Answered prayers? Vaucluse property with heavenly views sells for about $9.3 million
The prayers of a former Anglican church in Sydney have finally been answered as the mid-century building that was on the market for the third time in three years has found new buyers.
Melbourne-based Daniel Schwartz, of the Schwartz family who are powerful players in property development, finance and publishing, and his wife Uschi have revealed themselves as the buyers of the approximately 2000-square-metre-block after lodging a caveat on the property.
The former Vaucluse Anglican church looks set to become a landmark family home. Credit: Ray White Double Bay
And the new owners look set to take advantage of its elevation and space to transform it into a family home.
It is thought to have sold for $9.3 million through Alan Fettes of Ray White Double Bay, who would not be drawn on the sale which was run through an expression of interest campaign since February.
The rare circa 1965 property, designed by architect Don Gazzard, has a development application approved to transform the run down church, which has water views thanks to the current height of up to 12 metres at its peak, into a residential home.
The former church has been waiting for a new owner to give it a facelift.Credit:
But it is not clear if Danny (as he is known), director of Main Properties, and Uschi, who are planning to relocate to Sydney, will use the approved DA or draw up their own plans for the heritage site.
Danny Schwartz’s brother Morry Schwartz is also a property developer and the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper.
It will be the third owner the church has gone through since 2018 when John and Phillip Townsend of Nord Sud Pty Ltd bought the property for $5.8 million. They submitted plans worth almost $5.3 million to transform the building into a five-bedroom luxury home.
The Townsends tried to sell it at auction in 2021, but it passed in on a vendor’s bid at $10 million. If not for the heritage constraints on the church, it was thought the property might have fetched in excess of $20 million for its location and land size.
But the property changed hands once more in 2022 when Brent Lobel, of Spacers Australia Pty Ltd, which is an Australian manufacturer of steel mesh supports, bought the property for $6 million from the Townsends. Here’s to a third time lucky.
Southern Highlands acreage
The historic Southern Highlands acreage known as Knoyle Estate in Burradoo has hit the market with a guide of $11 million.
The grand 31-bedroom property, which covers a sprawling 4.54 hectares, was initially built in the 1880s as a country retreat for Charles Burton Fairfax, a grandson of John Fairfax, who founded The Sydney Morning Herald.
In 1943, the Sacred Heart order of nuns bought the property for £7600 for use as a junior boarding school, and it was renamed Kerever Park in honour of Mother Alix de Kerever.
The historic Southern Highlands estate has hit the market with a guide of $11 million.
It was bought for $3.685 million in 2017 by antique dealers Gary and Maryanne Nolan, who reinstated its original name, Knoyle Estate, and carried out an extensive restoration.
This will be the third time it has been offered to the market since 2021 and a range of buyers are swirling, including high-net worth individuals, Sydney-based families who want to use it as a weekender, those who value its history, as well as investors who hope to turn it into a commercial operation of sorts such as a venue for wellness retreats and short-term stays, according to selling agent Nathan Berlyn of Knight Frank.
Staying with 1800s homes on sprawling acreage, Srdjan Dangubic, partner at private equity firm Five V Capital, has emerged as the buyer of a lush 53-hectare property in Jerrara, known as Jenera Vale, for $9.3 million.
The holiday home purchase is quite the step up for the 39-year-old North Bondi local, who paid a fraction of that price for his family home in Sydney at $4,705,000 in 2019.
Jenera Vale was snapped up by Srdjan Dangubic for $9.3 million.Credit:
It is also a huge sum for the region as the property last sold for a mere $720,000 in 1995.
The property sold through Neil Campbell of Ray White Gerringong who declined to comment on the sale.
Downsizers on the move
Back in Sydney, former NSW Liberal deputy leader Jillian Skinner and her husband Chris are hoping to downsize from their long-term family home in Cremorne, which is back on the market for $5 million.
The Skinners’ long-time home in Cremorne has a price guide of $5 million.Credit:
The 78-year-old, who retired from politics in 2017 after serving for more than two decades, including as health minister for the Baird government, and her husband earlier tried to sell the Federation home to no avail.
The Skinners bought the property for just $64,150 in 1976 when Christopher was a naval officer, records show.
It is being sold through Jonathon De Brennan of De Brennan Property.
Renowned artist and gallery owners Christa and Charles Billich are also hoping to move on from their home of 30 years, a three-bedroom penthouse in Darlinghurst.
The Billich family has listed their Darlinghurst penthouse that has views of the city.Credit:
While there is no guide on the property that is covered in artworks and has views to Manly and The Heads from its wraparound terrace, selling agent Mark Foy of McGrath Surry Hills is welcoming market feedback.
The home was built in 1984 and last traded for $575,000 in 1991.