Bellevue Hill: Gabriel Kemeny’s plans for former Packer clan’s home
A liquor baron who bought a home from the Packer family in one of the most exclusive streets in Australia has unveiled stunning $9.5 million plans to knock it down and transform it into a stately mansion.
Wentworth Courier
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A liquor baron who bought a mansion which was subdivided off the Packer family compound in Bellevue Hill has lodged a $9.5 million development application to knock down and rebuild at the exclusive address.
Gabriel ‘Gabe’ Kemeny bought the Kambala Rd home, named Girrahween, from the late Kerry Packer for $2.66 million in 2001.
The Kemeny’s Food and Liquor managing director put it on the market in November last year after knocking back a $15 million offer from developer Daniel Grollo.
It was listed with Brad Pillinger but never sold.
Plans submitted to Woollahra Council include a meticulous arborist report and architectural drawings by Rob Mills to illustrate how the new five bedroom home will “wrap around” the mature Moreton Bay fig on the site.
In December 2006 Mr Kemeny faced the wrath of then Woollahra Mayor Keri Huxley who threatened to pursue him for $1 million in fines through the Land and Environment Court after he cut down the other 100 year old Moreton Bay fig near the pool without permission.
The court action never proceeded and a remorseful Mr Kemeny told The Daily Telegraph at the time he was a “tree hugger”.
He said he was told by an arborist the fig was unsafe two years prior but he was so reluctant to have the beautiful tree removed he ignored the advice to seek cut down permission until the situation became an “emergency”.
“To accommodate all three fig trees’ roots, as located by the arborist, the building was repositioned slightly towards the southeastern portion of the site,” read the documents for the new home.
It would appear the planned home is designed to house a sick resident as there are mentions of both a “nurses quarters” and a “treatment room”.
Other features of the stately proposal are Juliet balconies, several fireplaces, a lift, media room, library, games room, gym, sauna, multiple powder rooms and four onsite car parks.
The new two storey home will stand 9.33m tall which is compliant with local height regulations and lower than the current dwelling.
When Girrahween was owned by the Packers it is believed they allowed veteran journalist David McNicoll to live there until his death in 2000.
Mr Kemeny, a Woollahra resident, has never lived there.
His then university aged son was living in the home at the time of the tree incident and in more recent years, friend and retired pilot Ron Wilson occupied a handful of rooms in the now largely derelict house.
Mr Kemeny’s Bondi based, family owned business is Australia’s largest independent liquor retailer.
The Wentworth Courier reached out to Mr Kemeny, however he has yet to respond.
The neighbouring Packer compound, known as Cairnton, was established in 1935 when Sir Frank Packer bought the first property for just 7500 pounds.
The family residences now span 10 homes over 11,000 square metres.