Revealed: The secret buyers behind Qld’s 40 biggest home sales of the year
It’s been a record-breaking financial year for residential property in Queensland. These are the biggest home sales and the buyers who splashed hundreds of millions of dollars. SEE THE LIST.
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IT WILL be remembered as the year Brisbane broke new ground in its quest to become a global property powerhouse, with never-before-seen prices achieved for real estate as the country’s ultra-rich swooped on the city.
Short supply and ‘play money’ from eager cash buyers in the billionaires’ club is continuing to drive the sale of prestige property, despite 10 interest rate rises, soaring construction costs, and an increase in the cost of living.
Both Brisbane’s house and apartment records were smashed in the 2023 financial year, and the top 40 sales across the state were all above $8m — totalling a combined $562m.
The big spending buyers include the boss of Domino’s Pizza, a yoghurt magnate, a socialite, the founder of F45, and a craft beer brewer.
After a short correction in the latter half of last year, the housing market bounced back with a bang at the start of 2023, with a riverfront penthouse in New Farm selling for a new all-time high price of $16.52m.
That sale created a ripple effect that resulted in a string of unprecedented apartment sales over $12m, with the square metre price of off-the-plan sales soaring to a record of almost $35,000/sqm.
A few months later and elusive $20m house price ceiling was shattered when a historic riverfront home at 101 Welsby St, New Farm, fetched $20.5m.
Matt Lancashire of Ray White The Collective, who negotiated the sale, settled $275m worth of residential sales this financial year.
“Brisbane is where it’s at,” Mr Lancashire said. “The top end of Brisbane has held up stronger than we would have ever anticipated.
“Of the 6023 buyers we met during the past 12 months, 50 per cent were local while the remainder were based interstate or overseas, which is hardly surprising given data shows Queensland is experiencing the largest net crossborder increase of any state or territory.”
Simon Caulfield of Place Estate Agents, who negotiated a number of Brisbane’s biggest apartment sales this year, said he had noticed a significant change in the market in the past six months.
.“Demand for Brisbane’s ultra-luxury market is at an all-time high, where $10m is no longer the ceiling price,” Mr Caulfield said.
“We’ve obviously seen a significant shift in what buyers are prepared to invest in for their own principal place of residence and there’s no longer this fear or concern around overcapitalising.”
Amir Mian of Amir Prestige Group, who negotiated the Gold Coast’s biggest sale of the financial year, said he had never been busier.
“There are so many people moving up here,” Mr Mian said. “There’s so much appetite for our beautiful beaches, our beautiful hinterland, our beautiful boating lifestyle, our beautiful golfing lifestyle.”
QUEENSLAND’S 40 BIGGEST HOME SALES OF THE 2022/23 FINANCIAL YEAR
1. 12 Noosa Pde, Noosa Heads
Sale price: $27m
Seller: Tim Street
Buyer: Weslan Holdings Pty Ltd
A stunning waterfront home at 12 Noosa Pde fetched $27m in what was the biggest sale in Queensland in the past financial year.
The founder of one of Australia’s biggest yoghurt producers, Jalna managing director Campbell McLaren, and his wife, Pam, fell in love with the property when they were staying there on holidays.
The previous owner, former Macquarie Capital Advisors managing director Tim Street, had no intention of selling until he got an offer he could not refuse.
Records show he paid just $5.9m for the property in 2015 and had made no improvements to the home since.
2. 47 Mossman Court, Noosa Heads
Sale price: $23.25m
Seller: Daniel Wade
Buyer: Jaclyn Gazal
A waterfront mansion at 47 Mossman Court, with a 20m frontage and its own white sandy beach, sold in December for $23.25m.
Purchased in 2020 by Hancock Prospecting executive Dan Wade for $10.9m, the property was snapped up in just 12 days by Jaclyn Gazal, socialite sister of Real Housewives of Sydney star Krissy Marsh.
3. 101 Welsby St, New Farm
Sale price: $20.5m
Seller: Tony and Poppy Dempsey
Buyer: Undisclosed
Brisbane’s elusive $20m house price ceiling was shattered in May this year when a historic riverfront home at 101 Welsby St, New Farm, fetched $20.5m.
The property had been owned by architect Tony Dempsey and his wife, Poppy, since 1997.
The previous record home sale in the city was $18.48m in 2017.
4. 22 Arakoon Cres, Sunshine Beach
Sale price: $20m
Seller: Andrew Douglass
Buyer: Keith and Jeannette Ince
Philanthropists Keith and Jeannette Ince forked out $20m in a secret, for this beachfront property in Sunshine Beach’s most exclusive street.
5. 68 Noosa Pde, Noosa Heads
Sale price: $19.6m
Seller: David and Judy Tynan
Buyer: Matthew Latimore
A seven-bedroom, waterfront home at 68 Noosa Pde sold for $19.6m after being passed in at auction for $18.1m to Queensland coal entrepreneur Matthew Latimore, who heads up M Resources.
Financial advisory veteran David Tynan had originally listed the property with a $21m asking price.
6. 49 Witta Circle, Noosa Heads
Sale price: $19.5m
Seller: Lisette Seery
Buyer: Lawrence Dowd and Nikki Morris
This Noosa Heads trophy home sold to independent craft brewer Colonial Brewing Co managing director Lawrence Dowd and his partner, Nikki Morris.
The waterfront property was sold to the Melbourne-based couple for $19.5m by Lisette Seery. She had paid $6.132m for the then unrenovated four-bedroom, three-bathroom abode in August 2019 when it was bought from David Hales, the Betty’s Burgers founder.
7. 91 Commodore Dr, Paradise Waters
Sale price: $19.3m
Seller: Zelle Pullich
Buyer: Undisclosed
This commanding Surfers Paradise mansion known as North Point was built by Dr Zelle Pullich in 2016 and recently sold to a local buyer in a deal which is due to settle in September.
The house was designed by renowned architect Jared Poole, and sits on a prized riverfront lot which had been in the vendor’s family since 2007, when Dr Pullich’s father-in-law and prominent property developer Peter Puljich acquired it for $5.7m.
8. 143-145 Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach
Sale price: $19.2m
Seller: Various (amalgamation of unit owners)
Buyer: Andrew Fahey and Katrina Luland
This absolute beachfront double block on Hedges Ave sold for a record $19.2m, equating to a staggering $23,703 per sq m — the most ever paid for land along the exclusive strip.
The Mermaid Beach property was occupied by a block of flats known as The Parthenon, which was built in the early 1970s and is earmarked for demolition.
It sold to PointsBet co-founder Andrew Fahey and his partner Katrina Luland, who in 2021 bought another Hedges Ave holding with plans to build a luxury home.
9. 1 Heron Ave, Mermaid Beach - $19m, August 2022
Sale price: $19m
Seller: Jaclyn Morris
Buyer: Rob Deutsch
F45 Training founder Rob Deutsch splashed $19m on this three-storey Heron Ave mansion.
Designed by celebrated architect, Bayden Goddard, the commanding home overlooks the ocean and boasts 18m of beach frontage.
Property records revealed an original beach shack stood on the 556sq m corner block when it was last purchased by Jaclyn Morris for $3.2m in 2011.
10. 17 Allambie Rise, Noosa Heads
Sale price: $19m
Seller: Ross Palazzesi
Buyer: Alison Tarditi and Andrew Leydon
F45 Training founder Rob Deusch splashed $19m on this Heron Ave pad.
Designed by celebrated architect, Bayden Goddard, the commanding home overlooks the ocean and boasts 18m of beach frontage.
One of the country’s top public servants, Alison Tarditi of the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation and her partner, Lazard’s managing director Andrew Leydon, paid $19m for a home in Noosa’s exclusive Little Cove precinct.
It had previously been owned by Metricon Homes director Ross Palazzesi.
11. 133 Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach
Sale price: $17.5m
Seller: Eva Milic and Marcus Dore
Buyer: Tom and Kirsten Peever
A beachfront home in Mermaid Beach’s ‘multi-millionaires’ row, sold by newsreader Eva Milic for $14.5m in 2021, re-sold for $3m more in December.
The Hedges Ave property was bought by Brisbane-based mining industry figure Tom Peever and wife Kirsten.
12. ‘Argyle’ penthouse, 49 Maxwell St, New Farm
Sale price: $16.52m
Seller: Tom Dooley Developments
Buyer: Undisclosed
The two-storey sky home crowning Tom Dooley’s ‘Argyle’ project on the river in New Farm
settled for $16.5m to a local businessman, setting a new record for the sale of an apartment in Brisbane.
For that price, the buyer will enjoy elevator entry and private access to a five-car parking compound, four ensuited bedrooms, six bathrooms, a bar, a cloak room, a luggage room, a wine room, and multiple expansive terraces offering uninterrupted views of the river and city.
13. 22 Noosa Pde, Noosa Heads
Sale price: $16.5m
Seller: Denise Campbell
Buyer: Leigh Seymour
The daughter of Brisbane property tycoon Kevin Seymour paid $16.5m for this waterfront home in Noosa — across the road from one her father bought.
Leigh Seymour plans to renovate the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home in exclusive Noosa Parade, despite the home already being in immaculate condition.
14. 105-107 Jefferson Lne, Palm Beach
Sale price: $16.5m
Seller: Raymond Wilkie
Buyer: Undisclosed
This absolute beachfront property in ever-popular Palm Beach sold to a Sydney family for a suburb record in October last year.
The original beach shack had been partially renovated and sits on a 1110 sqm block with a 20m beach frontage.
The cottage was passed in at $13.35m at auction in 2021, but local owner Raymond Wilkie held out for a higher price as developers started to circle.
15. ‘Moray House’ penthouse, 65 Moray St, New Farm
Sale price: $15.75m
Seller: Spyre Group
Buyer: Louis Zenonos
The penthouse in Spyre Group’s ‘Moray House’ fetched $15.75m off-the-plan in January when it was snapped up by local developer, Louis Zenonos.
The cheapest apartment in the boutique development recently sold for $9m.
16. 18 Oxlade Dr, New Farm
Sale price: $15m
Seller: Francis and Agnes Claw
Buyer: DTREATS PTY LTD
This riverfront property in one of Brisbane’s best streets was sold off-market to a consortium of buyers, including local developer, Damien Cavallucci and local businessman, Scott Nicholas.
It was the first time in three decades the 1300 sqm site had changed hands.
The consortium plans to renovate the existing the house on the river side of the site and subdivide the block to build another one on the street side.
17. ‘Arc Residences’ penthouse, Toowong
Sale price: $13.6m
Seller: Spyre Group
Buyer: Undisclosed
The sky mansion in this yet-to-be-built unit tower in Brisbane’s west sold off-the-plan for a new internal record square metre price of almost $35,000 in March.
A family from the western suburbs wanting to live closer to Brisbane Boy’s College splashed $13.6m on the two-level penthouse, which features five bedrooms, 180-degree views, and its own wellness spa.
18. 15 Perry St, Hamilton
Sale price: $13m
Seller: Mary Cleary
Buyer: Di Feng and Xiaomin Guan
A grand Queenslander sold off-market for a new suburb record in affluent Hamilton.
The home was built in 1905 and sits on a 1944sq m block, with six bedrooms and six bathrooms.
19. ‘Luminare’ penthouse, Festival Plc, Newstead
Sale price: $12.95m
Seller: Cavcorp
Buyer: Don Meij
The apartment topping Cavcorp’s ‘Luminare’ project in Newstead sold off-the-plan for $12.95m to Domino’s Pizza boss Don Meij.
‘Luminare’ has a rooftop urban oasis featuring a cantilevered glass-bottom 25m rooftop pool that overlooks the city, as well as magnesium wellness spas, saunas and steam rooms, and a fitness centre.
20. 35 Morgan St, Ascot
Sale price: $12m
Seller: James and Kathryn Campbell
Buyer: Tyson Flannery
The son of Brisbane billionaire Brian Flannery paid $12m for this Ascot mansion with a Batman tunnel and a hidden ‘bear cave’.
Tyson Flannery recently got the keys to the six-storey trophy home that went viral on social media for its list of personal indulgences.
21. 21 Dolphin Cres, Noosaville
Sale price: $12m
Seller: Michele Hardman
Buyer: Brendan Pickering
This five-bedroom mansion that had been untouched since it was built 20 years ago sold at auction for a record-smashing $12m to Pickerings Auto Group managing director Brendan Pickering.
The 604sq m property features a Mediterranean-inspired terracotta terrace, pool and a fully equipped bar and wine fridge, among other opulent amenities for high-end living, but the buyer intends to demolish and rebuild.
22. 30 Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach
Sale price: $12m
Seller: Graham Bendeich
Buyer: Alicia and Anthony Stephens
This beachfront property sold for $12m in August last year to custom home builder Tony Stephens and his stylist wife Alicia, but is now back on the market with a price tag of $16.25m.
The 1214 sqm, triple block features a five-bedroom, two-storey home.
23. 4201/272 Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach
Sale price: $12m
Seller: Arthur J Bates (Investments) Pty Ltd and Depachan Pty Ltd
Buyer: Undisclosed
The four-bedroom skyhome on level 42 of the recently completed 272 Hedges building in Mermaid Beach.
The 650sq m whole-floor apartment last sold off the plan for $6.989m in March 2021, but didn’t settle until the Sunland tower was completed late last year.
24. 7309 Bayside Close, Sanctuary Cove
Sale price: $11.78m
Seller: Wendy Whitelaw
Buyer: Yan Gu
This riverfront mansion inspired by a tropical resort changed hands in a surprise deal, after the owners were presented with an offer too good to turn down.
The off-market sale of the Paul Clout-designed trophy home netted significant gains for the vendor who had purchased the property for $8.4m in December 2021.
25. 640 Nerang Broadbeach Rd, Carrara
Sale price: $11.35m
Seller: Andrew Killion
Buyer: Joyce Ng
Derivatives trader Andrew Killion took a hit on the sale of this riverfront mansion, less than a year after splashing $13m for it.
Property records show new owner Joyce Ng settled on her $11.35m purchase in May of the sprawling home which comes with its own private nightclub.
Mr Killion, CEO of Chicago-based Akuna Capital, bought the property in April 2022, but it was back on the market just six months later with an eye-popping $14.75m price tag.
26. 90 Virginia Ave, Hawthorne
Sale price: $11.1m
Seller: Daniel Wade
Buyer: Adam and Neely Bosworth
Gina Rinehart’s former right-hand man, Dan Wade, sold this impressive Brisbane riverfront property in a secret deal to veteran tech executive Adam Bosworth, who is known for his work at Google and Microsoft.
27. 125 Commodore Dr, Paradise Waters
Sale price: $10.8m
Seller: GC Properties Australia Pty Ltd
Buyer: Undisclosed
This Hamptons-style, riverfront mansion on one of the Glitter Strip’s priciest streets sold under the hammer for $10.8m.
Six bidders vied for the keys to the luxury Surfers Paradise estate, which was owned by an interstate company director, Denis Midor of Melbourne medical good supplier, Softmed.
It sold to a local buyer whose identity has not been disclosed.
28. 22 Quay St, Bulimba
Sale price: $10.4m
Seller: Clair Sullivan
Buyer: Undisclosed
Perched on Bulimba’s iconic riverbank with direct river frontage and a private pontoon, this Mediterranean-style home was inspired by a Positano home on Italy’s southern Amalfi coast.
It sold in an offmarket deal in April.
29. 16 Leura Terrace, Hawthorne
Sale price: $10.21m
Seller: Jim and Robin Kennedy
Buyer: Sharon Thomas
The Brisbane residential auction record was broken in 2022 with the sale of this riverfront Hawthorne property in July.
The four-bedroom family home on 1215 sqm with a swimming pool, pontoon and boat ramp sold under the hammer for $10.21m.
The property was the former home of the late Jim Kennedy, a non-executive director of companies including Qantas, Suncorp and GWA and one-time owner of South Molle and Daydream Islands.
30. 76 & 76A Windermere Rd, Hamilton
Sale price: $10.2m
Seller: Sandra Wardale-Greenwood
Buyer: Zheng Zhang
A Queensland buyer bought these two neighbouring properties in the prestigious northside pocket of Hamilton in a combined deal.
The dual properties on Windermere Road are expected to be amalgamated into a sprawling, grand estate.
Number 76 sits on a 2699 sqm parcel of land and features a five-bedroom Queenslander, manicured gardens and a pool. Neighbouring 76A is on a smaller allotment of 911 sqm.
31. 746 Pacific Pde, Currumbin
Sale price: $10.125m
Seller: Jeffrey Garrett
Buyer: Andrew Barry
Local engineer Andrew Barry and his wife were the winning bidders at the auction of this deceased estate with incredible ocean views opposite Currumbin Beach.
The sale price comes just under the suburb record of $11.3m, but sets a new high bar per square metre of $8897.
32. 10 Kareela Ave, Noosa Heads
Sale price: $10m
Seller: Margaret Ward
Buyer: Skye Rentals Pty Ltd
This five-bedroom house on a 600 sqm block sold in November in an offmarket deal, but little is known about the buyer or seller.
33. 25 Grays Rd, Hamilton
Sale price: $10m
Seller: Graya
Buyer: Undisclosed
This jaw-dropping Brisbane mansion that attracted 300 people to its first open home sold in seven days to a local buyer for about $10m.
The Greek-inspired property on Hamilton Hill, by celebrity developer and builder Graya, caused lines down the street as eager stickybeaks and potential buyers clamoured to get in the front door.
34. 54 Commodore Dr, Paradise Waters
Sale price: $9.7m
Seller: Mbp Qld Pty Ltd
Buyer: ACORUN PTY LTD
This six-bed, six-bath, six-car home is grand on all levels, including the championship-sized tennis court.
On a huge, corner block with commanding views, the home was described as ‘the pinnacle of Paradise Waters’ when it hit the market late last year.
35. 22A Crescent Rd, Hamilton
Sale price: $9.5m
Seller: Mike and Catherine Tomkins
Buyer: Brisbane Convention Centre Hotel (Development) Ltd
Construction boss Mike Tomkins sold his luxurious Hamilton Hill home earlier this year.
The founder of Tomkins Constructions and his wife, Cathy, have lived in the three-level mansion they built themselves for about 17 years, but were looking to “rightsize” to an apartment.
36. 2702/272 Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach
Sale price: $9.2m
Seller: Tom and Emma Lane
Buyer: LIAO PTY LTD
Another apartment in this new Mermaid Beach tower made the biggest sales list, when it fetched $9.2m late last year.
Entrepreneurial Byron Bay couple, Tom and Emma Lane — founders of ‘The Farm’ — made $2m on the resale of the glamorous, two-storey unit they purchased only a year earlier in 272 Hedges Avenue.
37. 670 Pacific Parade, Tugun
Sale price: $9.1m
Seller: Wendy Bayly
Buyer: James and Bianca Durack
This prized beachfront lot on the southern Gold Coast had been held by the same family for more than 60 years when it sold under the hammer for a suburb-record price.
The 1988-built timber home, inspired by a Swiss chalet, attracted strong interest through its campaign, with 11 bidders registered on auction day.
It was purchased by local engineer James Durack and his wife Bianca, who planned to utilise the site for a dream home.
38. 15 Minyama Island, Minyama
Sale price: $9m
Seller: Alice Hill
Buyer: Caroline and Brett Mills
Brett Mills, the director of two Ken Mills Toyota dealerships on the Sunshine Coast, has emerged as the buyer of this grand home in Minyama.
The huge 1500sqm waterfront property, with a 32m frontage, has a grand circular driveway which sweeps past the imposing facade, a curving internal staircase, gym and sauna.
The median house price in Minyama has increased by 163 per cent since 2017, according to PropTrack.
39. Residence 4, ‘Moray House’
Sale price: $9m
Seller: Spyre Group
Buyer: Undisclosed
The cheapest apartment in luxury Brisbane riverfront building, ‘Moray House’, recently sold for $9m to a Sydney couple.
The three-bedroom unit in New Farm sold off-the-plan, with the price equating to $34,749 per square metre – just shy of the all time square metre record for the city.
40. 69 Jefferson Lane, Palm Beach
Sale price: $8.89m
Seller: Jefferson Lane Pty Ltd
Buyer: Robert Christie
Sydney businessman and Eden Health Retreat owner, Robert Christie, placed the top bid for this absolute beachfront block at auction.
Seventeen registered bidders vied for the 597sqm block, which was once owned by Mark McIvor, bankrupted director of the failed Gold Coast merchant bank Equititrust.
The Brisbane-based vendors purchased in 1995 for $975,000 and built the existing three-bedroom, three-bathroom Tuscan-style weekender.
(Based on reported sales, excluding vacant land and undisclosed sale prices.)
Originally published as Revealed: The secret buyers behind Qld’s 40 biggest home sales of the year
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