Mark Ainsworth sells Potts Point semi to Macquarie banker

A Macquarie Bank director has emerged as the buyer of the William Smart-designed semi, Ilari in Potts Point, that was snappily resold by Mark Ainsworth, of the Aristocrat pokie clan for a quick prize payout.

It has been bought by Michael Price who has been at Macquarie for almost three decades.

He's known as passionate supporter of the not-for-profit sector in Australia, he is chair of the social finance advisory council at Social Ventures Australia, which boosts the sustainability of organisations such as ReachOut.

Ainsworth paid for $4.6 million in April last year for the Tusculum Street house (above) which recently resold though Jason Boon and Geoff Cox of Richardson & Wrench Elizabeth Bay at $5.35 million.

It followed his $7.55 million purchase of a Surry Hills warehouse residence with heart-shaped swimming pool.

The three storey Federation house was sold to Ainsworth by designer Johnson Chan, who had paid $1.9 million in 2007 buying the property with a humble Tudor facade from barrister-cum-buyers agent Chris Curtis.

Inspectees were told a further $3.5 million had been spent on its substantial rebuild by Chan with Smart Design Studio winning some 15 awards and commendations for the work, including the 2012 AIA Architecture Award for heritage and interior design.

The four-bedroom home with a steel and bronze cantilevered staircase as its centrepiece was marketed as a mix of concrete, steel, glass, stone, timber and all the expected high technology gadgetry.