Australian lifestyle entrepreneurs are making significant waves in the real estate market, particularly in popular holiday destinations. This week, renowned surfboard designer Hayden Cox and his wife Danielle have listed their luxurious Palm Beach home with a price guide of $16 million.
The couple is bidding farewell to their meticulously crafted residence, Alaia, which took three years to complete amid the challenges of the pandemic. Designed largely by Hayden and Danielle themselves, the home was constructed by local builders Zac Seymour and Paul Silverman of Beaches Building, alongside a team of specialist contractors.
Purchased under Danielle’s name for $2.955 million in 2020, when the family relocated from Los Angeles, the north-facing block has undergone a remarkable transformation. The property now boasts an internal lift connecting its four levels, six bedrooms, and five bathrooms. Luxury features include a resort-style outdoor living space with a heated wet-edge pool and a wellness and recreation floor equipped with an infrared sauna, a cold plunge bath, and a reformer Pilates bed.
Hayden Cox: From Surfboards to Luxury Real Estate
Hayden Cox, a self-taught board shaper, founded Haydenshapes in Mona Vale after attempting to repair his own broken surfboard. His innovative journey led him to develop the world-leading carbon-fibre surfboard technology, patented as FutureFlex. Beyond surfboards, his company has expanded into apparel and even furniture.
The Palm Beach property is being sold through Peter Robinson of LJ Hooker Palm Beach in an expressions of interest campaign, which concludes on October 7.
Entrepreneurial Moves in Ewingsdale
Meanwhile, activewear fashion designer Lorna Jane Clarkson and her husband Bill have emerged as the $10.975 million buyers of the wellness retreat SOMA near Byron Bay. The acquisition has set a new record for the 8.59-hectare property in Ewingsdale, purchased through a corporate entity directed by Bill. Lorna Jane, ranked 68th on The Australian Financial Review Rich Women list, boasts a valuation of $303 million, primarily due to her eponymous sportswear brand’s success, with net profits reaching $21.3 million in the 2024 financial year and revenue nearing $200 million.
Lorna Jane’s wealth more than doubled this year, in line with the profit surge at her company, which she founded 36 years ago.
SOMA, created by meditation guru Gary Gorrow and business partner Peter Ostick, was initially purchased for $1.8 million in 2016. The property, designed by Rieky Sunur and George Gorrow in 2018, features 13 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms, and incorporates green design principles. It includes a heated infinity pool, a firepit, and a geodesic yoga dome. Notably, it served as the primary location for Nicole Kidman’s “Nine Perfect Strangers.”
The property was sold through Will Phillips of Sotheby’s International Realty Byron Bay, who declined to comment on the sale.
Sustainability in the Southern Highlands
In a separate development, former Allianz executive George Sartorel and his wife Kathy have listed their Southern Highlands retreat, Pepper Tree Creek Estate, for $14.5 million to $15.5 million. Situated in Kangaloon, the 30-hectare estate has been meticulously maintained since the Sartorels acquired it for $6.7 million in 2019.
The historic property, established in 1862, has been transformed into a modern luxury estate. The original stone cottage has been restored using stone quarried from the property. The estate features six bedrooms, split between the main homestead and a charming guest accommodation known as The Old Dairy, now a self-contained one-bedroom cottage.
The Sartorels have also implemented substantial solar power infrastructure, enabling sustainable off-grid living, alongside efficient water management systems. This aligns with their commitment to environmental harmony and self-sufficiency.
The move towards sustainability may be inspired by George Sartorel’s extensive career in the insurance industry, where he witnessed the impacts of climate change on properties and insurance premiums firsthand.
George Sartorel served as chief executive for Allianz in the Asia Pacific, Italy, and Turkey, and was the former chair of the Allianz Asia Advisory Council. He currently serves as a director of Insurance Australia Group.
These real estate moves by prominent entrepreneurs highlight a trend towards luxury and sustainability in Australia’s property market, reflecting broader shifts in lifestyle and investment priorities.
