Vailele Mansion Breaks Price Records in Hunters Hill, Australia

A historic sandstone mansion with ties to "Treasure Island" author Robert Louis Stevenson has sold and set a new price record in the posh Hunters Hill peninsula, outside of Sydney.

The last record setter in the area was the lushly landscaped "Bulwarra" estate, which actress Cate Blanchett and her husband, playwright Andrew Upton, sold in January for A$18 million (US$13.63 million).

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The new record holder—called "Vailele," the Samoan word for running water—has topped all previous sales on the Hunters Hill peninsula, listing agent Ken Jacobs of Christie’s International Real Estate told Mansion Global. He couldn’t divulge the precise price or the sellers names because of non-disclosure agreements, he said.

Before selling, Vailele was on the market for a listing price of between A$24 million (US$18.17 million) and A$26 million (US$19.69). Australian property site Domain cited sources saying the historic home set a new record at A$23 million (US$17.42 million).

The 11,442-square-foot mansion has six bedrooms plus a two-bedroom cottage in the back of the property with history of its own. Stevenson, a 19th-century Scottish novelist, was a guest at the estate and spent some of the last years of his life living in the property’s cottage, according to the listing.

The waterfront estate was also featured in the popular Australian TV drama "Return to Eden," which first aired in 1983, according to the former listing.

The main mansion has many of its original 19th-century details intact, including a sandstone facade and slate roofs. Marble-framed fireplaces, roses, cornices and stained-glass windows decorate the interior, while a marble foyer with a turned timber staircase creates an impressive entrance.

In addition to the historic bits, the home is replete with modern features, thanks to a recent two-year renovation, Mr. Jacobs previously told Mansion Global.

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The grounds include a jetty and pontoon that can accommodate a 65-foot yacht, a pool and hot tub, a cabana with a full kitchen, and large outdoor terraces. There’s also a 10-car garage with elevator access.

Inside, the new residents will have access to a host of luxury amenities, including a music room, a cedar-paneled billiard room with a bar, a home theater and a temperature-controlled wine cellar.