A Lilydale resort-style mansion inspired by the television show Thunderbirds cliff-face headquarters is set to break the suburb’s price record by more than $2m.
A labour of love by a retired builder and his interior designer wife, the six-bedroom home at 53 Hyne St even has its own recording studio and a half-pipe skate ramp.
And if sold within its $5.9m-$6.4m price guide it will surpass the suburb’s residential benchmark by more than $2m.
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The current record-holder is a five-bedroom house at 49 Hyne St, sold for $3.42m in May last year.
In conjunction with his wife Abi and Marcus Roberts Architects, seller Michael Taylor said the home’s design was inspired by the British puppet television series ‘Thunderbirds’, specifically the secret headquarters built into a cliff face on Tracy Island.
“In our atrium between our ensuite and bedroom, we actually have a sculpture of a rocket going up through the roof and it was designed on the Thunderbird,” Mr Taylor said.
The retired builder also incorporated a recording studio and a skate ramp in the property’s design, motivated by his kids’ passions.
He added that his son’s punk rock band ‘Bloody Ripper’ used to practice in the studio attached to the garage, while his other son, who was a BMX trick rider, used to work on his backflips on the backyard half-pipe.
“Because we had all that, all their friends used to like to come to our house which we liked because I’d rather our kids be around our place than places we don’t know,” Mr Taylor said.
But his favourite part of the Lilydale digs is down by the dam where he occasionally goes to fish.
“There’s about a dozen trout swimming around in the dam so sometimes we take a fishing rod down there and catch a trout and let it go,” he said.
It’s turned into a new vocation for Mr Taylor, who now owns a fishing charter business in Port Douglas.
Spanning more than two hectares, the property features an infinity pool and spa, tennis court, a gym, 12-car garage, fenced paddock and a vegetable garden with 20 irrigated raised beds.
It’s also a stone’s throw away from the Yarra Valley wine region and plenty of walking trails in the leafy suburb.
Ms Taylor said she loved that the home made her feel like she was on holiday everyday.
“Every window I look out of is like a picture frame, and even the long skinny windows, there are little photos everywhere of a different view,” she said.
However, she said the pair were ready to move on as it was “time for a new adventure” up in Port Douglas.
Jellis Craig Mooroolbark and Lilydale partner Matthew Lockyer said the home was totally unique, and like something you’d see in the Hollywood Hills.
Mr Lockyer added that he’d had interest from local and overseas buyers, some of whom were flying in just to inspect the manor in person.
CoreLogic records show the property was purchased in May 2004 for $465,000 and underwent renovations in 2011 and 2014.
Expressions of interest close at 12.30pm on July 2.
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sarah.petty@news.com.au