Manly: Plan to knock down $13m late 1930s home to make way for modern mansion in Bower St
A $13m old 1930s English style house in an exclusive street in Manly is set to demolished for a modern home — but not all the surrounding millionaire homeowners are happy.
Manly
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Plans for a new trophy mansion on one of Manly’s most exclusive streets has reignited concerns among millionaire neighbours.
The 1930s Bower St property which last changed hands for $13m in June 2018, came with DA approval for a knockdown and rebuild of a “very modern, very large house” with a pool overlooking Shelly Beach.
The latest DA for a two storey home with a third level built below ground level was submitted by new owner Justine Acret, wife of Smartline mortgage broking franchise co-founder Chris Acret, on April 1.
The $3.6m project is for a three bed home with a rumpus, study, TV room and open plan lounge, kitchen and diner with views looking out across a pool and ocean.
The master bedroom boasts his and her walk through wardrobes and an ensuite bathroom, with the bath taking in the spectacular vista.
However, previous DAs for the site have attracted concerns about height and loss of views from several neighbours on the high side of the road, as well as the loss of a “prominent heritage landmark”.
Former Manly councillor Hugh Burns, who lives on the other side of the road, said he had objected to a previous DA for the site which was subsequently approved and said he would be objecting again to the new DA.
He said the building was a prominent heritage landmark in upper Bower St and in his opinion a rare example of late art deco gothic architecture and possibly the only one of its kind in Manly.
He said “historically it was a very fine facade” and it would be a shame to pull it down, although he acknowledged it wasn’t to everyone’s taste and that it was currently covered by creeper.
A heritage report compiled for the property found it to be executed in the English vernacular style, “which was going out of fashion by the time of its construction” believed to be in the late 1930s, early 1940s.
It found the interior to display introduced art deco features.
Another neighbour Peter Trueman wrote in a submission to Northern Beaches Council that he was “deeply suspicious” about the DA in regards to height, but when contacted by the Manly Daily he said his fears had been allayed and he was no longer objecting.
Mr Burns lamented that the street and the type of residents had changed massively since he moved there in 1983 and it was now populated by “very wealthy people” who like to build “very modern, very large houses”.
Neighbours include Seven’s chief executive Tim Worner and previous residents include former motorcycle champ Wayne Gardner, swimming legend Kieran Perkins and the late NSW premier Robert Askin.
“The street has changed around us,” Mr Burns said.
“When we came here it had old and new buildings.
“It was a nice street, not a stupid street in terms of prices.
“Now we have very wealthy people that want to build very large houses.
“There’s been rather a change of scene here.”
Neighbours have until May 4 to submit any objections.
The Manly Daily has approached Mrs Acret’s architects to seek a comment from her.