— Editorial —
The Dunes In Yorke Peninsula Is An Off-Grid Sanctuary
If South Australia didn’t seem like the obvious choice for a luxurious escape before, The Dunes in Yorke Peninsula may soon correct any/all preconceived notions. Suspended above a “boundless aquamarine seascape” right by two kilometres of “pristine, white-sand beaches”, as you’ll discover over the course of this very article, some things truly are meant to be enjoyed in privacy.
This sprawling 273-acre property located at 400 Coopers Beach Road, Nalyappa was initially constructed circa 2014 in a collaborative effort between owner Peter Michell and renowned architect Max Pritchard. Suffice it to say, it didn’t take long before the Scandanavian-inspired residence earned some recognition from the AIA (Residential Architecture) awards that same year; universally praised as “one of the most unique coastal retreat residences of its kind” in all of Australia.
“Superlatives do little to encapsulate the total privacy and solitude The Dunes provides whilst also supporting the most luxurious of lifestyles without compromise,” reads the brochure description.
“Beyond the stunning architecture, elevated views and luxurious appointment, The Dunes supports a resort-like lifestyle with an infinite scope to expand and personalise all it has to offer.”
The Dunes in Yorke Peninsula offers a total of 875 square metres across the residence, garaging, and storage building. One can expect six bedrooms, five bathrooms, spacious lounge areas, theatre, and a chef’s kitchen with two butler’s pantries. Additionally, here you’ll find an outdoor alfresco terrace with a fireplace, courtyard, pool + spa + sauna package, sun deck, shed to stash away the tools/toys, and a four-car garage next to the helipad (yes, there’s a helipad). Other notable features include a purpose-built dune buggy racetrack and an oversized workshop to “accommodate any and every bush project.”
Of course, there are certain practical trade-offs when it comes to living off-grid. Thankfully, The Dunes’ well-considered design extends beyond the resort-like amenities and so forth. In terms of self-sustaining functionality, there’s an 80-kilowatt solar power plant funnelled into lithium batteries, 300,000 litres of water storage, plus an entire host of architectural features to efficiently regulate temperature. This slice of paradise also comes with an aquaponics geodome for vegetables and herbs to provide a year-round food garden, and even more impressively, a 45,000-litre fish tank currently stocked with over 60 edible silver perch. How good’s farm to table?
“The Dunes is truly a one-off resort-style estate without peer – there is nothing that compares,” says Deborah Cullen of Cullen Royle.