Leslie Walford Double Bay penthouse passed in at cocktail hour auction

Jonathan ChancellorJune 19, 2013

The Princeton, Double Bay penthouse of the late interior design doyen Leslie Walford, was  passed in without bid at auction tonight.

Auctioneer Andrew Cooley sought bids above $4 million, and then also offered potential buyers first negotiating rights with a sub-$4 million offer, which was not forthcoming. 

{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/09/oct3penthouse]}

It was initially listed for sale with $4.95 million-plus hopes through Christies International agent Ken Jacobs, but the apartment came with revised $4 million-plus hopes through Christies inconjunction with Paul Biller and Brad Caldwell-Eyles at 1st City-Hasemer+Caldwell.Eyles.

It has been listed by Walford's partner, Colin Davies.

The penthouse with 279-square-metre garden terracing sits atop the 1939 Art Deco Double Bay complex with northerly views across the harbour to Manly.

After the sale of much of Walford's contents, the apartment had furniture installed by Kris and Greg Leveson.

{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/05/may21walford]}

The Princeton interiors previously showcased the tastes of Walford, who retired just six years ago after an international career spanning five decades. The bones of the apartment remain - polished timber floorboards, high vaulted ceilings, ornate cornices, curved bay windows and french doors - and Walford devotees would see  a few remnants amid the decor.

The funeral of the doyen of Sydney interior decorators Leslie Walford was held at St Marks, Darling Point in February 2012 after he died peacefully at the Sacred Heart Hospice, Darlinghurst.

The Society of Interior Designers suggests Walford was one of the best-known figures in Australia in interior design having worked at the top levels of design for several decades, not only in Australia but also in Europe, Asia and the UK.

His business, Walford and Horgan Interiors – regarded by many as a byword for excellence in design – had many wealthy clients that included the media tycoons Reg Grundy and the Fairfax, Murdoch and Packer families.

He was described this week as “the man who 70 years ago began the slide away from drab interiors filled with Victorian brown furniture,” by John Furphy at the Australian Art Sales Digest.

"A good antique can be more of a friend than an object that doesn't have a past," Walford repeatedly suggested.

Surrounded by an eclectic collection of furniture and artwork, he celebrated his 85th birthday in January 2012 at his Double Bay penthouse, but abandoned his regular sojourn to his Sri Lanka villa due to his deterioriating health.

His entertaining tips were published in a 1983 interview piece.

Title Tattle recalls the initial Double Bay purchase cost $125,000 in 1975 from Sabrina Van der Linden.

The apartment, which comes with 500 square metres of space, was consolidated with another purchase in 1978 from the photographer Ann Riddell.

It comes with double parking.

Jonathan Chancellor

Jonathan Chancellor is one of Australia's most respected property journalists, having been at the top of the game since the early 1980s. Jonathan co-founded the property industry website Property Observer and has written for national and international publications.

Editor's Picks

Hamton launches sales at Scotch Hill Gardens, Hawthorn
RBA cut interest rates amid inflation decline
Reddam House North Shore opening to lure families to North Sydney
Woolworths to sell another prime Brisbane development site with apartment approval
TOGA's vision for building vibrant new community precincts across Sydney