The Herald Sun has selected some of the most spectacular houses to hit the market in 2018 — and feature in our weekly “Dream Homes” spread.

2 MT FRANKLIN RD, MT FRANKLIN

Featured in: January

Price guide at the time: $2.5-$2.75 million

Status update: sold for $2.55 million in February

This eye-catching pad drew attention from buyers in Melbourne and across Australia. Set on an elevated 20.23ha landholding north of Daylesford, Sky High was likened it to an “eagle’s nest perched right at the top of Lady Franklin hill” by Jellis Craig Macedon Ranges agent Robert Broadhurst. It was created by prominent local builders in a triangular shape designed to fully capture its views of rolling hills and bushland, and features a saltwater pool. It’s now being run as a “luxury rural retreat”, and recently hosted The Bachelorette Ali Oetjen and her beau Taite Radley.

3 HEYINGTON PLACE, TOORAK

Featured in: September

Price guide at the time: $27-$29.5 million

Status update: still for sale with the same price guide

This “one off” 1930s mansion was taken to another level with a comprehensive renovation, Kay & Burton managing director Michael Gibson said: “Every room is a little bit different, but put together, it’s a masterpiece”. It offers six bedrooms, five bathrooms, a pool, tennis court, 10-car basement garage and 2284sq m of land, and is still waiting for a deep-pocketed buyer to call it home. CoreLogic records suggest its price guide places it in contention to become one of the priciest houses to ever change hands in Melbourne’s priciest suburb and, therefore, the state.

27 WILDCOAST RD, PORTSEA

Featured in: February

Price guide at the time: $3.5-$3.75 million

Status update: sold for $3.5 million in June

Simonds Group director Rhett Simonds, whose grandfather Gary founded the leading home building company, sold this modern marvel to a Melbourne-based buyer who fell for its views and stylish design. The five-bedroom residence was completed on an elevated 3460sq m block just 14 months before it hit the market, and was described by Kay & Burton Portsea director Liz Jensen as “a cantilevered glass box on a pretty sand dune that’s now covered in grass”. “There’s nobody else around, so it has just an amazing outlook,” she said.

102 ADDISON ST, ELWOOD

Featured in: June

Price guide at the time: $2.8-$3.08 million

Status update: sold for $3.1 million in August

A humble brick facade made way for an unexpected opulent interior and modern extension at this special Edwardian. The vendors had slowly renovated the pad after buying it 10 years ago, creating what was “basically a brand new house inside”, Pride Real Estate director Tony Pride said. The open-plan living and dining area features floor-to-ceiling marble framing a gas fireplace, and the sleek kitchen includes a butler’s pantry, natural quartzite benchtops and custom-built appliances. Completing the package are a bluestone alfresco area and a main bedroom isolated on the top floor.

896 GLENFERRIE RD, KEW

Featured in: November

Price guide at the time: $8.9-$9.7 million

Status update: still for sale with the same price guide

This majestic Kew mansion could still be yours — if you’ve got several million to splash. The 127-year-old Italianate manor passed in on a $8.9 million vendor bid at auction in December and remains for sale. It’s aiming to almost double the $4.97 million price it last achieved in 2010 and boasts a facade oozing old-world wealth, formal and casual living areas, a quality kitchen, wine cellar, bar, five upstairs bedrooms, lavish bathrooms and a Victorian tower offering 360-degree views.

56A DENDY ST, BRIGHTON

Featured in: March

Price guide at the time: $3-$3.3 million

Status update: sold for $3.295 million in March

This mid-century marvel was restored to its former glory before inking a $3.295 million post-auction deal earlier this year. The three-level home retains swish ‘60s style in its striking facade, restored timber stairway, statement windows and “Palm Springs-inspired” pool area with undercover alfresco dining. Marshall White Bayside’s Robin Parker said the three-level home took several years to complete after construction began in 1958.

62 PARK ST, MOONEE PONDS

Featured in: September

Price guide at the time: $5.65-$6.2 million

Status update: still for sale with $5.8 million asking price

The white house “everyone in Moonee Valley knows” was brilliantly refurbished by Bagnato Architects before hitting the market. The 1903-built Queen Anne residence is gunning to become Moonee Ponds’ second priciest residence, with a price guide wedged between 26 Ardmillan Rd’s eye-watering $10.725 million sale price and 56 Holmes Rd’s recent $5.5 million deal. The house is considered aesthetically important to Moonee Valley City. It’s flanked by Paul Bangay-designed gardens and features a Calacatta marble kitchen, a hotel-style main bedroom, and a charming library with marble fireplaces, bay windows and American Oak parquetry floors.

7 TERINGA PLACE, TOORAK

Featured in: April

Price guide at the time: $15-$17.05 million

Status update: sold for about $15 million in July

About 400 people inspected this modern masterpiece and five placed offers to bring about a sale worth about $15 million. Househunters from China and Sri Lanka threw their hats in the ring, but the five-bedroom pad was ultimately snapped up by an upgrading Toorak family. It hit the market just a week after being completed by Simonds Group and became the most expensive ever sold by the building company in its 69-year history, RT Edgar Toorak director Oliver Booth said. The massive 1022sq m of living space contains formal and open-plan living zones, a study, home theatre, gym, kitchen with butler’s pantry, bar and seven-car basement garage.

2 KINANE ST, BRIGHTON

Featured in: December

Price guide at the time: $20 million

Status update: still for sale with the same price guide (expressions of interest campaign closes December 18)

At this landmark Brighton property, $20 million will get you two pools, four levels of living space, six bedrooms, eight bathrooms and 3200sq m of prime beachfront land over two titles. Buxton Brighton director Stefan Whiting said the sprawling mansion was built in the ‘80s by Rich Lister property developer and Becton founder Max Beck as his own home. The current owner expanded the property by acquiring a neighbouring block, adding a tennis court to it, and retiling and refurbishing an existing outdoor pool on it. Mr Whiting said properties of this scale and position rarely were relinquished by their owners — so the chance to buy it was “the opportunity of a lifetime”.