THE SEASIDE APARTMENT THAT THINKS IT'S A HOUSE

For Sydneysiders attracted to the dual amenities of a beach location and city services, it is hard to imagine a better address than this apartment at Grande Esplanade, Manly.

Positioned across the road from the harbourside beach and Manly Wharf, this three-bedroom, two-bathroom property enjoys the ideal mix of privacy and accessibility to shops, restaurants and public transport, as well as being a stone’s throw from the water. Now on the market since the passing of the original owners, Ian and Dorothy Hales, who bought the apartment off the plan, it’s a rare opportunity for families, downsizers or professional couples with ‘work from home’ arrangements to achieve work/life balance in a covetable setting. The former owners found the property well suited to ageing in place, with indoor and outdoor living spaces to enjoy, as well as easy access.

With a generous 322sqm floorplan on title, the light-filled third floor apartment has direct access to shared gardens, which are maintained by building management, making the property feel more like a house. The former owners used the gardens to host family events, including a wedding during COVID, and it’s a great vantage point for watching the New Year’s Eve fireworks on the harbour.

With a $6 million price guide, it is sure to attract strong interest as a low maintenance, high amenity option.

Address: 303/54 West Esplanade, Manly

Auction: 10am February 25, 2023

Next inspection:

Price guide:

Agents: Jake Rowe 0414 612 546; Nathan Tse 0411 386 455 The Agency

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.

THE SEASIDE APARTMENT THAT THINKS IT’S A HOUSE

This property delivers on all the best bits of living in Sydney without the high maintenance

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