$200,000 plus to sell a house?

Quite a sum to sell a house, but this is no ordinary suburban home, Ilyuka is a unique, historic estate on almost two acres and will fetch “in excess of $20 million” according to agent Ross Savas of Kay & Burton.

The property is being sold by millionaire and former Computershare director Michele O’Halloran. The mansion and waterfront land (on several separate titles) was purchased for around $12 million in 1999.

Portsea cliff-top properties, squeezed onto an outcrop where Port Phillip Bay meets Bass Strait, are generally among the most expensive in Victoria and are tightly held by their wealthy owners.

Ms O’Halloran bought Ilyuka, which has beach access and a private jetty set on the tip of Mornington Peninsula, a favourite playground for Melbourne’s rich and famous

Agent Ross Savas said that “as Ilyuka is one of the most prestigious properties in Australia” the agency drew on its extensive resources and “designed a campaign to suit it”.

The film has been distributed to select, but undisclosed number of buyers as part of an international marketing campaign.

He did say that despite the expense and exposure given to the Ilyuka sale, it was not a unique campaign. He said that homes of this caliber are marketed globally and comprehensive campaigns are designed specifically for each one.

According to Tracy Atkins, of Golden Eye Media pulled out all stops for the project which involved around 20 crew, six models and three and a half days on location from dawn till late into the night. Atkins said they had never worked “to this scale [on] such a significant house, we had to do it well.”

In the film, the fictitious “Crawford” family spends a languorous day at home, in the grounds and at the beach. They indulge in relaxed pursuits of another era, or at least one that is unattainable for most these days.

Life at Ilyuka accordingly revolves around a happy, well-groomed family (with conveniently placed children) at garden and tennis parties, driving classic cars and dressing for dinner.

Channel Nine personality and face of spring racing, Brodie Harper, plays one of the family members, with her husband Heath Meldrum.

The use of high end cinematographers, according to Atkins “creates a timeless feel of the property”, “an air of the Kennedy compound” and “an unattainable feel”.

The goal was to give the film a “sense of family, of families coming together” and to portray Ilyuka as it has always been, “a generational, family compound.”

The soothing sound of the film’s backing track repeats the refrain “I’m coming home…”, something that seems to be taking hold in some people’s minds. Two very interested parties have already having flown in from London for an inspection according to the agent.

Savas says he has another three international inspections booked over the next 10 days. Those prospective buyers are coming from New York, Singapore and Hong Kong. “We have had lots of feedback from the campaign.”

Despite the $20 million plus hopes for the property, the agent says that Ilyuka will quite likely become a summer residence for a jet-set family, not a full-time home.

“This is a special property, so it will attract a special buyer” says Savas, who is not concerned by lacklustre sales results in the current property market.

Expressions of interest close Saturday, December 11th at 5pm

Watch the full video below

Fast Facts
16 Point King Road (Portsea’s coveted cliff top)
Portsea VIC

2010
$20 million asking price
Michele O’Halloran owner since 1999

2003
$1.6 million sale price for a 742-square-metre former ”vegie patch”, part of the estate by O’Halloran.

1999
$12 million purchase price, Michele O’Halloran

1995
$5 million plus purchase price, Asian Pacific Building Corporation, David Deague.

1995
Deague illegally demolished part of the property, attracting local protests and a record fine.

1929-30
Built for American oil tycoon Harry Cornforth

Style: Spanish mission
Architect: Harry Norris
Rooms: 13
Bedrooms: 8
Bathrooms: 8
Ilyuka: Aboriginal word meaning “by the sea”
Features: full-sized grass tennis court, basement cellar, sweeping driveway, private steps to Point King beach and access to a private jetty.
Grounds: Almost two acres