Adman Harold Mitchell lists The Astor, Sydney apartment: Title Tattle

Veteran adman media buyer Harold Mitchell has listed his Sydney bolt hole, a $3.5 million plus apartment in The Astor.

The ninth floor Macquarie Street offering has been listed through David Newgrosh of David Newgrosh Real Estate at $4 million.

Title Tattle recalls Mitchell gutted the then four bedroom apartment on its purchase around 14 years ago from Pamela Palmer of the Palmer stockbroking family.

The refurbishment into a much-draped two bedroom, three bathroom apartment took around a year.

It has harbour views.

The Astor is the 12-storey, 1920s company title block that once dominated not only the city skyline but Sydney society when Circular Quay was quaintly industrial and the Harbour Bridge yet to be built.

All of the apartments featured Jarrah timber flooring, high ceilings, large windows along with Queensland maple interiors by the controversial Francis de Groot.

Despite being the city's oldest apartment complex - and facing serious competition from many nearby new developments – it continues to attract buyers, especially when a modernised Astor apartment comes with parking nearby.

Over the years the block of apartments has been home to a who's who of Sydney society including Lisa Rochfort, who was the managing director of Australian couture jewellers Fairfax & Roberts, broadcaster John Laws and artist Portia Geach.

Completed in 1923, the Astor was the idea of entrepreneurs John and Cicely O'Brien.

The building was designed by architects Stuart Mould and Donald Esplin with a rooftop garden and basement restaurant.

Back then there were butlers and maids provided by the house manager.

Heiress Dame Eadith Walker, then Australia's wealthiest woman, was one of original buyers.

"It was there for the landed gentry…of which I am not one," Mitchell told 2GB's Money News host Ross Greenwood.

Being company title, Mitchell was required to provide written referees before the building's board of directors accepted his shareholder application.

He told Ross Greenwood that his referees included Leo Schofield, Adrian Collette and Lachlan Murdoch. Quintessential Sydney, Title Tattle would suggest.

No connection to the current listing of the apartment for sale, but Mitchell fears being dragged before the board because last weekend he breached the no pets policy that the board oversees.

Heading off to the nearby Opera House for the evening's brilliant Don Giovanni, his barking two dogs were left behind in the apartment. 

"They never like it...they don't like Don Giovanni…so I left them home at The Astor. I didn't know, it's a no pets allowed building. I ran afoul. And I'm up before the committee."

"Oh the humiliation," he jested during his regular Thursday night conversation with 2GB's Greenwood.

Not quite as dramatic as the earth opening up and taking Don Giovanni to hell.

"I can't even go back to Sydney," the Melbourne-based showman suggested.