Originally designed by Susan Rothwell LFRAIA, the home has recently received a meticulous year-long transformation - an architectural renewal that respects its classical proportions while elevating it to a standard of luxury expected of a contemporary trophy home.
Ruby in the crown of Clifton Gardens.
Author
Peter Wood
Photography
James Green
Some properties capture attention. A rare few reaffirm that a home can be both majestic and intimate.
Set high above the harbour in Clifton Gardens, this five-level estate stands among Sydney’s most important private residences - an architectural statement of enduring beauty with a cinematic perspective that frames two of the world’s most recognisable landmarks: the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. On Mosman’s exclusive north-facing ridge line, the city often appears suspended between water and sky, a constant reminder of Sydney at its most iconic.
Reminiscing about its inception, Rothwell says the home was a joy to design, with the original brief centring around a young family who were outdoors oriented, wanting connection to gardens, a tennis court and swimming pool.
“We enjoyed maximising the relationship of outdoor spaces with this house, while highlighting the city views and the lovely sunny aspect,” Rothwell says. “The building was articulated to allow vistas from Ruby Street through to the harbour, which worked really well, delivering a practical family home with great entertainment facilities and such a unique vibe.”
Spanning a 1792sqm blue-chip parcel, it’s more than a sum of its lavish parts: house, grounds, recreation, retreat. Conceived for life at scale, there’s a quiet elegance to every detail. At the same time, the home offers a concise journey. While a mansion in every sense of the word, the rooms feel somewhat unpretentious, instantly welcoming, ready to be lived in.
The arrival sequence is ceremonial. Hidden behind sculpted hedging and secure dual entry, the home reveals itself gradually, an interplay of symmetry and light. Inside, a palette of French oak herringbone floors, hand-finished joinery, and brass-inlaid cabinetry set an air of refinement. Decorative French windows filter soft natural light into formal and casual living rooms, while fireplaces - each newly restored - further anchor the house in that gracious intimacy.
The floorplan unfolds across multiple wings, carefully choreographed for family life, entertaining, and long-stay guests. Oversized concertina doors open entirely to expansive terraces, blurring the threshold between indoor grandeur and outdoor ease.
This ensures the views become an ever-present companion to daily life - morning light over Shark Island, twilight settling over the city skyline, fireworks reflected across Sydney Harbour on New Year’s Eve.
The kitchen, finished in slabs of Calacatta marble, is both beautiful and robust, supported by a secondary caterer’s kitchen for hosting at any scale. Adjacent dining areas shift effortlessly between formal and relaxed, leading to manicured lawns and established gardens.
Below, the home transforms into a private resort. A championship north-south tennis court is accessed via a Wimbledon-inspired passage that connects the main residence to courtside seating and a dedicated coaching entry. Alongside, a heated infinity pool appears to drift toward the harbour, flanked by private sun decks and uninterrupted green.
The recreation theme extends indoors, with cinema, gym and a wellness area, while the guest accommodation offers privacy of its own kitchenette and bathroom. A private lift services every level, while Savant home automation and an advanced security system are integrated into the details.
Upstairs, the master suite is positioned to capture the curve of the harbour, a space of calm indulgence, cinematic by day and romantic by night. The infrastructure is just as considered with a four-car garage and vehicle turntable, EV charging, plant rooms and more.
Crafted for a family who thinks generationally, while valuing privacy and presence in equal measure, this is a home that transcends the category of Sydney luxury property, sitting firmly in the legacy realm.
View the listing: 28 Ruby Street, Mosman
