Former Richard Branson lieutenant buys Clovelly trophy

Selina Baxby, the wife of David Baxby, the former long-time lieutenant of Richard Branson, have paid the top price for a home in Clovelly.

They have emerged as the buyers of the record breaking home of actor Duncan Armitage and artist John Copley, who sold their Gordons Bay home in February for $8 million.

Set on the Cliffbrook Parade dress circle, the absolute oceanfront home spans three levels and has four bedrooms, two kitchens and an outdoor dining area with pool.

The master suite comes with a rooftop terrace and the ground floor features a lower level cinema room and home office.

Armitage and Copley paid $1.5 million for the home in 2000, with a redesign by architects Erik Rudolfsson and Joseph Alliker

Penny Costello at Penny's Projects and Properties sold the home.

The home bettered the previous $7.7 million record set when Helen Maneas, wife of Peter Maneas, the chief executive of construction group Ganellen bought on Eastbourne Avenue.

The Baxby's have left Coogee, where they scored $4.13 million for their 1905 Federation home.

They had paid $3.6 million for the five bedroom family home in late 2015 following David's return to Australia from Virgin Geneva.

This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph.