Ever dreamed of escaping to a home that feels straight out of a storybook? Miriam Margolyes’ Southern Highlands home might be as close as it gets. The beloved Harry Potter actor has lowered the asking price on her spectacular Robertson retreat. This gives buyers another chance to own one of Australia’s most enchanting homes. The revised price guide now sits at $3.65 million to $4 million, down from its original $3.95 million to $4.2 million when it first hit the market earlier this year.
Nestled among more than 62 hectares of rainforest and rolling paddocks on the Illawarra escarpment, the residence known as Yarrawa Hill blends dramatic contemporary architecture with an unmistakably warm, well-travelled soul.
A home where rainforest meets the sea
The magic of Miriam Margolyes’ Southern Highlands home begins with its remarkable setting. Perched high above the trees, the house enjoys sweeping views across native bushland all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls flood the soaring double-height Great Room with natural light. Blackbutt timber floors, vaulted ceilings and an enormous open fireplace create a space that feels equally grand and welcoming.
Three expansive decks blur the boundary between indoors and out. A rainforest courtyard offers a peaceful place to unwind among the sounds of lyrebirds, wallabies and wombats.
Character takes centre stage
Unlike many celebrity homes that lean minimalist, Miriam Margolyes’ Southern Highlands home reflects a lifetime of collecting.
Throughout the house you’ll find antique Indonesian furniture, handcrafted timber pieces. There is artwork gathered from around the world and memorabilia layered throughout the interiors. Rich natural materials and globally inspired antiques soften the contemporary steel-and-glass architecture, giving every room a deeply personal feel.
The home includes:
- Three private bedroom suites, each with its own sitting room and bathroom
- A state-of-the-art kitchen
- Central heating and double glazing
- A lower-level guest suite with underfloor heating, fireplace and private deck
- Three generous outdoor entertaining decks overlooking the forest
The Southern Highlands stole her heart
Long before Harry Potter, Miriam Margolyes fell in love with regional New South Wales while working on the 1995 family classic Babe, where she voiced Fly, the loyal sheepdog.
During filming she discovered Robertson and eventually bought the property for just $262,500, transforming it into the retreat she has enjoyed for decades alongside her long-term partner, Australian academic Heather Sutherland. Since 2014, the Nature Conservation Trust of NSW has permanently protected much of the surrounding rainforest, ensuring this remarkable landscape remains untouched.
WHO LIVES HERE?
One of Britain’s most recognisable actors, Miriam Margolyes became a household name playing Professor Pomona Sprout in the Harry Potter films. Across a career spanning more than five decades, she has also appeared in The Age of Innocence, Romeo + Juliet, Ladies in Lavender, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and countless television productions, while also voicing Fly in the Oscar-nominated family film Babe. The British-born performer became an Australian citizen in 2013 and has long divided her time between Australia and the UK.
Why has the price changed?
When Miriam Margolyes’ Southern Highlands home first came to market in January, it carried price expectations of $3.95 million to $4.2 million. After several months on the market, the vendors lowered the price guide to $3.65 million to $4 million, making the spectacular estate a little more attainable for buyers seeking a country escape.
WE LOVE…
- The breathtaking double-height Great Room with uninterrupted bush-to-ocean views
- Floor-to-ceiling glazing that brings the landscape indoors
- The beautifully eclectic collection of Indonesian antiques and artwork
- Three secluded bedroom suites that feel like boutique hotel retreats
- Native wildlife—including wombats, lyrebirds and wallabies—that regularly wander through the property
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