Robby Ingham scores $11.3 million for Gerringong oceanfront
Fashion pioneer and Ingham's chicken heir Robby Ingham has scored $11.3 million for Ocean Pines, his still vacant Gerringong oceanfront.
It was the highest auction result on the South Coast, after Ingham listed it with $10 million hopes late last year by private treaty.
Bidding began at $6 million, with it officially being announced on the market once it went past $8.5 million.
There were four registered bidders, two of which were very active, and the winning buyer was understood to come from Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Ingham and wife Sarah paid $7 million for the former dairy farm on 40 hectares in 2012 (above and below).
They envisaged a retreat from their coastal Sydney base, but struggled to get their eventual approval from the local council for a number of years.
Ingram admitted to fatigue, and the fact that his family came across a great nearby riverfront holding during the long wait.
After finally securing approval for a 10 bedroom luxury retreat designed by architect Nick Tobias, the Inghams offered the Gerringong retreat, with record $10 million plus hopes.
Ingham suggested the next dramatic rural headland holding is a further four hours south.
The 3,000 sqm home is estimated to cost around $5 million to build with Tobias envisaging grass on the rooftop of the doughnut shaped house.
The coastal strip has already become renown for its imaginative residential retreats.
Last year Headland House was built on a 38 hectare plot that traded vacant for $4.7 million in 2014.
It was bought by Judith Neilson, daughter of art patron Judith Neilson and billionaire Kerr Neilson, and her husband Jeffrey Simpson.
They commissioned Sydney-based studio Atelier Andy Carson to design the striking home that sits on a hilltop where a ridge connects the Illawarra escarpment to the sea.
From its elevated position, it looks down towards Werri Beach and Geering Bay.
The four bedroom main house was built in an L-shape around a central courtyard with swimming pool. There's a two bedroom guest house on the parcel.
Gerrigong's price record hasn't been challenged since 2015 when Pebble Cove Farm, the 38 hectare oceanfront estate of tourism businesswoman Kerry Moran, sold for $7.3 million to management company executives Andrew Tatrai and Leni Ison.