Iconic Brisbane home built by entrepreneur James Penny for sale
An iconic five-storey house on the Brisbane River built by a flamboyant entrepreneur is about to hit the market. TAKE A TOUR
Lifestyle
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The iconic five-storey house on the Brisbane River built by flamboyant entrepreneur James Penny is about to hit the market, with high hopes it could set a new record sale price for the city.
The man behind Breakfast Creek Wharf, The Island party boat and Savoir Faire in Milton’s Park Road is well-known for hosting famous parties at the huge property in his heyday in the 1980s.
The 2110sq m riverfront site in Hawthorne was originally owned by former Brisbane Lord Mayor Clem Jones, best known for turning the city from a sleepy Bush Capital to the modern city it is today.
Mr Penny purchased it in 1985 and built a six-bedroom, six-bathroom home, boasting roof decks, gazebos, a waterfall, a swimming pool, a tennis court, a sauna, two spas, a private guest wing and a three-level aviary.
Now for sale for the first time in 23 years, the luxury lexicon at 154 Virginia Avenue is still as grand as ever after a major $2.2 million makeover by its current owner, retired doctor and board games creator Peter Hawes.
Mr Hawes admits he has poured his life savings into the renovation of the home, which still features a distinct, arched dome that is clearly recognisable to passers-by from the river.
The once colourful house has been repainted white inside and out, the floors redone in brushed European limestone tiles, and the driveway gutted and replaced with a new concrete slab and then covered in Montana stone all the way from the United States.
All five levels have large, curved balconies and there are views from almost every room.
The open-plan living and dining area hosts a modern kitchen, equipped with the latest Miele appliances, including a steam oven/microwave, a pyrolytic oven, a slow cooker/warming drawer and a six-plate induction cooktop.
With a massive 27.5m of river frontage, the pontoon area became the home berth for Cricket star Jeff Thompson’s charter boat named “Queenslander”, which used to take sightseers and partygoers up and down the Brisbane River for many years.
That’s now home to a sprawling, resort style pool area, including an 80,000 litre pool with a waterfall, undercover day beds, a barbecue and casual lounge, a self-contained pool house, a jetty and a private beach.
The property also features a championship-sized tennis court with a Balinese-inspired viewing deck, a large games room, and a home gym.
There’s a temperature-controlled wine cellar, lined in natural limestone, which has a Eurocave wine display system which can hold 900 bottles, protected by a double-glazed, argon gas-filled glass door.
But the hero of the home would have to be the rooftop entertaining terrace, featuring a wine-tasting area, bar and party area, boasting 360-degree views.
The property is listed for sale with Dwight Ferguson of Ray White Ascot.
