Shark Arm Murder mystery link disputed in development application for luxury Sydney Harbour home

A DEVELOPMENT application for a luxury Sydney harbourside home on a heritage listed site has played down historical links to the infamous 1930s Shark Arm Murder case.

A PROPERTY’S link to the grisly Shark Arm Murder mystery is being disputed as the owner pushes to transform it into a luxurious trophy home.

The private site — 1 Henry Lawson Ave — sits at the water’s edge in the middle of a public park in McMahons Point on Sydney’s north shore.

It boasts one of the best viewing points for Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks as well as an apparent history straight from the pages of a crime thriller.

But while North Sydney Council acknowledges the home’s links to the infamous murder on its heritage list, a separate heritage report lodged with the development application disputes the association.

The tale began on Anzac Day in 1935 when a tiger shark coughed up a human arm in a Coogee aquarium.

It belonged to bankrupt builder and small-time criminal James Smith and was identified through fingerprints and by Smith’s wife Gladys and his brother Edward who recognised his tattoo.

The tiger shark at the centre of the mystery.

Forensic examination revealed the arm had not been chewed off by the shark but had been severed by a knife and a murder investigation ensued.

The police spotlight shone on wealthy boatbuilder Reginald Holmes who had employed Smith to work insurance scams on cruisers. It is claimed in a heritage listing for the site that Holmes lived at 1 Henry Lawson Avenue.

Holmes and Smith also worked a racket with convicted forger Patrick Brady who became the main suspect after it was established that the murdered man had been drinking with Brady at the time he went missing.

Holmes intitally denied he knew Brady but, before police could question him, he tried to shoot himself.

Boatbuilder Reginald Holmes was one of the casualties of the case.

After the failed attempt he told police that he was being blackmailed by the two men and that Brady told him he had thrown Smith’s body into the sea.

On the morning of the inquest Holmes was found shot dead in his car. The case remains unsolved but is back in the spotlight with the current development plans the harbourside property.

The development application proposes demolishing the existing building and restoring the adjoining slipway as part of a $1.75 million project.

A portrait of James Smith whose arm was regurgitated by a captive shark.

It would see the construction of a four-storey building with a boat repair workshop on the ground level and a dwelling above.

The site is on North Sydney Council’s heritage list and official documents reference the murder.

“In the 1930s, Reginald Holmes was, while resident in this house, associated (to an unknown degree) in events surrounding the famous ‘Shark Arm Murder’ Case.

“Nothing was established but Reginald Holmes was found shot to death in his car during the latter stages of the police inquiry,” it reads.

Finger print expert William Thomas.

Detective Manion worked on the case.

However, a heritage report lodged with the DA claims there is no recorded link to the Holmes family during the 1930s and “little if any” physical evidence of a relationship with the Shark Arm Murder.

“The site of the former Coogee Palace Aquarium where the shark regurgitated the tattooed arm has a far stronger association with this cold case,” it reads.

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The property has a spectacular view of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Picture: Adam Ward

The heritage listing describes a simple rectangular gable roofed building of brick, weatherboard, fibro and rolled metal sheet cladding.

And it also references an early 20th century slipway adjacent to the house which runs into a corrugated iron skillion roofed shelter.

The owner David Wilkenfeld told the Mosman Daily that the buildings themselves are not heritage listed but that the slipways and sea wall are.

“All heritage items are to be meticulously restored and maintained,” he said.

“We have taken great care to design the building in keeping with the heritage significance of the property and for the purpose of restoring the heritage components of the property for the benefit of the public.”

Mr Wilkenfeld owns the property with his wife and is the grandson of the founder of the Bloch ballet company. He bought the site in 2009 and hopes to live there with his family.

The application has also peaked the interest of concerned citizen Paul Hawker who thinks this could be the State Government’s chance to buy the land.

Paul Hawker wants to start a public debate about the property. Picture: Adam Ward

Mr Hawker said he did not have a problem with the owner’s plans for the site but that the Government should “look at giving it back to the people”.

“It’s like having a small house on the Opera House forecourt. It’s that iconic an area. It’s a rare thing.

“I don’t begrudge them to improve it. To me that’s not the issue.

“It’s the place it sits on, should that be private land?,” he asked.

Mr Wilkenfeld said the Government had the right to compulsorily acquire the site but had not elected to do so in the past 40 years.

A spokesman for Environment and Heritage Minister Mark Speakman said the Government had no plans to buy the property.

The Mosman Daily has contacted both Mr Wilkenfeld and North Sydney Council for comment on the Shark Arm Murder connection.

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