Good manors are hard to find

There are standard properties in Sydney. And then there’s Glenview Manor. Positioned to capture views of the Blue Mountains, this Glenhaven home at 406 Old Northern Road is an elevated property in every sense of the word.

Once belonging to a much larger parcel of land, the 60-year-old 4262sqm residence, which includes a two-level house, pool and pool house and triple garage, is reached via a long access way leading to a circular driveway.

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It has been in the same hands for more than 30 years and the home has been upgraded over that period, with a large Shaker-style Degabriele kitchen including granite benchtops and stainless steel appliances, formal and informal living and dining spaces, marble fireplaces and crafted timberwork throughout.

The six bedrooms are spread over two floors, including a spacious master suite and light-filled ensuite on the ground floor plus three more bedrooms on the lower floor. Two of the bedrooms on the lower floor would be suitable for accommodating older children or the in laws. Alternatively, the large home office under the garage could work equally well for accommodating long or short term guests, with direct access to an ensuite bathroom and sauna, or as a home gym or yoga room.

Set among well-maintained, established gardens, this property is ideal for outdoor entertaining, with a covered alfresco dining space to the northern side of the house and a 12m pool and spa. An additional carport by the main kitchen entrance also allows catering to be delivered right to the door.

A short drive to Castle Hill Metro, Castle Towers and Oakhill College, this property is a rare find.

Address: 406 Old Northern Road, Glenhaven

Auction: Saturday, February 25

Open for Inspection: Friday, February 10, 6pm

Price guide: $6 million

Agent: Karen D’Angola, DiJones Real Estate Hills District 0438 974 253

A perfectly-positioned harbourside residence, formerly the home of a late Melbourne Cup-winning horse owner, has come to market with $14 million price expectations for its February 22 auction.

Sitting in one of Sydney’s most coveted enclaves on Waiwera St in Lavender Bay, the duplex with never-to-be-built-out gunbarrell views of both the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House was home to championship thoroughbred owner Michael Fergus Doyle. The Irish-born entrepreneur was part owner of Protectionist, the 2014 Melbourne Cup winner.

Bought by Doyle in April 2020, in an off-market deal totalling $11 million according to CoreLogic data, the two-storey Lavender Bay property is being sold by the racing legend’s family through Atlas Sydney & East Coast. Doyle, a prominent character in Sydney’s Irish community for more than 50 years after arriving down under in the 1960s with a 10 pound boat ticket, sadly passed away in November 2023 at the age of 77.

Doyle built his fortune by building a construction company from the ground up that eventually employed more than 300 people and had a contract with Sydney Water worth A$100 million a year. By 2009, Doyle sold the business to a company owned by the Singapore Government and breeding horses through Doyles Breeding & Racing became his next passion.

The contemporary four-bedroom three-bathroom property features 304sq m of internal living space with additional outdoor entertaining areas on both levels.

Beyond the impressive grand entrance foyer with a personalised floor medallion, the layout opens up to reveal a large everyday living level with a formal lounge room and casual sitting space featuring walls of windows to frame the Harbour City’s top icons. Thanks to a central skylight tower, this main living zone is also flooded with natural light.

A spacious chef-grade kitchen anchored by a long island bench is equipped with Gaggenau appliances, gas burners, dual ovens, and a grill plate. The adjoining dining area spills out onto a terrace with an integrated bar table plus a Luna Park and bridge backdrop. The entry level also houses a home office or guest bedroom with a Juliette balcony and integrated desks opposite a full bathroom.

In the main bedroom suite upstairs there is a deep full-width balcony with more landmark views, a vast walk-in wardrobe, plus a spa ensuite complete with twin vanities, heated floors and warming towel racks. Two more bedrooms on the upper level each have access via French doors to a shared street-facing terrace and built-ins with a common family-friendly bathroom.

Added extras include automatic awnings and privacy screens to the outdoor areas, marble floor tiles, and a double lock up garage with storage.

The designer duplex is located close to harbourside dining venues, foreshore parks such as Bob Gordon Reserve and Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Gardens, Kirribilli Markets and North Sydney’s bustling CBD.

Property 2 at 9-11 Waiwera St is on the market with Adrian Bridges and Daniel Chester of Atlas Sydney & East Coast with a price guide of $14 million. It is set to go under the hammer on February 22.

Good manors are hard to find

This rare property sits head and shoulders above its neighbours

His stallion once won the Melbourne Cup, now this late legendary horse owner’s thoroughbred harbourside home is on the market.