Secrets of Sydney’s abandoned mansions

For up to half a century, some of Sydney’s once grandest homes have been left to rot and ruin. We’ve tracked them down and had a look inside. See the video.

They are like the famous Charles Dickens character Miss Havisham – a great beauty slowly decaying in a world that has turned away from them.

Except, in this tale, the central characters are abandoned and rundown Sydney mansions rich in history ad needing care.

Like Miss Havisham, who was left at the altar in Great Expectations, these unloved beauties have been left unloved for decades, despite dwelling in some of the most famous suburbs of Sydney.

Some have been swallowed by the surrounding trees, while others have become a magnet for vandals.

Many of these once-prized homes have come up for sale this year, giving hope to neighbours that they may be revived to their former glory.

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The abandoned Mosman mansion where it is understood to have been abandoned for up nearly 50 years.

WATCH OUR EXCLUSIVE ABANDONED MANSION VIDEO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

One of the properties up for sale is ‘Morella’ – a historic Mosman mansion with water views and access to a private beach.

It’s understood to have been largely abandoned and left to nature for nearly 50 years.

The home built in 1939 hosted the cream of Sydney’s elite in its prime.

Now vandalised with graffiti, overgrowing trees and broken structures – the property is for sale with DA approved plans for a restoration. The price guide is $10m-plus.

Listing agent Stefon Bertram of Pello Lower North Shore said he has been inundated with interest.

Morella has a heritage listing and buyer interest has said it would take around $6m-$8m to renovate.

Many of the more than 100 inquiries he’s received were from locals who’ve known the property since they were kids, Mr Bertram said.

In Sydney’s East, a crumbling mansion on Wallaroy Rd in Woollahra sold as a deceased estate this week for $8.8m.

The long-time owner was reported to have passed away over 15 years ago. His wife was awarded life tenancy at the property before she too died over a year ago.

32 Wallaroy Rd Woollahra sold for $8.8m on 23 Feb.

The backyard of the Woollahra mansion was being taken over by nature.

Selling agent Ben Collier of The Agency said the sale attracted plenty of interest.

“Everyone has been wondering what’s going to happen to it,” Mr Collier said, adding that the buyers intended to restore the mansion and live in it.

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“I think we’ve put the neighbours’ minds at ease now that we’ve found a buyer,” he said.

A derelict Georgian-style mansion in Edgecliff, believed to be built in 1920 and held in the same family for four decades, sold in September 2019 for $3.05m.

Selling agent Alex Phillips of PPD said the property was modelled on the Old Government House in Parramatta, he recently sold another house on the same street and said the property on the outside appears to be in the same rundown condition.

Photo of the Edgecliff mansion when it last sold in 2019.

What the property looked like inside when it sold in 2019.

An incomplete mansion on the south coast known as ‘Minnamurra mansion’ has been listed multiple times in the last two years. It has yet to sell.

The property has views over Minnamurra River and surrounding picturesque bushland.

It was originally conceived as a homestead for an equestrian centre but building stopped in 2009. It’s been largely empty in the years since and has become covered in graffiti.

Records showed the property last sold in 2019 for $990,000 to a private company and Melbourne horse breeder and builder David Moodie.

The abandoned ‘Minnamurra mansion’.

The half finished mansion has been riddled with graffiti.

Watch the exclusive video of an abandoned Sydney mansion above.

The owners obtained approval to transform the half-built mansion into an eco-resort. The property was last listed in April 2023 with an asking price of $5m to $5.25 before being taken off the market.

‘Studley Park House’ at 52 Lodges Rd in Narellan, is rich in local history and has been uninhabited since the 1950s.

Studley Park house in Camden now sits next to an 18-hole golf course.

It was understood to have been built in the 1880s as a gentleman's country estate before becoming a school. Later it was a country retreat for 20th Century Fox executive AA Gregory.

During WWII, it was used for the army reserve and then the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps.

It has sat dormant since 1951 surrounded by Camden’s 18-hole Golf Club.

According to local folklore, Studley Park is rumoured to be haunted and ghost tours have gone through the abandoned residence.

Locals rumour it is haunted and there have been ghost tours run in the old mansion.

Guests and locals have claimed to see paranormal activity, lights and people standing in the windows.

Plans had been submitted to council to restore the 150-year-old gem and convert it to a hotel, residential apartments and a carpark worth about $107.5m.

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Originally published as Secrets of Sydney’s abandoned mansions