Whale Beach home of Simona founder Inge Fonagy sold

Whale Beach home of Simona founder Inge Fonagy sold
Title TattleDecember 7, 2020

Simona founder Inge Fonagy has finally sold her long-held clifftop retreat at Whale Beach, which appears to be a hive of sales activity, though still in price recovery mode.

The oceanfront was listed with hopes of $3.9 million-plus back in early 2015, then for LJ Hooker Palm Beach auction with $3.25 million plus expectations mid-last year.

Agent Peter Robinson's last price guidance was $3.2 million. 

The home has been in the hands of the designer since 1964 when Inge and her late husband George paid £9500.

The Japanese-inspired timber property on 949 sqm has two levels, with three bedrooms overlooking Dolphin Bay.

The style king Tyler Brule, founder of the interiors bible Wallpaper magazine, holidayed their in the late 1990s with his artist mother Virge.

"This property represents a nostalgic and stylish step back in time and wonderful opportunity to further capitalise on a wonderful ocean front location," Robinson said.

Fonagy, a Swiss-trained Viennese patternmaker who immigrated to Australia following WWII, founded Simona in 1963 using her maiden name.

Another Whale Beach sale - after two years on the market - saw George Forster, the former company secretary of Coca-Cola Amatil, secure $4.2 million.

This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.

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