Car dealer John Newell's secret Mosman deal secures his dream home for $13 million

What to make of the widespread rumours in Mosman that David and Vicki Albert, of the renowned music publishing and recording business family, have sold their Clifton Gardens home?

No sooner have they completed a stunning Weir Phillips Architect-designed renovation than the local talk is that they scored an unsolicited offer of about $13 million for the family home. And they’ve taken it.

What’s more, the bullish buyer is said to be car dealer John Newell and his wife Maria, who sold their Sirius Cove harbourside home 18 months ago for $8.3 million.

The redesign commissioned by the Alberts was completed in 2016 and last year won the Mosman Council Design Award for Alterations and Additions.

In terms of comparables, Kardinia Road, where the property is located, is not known for double-digit deals. Neither is Burrawong Avenue, on which corner it sits. Both dress-circle addresses top out at $8 million for houses on larger blocks and with harbour views.

Nic Yates of The Agency is being credited with negotiating the deal, but declined to comment on any such matter. Settlement will confirm the bullish result. 

Rawsons buy penthouse

Lawrence and Leanne Rawson are on their way to the penthouse in the Highgate building. Photo: Supplied

Lawrence Rawson and his brothers Mark and Peter sold the family’s land-subdivision and home-building giant Rawsons late last year to Tokyo-listed Daiwa House, prompting Lawrie and wife Leanne to hit the town on a shopping expedition.

More than $11 million later and the Avalon Beach-based couple have exchanged to buy the penthouse of the Highgate building, which is owned by chief of sustainable development outfit Diversified Property Group, Darren Pearson.

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The apartment exchanged for more than $11 million. Photo: Supplied

The two-storey spread was listed late last year by Christie’s Darren Curtis and Martin Ross, and Vanguarde’s Travis Reeve following an extensive renovation that independent sources say has set a building record.

The Rawsons aren’t the only notable shoppers this year. Coal baron Mark Lochtenberg has also bought what is presumably a Bilgola Beach weekender.

The chair of Equus Mining – best known to readers for his $16 million sale in 2015 of his Mosman waterfront home – paid something in the order of more than $8 million for the beachside home of former Panthers player-turn-property developer Lou Zivanovic.

Mark Lochtenberg has bought Lou Zivanovic’s Bilgola Beach home.
Photo: Supplied

Christie’s Martin Ross and Darren Curtis helped Lochtenberg set the Bilgola record in conjunction with David Watson, of LJ Hooker Avalon.

It’s been a happy start to 2018 for the Christie’s team, with their trifecta of sales nicely rounded out by the sale of Wybalena House in Hunters Hill for close to $8 million to Joe and Melissa Hockey. 

Therapist hopes for dream auction 

Sleep therapist Tristian Kelly has listed his Vaucluse home. Photo: Supplied

The Vaucluse home of sleep therapist Tristian Kelly goes to auction on March 26 for $4.75 million.

The four-bedroom home has had a who’s who of owners, most notably the previous owner Betty Saunders-Klimenko, daughter of the late Westfields co-founder John Saunders.

Kelly is hoping to pocket $4.75 million from her Vaucluse home. Photo: Supplied

Saunders-Klimenko bought it in 2006 from corporate communications guru Sue Cato (whose star clients include Fairfax Media) for $2.75 million, and sold to the Kellys in late 2014 for $3.25 million.

It is listed with Rosalia Marasco, of Goodyer Real Estate. 

Fast turnaround on Woollahra house 

The Thomsons have offloaded their Woollahra residence. Photo: Supplied

Victoria and Barry Roberts-Thomson, the latter of whom is deputy chair of Hutchison Telecom, didn’t hold onto their Woollahra investment for long.

Six months after paying $3.8 million for the Nelson Street house they’ve offloaded it through Ray White Woollahra’s Randall Kemp.

Settlement will reveal the exact price, but sources say they recouped the purchase price and stamp duty with some change thanks to a $4 million-plus offer. 

Next-door move for tourism boss 

The purchase is set behind the front row beach-viewers Ginia Rinehart and Will Vicars, but marks a step up for the Bondi Beach locals.

Andrew Denman has listed his Beach House apartment through The Agency. Photo: Supplied

Soon after word was out the couple had bought the apartment through James Ledgerwood and Andrew Thomas, of The Agency, the same agency that Denman listed his apartment in the neighbouring Beach House for $4.3 million to $4.6 million.

Denman bought it off the plan in 2009 for $2.45 million. It goes under the hammer on March 17. 

The property has a price guide of $4.3 million to $4.6 million. Photo: Supplied

Bondi sale beats listing expectation 

Leigh Johns, OAM has sold his Bondi Beach spread. Photo: Supplied

The competition to secure the Bondi Beach rooftop pad of Fair Work Commissioner Leigh Johns, OAM, and his partner, Baker McKenzie partner Craig Andrade, took the price above expectations.

Ric Serrao, of Raine & Horne Double Bay, originally had a guide of $1.5 million for the 70-square-metre pad (with private access to the vast rooftop terrace), up from the $1.16  million they paid for it in 2011.

No word on the buyer, but one disappointed under-bidder put the result at close to $2.5 million. 

Late landscaper’s home to take seed 

The Lavender Bay home of late landscaper Made Wijaya is on the market. Photo: Supplied

In Lavender Bay, the Sydney base of renowned landscaper and author Made Wijaya has been listed following his 2016 death.

The Bali-based expat was born Michael White and became known for designing the late David Bowie’s Bali-inspired garden at his Caribbean island of Mustique.

Wijaya’s former clients include the late David Bowie. Photo: Supplied

The one-bedder overlooks Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden, and was bought in 1996 for $295,000.

It returns to the market through Stone McMahons Point’s Heather McCartney for $850,000. 

Double-digit deal in double time

Publican Peter Calligeros and his wife Sacha didn’t waste time selling their Vaucluse home.

Two weeks after it hit the market it was removed from Domain.com.au with scuttlebutt putting the interest at $10.5 million, a little more than the $10 million guide set by Bill Malouf, of LJ Hooker Double Bay. 

The couple are off to their $18.2 million waterfront home in Watsons Bay they bought from their pals Kelly Landry and celebrity accountant Anthony Bell.