A cliffside mansion on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, has been put up for sale for $20 million. With 478 square meters of built area, the property sits on a 2,150 m² plot and impresses with its staircase connecting the private golf course to the residence.
Combining elements of a luxury home, a vacation home, and a private retreat, the property has three floors and a sandstone facade, as well as a private golf course overlooking the ocean.
Amenities include a heated pool, spa, and sauna. The interiors also feature five bedrooms and five bathrooms.
Set high above the Pacific at Whale Beach, this extraordinary coastal estate reads like a modern stronghold carved into the landscape. Known as Lodge Dauphin, the residence occupies a commanding 2,150-square-metre site and represents a rare collaboration between some of Australia’s most respected creative minds. Architect Michael Suttor, interior designer Deanne Rooz, and landscape designers Richard Unsworth and Paul Bangay each shaped a distinct layer of the property, resulting in a home that feels both monumental and deeply considered.
Constructed using more than 1,000 tonnes of honey-toned sandstone and slate, the house has a powerful presence when viewed from above—almost fortress-like in its geometry. Yet from the street, its scale feels surprisingly restrained. The sloping terrain conceals the lower levels, allowing the home to settle naturally into its surroundings rather than dominate them.
Entry leads into a light-filled living space defined by a soaring white, cathedral-style ceiling. Sunlight pours in through a wall of expansive, ocean-facing windows, amplifying the sense of openness and drawing the horizon deep into the interior. The atmosphere shifts subtly in the kitchen, which is tucked into a more intimate corner. Here, black cabinetry, brass accents, and premium Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances create a moodier, more dramatic counterpoint to the airy public spaces.
The home unfolds across three cascading levels. Most of the five bedrooms are located on the middle floor, including a generous primary suite designed as a private retreat. A freestanding bathtub positioned to overlook the water transforms everyday routines into moments of quiet indulgence, reinforcing the house’s resort-like sensibility.
The lowest level is dedicated to wellness and leisure. A fully equipped home gym, sauna, spa facilities, wet bar, and wine cellar form a secluded sanctuary focused on relaxation and entertaining. Nearby, a heated infinity pool extends toward the ocean, visually merging with the sea beyond.
While the amenities are impressive, the estate’s most distinctive feature lies outdoors. A private oceanfront golf course stretches across the property, evoking the manicured precision of an exclusive country club. Tiered gardens surround the fairway, meticulously landscaped and illuminated by more than 200 discreet LED copper lights, creating a dramatic nocturnal landscape that mirrors the care given to the home itself.
The property’s transformation is as remarkable as its present form. In 2012, Lowes CEO Linda Penn and her husband David acquired the original Whale Beach residence for $3.075 million. Over the following years, the couple undertook an extensive redesign and rebuild, ultimately reimagining the site as a tri-level coastal retreat of rare scale and craftsmanship. Now listed with a price guide of $30 million, the home reflects both the ambition of its creators and the enduring appeal of its location.
With its French Provincial-inspired interiors, European oak floors, marble and brass detailing, and carefully layered outdoor spaces, Lodge Dauphin is less a single house than a complete private domain. It stands as a striking example of how architecture, interior design, and landscape can converge to create a residence that feels timeless, theatrical, and intimately connected to its oceanfront setting.