Ann Lewis' romantic Rose Bay villa fetches about $15 million after auction: Title Tattle

{yoogallery src=[images/stories/september21lewis]}

The Sydney Harbour home (pictured above) of the late arts patron Ann Lewis was passed in at its much-anticipated auction, but sold soon after to a Hong Kong-based expat at about $15 million last night, which was the lowest selling point the family were prepared to sell.  The harbour reserve house had been passed in after just the one $10 million bid - at its invitation only auction - with suggestions some 10 contracts had been issued to local and offshore buyers during the pre-auction marketing.

The 1909 residence, Amaroo, comes with direct access to a sandy beach and private deepwater jetty. It was her home for about 55 years, and was listed by her four children, Amanda Zsebik, Tony Lewis, Annalise Scanlan and Daniel Lewis, following her death in May. A Mungindi grazier's daughter, Ann Livingston met building construction magnate John Lewis on the dance floor at Prunier's in Woollahra.

The sale fell short of Rose Bay's $18.2 million top sale, which was a newly built contemporary house when sold in 2006.

Lewis' house was listed by Ken Jacobs at Christies International in conjunction with Andrew Livingston and Brett Talbot from McGrath Estate Agents. 

The late leisure entrepreneur Bill Bursill's Rose Bay harbourfront house goes up for November 3 auction through Laing & Simmons Double Bay agent Wayne Yates. Its on a much bigger block with $14 million hopes. It has a $13 million unimproved capital land value compared with the $9.1 million of the Lewis land holding.

There’s now a $4.75 million asking price on the historic Brighton residence Totnes (pictured above), which has been listed by departing Newcrest mining boss Ian Smith, who is set to become the chief executive of explosives and chemical company Orica. Smith was in London at the time of his 2006 purchase, where he had been a senior Rio Tinto executive. The 1892 mansion with 10 rooms sits on an 1,100-square-metre block. It’s was listed for auction through Barb Gregory and James Redfern at Marshall White Brighton. Gregory gave pre-auction indications the house would fetch $4.5 million plus.

Smith stepped down at the end of June this year from Newcrest after five years in which he turned around the nation's biggest gold miner and doubled its market value. Newcrest’s recent annual report revealed it’s still paying Smith until the end of the year along with a $2.25 million payment on December 31. Smith received $1 million bonus after sealing a $9.5 billion takeover by Lihir Gold last year.

Property developer Max Campbell and wife Cynthia have secured about $4.6 million for their Byron Bay hinterland residence (pictured above and below), not bad considering they were hoping for $5 million plus. Set on 5.5 hectares with rainforests, it has sold within 10 days of offers closing through Nick Dunn of Byron Bay First National in conjunction with Raine & Horne agent Sophie Christou.

The spectacularly located property looks seaward with views that expand from Broken Head to Cape Byron lighthouse from its Coopers Shoot escarpment. Its 10 minutes to Bangalow, and five minutes to Byron Bay or Suffolk Park. The house consists of four bedrooms – two with ensuites. The living and dining area features a thatched Indonesian grassed roof ceiling. Its timbers included Kauri Pine in the kitchen, New Guinea Rosewood door and window frames, and Tasmanian blackwood in the bathrooms. There’s rosegum timber floors with jarrah and blackbutt features, coconut posts, columns and entry doors, and structural bamboo rafters.

Deansholme (pictured above), the Surrey Hills, Melbourne home of the former Hawks player Trent Croad and his wife, Tanya Stewart, has been sold for $2 million ahead of his plans to break into the American National Football League.

The four-bedroom timber Edwardian house with wide return veranda sold through Marshall White agent Chris Barrett, who suggested second-storey additions would provide city views. The 1,235-square-metre property had been tipped to fetch more than $2 million. Croad retired last year following continuing problems from a foot injury. He recently returned from try-outs as a punter with the New York Jets.

{yoogallery src=[images/stories/october25moog]}

Moog (pictured above), the home, hotel, restaurant, bar and recording studio in one location in Surry Hills, didn’t attract any bids when it was offered under receivers' instructions mid-week through Colliers agent Paul Fernandes. In its heyday the place offered the $1,000-a-night Moog Hotel experience, which included designer pool with underwater speakers. It even laid claim to the most expensive cocktail in Sydney – the Amex Noir at $2,003. The property was initially listed with $8 million expectations by Simon and Susanah Page in 2005. Its mid-week auctioneer Damien Cooley suggested there were four or five interested bidding parties but passed in on a $3.8 million vendor bid.

Wanganderry (pictured above), the 898-hectare rural Southern Highlands estate, has been listed for the first time in close to 150 years. It’s been listed for November 10 auction through Matthew Anstee at Raine & Horne Bowral. It’s being sold by the prominent pioneer Badgery family, who have owned the property since the 1860s. It’s the largest land offering on the market at the moment. It has capacity for up to 600 head of cattle.

Located on Wombeyan Caves Road in High Range, Wanganderry is 20 minutes from Bowral. Anstee says about $8.5 million is expected, representing around $3,900 per acre compared with the area's average $9,000. The estate is being offered for sale as whole, but was also available in two smaller parcels – the 550-hectare Wanganderry North subdivision, and the 347-hectare Wanganderry South subdivision. However, if a buyer cannot be found, Wanganderry will be divided and sold by Raine & Horne Bowral as a series of 21 hundred-acre lots.

And don’t say that Title Tattle told you, but the recently departed chief executive at newly formed AFL franchise Greater Western Sydney Dale Holmes won’t miss the daily traffic grind. He and his wife, Claudia, sold their Manly residence (pictured above) for $3.83 million last October with unimplemented plans to buy closer to Dale's team headquarters at Blacktown. The Bower Street, Manly house, which sold through Steve Thomas at Belle Property Manly, had been transformed from its previous Californian bungalow-style appearance after the 720-square-metre leasehold property cost $2.3 million in 2007. Title Tattle understands the Holmes family have stayed in Manly – in part because of the family’s schooling requirements –but have been renting since the sale.