Inside the exclusive Brisbane penthouses with backyards in the sky

A rare collection of penthouse apartments in one of Brisbane’s most in-demand postcodes is unlocking a new kind of living for high-end buyers.

Three multi-million-dollar penthouses at the Chester & Ella development in Newstead have hit the market. Considering the luxurious dwellings incorporate designer fittings, panoramic views, expansive terraces and a private pool, it’s no surprise they’re turning heads.

Highlife rising

Buyer interest in luxury apartments has surged in Brisbane as the coronavirus pandemic continues to drive demand for lifestyle property.

New realestate.com.au data shows views for apartments over $1 million in the city increased by 53% in the year to August 2021.

“Over the last 18 months, since COVID hit, we’ve definitely seen a trend towards people looking for larger apartments,” says Anne Flaherty, economist at realestate.com.au.

“This is because with more people working from home, they want that extra space, but they also want a good location close to the CBD.”

Newstead on the radar

Newstead is one postcode showing particularly strong activity in the high-end unit market. In August, views for apartments over $1 million in the area increased by 89% compared to the same time last year.

Additionally, in early 2021, a 350sqm apartment at Chester & Ella sold just short of $4 million.

“It’s a lifestyle suburb that’s very apartment cultured,” says Flaherty.

“In a place like Newstead, there are very few houses on the market so close to the CBD. But with something like a prestige apartment, you get the location, the space and great amenity.

“There are great cafes. It’s got retail, there’s green space and it’s got areas of river frontage.

“It’s also a very strategic location as it’s close to the city, but you’re not living right in the thick of it, so it still has that lifestyle feel.”

Rare opportunity

The area is home to the Chester & Ella development from Kokoda Property, offering penthouse buyers the unique opportunity to own a “backyard in the sky”.

The project’s penthouses boast outdoor areas ranging in size up to 221sqm. These include a barbecue, kitchenette, sun lounge area and curated green space — rivalling the benefits of a luxury suburban home.

“It’s unique for the Brisbane market in so far as the size of the terraces,” says Mark Stevens, Kokoda Property founder and managing director.

“They are also beautiful. There are concrete bench tops, cooking facilities and adjacent to that is sun protection, which is a structure we’re growing vines over. In summer, you’ll get protection from the leaves, but they’re deciduous, so in winter, you get that sun.

“The outdoor areas are also considerable in size, so there’s synthetic turf and a sun lounge area. It really does have the feel of a suburban backyard.”

Stevens says the big difference from are the striking views from the penthouses’ outdoor areas, which are protected from the wind by the building’s architectural design.

Some residences also come with their own private pool, which will provoke a lot of interest from prestige buyers, adds Flaherty.

Lavish living

Varying in size, the three and four-bedroom homes have open-plan layouts aiming to maximise indoor and outdoor living space.

Stevens says the designers have chosen interior features and materials to reflect the exclusive nature of the development that will appeal to “financially established buyers”.

“There’s parquetry flooring; floor-to-ceiling windows; as well as marble stone in the kitchens and bathrooms,” he says.

“The architecture has a really striking presence and the entrance to the building is beautiful.”

The kitchen and bathrooms are predominantly marble, with designer fittings, Miele and Liebherr appliances and a butler’s pantry. These features are accompanied by breathtaking city views, maximised by floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

Pictures are courtesy of Kokoda Property. 

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