Billionaire Sultan spends $8.5 million on Swan River, Perth trophy home site
A Malaysian billionaire royal, Sultan Ibrahim Ismail of Johor has spent $8.5 million on the former Dalkeith Sunset Hospial matron’s house, sparking speculation he plans a grand home overlooking the Swan River.
Heritage Minister Albert Jacob said the sale of the house, located on a 1,993sqm lot on Iris Avenue in Dalkeith was a major step forward in establishing the Sunset project and an important move for WA’s heritage.
The 16 Iris Avenue property was marketed as a one-off opportunity to purchase a large residential block overlooking the Swan River with a 49 metre long riverfront reserve location.
Tenders closed in October 2014 after the Sunset Reserve Transformation Act 2014 was passed by State Parliament in April last year. It was listed through T.M. Residential agent Tonia McNeilly with transfer in March this year by the Ministry for Works.
The larger site was home to the former Claremont Old Men's Home built in 1906 for aged care and accommodation, at one stage housing as many as 750 men.
Its name was changed to the Sunset Hospital in 1943.
Sultan Ibrahim is married to Her Royal Highness Raja Zarith Sofiah and they have six children.
The undeveloped riverfront 1993 square metre site was sold by the State Government who had previous plans to develop luxury apartments across the larger site.
The matron’s house — a 1950s brick home with no heritage listing — was referred to in Robert Drewe’s memoir, The Shark Net.
Sale funds will be directed towards urgent conservation works to the nearby Sunset heritage buildings.
