Ex-Goldman Sachs bigwig, Ku-ring-gai deputy mayor list $12m Wahroonga home

Former Goldman Sachs real estate investment banking head Simon Wheatley and his wife Ku-ring-gai Council deputy mayor Kim have listed their stunning house in the blue ribbon suburb of Wahroonga with a guide of $12 million.

The five-bedroom, five-bathroom house set on more than 2320 square metres has just undergone a major transformation, expanding on the original 1914 cottage.

The Wheatleys have just finished a major transformation of their heritage-listed Wahroonga property.Credit:

Positioned in one of the most prestigious streets in the suburb, the recently renovated property blends Hamptons elegance with the warmth of a Colorado ski lodge. The home now boasts a long list of features, including a gym, a steam room and a state-of-the-art 600-bottle cellar and a rear deck overlooking the 16-metre pool and the private grounds.

The Wheatleys purchased the heritage-listed home, known as Te Whare, in 2019 for $2.58 million from the family of the late Australian journalist Alfred Francis James where he lived until he died in 1992. James, who was a lifelong friend of Gough Whitlam, was renowned for his imprisonment in China in 1969 on suspicion he was a spy.

It was only after a tick of approval from the NSW Land and Environment Court in 2021 when the Wheatleys were able to expand on the cottage, turning it into a luxury two-level property that spans 690 square metres of living space.

Ku-ring-gai councillor and deputy mayor Kim Wheatley.Credit: Brook Mitchell

Simon, who was the head of real estate investment banking for Goldman Sachs in Australia and New Zealand, is now a director and founding partner of Carpe Diem Partners. The company specialises in property funds management. Kim was first elected to Ku-ring-gai Council in 2021 then elected as deputy mayor last year. The councillors voted unanimously to oppose a state government plan for increased density in the area but proposed their own alternative plan.

Their property is scheduled to go to auction on Saturday, April 26. It is being sold through Lynette Malcolm and William Zhang of DiJones Upper North Shore.

Another banker trades

Meanwhile, founding partner of Australian financial services outfit Barrenjoey Gavin Buchanan and his wife Janelle are trading their Bellevue Hill home with a price guide of $16 million.

Located in one of the most in demand streets of the suburb, the property is set on 720 square metres of land and has panoramic views of the harbour, Royal Sydney Golf Club and the ocean.

The Buchanans purchased the Bellevue Hill property for $6.35 million.Credit:

The elevated five-bedroom, four-bathroom house spans three storeys with level lift access and is nearby to Bellevue Road’s village shops and cafes.

The Buchanans purchased the property more than 10 years ago for $6.35 million, under Janelle’s name, after offloading their Bronte pad for $3 million earlier that year.

Before joining Barrenjoey as a group chief financial officer and group treasurer, Gavin was deputy chief financial officer and group treasurer at Challenger where he spent almost 14 years.

Barrenjoey’s Gavin BuchananCredit:

The Zimbabwe-born 55-year-old has more than 25 years of experience in investment banking and wealth management gained in a range of companies, including Barclays and UBS.

It is scheduled to go to auction on Wednesday, May 7.

McMahon’s Point waterfront up for sale again

The former home of renowned boatbuilder Bill Barnett in McMahon’s Point is back on the market after it traded just eight years ago for $8.3 million.

The two-bedroom, two-bathroom has been untouched since Francesco Fonte and his wife Aurora purchased it. The couple have turned their suburban cleaning business into a multimillion dollar facilities services provider, Assetlink.

Bill Barnett’s former home and boatshed at McMahon’s Point.Credit:

While there is no price guide because of the property’s uniqueness, the original waterfront is expected to sell above $10 million as it was the last available waterfront in the suburb when it came onto the market eight years ago and is the same case again today.

Records show Barnett bought the property in 1941 for £300 from milkman Henry Kent. Barnett’s home and boatshed soon followed and from there he established his business and reputation.

The 700-square-metre property comes complete with a boatshed built in 1941 by Barnett himself where he crafted champion yachts, including two America’s Cup challengers.

It is being sold through an expressions of interest campaign with a forthcoming auction to be set by Christian Percuoco of Belle Property Crows Nest.

Hawkesbury weekender

Former Weekend Sunrise host Matt Doran and his wife Nine’s Today executive producer Kendall Bora are set to list their stunning Berowra Waters weekender with a guide of $3 million.

The Hawkesbury River waterfront home has been redesigned by Tamsin Johnson.Credit:

Known as Sunny Corner Cottage, the four-bedroom, two-bathroom Hawkesbury River waterfront home next to the famous Peats Bite has had a complete Tamsin Johnson-redesign since the couple purchased it for $1.75 million in 2021.

The couple, who are relocating overseas, rent the boat-access-only home for $1200 a night on Airbnb and it has been featured in Belle Magazine as ‘one of Australia’s most luxurious houses.’

It’s being sold through Zakir Abdallaoui of Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty.