Who’s buying, who’s selling?
A look behind the scenes of the region’s property market. By Jonathan Chancellor.
The Bath House Garden
Ben and Sue Bath have listed their Oakhampton Heights estate, known as The Bath House Garden.
The 1.4 hectare Forest Hill Drive property, near Maitland, comes with a $4.5 million to $4.95 million price guidance through McGrath Hunter Valley agent Chilli Bromage.
The property, which has been regularly open to the public, has a six-bedroom, three-bathroom house plus a guest house.
The property features an ornamental lake, Italian terrace, lawns, fountains, rose garden and lavender field, taking inspiration from Italian, English and French gardens.
There is also a table grape vineyard and stone fruit orchard.
The downsizing couple built the house and garden from scratch over the past 22 years.
It featured recently on Better Homes and Gardens after a visit from veteran gardener Graham Ross.
“You can tell at first glance that this is really a stunning garden,” he told the Channel 7 viewers.
“Just by the way the plants approach and envelop this beautiful country home.
“It is a magical landscape,” Ross said.
“We work together as a team …. we compliment each other ….. I am the bobcat and Sue is the more delicate,” Ben told Graham.
19 Wrightson Avenue, Bar Beach
An Art Deco, Spanish Mission style Bar Beach trophy home has found its third owner after being relisted recently with a reduced asking price, seeking $4.4 million.
Natalie Tonks and Paula Ashcroft of Presence Newcastle secured the Wrightson Avenue sale at an undisclosed sale price. It had been listed with other agents who had sought $5.25 million last year.
Built in the 1930s, the five-bedroom house has undergone restoration and sympathetic renovations by architect Ian Easton, with interiors by Debra McKendry Hunt.
With rear and upper extensions, the property is adorned with intricate four-leaf clover and barley twist columns, arched leadlight windows, ornate fireplaces, and decorative ceilings.
Some standout rooms include the office, library, and its preserved pink and green Art Deco bathroom complete fish mouth taps. There is a modern kitchen and an open plan living and dining area which opens out onto a Mediterranean-inspired garden with built-in oven and a pool.
Set on 602 sqm, the property has landscaping by Ian Moir.
It last sold for $575,000 in 2001.
Somerford
Somerford, a Whitebridge estate has been listed for sale through Jackson Morgan and Brooke Degotardi of Belle Property who have $5 million to $5.5 million price guidance.
Located on Burwood Road, the house has five-bedrooms and five-bathrooms. There are dual kitchens, media room, home office and two double garages.
Set on 9,995 sqm of landscaped grounds encircled by bushland, the gardens feature a pool with spa, amid established fruit trees.
It last sold for $3.85 million in 2019.
12 Jesson Parade, Warners Bay
A contemporary Warners Bay trophy home with sweeping Lake Macquarie views has sold prior to its recent scheduled auction for $2.7 million through Mathew and Brooke Iuliano of Mavis Property Co.
Located at 12 Jesson Parade, the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home by Doring Design was completed in 2022 with a wood heavy facade including timber posts salvaged from a Sydney Harbour wharf.
Much of the home features handcrafted custom finishes ranging from Blackbutt cabinetry, cladding, and flooring to the wardrobes and master ensuite.
There are three separate living areas spread across the home’s two levels, with a covered deck leading to a magnesium pool and an upstairs terrace with a built-in barbecue.
Set on a 841 sqm landscaped parcel with dual street access close to the lake, the property also boasts a rooftop solar system.
115-117 King Street, Newcastle
A piece of Newcastle history, a residential conversion of the inner-city fire station, has been listed for sale through Kate Rundle of Walkom Real Estate.
Located at 115 – 117 King Street, the property comprises a loft style residence above ground floor commercial space.
Designed in 1899 by architect Frederick Menkens, winning a heritage architectural award in 2018 after its conversion designed by CKDS.
The home comprises four bedrooms across two levels with a study, home office, balcony and a large terrace at the rear overlooking a plunge pool.
There is a commercial lease in place.
The property last changed hands for $440,000 in 2003.
The price guide for 115-117 King Street, Newcastle is $3.5 million to $3.8 million.
Naracoorte
Naracoorte, a sprawling Moonan Flat farm fronting both sides of the Hunter River has been listed by the Polin family with $11.5 million to $13.5 million hopes through Michael Burke of McGrath.
Located along Hunter Road, the 1,600 hectare angus cattle farm has six subdivisible riverfront lots, each with a dwelling entitlement.
The main 589 hectare holding comes with a 500 sqm four-bedroom homestead, designed by architects H20 and interiors styled by Adelaide Bragg.
The land with 36 dams ranges from fertile alluvial valley floors to arable sloping grazing country flanked by timbered hills.
10/55-59 Magnus Street, Nelson Bay
A sub-penthouse in Magnus, the luxury Nelson Bay apartment complex has just been sold for a record $2.95 million through Bonnie and Jake Roosendaal of Raine & Horne.
Located on Magnus Street, the five-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment is set on the fourth floor boasting 270 views of the water.
Spanning 482 sqm internally, the sub-penthouse comprises three living areas, a covered balcony that encircles half the dwelling and an additional open balcony on the opposite side.
The apartment comes with a three-car garage plus storage.
The Magnus offers residents access to an internal pool, communal rooms and car wash bay.
The apartment last sold for $1.5 million in 2016, below the $1.6 million it fetched in 2015.
The highest priced sale in the tightly held complex had been $2.4 million in 2021 for a four-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment.
Read more in our Summer Edition of Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine or subscribe here.
