Revealed: A $70m “fixer upper” in one of Australia’s richest suburbs
A once-grand Vaucluse estate with knockout harbour views and a legacy as remarkable as its outlook hits the market for $70 million.
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The mid-century mansion at 38 Vaucluse Rd might not have the same street presence as its glamorous neighbours, but the $70m “fixer upper” still has all the right ingredients to be an enviable eastern suburbs estate.
If the old adage is true – and it’s all about location – then this 1400sq m dual access parcel with postcard views of the Harbour City’s heavy-hitter icons actually has it all.
With the Harbour Bridge and Opera House at centre stage, the outlook propels the listing into its multi-million dollar category, but the owners are also a talking point.
The original five-bedroom residence has been the home of 98-year-old philanthropist Isaac Wakil and his late wife, Susan, for the past 65 years.
Although the perfectly positioned Vaucluse home with the hefty price tag is impressive enough, the one-time high society couple have a history of making headlines with their rundown, yet eye-watering, portfolio.
For decades, the duo held onto several abandoned, but enviably placed properties, including the iconic Griffiths Teas building in Surry Hills and the Terminus Hotel in Pyrmont.
After building their wealth in the garment industry and then property, the pair, who had no children, began selling off their real estate in 2014. The huge cache of properties earned more than $200m, which all went to charity.
They donated millions to The Art Gallery of NSW, Opera Australia, St Vincent’s Hospital and the Sydney Jewish Museum. In 2016, the couple handed a record $35 million to The University of Sydney through the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation.
With their Vaucluse residence expected to be a “knockdown”, it could be the most expensive “land” sale in Sydney.
Despite predictions it could be bulldozed, the listing through Ray White Double Bay’s Elliott Placks and Riki Tawhara, depicts “grand interiors waiting modern refurbishment” and describes the homes as offering “character of a bygone era”.
As is, the unique two-storey house has a ground floor dedicated to everyday living and entertaining with a full-width balcony capturing the show-stopping outlook, a formal dining room, library, office, and three bedrooms, including a main with the landmark view and an ensuite.
The same level also houses two full bathrooms, a powder room and a garage.
Downstairs, there is an original kitchen and vast rumpus room with a bar and French doors opening onto a grand terrace, a level lawn with established palm trees, and a huge swimming pool facing the sweeping harbour panorama.
The property, which also has access to Carrara Rd, has two more lock-up garages below and is close to Hermitage Foreshore track, harbour beaches, and Kambala School.
Listed with Elliott Placks and Riki Tawhara of Ray White Double Bay, inspections for 38 Vaucluse Rd, Vaucluse are by pre-arranged private appointment.
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A landmark Sandy Bay estate with deep history, riverfront position and resort-style grounds returns to market with record-breaking ambitions.
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Sentosa in Hobart has already spent its time in the history books, but now the historic estate in Sandy Bay is set to shine again.
The period home, which sits on a large 2300 square metres riverfront block, made headlines in 2017 when the then century-old mansion sold for a Tasmanian record of $6.5 million.
Fast forward to 2026 and the 1917 trophy home is returning to the market with $15 million expectations – a figure that could set a brand new price benchmark for the Apple Isle.
Owned by Sydney investors, Piers Dawson-Damer and his partner Kim, Sentosa has been used as a Tassie holiday home for almost a decade. The pair bought the riverside residence from locals Wendy and Barry Turnbull, who had paid $815,000 for it in 1993.
The current sale is expected to easily eclipse Hobart’s record, which stands at $8.5 million. That benchmark was set when Point Piper-based Taswegian, financier Greg Woolley, bought historic Waimea House in 2011.
Interestingly, Woolley took the keys to Waimea House – also in Sandy Bay – from the Dawson-Damers, who themselves had paid a then-record of $6.06 million.
Co-agents, Forbes Global Properties directors Tracey Atkins and Robert Fletcher, are tasked with marketing Sentosa.
“Sentosa has been set up perfectly by its interstate owners to serve as a top-tier second home, with state-of-the-art automation, technology and security now in place that allow it to be run seamlessly from anywhere in the world,” Fletcher said, adding that the unique Hobart home has been turning heads since it landed online this week
“There is no question it merits attention locally and internationally – it is a true Tasmanian trophy.”
Taking its name from the Malay word for “peace and tranquility”, Sentosa is once of the city’s most iconic properties. Even early Australian aviator Charles Kingsford-Smith reportedly visited the estate when he honeymooned in Hobart with his second wife Mary in 1931.
With 270-degree views of the Derwent River and mountain backdrop, the house on Blinking Billy Point has given its owners a front-row seat to the final sprints of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Now fully renovated, the arts and crafts era house has been restored to its former glory.
Fletcher said the Dawson-Damers wanted to respect the home’s heritage while updating the five-bedroom house for modern living.
The result is a blend of classic craftsmanship and modern luxury, all with a strong connection to the water.
There are many restored original details, like ornate cornices, lead-light windows, fireplaces, and intricate fretwork.
The renovation has also added several modern touches, including a new central staircase, updated joinery, sleek bathrooms, and an entertainer’s kitchen. Other modern features of the Sandy Bay home include advanced home automation and CCTV security.
Living areas include both formal and casual spaces, plus there is a grand main bedroom suite, all designed to capture uninterrupted views of the river and ranges.
Outside, the estate offers resort-style amenities, including landscaped gardens by award-winning designer Paul Bangay, with European-inspired green spaces, a statement water fountain, level lawns, and sandstone terraces.
Additionally, there is a fully equipped boat shed with a slipway right on the water’s edge.
Sentosa is close to beaches, popular schools, large parks, and Hobart’s CBD.
Sentosa at 650 Sandy Bay Rd, Sandy Bay is listed with price hopes of $15 million through an expressions of interest campaign with Forbes Global Properties agents Robert Fletcher and Tracey Atkins.
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