick and concrete build of the highest quality.“I didn’t cut a single corner or save a dollar anywhere – even to the extent of building the home on pylon foundations to ensure it was immovable.”Mr Abedian said the property epitomised the Gold Coast lifestyle.“It is focussed on easy living and it takes full advantage of the river frontage and aspect,” he said.Selling agent Mr Paradise said the property, at 79-81 Commodore Drive, was one of the Gold Coast’s iconic homes.“In terms of position, it has a sought after prized north east Main River aspect and is protected by the six-knot speed limit.”Mr Bell said the property had come to the market at a buoyant time for the city’s luxury residential market.He said the upswing had produced a series of multi-million dollar waterfront and beachfront sales.“The prestige sector is alive and well and gaining momentum – there has been an upsurge in high-wealth people moving to the Gold Coast and also substantially more buying activity from locals,” Mr Bell said.“There is plenty of room for growth in this part of the market and we expect buyers to identify the strong opportunity here.”Recent transactions in the Gold Coast prestige market include: the $25 million sale of a beachfront mansion at Mermaid Beach, the $15 million Spong house on Isle of Capri; $11 million paid for a Cronin Island home, $10.9 million purchase of a Sanctuary Cove address, and the $7 million of a canal-front home in Commodore Drive.