The von Bibra family home in Benowa Waters is for sale via expressions of interest.
Gold Coast car king Wade von Bibra and his author wife Caroline are selling their showstopper Benowa home after a dramatic coastal-style transformation.
Their huge 4111sq m landmark estate, described as family acreage in the heart of the city, backs onto the 31ha Gold Coast Regional Botanic Garden.
71 Marbella Drive, Benowa Waters.
Wade and Caroline Von Bibra pictured in 2021.
The house now has a bright and fresh open-plan design.
Mr von Bibra, a third generation car dealer who runs one of the largest motor groups on the Coast, and his wife bought the house in 2015 and extensively renovated the property.
“As soon as I saw it I thought we could turn it into a Hamptons-meets-country type of house but in the city,” Ms von Bibra said.
“At the time nobody wanted to buy it.”
BEFORE: The kitchen.
AFTER: What a transformation!
Entertain poolside all year round.
The couple, who has four children, gutted the inside of the house, knocked out walls, and opened the main living areas up.
“The architect did an amazing job opening up the space,” she said.
“It has a real country feel but also with a little bit of a coastal influence with the light, bright and coastal colours.”
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The house flows seamlessly between the indoors and outdoors.
One of the bedrooms.
The transformation took 12 months with the house now unrecognisable.
The main residence, now reminiscent of a luxury resort, has five bedrooms as well as an office while the floorplan transitions from indoor to outdoor with several entertaining zones including the poolside pavilion.
The basketball court and cricket pitch.
Entertain in style.
The design caters to executive entertaining, family time and grand-scale gatherings.
“It has been such a blessing being there with the family,” Ms von Bibra said.
“We’ve had kids birthday parties with up to 30 children and there’s been plenty of space.”
The property comes with a string of features including a pool, basketball court, custom cricket pitch, wine cellar, sauna, gym, and games zone.
BEFORE: The property before its epic transformation.
AFTER: Unrecognisable!
As well as the main residence, the guesthouse has an open-plan kitchen and living area, bathroom and laundry.
“I’ve loved having my parents come and stay and with the granny flat you feel like your guests have their own space,” she said.
A sitting area in the house.
The staircase.
While the house’s design and finishes stand out, the Benowa Waters location was also a big selling point for Ms von Bibra.
“When you wake up it really feels like you’re in the country, there’s no neighbours and you can access the Botanic Gardens,” she said.
“But it’s also so central and you’re 10 minutes to anywhere on the Coast.”
The property from the street.
BEFORE: The former pool on the property.
AFTER: The perfect pool!
While bittersweet to sell, the family plans to remain on the Coast.
“We’d love to have another family enjoy the amazing space we have had,” she said.
Nick Cole of Cole Residential is marketing the property via expressions of interest.
He described the property as a “once only opportunity” to buy one of the Gold Coast’s finest family estates.
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