Real Estate Archives - Rose Bay Today

$150-million Rose Bay Sale Marks a Turning Point for Sydney’s East

An amalgamated Rose Bay site has changed hands in a deal worth about $150 million, in what Raine & Horne describes as one of Australia’s biggest residential property transactions.

The sale, negotiated by Raine & Horne’s Double Bay office, combines multiple neighbouring properties in Rose Bay and could significantly change how this part of the suburb is used in future.

A major deal for the eastern suburbs

The landmark site, spanning about 3,000 square metres across 33–37 Dover Road and 2–30 Wilberforce Avenue, includes five houses and two unit blocks. The site’s zoning allows for a six-storey building with a 22-metre height limit, making it a significant redevelopment opportunity in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

The deal was led by agent Alex Lyons and his team at Raine & Horne Double Bay, who handled the sale of the amalgamated Rose Bay site. The buyer has not been officially confirmed, but industry sources allege it is Graeme Skerritt, owner of Pathways Aged Care, and that he is reportedly planning a luxury aged-care facility on the 3,000-square-metre site.

What this means for the Rose Bay community

For Rose Bay residents, the sale is about more than the headline price, as it is likely to influence how this pocket of the suburb is redeveloped. The site sits within Rose Bay’s harbourside area, which is known for its village-style shopping strips, nearby schools and proximity to the CBD.

Any future plans for the block are expected to draw close attention from local residents, given the size and location of the property.

High-value sites with flexible planning potential are typically sought after in lifestyle-rich suburbs like Rose Bay, and this transaction appears to fit that pattern. Agents say the sale reflects strong demand for prestige landholdings in Sydney’s east, even as the broader housing market moves through different cycles.

Published 4-Nov-2025

Historic Rose Bay Mansion Sells for $45.1 Million, Setting Potential New Benchmark

Photo Credit: Richardson & Wrench Double Bay

A prestigious Rose Bay property has changed hands for $45.1 million at a private auction held on 24 September, marking what could be a new benchmark for Australian residential properties sold under the hammer.

The grand estate at 19 Kent Rd, known as The Knoll due to its elevated position, had initially attracted interest in the $30 million to $35 million range when it first came to market. The final sale price exceeded these early expectations by more than $10 million.

Photo Credit: Richardson & Wrench Double Bay

The sprawling 2,536-square-metre property, which offered six bedrooms and commanding views over the Royal Sydney Golf Course, had been held by the same family for six decades. According to selling agents Michael Dunn and James Dunn of Richardson & Wrench Double Bay, the vendors were descendants of the Burns family, connected to Sir James Burns who established the merchant company Burns Philp.

Nine registered bidders competed for the trophy home, with four participating actively in the auction conducted by Jessie Davidson. Bidding commenced at $29 million and advanced rapidly in million-dollar increments before the property was declared on the market at $40 million.

The winning bid came from a local family, described by the agents as a couple in their 50s, who secured the keys with a final offer of $45.1 million. Whilst speculation has circulated about the purchasers’ possible connection to the nearby golf club, this remains unconfirmed.

Michael Dunn expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating he believed it could represent a record for a residential property sold at auction. The previous benchmark was set at $43.1 million for a Toorak property in Victoria, which sold in 2021.

Built in 1935 and designed by Scott, Green & Scott for WA Freeman, the Georgian revival-style residence evokes the character of a British country manor. The property features generous rooms with high ceilings, established gardens, level lawns, and a 15.2-metre swimming pool.

The home’s proximity to the recently renovated Royal Sydney Golf Club proved to be a significant drawcard, with the fairways visible from the residence. As a deceased estate, The Knoll represented a rare opportunity to acquire one of the larger non-waterfront properties in Rose Bay, having had only a handful of owners throughout its nearly century-long history.

The new owners are expected to undertake renovations to the heritage property.

Published 24-September-2025

Rose Bay Waterfront Block Could Smash National Property Records

Photo Credit: Forbes Global Properties

A sprawling 4400 square metre waterfront property in Rose Bay has quietly hit the market, with industry insiders suggesting it could potentially surpass Australia’s current $130 million house price record.

The exceptional holding at 754-760 New South Head Road represents one of Sydney Harbour’s most prized residential sites, combining two residences, recreational facilities, and what many consider the suburb’s finest harbour views.

The property has deep ties to Australian medical history, having been in the Dan family for over four decades. Records show Adrienne Dan, wife of renowned neurosurgeon Professor Noel Dan AM, purchased the beachfront portion for $1.03 million in 1983. Professor Dan’s groundbreaking epidemiological research into head injuries was instrumental in introducing random breath testing to NSW in 1982, a public health initiative that has saved countless lives.

What makes this site particularly attractive to potential buyers is its rare combination of scale and location. The 4400 square metre block comprises five separate titles and boasts uninterrupted views towards the Harbour Bridge, along with direct beach access and dual street frontages.

The family’s decision to market the entire consolidated site marks a significant shift from previous attempts. In 2023, part of the property was offered separately, creating an oddly-shaped 3300 square metre block that may have deterred potential buyers despite carrying an $85 million price guide.

The current offering includes an additional 1029 square metre parcel featuring a Victorian-style residence, which the family acquired in 1986 for $629,000. This portion, registered under art gallery owner Sally Maree Dan-Cuthbert (Professor Dan’s daughter), provides crucial street-to-beach access and dual driveway options.

Property market observers note the site’s potential has long been recognised. The block was previously owned by advertising executive John Singleton before the Dan family’s purchase. Initial market testing occurred in 2017, coinciding with significant movements in Sydney’s luxury property sector.

The timing appears strategic, following recent record-breaking sales in nearby Point Piper. Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar’s $130 million sale of the Elaine estate in October 2024 has reset expectations for Sydney’s waterfront property market.

Sales agents Paul Biller of Biller Property and Joshua Punin of Biller Projects are managing the off-market listing, with sources indicating developer interest has already materialised into formal offers.

The site’s development potential appears substantial, particularly given recent planning precedents for large waterfront parcels in the eastern suburbs. However, the property’s heritage significance and community value as one of Rose Bay’s last substantial private waterfront holdings may influence future development considerations.

For Rose Bay residents, the sale represents the end of an era, as the Dan family’s stewardship of this prime harbourfront land spans more than 40 years of local history.

Published 7-July-2025

Rose Bay Homeowners Seek $40 Million From Development Site Sale

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Five Rose Bay homeowners have combined their properties into a single development site expected to sell for over $40 million, with expressions of interest closing June 5.

The properties at 17, 17A, 19, 21, and 23 Carlisle Street form a 1392-square-meter site that has already attracted 150 inquiries from apartment developers, according to Colliers agent Paul Ephron.

“They might be worth $5m or $5.5m individually, but they’re likely to get $8.5m or $9m in this type of deal,” Ephron said.

The amalgamated properties include homes with varying features and histories. Property number 17A, purchased for just $190,000 in 1987, now carries a base price of $8.45 million as part of the package. Meanwhile, 19 Carlisle Street was bought for $3.4 million in 2021 and underwent a $500,000 renovation afterward.

These homeowners are capitalising on the NSW Government’s new Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, gazetted on February 28, which allows for six-story apartment buildings—potentially eight stories if affordable housing is included—within 400 meters of centres and transport hubs.

The site’s location makes it particularly attractive for downsizer apartments, being within walking distance of Rose Bay village. Colliers agents highlight its potential views of the harbour, Bridge, city skyline, and its level access as key selling points.

Ephron, who secured the listing about a month ago with colleagues Guillaume Volz and Marina Corvalan, noted that while there’s a “moment of frenzy” in the market, success depends on understanding each site’s specific characteristics.

The Carlisle Street location sits approximately 10 minutes from another amalgamated site on Dover Road that recently sold to apartment developer Fortis for $75 million.

Published 8-May-2025

Sydney Roosters Star Lists Rose Bay Investment Property

A prime Rose Bay property owned by Sydney Roosters and NSW Origin star Angus Crichton has hit the market with a $2.5 million price guide. The football player prepares for his upcoming wedding and seeks to upsize to a family home.

The three-bedroom full-brick semi at 73 Onslow Street occupies a coveted position at the end of a tree-lined cul-de-sac on a 308 square meter block.

Crichton purchased the investment property in 2018 for $2.18 million and has been collecting $1,650 per week in rental income.

Raine and Horne Double Bay’s Alex Lyons is handling the sale, with the auction scheduled for late May.

The property features single-level living with high ceilings and timber floors throughout.

All three bedrooms include built-in wardrobes, with the main bedroom offering an ensuite bathroom.

A modern stone kitchen equipped with Smeg gas appliances opens to living and dining areas that flow to an outdoor entertaining courtyard and level backyard.

The property also includes a lock-up garage plus an additional car space.

The listing comes as Crichton, 29, prepares to marry fiancée Chloe Esegbona next month. The State of Origin “man of the series” proposed during an off-season trip to the UK last December at Manchester’s iconic Midland Hotel. Esegbona celebrated her hen’s party on Anzac Day, making time to watch the Roosters defeat the Dragons at Allianz Stadium.

Published 28-April-2025

Rose Bay Waterfront Mansion Hits Market at $85 Million

Photo Credit: Forbes Global Properties

The Rose Bay property market has a new headline-grabbing listing, with Sicilian-born Orazio Camuglia and his wife Yolanda placing their waterfront compound on the market for an eye-watering $85 million.

The sleek three-residence family compound sits on 1138 square meters of absolute waterfront land on Tivoli Avenue and boasts uninterrupted 180-degree views across Sydney Harbour, featuring seaplanes, regattas, and ocean liners as a constantly changing panorama.

According to Camuglia, the view was so captivating when they first moved in that the family hardly watched television for about six months, preferring instead to observe the daily activities on the harbour from their balcony.

From Coogee Castle to Rose Bay Haven

Camuglia, who arrived in Australia as a seven-year-old from the Sicilian hilltop town of Castiglione di Sicilia, is no stranger to creating architectural landmarks. He previously built the famous “Coogee Castle,” a striking concrete mansion with ocean views designed by his brother-in-law, architect Renato D’Ettorre.

After selling that property to advertising mogul John Singleton in 2003 for $8.2 million (later purchased by crypto entrepreneur Fred Schebesta for $16.85 million in 2021), the Camuglias moved to Rose Bay with a vision for multigenerational living.

A Family Compound by the Harbour

What began as a duplex in 2004 has been transformed into an interconnected three-residence compound where Camuglia’s two sons and their families have lived alongside the couple, each with their own private space.

The property now features eight bedrooms, ten bathrooms, parking for four cars, and is equipped with marine-grade materials chosen specifically to withstand the harbour’s salty conditions.

Mediterranean Touches in Rose Bay

Perhaps most remarkable is how Camuglia has created a slice of Sicily on Sydney Harbour. The grounds include a hillside orchard garden with olives, grapes, lemons, figs, blood oranges, and even prickly pear.

Camuglia explains that he designed the garden to reflect his father’s efforts in Sicily, where he had terraced a garden on the side of a mountain. This Mediterranean touch allows the family to enjoy homegrown produce, with Camuglia noting that the prickly pears can be made into marmalade and liqueur.

Record-Breaking Potential

If the $85 million asking price is achieved, it would shatter the Rose Bay record of $55 million set in February for a Dumaresq Road property. The record was previously held by recycled shopping bag businessman Frank Qiang Geng.

The Tivoli Avenue strip is one of the area’s most exclusive, with neighbouring Villa Florida (once owned by Barry Humphries) selling for $45 million in 2021 to insurance broker founder Jim Angelis, who is currently rebuilding the property.

Forbes Global Properties agents Hui Xu and Ken Jacobs are managing the sale, with Jacobs recently noting that top-end homes are well-positioned to weather market uncertainties following US President Donald Trump’s tariff regime.The Camuglias are planning to split their time between Sydney and Italy, saying their harbour-front home has become “too big to lock up and leave” as they enter a new chapter of their lives.

Published 16-April-2025

Record-Breaking $55m House Sale Reshapes Rose Bay Luxury Market

Photo Credit: Pillinger

The record-breaking sale of 12 Dumaresq Road for $55 million has shattered the Rose Bay house price record by $5 million, establishing a new benchmark for the prestigious harbour suburb. The Bruce Stafford-designed residence sold after a significant $20 million price reduction from its original $75 million asking price.

This transaction decisively surpasses the previous Rose Bay record of approximately $50 million set in 2018 when Brett Blundy’s Bayview Hill Road property was purchased by Lawrence and Sylvia Myers. Both record sales were handled by the same agency, Pillinger.

The property’s prime location offers direct access to Dumaresq Reserve and the waterfront, positioning it among Rose Bay’s most coveted addresses. With panoramic harbour views extending to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and city skyline, the six-bedroom mansion exemplifies the high-end architectural style that has increasingly defined Rose Bay’s premium real estate market.

Originally purchased for $26.9 million in 2014 by businessman Frank Qiang Geng and Juanjuan Zhao, the property has more than doubled in value over the past decade, highlighting Rose Bay’s strong performance in Sydney’s luxury property sector.

The sale comes as Geng and Zhao prepare to move to Point Piper following their purchase of the waterfront mansion “Rockleigh” for approximately $82 million, suggesting continued movement within Sydney’s eastern suburbs premium market.

While sales agents Brad Pillinger and Michael Pallier declined to comment on the transaction, the listing’s removal from realestate.com.au indicates the deal has been finalised after an earlier agreement at the reduced price reportedly fell through.

Published 21-February-2025

Rose Bay Homes Attracting Downsizers

Rose Bay is a popular suburb amongst downsizers to purchase a new home even if they are already residing within the Eastern Suburbs.

At present, buyers in the housing market are mostly downsizers. As Peter Kerras, Director Residential with Colliers International explains, there is no doubt that downsizers are the most active buyer demographic. Mr Kerras explains that downsizers have the means to spend due to the very strong price growth in their homes which then enables them to draw on super to buy a new home.

But unlike previous downsizers who usually prefer having terrace houses and single-level villas, the downsizers of today are very much diverse.

They are now seen to actively consider purchasing apartments and houses that are off the plan in areas where they previously had a large house.

House Key — *Photo credit: CCO Public Domain/ PhotoMIX-Company/ Facebook*

But whilst majority of the downsizers are moving into smaller houses, apartments and retirement villages, a great number of downsizers still remain at the comfort of their old houses. This is simply because they cannot find the right dwelling that matches their preference and needs in the housing market.

In fact, most downsizers are still focused on purchasing a three-bedroom home with two bathrooms and parking space for two cars. This type of home is quite hard to find nowadays due to its demand and limited supply.

This explains why there are not much options left for some downsizers; hence, it draws them to look for other diverse houses that are often uncommon for downsizers or they simply opt to rather stay at their old houses.

What are Downsizers looking for?

Rosebay house — *Photo credit: www.allhomes.com.au*

According to real estate professionals, here are some of the qualities that downsizers are often considering when purchasing their new home:

Three-bedroom in a single-storey villa that is about 400 square metres.
Low maintenance homes where they can easily lock up and leave.
Home that is easily accessible to the city.
Low maintenance courtyard and a third bedroom that could be converted into a home office.
Home with pleasant view within the vicinity.
Lifestyle amenities for the entire family.

Rose Bay and similar eastern suburbs such as Double Bay and Potts Point all have the qualities that downsizers want. This is why they tend to attract a good number of downsizers who may already be residing around the eastern Sydney suburbs.