Property of the week: Penthouse, 601/12 Baptist St, Redfern
A Sydney site with a questionable past is reborn as a luxe residential environment ideal for indulging in dining out
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Long-term Sydney residents always had handful of not-so-glamourous nicknames for the building on the corner of Cleveland and Baptist Streets straddling Redfern and Surry Hills, but after a modern rebirth that’s all changed.
Once known as “Murder Mall” or “Methadone Mall”, the 1960s-built Surry Hills Shopping Centre was a magnet for colourful characters and questionable behaviour. Today, however, a $500 million facelift of the site — alongside a slow and steady gentrification of the two neighbouring suburbs — the prime corner property has been transformed into a luxury apartment complex Surry Hills Village by developer Toga Group.
The crowning feature of the 122-apartment project is the three-bedroom penthouse, fully completed and just released to market with a $7.5 million price guide.
Measuring 211sqm of internal space, with a 136sqm terrace complete with landscaping, the penthouse is the brand new brainchild of Surry Hills local Adam Haddow, director of architecture at award-winning firm SJB.
Victoria Judge, senior associate and co-interior design lead at SJB says Surry Hills Village sets a new residential benchmark for the southern end of Surry Hills.
“The residential offering is well-appointed, confident, luxe and bohemian. Smart enough to know what makes good living, and cool enough to hold its own amongst design-centric Surry Hills.”
Allan Vidor, managing director of Toga Group, adds that the penthouse is the quintessential jewel in the crown of Surry Hills Village.
“Bringing together a distinct design that draws on the beauty and vibrancy of Sydney; grand spaces and the finest finishes across a significant footprint, located only a stone’s throw away from the exciting cultural hub of Crown St and Surry Hills.”
Created to maximise views of the city skyline and parkland, the top floor apartment has a practical layout including a wide private lobby leading to the main living room, a sleek kitchen featuring Pietra Verde marble and a concealed butler’s pantry Sub-Zero Wolf appliances, full-height Aspen elm joinery panels hiding storage throughout, flamed Saville stone flooring, a powder room, and two car spaces with a personal EV.
All three bedrooms have large wardrobes and ensuites with bathrooms fittings such as freestanding baths, artisan penny tiles, emerald marble surfaces and brushed-nickel accents.
Additional features of the entertainer’s home include leather-bound joinery doors opening to a full wet bar with Sub-Zero wine fridge and Sub-Zero Wolf barbecue.
The Surry Hills Village precinct will open in stages until autumn next year and once complete, Wunderlich Lane will be home to a collection of 25 restaurants and bars plus wellness and boutique retail. The EVE Hotel Sydney will open later in 2024, offering guests an immersive experience in the precinct’s art, culture, and culinary offerings.
The Surry Hills Village penthouse on Baptist is now finished and ready to move into with marketing through Toga Group and inquiries to 1800 554 556.
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The grand harbourside residence combines sweeping Sydney Heads views, resort-style entertaining and refined designer finishes with a reported $36 million price guide.
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Media executive Hamish McLennan and his wife Lucinda have just listed their elegant Sydney harbourside mansion, with a price guide of $36 million.
Their luxurious four-bedroom family home in Darling Point is being offered through an expressions-of-interest campaign with the Ray White Double Bay duo Elliott Placks and Ashley Bierman.
McLennan, who is chairman of ARN and REA Group, incoming chairman of DroneShield, and a director at Light & Wonder, and his wife, Lucinda, are reportedly planning to downsize from the 771 sq m block.
Last traded in 2023 for $29.25 million, the McLennans purchased 19a Eastbourne Rd from Olympic gold medal-winning recruitment executive Mark Kerry and interior designer Lynda Kerry.
The Kerrys had engaged architect Andrew Barnyak to completely transform the Californian Mission-style property after buying it for $11 million in 2020.
In March this year, a neighbouring home at number 15 sold for $21 million. That 1920s five-bedroom residence had undergone a thorough renovation by owners Tasmin Johnson and bespoke tailor Patrick Johnson.
Apartment developer, Eduard Litver, sold his six-bedroom residence at 29 Eastbourne Rd in 2022 for $24 million. According to Cotality records, the street price record was set in 2017 when number 21 sold for $31.8m.
Positioned on the harbour side of Eastbourne Rd, the three-storey home at number 19a offers panoramic northerly views of the water from Manly to Sydney Heads. It has 687sq m of internal living space, including a dramatic central double-height void at the heart of the footprint.
The spacious ground floor features several large formal and informal living areas. Past the stately arched entrance way, the central void opens up above the dining and kitchen area, creating a mezzanine gallery level crowned by a grand illuminating skylight.
In the commercial-grade gas and marble kitchen, there is a vast eat-at island bench, a hidden butler’s pantry and high-end appliances.
The spacious lounge zone features a Jetmaster fireplace, a sunroom nook, a separate media room with another fireplace, and French doors opening to a long terrace overlooking the harbour.
At the same level, a guest bedroom has built-ins and an ensuite bath.
Upstairs, there are two bedrooms, including a large main suite with extensive walk-through wardrobes, a hotel-style ensuite featuring a freestanding tub with a view, and a terrace that spans the full width of the home.
On the lower level, a spacious family retreat opens onto another terrace. This area includes an informal rumpus room with a fireplace, a sandstone wine tasting room and cellar, a bedroom, and a bathroom.
Resort-style alfresco features include a heated swimming pool and spa, complemented by a barbecue cabana with its own cosy fireplace.
The Darling Point home has a long list of added extras with a lift to all three levels, a big family-friendly laundry, luxury detailing such as high coffered ceilings, timber floors, premium wallpaper, and natural limestone finishes, plus a lock-up garage.
Eastbourne Rd is close to Double Bay shops, the Double Bay Sailing Club, wharf, Steyne Park, Double Bay Public School, and transport.
On the market via an expressions of interest campaign with Ray White Double Bay, 19a Eastbourne Rd, Darling Point is expected to sell around $36 million.
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