Affordable housing boss sells clifftop mansion ‘in the high $20 millions’

Lisa Scoble, director of Bungalow Co, a shared housing company in Sydney, has sold her architecturally designed Coogee mansion for a figure in the high $20 million range, local sources say.

Despite being below the $35 million guide, the sale would surpass the suburb record of $20 million achieved in 2024 when the penthouse at Ballamac House was bought off the plan.

A sold sticker went up on the listing for Scoble’s home, indicating a sale before auction on November 6, with the price withheld. Settlement will reveal the exact price and buyer’s identity.

Bungalow Co offers fully furnished rooms for rent across the city from Bexley to Bondi from $200 a week.

Scoble purchased the existing house on the clifftop site for $6.9 million in 2011, records show. Architect Renato D’Ettorre and interior designer Belinda Brown were enlisted for the multi-level, five-bedroom, six-bathroom rebuild above the cliffs of Gordons Bay.

A whitewashed facade is reminiscent of Aegean Islands architecture and perforated brickwork filters sunlight. There is a Verdi Alpi marble kitchen, a gym and steam room, music room, cellar, infinity pool, self-contained studio and uninterrupted ocean vistas.

Scoble told this masthead during the property campaign that she was familiar with architect D’Ettorre’s work, particularly on Queensland’s Hamilton Island, and gave him scope to work his magic.

“You really go on a journey throughout the home with its various spaces and enormous range of views,” she said. “It’s bittersweet to sell, but it’s the classic time to downsize.”

Like many grand-scale residential projects, Scoble said the construction process was not always smooth sailing. “It was a really lengthy time with approvals, particularly dealing with the potential view losses from other residents in the area.”

Michael Pallier, James Ball and Nicholas Wise of Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty sold Scoble’s home and declined to comment on any aspect of the sale when contacted.

Former ASX exec cashes in

Former ASX listings boss Blair Beaton and his wife Michelle have sold their waterfront home in Mosman for $17.5 million as they plan to downsize, this masthead can reveal.

Records show the couple bought the five-bedroom, four-bathroom house with an infinity pool, deck and terraces, designed by architect Patrick Nicholas, for $9.5 million in 2018, and embarked on a renovation including a new Caesarstone chef’s kitchen.

There are entertaining zones with uninterrupted views over Middle Harbour to The Heads, a home office, media room and powder room with limestone finishes. The abode is one of only a handful in the area with private beach access.

Settlement will reveal the buyer’s identity as Adrian Bridges of Raine & Horne Mosman, who sold the property alongside Luke Arnold, was tightlipped about the buyer but confirmed the sale.

Bridges said of the sale price: “This result demonstrates strong buyer demand and a willingness to compete to secure rare and unique properties.

“Beachfront homes along [this street] are tightly held, with opportunities of this calibre rarely coming to market.”

Mr Beaton stepped down as ASX group executive (listings) in June last year after being appointed to the role in August 2022. He joined the ASX in 2017 as chief strategy officer.

Vendor seeks new reno project

An apartment in Double Bay once owned by former Little River Band frontman Glenn Shorrock is on the market with a price guide of $20 million.

Current vendor Michele Haifer told this masthead she is selling and is ready for her next project, having extensively renovated the property for sale and others in the past.

Records show Haifer bought the three-bedroom, four-bathroom unit from Shorrock and his former wife Joan for $8.45 million in 2020. The waterfront residence has a new contemporary kitchen, parquetry floors and an elegant bathroom with a chandelier in the main bedroom.

Ms Haifer is well versed in buying and selling property. She and her former husband Glenn Haifer, a medical entrepreneur, sold their half-completed home Deauville in Point Piper for $39 million in 2017 to Rich Lister and luxury car importer Neville Crichton and his stylist wife Nadi Hasandedic.

The Haifers bought the 1935-built, Mediterranean-inspired residence for $13.5 million in 2012. Approved DA plans lodged with council from 2013 to 2015 reveal alterations and additions to the existing dwelling, a new pool and boatshed, an extension of the basement level and reconfigured floor plan, with landscaping.

Crichton and Hasandedic enlisted Blainey North and her team to reimagine the property into a multi-level, five-bedroom, seven-bathroom home with French Riviera-inspired design notes.

Crichton and Hasandedic have since listed the property with a price guide of $85 million to $90 million through Ken Jacobs and Martin Ross of Forbes Global Properties. The new owner will be neighbours with former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Pauline Goodyer of Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty is selling Ms Haifer’s apartment.

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