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Ex-Seven producer Taylor Auerbach casts spotlight on $25m Elizabeth Bay duplex
By Lucy Macken
The grand harbourside residences that line Elizabeth Bay’s Billyard Avenue have long commanded the sort of prominence that warrants being known by name only - think Boomerang, Berthong and Del Rio, for starters. But in more recent months it is one of the other few remaining heritage residences, Mostyn, that has emerged as one of the most famous of local homes.
But long before the prestigious address was caught up in the media firestorm surrounding former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann, the harbourside villa was best known for being built in 1885 by colonial administrator Alexander Macleay for one of his daughters. It was later home to the likes of such luminaries as Sydney Lord Mayor Arthur McElhone and lawyer and Sydney Turf Club chairman Melbourne John MacNamara before it was converted into a duplex in 1946.
Mostyn was converted into a duplex in 1946, and almost 80 years later is for sale in one line.
Almost 80 years later the chance to restore the block into a single residence has come around after both apartments were listed in one line to buyers with about $25 million to spare.
Alternatively, The Agency’s Ben Collier said they can be sold separately.
The 1885-built residence Mostyn at Elizabeth Bay is on offer for about $25 million.
By far the more valuable of the two apartments is the top-floor apartment with views of the harbour and level access from the street and garage that since 1996 has been owned by Yass grazier Chris Barber.
Taylor Auerbach leaves his Elizabeth Bay home before giving press conference earlier this year.Credit: James Brickwood
Below is the apartment long owned by the late medico Egon Auerbach and his late wife Judith, who purchased it in 1975 for $27,000, leaving it to their sons Marsden and Greg Auerbach, the latter of whom is the late father of Taylor Auerbach.
Auerbach jnr is the former Spotlight producer-turned-Channel 7 whistleblower who put Mostyn on the map in 2022 when he claimed that he “entertained” former political adviser Lehrmann there with the help of a couple of Thai masseuses, whose services were paid for on a Seven corporate credit card.
The events of that night remain a matter of dispute between Lehrmann and Auerbach, with Lehrmann denying they took place and Auerbach threatening defamation proceedings, but it isn’t the only starring role the apartment has played in Auerbach’s colourful life.
Auerbach’s bitter public falling out with his former Seven boss Steve Jackson was played out in the apartment’s dungeon when a video of Auerbach breaking Jackson’s golf club was played at Lehrmann’s defamation trial against Network Ten and former star presenter Lisa Wilkinson following allegations he raped Brittany Higgins. Lehrmann is currently appealing the defamation trial finding that he raped Higgins, and maintains his innocence.
Meanwhile, inspections don’t start until next week because Auerbach is throwing a party this Saturday, although it remains unknown if it is to mark his 33rd birthday or a farewell to one of Elizabeth Bay’s more noteworthy homes.
Terrace heights
Saraville set a national terrace record when it last traded in 2016 for $13 million.
When lawyer Karen Beck purchased her Potts Point home in 2016 for $13 million she set a record for a terrace, shocking plenty of property watchers and filling the pockets of gemologist Heidi Onisforou.
The record has since been reset a few doors away at $14.7 million by Rupert Murdoch’s eldest daughter Prue MacLeod, who bought it as her family office.
Saraville is set on prized Challis Avenue, just doors away from the $14.7 million terrace of Prue MacLeod.
Eight years after Beck purchased the Victorian Italianate residence, known as Saraville, she hopes to set another such record after it went up for sale this week.
Jason Boon, of Richardson & Wrench, who sold it last time, is yet to set a guide, but word from well-heeled Challis Avenue is buyers should expect to “budget in the mid $20 million range”.
Property chief’s property
Rounding out a trifecta of the neighbourhood’s best homes is that of Tony Lombardo, the chief of property giant Lendlease, and his lawyer wife May Chen.
Keadue was built in the 1890s to a design by architect John Bede Barlow and is now home to Lendlease chief Tony Lombardo.
The 1890s-built residence known as Keadue was built by architect John Bede Barlow for grazier and politician James Macarthur Onslow, who sold it in 1922 for £750 to then prominent lawyer and racehorse breeder Arthur Bowman.
Lendlease chief executive Tony Lombardo has opted out of undertaking a $5 million home rebuild.Credit: Louie Douvis
It last traded in 2021 for $8.5 million when purchased by Chen.
Approval for a renovation was recently granted by council to a design by architect William Smart, but rather than undertake the rebuild it has been listed with The Agency’s Ben Collier with a guide of $11.5 million.
Banking on Woollahra
The Woollahra residence of Richard Gibb was redesigned by Juliette Arent and Sarah Jane Pyke.
ANZ’s newest board member Richard Gibb has not long completed a major renovation of his Woollahra home than he listed it this week with Ben Collier for about $18 million.
Richard Gibb was appointed to the ANZ board earlier this year.Credit: Peter Braig
The designer digs set on 455 square metres with a double garage, pool and central courtyard was shortlisted for the Woollahra Design Excellence Awards in 2019 thanks to its design by architect Sam Crawford when owned by medico Machamada Kariappa.
Gibb bought it in 2020 for $11 million, then gutted it and commissioned the redesign by studio Arent&Pyke.