Tycoon Nicho Teng to knock down spectacular $3.2 million home at Mitcham to build a grand chateau
It’s a dream home for most — but a leading entrepreneur is planning to demolish his amazing luxury $3.2 million house to build a French chateau.
- Nicho Teng’s company to build $300m West Franklin development
- Mr Teng runs Greaton, one of Adelaide's fastest-growing companies
- His company sponsors the Port Adelaide AFL team
- How the existing property was marketed before its sale
The wealthy South Australian tycoon who spent $3.2 million last year on a new luxury resort style property with one of the best views in Adelaide is planning to knock it down.
Nicho Teng, who migrated to Australia from China in 2011, has a proposal before Mitcham Council to demolish his spectacular property at 48 Carrick Hill Drive, Mitcham.
He plans to spend further millions to replace it with an incredible French chateau grand design.
The proposal involves the total demolition of the house completed less than 15 years ago, as well as a magnificent pool and entertainment area that was finalised just before the sale of the property in April, 2018.
The proposed home of more than 1000 square metres will be built on 7500 square metres of land formerly owned by bankrupt winemaker Andrew Garrett.
The managing director of the Chinese-backed development and investment group Greaton, Mr Teng first came to Adelaide from China to study at Glenunga International High School.
Speaking exclusively to The Advertiser, Mr Teng said Adelaide was his “hometown” and he intends to live here for “many years”.
“The house was built in 2004 and doesn’t really suit the landscape.” Mr Teng said.
“I bought it because it is a very good location. The conditions are very good to stay there many years.
“We haven’t changed the level of the house and we’re hoping to get approvals. I’m hoping this design will last longer.”
Mr Teng said he and his family were yet to move into the property, which sits adjacent to part of the Yurrebilla trail at the bottom of Brown Hill, as they had been making improvements and were currently living in the eastern suburbs.
“I don’t necessarily need to build now — just whenever we’re ready,” he added.
“I don’t think this is anything special — there are much bigger houses across the hillside.”
Mr Teng would not discuss the price to build his forever home in the French provincial style.
The main floor would incorporate a four-car garage, library, study, master bedroom
and five additional bedrooms, and a large living area with outdoor alfresco, large formal dining and tea room.
The basement space includes a music studio, store, gym, bathroom, theatre room, cellar and sauna. A spa and pool, along with a tennis court and various outdoor entertaining spaces, are also including within the proposal.
The entrepreneur founded Haneco Lighting in 2011 as a small direct-sales business in the leafy Adelaide suburb of Netley.
The company is now one of Australia’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of LED lighting, recording triple-digit growth since it began.
Greaton burst onto the Australian property scene in 2015 with the $300m West Franklin urban regeneration residential project, comprising 560 units, on the corner of Franklin, Elizabeth and Morphett streets in Adelaide’s West End.
Greaton is a partner with Wirra Wirra on a project to build the first five-star accommodation of scale in the McLaren Vale wine region and the first integrated winery resort of its type in South Australia.
The group is also at the front of the GPO project bringing the five-star Westin Hotel to the Adelaide CBD.
Greaton announced it was major player in Australia’s hotel and apartment sector this year with the purchase of The Ribbon, a $730 million hotel property to be built at Sydney’s Darling Harbour.
Nikki Coulls, who with her husband Peter bought the land from Mr Garrett for $650,000 in 2002, said she was “not altogether surprised” about Mr Teng’s plans.
“From the beginning he didn’t think the property was very private,” Ms Coulls told The Advertiser.
“He hasn’t really moved in from what we know.”
The Coulls, who have two teenage children, spent 10 years investing in the property on the “best home” they could on the “best block in Adelaide”.
“We headed up to the lookout and by chance saw the block was for sale, and we climbed the hill and there it was, the most beautiful view in Adelaide,” Mr Coulls said in an interview when the house was first for sale.
“From the first brick that was laid to the last, we always made sure that we didn’t cheapen the property. We are very proud.”
The Coulls family has purchased a luxury apartment as part of the Kodo project on Angas Street that they will move to this month.
Ms Coulls confirmed the expansive views from the 30th floor of the new apartment stretch all the way to Brown Hill and their old property.
The initial house build was controversial when it began in 2004 because the house is located entirely within the Hills Face Zone.
Local residents are opposing the new proposal on the basis they believe it is “non-compliant”.
Jonathon Freeman, who lives closest to the property directly across the road, said it was up to council to determine if the proposal meets “all rules and regulations”.
“It’s whether it is a fit and proper proposal for that site and we don’t think it is,” he said.
Next-door neighbour Christine Heard said the proposal was an “utter waste”.
“You buy a $3 million house and then you flatten it — it’s pretty remarkable,” she said.
“The house wasn’t built that long ago. They did themselves a disservice cutting down all those pine trees and now the hills face is very bare and everything will be on view.”
Mitcham Council is not opposing the proposal and says it “warrants development plan consent”.
It opposes the concerns of the residents on the basis the current residence is of “no value” to the locality, and there are no provisions in its Mitcham (City) Development Plan which “speak against the demolition of the existing dwelling”.
Ron Bellchambers from the Brownhill Creek Association said public access via the property to the Yurrebilla Trail and to the Mitcham Waterworks heritage site on the property must be maintained.
“The Yurrebilla trail sign has been pulled down and it’s been landscaped and concreted to make it look like a private driveway,” the community liaison officer said.
“It’s really difficult to understand the access to the trail. There must be clear access and signage to the trail and the heritage site.”
Lew Toop from Toop & Toop Real Estate, who sold the property and listed it as one of his favourites of 2018, was surprised to hear of the demolition proposal. “It’s a relatively new build and the pool area was brand new,” he said.
The Mitcham Council Assessment Panel will discuss the proposal on Thursday night.