A RARE GEM: COVETED HARBOURSIDE HOME FOR SALE IN LAVENDER BAY
His stallion once won the Melbourne Cup, now this late legendary horse owner’s thoroughbred harbourside home is on the market.
2 min
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.
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A rare 41-hectare Southern Highlands farm is on the market with a $10 million guide, as demand for prestige lifestyle estates continues to surge.
2 min
A rolling 41ha parcel of farmland in the Southern Highlands, which last sold back in 2012 for $3.05 million, has come to market with a price guide of $10 million.
The sprawling rural estate, once featured in Highlife Magazine showcasing its colourful gardens, is listed with Anne Stone of McGrath Bowral through a private treaty sale.
Beyond the stately front gates and meandering driveway, the working farm consists of a five-bedroom main residence coupled with a three-bedroom guest cottage, as well as a private self-contained studio space.
Also known as Dragon Farm, the picturesque pocket sits 10kms west of Robertson and 47kms from the shores of Kiama.
Near the sleepy hamlet of Wildes Meadow, the provincial property houses 17 fenced paddocks, a championship-sized tennis court with a pavilion, plus a wellness area including a gym and steam room.
Just in time for the Australian Open, McGrath recently highlighted the value of a home grown tennis court in its 2026 Prestige Residential report.
The demand for lifestyle properties with sporting amenities has surged since the early days of the pandemic in 2020, with tennis courts proving to be a big hit.
Along Australia’s east coast, the study showed there were 71 prestige properties with tennis courts sold in the 12-months to October 2025.
New South Wales accounted for 46 per cent of those transactions, and the McGrath paper reported a price premium of 42 per cent achieved for listings with a tennis court during that period.
“Super-prestige properties equipped with tennis courts remain tightly held. Rather than being transacted for a premium they’re being land banked, as the increasing rarity of estates on large parcels will likely drive value over the longterm,” said McGrath research analyst, Michelle Ciesielski.
The main homestead at the Southern Highlands property makes the most of its panoramic setting with district views from three separate living areas and covered wraparound verandas.
Within the 323sq m footprint of the primary residence there is a modern country style kitchen, a central courtyard and main bedroom with a study nook and ensuite.
Ideal for visitors or live-in staff, the rustic cottage measures approximately 140sq m and has an open plan living zone with kitchen flowing through to a traditional veranda, plus three bedrooms with built-in wardrobes and one ensuite.
Beside the cottage an original dairy shed has been transformed into an entertainer’s space with an outdoor kitchen and the separate studio retreat dishes up more accommodation with an alfresco area and fireplace.
Additionally, the tennis court cabana is also set up with a kitchenette and wellness area.
Within the property there are established internal roads, cattle yards and multiple sheds to support livestock or equestrian pursuits.
Currently, the land is home to 35 cows, two bulls and 25 calves grazing across the lush fertile pastures.
The grounds features a potager vegetable garden, a woodland walk and a sculptural Celtic-inspired garden with a maze and two dams.
Listed with Anne Stone of McGrath Bowral, 100 Blencowes Lane, Wildes Meadow is on the market via a private treaty campaign with a price guide of $10 million.
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