Some properties are houses on land. CODA is architecture carved into a ridgeline — a 120-acre hinterland estate on Myocum Ridge Road that sits above the landscape like it was always meant to be there. Photographing it was an all-day commitment, arriving before sunrise and staying through to twilight, because a property of this calibre demands nothing less.
The Architecture
CODA is a masterwork. The home is built into the ridge itself, using the natural fall of the land to create a two-level residence that feels simultaneously grounded and elevated. Massive stone walls — quarried locally — anchor the building to the hillside, while floor-to-ceiling glass on every face dissolves the boundary between inside and out. The views are panoramic and uninterrupted: rolling green paddocks, the Koonyum Ranges, and on a clear day, the ocean on the horizon.
The entry sets the tone immediately. Walnut timber panelling on one side, raw stone on the other, polished concrete underfoot, and a picture window at the end that frames the hinterland like a gallery piece. Skylights wash the stone wall with natural light that changes through the day — something we captured in both the morning and afternoon sessions.
The staircase connecting the two levels is a piece of craftsmanship in its own right — custom wrought iron balustrades with an art deco-inspired arch pattern, set against handmade brick. It’s the kind of detail that a quick shoot would miss entirely, and the kind of detail that makes CODA extraordinary.
The Living Spaces
The upper-level living area is where CODA truly reveals itself. A massive stone fireplace wall anchors the room, with a built-in fireplace that draws your eye immediately. But it’s what surrounds it that stops you — floor-to-ceiling glass on three sides, polished concrete floors reflecting the landscape, and a material palette of stone, walnut, and linen that feels both luxurious and connected to the land.
We shot this room at multiple points throughout the day. In the morning, the light was cool and the views were crisp across the valley. By late afternoon, golden light poured through the western glass and lit up the stone wall, transforming the entire mood of the space.
Kitchen and Dining
The kitchen is a study in restraint — walnut cabinetry, marble island bench, and minimal hardware, allowing the craftsmanship to speak for itself. Black pendant track lighting runs overhead, and a wall of glass beside the dining table frames Mt Chincogan in the distance.
The Bathroom
Even the bathroom has views. A freestanding soaker tub sits beside louvre windows that open directly to the hinterland, with afternoon sun streaming in and casting long shadows across the floor. Brass tapware and a timber vanity complete the palette.
Pool and Outdoor Living
The infinity-edge pool is positioned on the upper terrace with unobstructed views across the valley to the ranges. A round spa sits integrated into the pool surround, and a stone-walled outdoor kitchen with BBQ creates an alfresco entertaining zone that rivals any resort.
The outdoor shower tucked beside the stone wall is one of those details that tells you everything about how this property was designed — every element considered, every transition between inside and outside intentional.
The Grounds
Beyond the immediate home compound, CODA’s landscaping is as considered as the architecture. A crazy-paving courtyard with designer outdoor furniture sits on the eastern side, backed by rock retaining walls and established plantings. The contrast between the raw stone, the crushed gravel, and the manicured lawn is deliberate — it connects the built environment to the natural ridgeline.
Drone — Sunrise to Sunset
With 120 acres, drone photography was essential to telling CODA’s full story. We flew at sunrise, midday, and golden hour to capture the property in every light condition.
The sunrise aerials are some of the most dramatic we’ve shot — the home perched on its ridge with the morning sun burning through the haze behind it, 120 acres of green paddocks falling away on every side.
The midday aerials reveal the full scope of the property — the relationship between the home, the driveway, the paddocks, and the surrounding landscape. The nadir shot shows the solar array, the compound layout, and the sheer scale of the build.
Twilight
As the sun dropped behind the ranges, CODA transformed. The interior lights illuminated the stone walls and walnut panelling through the glass, the pool caught the last light of the sky, and the facade came alive with carefully designed uplighting.
The Video — Asher King, Form Films
CODA also received a cinematic video treatment from Asher King of Form Films, whose work perfectly matches the architectural ambition of the property. Asher’s film captures the scale, the materiality, and the way light moves through CODA across the day — details that still photography can complement but never fully replicate.
An All-Day Shoot
CODA demanded a full day on site — and it rewarded every hour. The sunrise drone sessions captured the property in its most dramatic light. The morning interiors were clean and crisp. The afternoon golden hour transformed the living spaces as the sun moved across the stone walls. And twilight brought everything together with the warm glow of the home against the cooling hinterland sky.
For prestige architectural properties across the Byron hinterland, a full-day shoot with photography, drone, and twilight is the only way to do the property justice.