“There\u2019s this feeling when you step inside – it\u2019s magic,\u201d said Mr Schebesta. \u201cI\u2019ve never felt that in any other space.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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The other standout feature of the clifftop home is its proximity to the ocean, with the entire long side of the house facing the water.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe architecture, the layout, the spirit of the place – it\u2019s completely unlike anything I\u2019ve seen,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A star-studded history\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the \u2018Crypto Castle\u2019 has been a home for Fred and his young family, it\u2019s much more than that – it\u2019s a piece of cultural history. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Long before the entrepreneur owned the enviable slice of real estate, it was already a magnet for A-listers. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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Fred Schebesta, the co-founder of comparison website Finder, at his ‘Crypto Castle’. Picture: Jane Dempster\/The Australian<\/p>\n
Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise shot scenes there for the 90s blockbuster movie Eyes Wide Shut, and it has since become a go-to for both film and TV productions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also been a popular photo location for top-tier brands, including Chanel, Georgio Armani (with Cate Blanchett), Myer and Michael Hill. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Most recent guests include musician Dua Lipa and lifestyle queen, Martha Stewart, who selected the location as a home base during a recent Sydney visit.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat legacy adds to the creativity of the place,\u201d Mr Schebesta said.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou feel it, you feel inspired by it\u2026 It\u2019s not just a home, it\u2019s a muse.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have been several other high-profile celebs recently filming in the castle, but we are unable to share the details until the projects are live.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A restrained approach to renovation\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite the extravagant purchase price, the tech guru has taken a restrained approach to updating the property.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy approach is always to live in the place before making big changes,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWith this house, it took a long time. It\u2019s big, complex and exposed to the elements right next to the ocean, which means things break, things corrode. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I\u2019ve focused on smart, preventative maintenance. I group smaller jobs together and do them in one go. I replace seals on doors and windows before they become problems. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been careful not to touch the structural or architectural bones of the house. The architecture has integrity, and changing it too much could disturb that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ever the entrepreneur, the savvy business owner made the decision to open up his mega-mansion as an exclusive rental – a rental that now claims to be the most expensive Airbnb property in the entire country.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n