Prof Wilkinson-designed 1929 Bibury, Burradoo sells at $3.5 million
Bibury, the 1929 Leslie Wilkinson-designed Burradoo residence, was bought by the late health care industry entrepreneur Paul Ramsay for $3.5 million just before his recent May death.
The property, which has also been recently known as Burlington, was sold by Marianna O'Sullivan, wife of corporate adviser, Tony O'Sullivan, last December with its settlement in April.
It had previously traded when barrister David Arnott and his wife, Paddington retailer Rekha secured $2.8 million in 2008.
The Burradoo Road house, standing on 1.13 hectares, sits adjacent to Paul Ramsay's longtime Southern Highlands retreat, Yarrawin which Title Tattle estimates as two hectares plus.
Paul Ramsay grew up in the Highlands. He founded Ramsay Health Care, but was just as involved in regional television and property development.
Paul Ramsay, the son of a land surveyor, loved his properties, sometimes popping a letter to me which reflected his passion for property..and life. The first was around the early 1990s sale of his Point Piper apartment.
There were the past purchases and sales of Moonrising at Palm Beach, another called Seagull on the beach at Mollymook and Noorinya on Sapphire Beach at Coffs Harbour. He kept, but rarely visited the double block amalgamated property on the Belongil at Byron Bay.
His long held Burradoo property dated back to its 1980s purchase, but it was actually a case of him buying back his childhood home, as was mentioned at the memorial service held at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney. His father Oscar had bought part of the property in 1939, when Paul was aged 3, selling it in 1973.
No surprise that he fancied Bibury as it has typical wonderful Wilkinson features, merging Mediterranean and Georgian influences with stuccoed brickwork, loggias, timber shutters and a vine-covered terrace. It traded at $785,000 in 1988 when sold by the Audsley family, who paid $98,000 in 1975.
When built for the solicitor Alex MacGregor in 1929 at a cost of £3,745, the house was known as Shadowood.
The McGregors lived there for six years before selling to Maud Dangar for £6,000 pounds in 1935.
It was Wilkinson's sixth residential commission and the first of his Southern Highlands projects.
The five-bedroom, two-bathroom house, which is approached by a flagged driveway through a porte-cochere into a central courtyard, has maid's quarters.
The single garage has chauffeur's accommodation.
The bore-serviced grounds have a stable and tack room, workshop and two croquet lawns.
The house was restored by Lucas, Stapleton, winning the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Greenway Award for heritage restoration.
Just what Paul Ramsay's plans were following the acquisition aren't evident.