Kirribilli

Apartment dwellers on the Kirribilli peninsula not only have spectacular views of Sydney Harbour and the underside of the coathanger, but they share their suburb with some very distinguished neighbours.

Looking out from the eastern tip of the suburb over the harbour to the Opera House and the city are two historic homes - Admiralty House, home to the Governor-General when the Queen's representative is in residence in Sydney. Admiralty House was built in 1845 for the Collector of Customs, J.G. Gibbes, and its name stems from its government acquisition in 1885 as a home for visiting admirals of the Royal Navy.

Standing alongside is Kirribilli House which John Howard controversially preferred over The Lodge in Canberra as his official prime ministerial residence. Built originally in Gothic Revival style as a private home in the 1850s by merchant Adolf Frederick Fez, Kirribilli House was resumed by the Commonwealth Government at the end of World War I to forestall sub-division plans.

Neutral Bay, which washes the northern shore of Kirribilli, is shared by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and HMAS Platypus, east coast base of the Australian submarine fleet.