Dark truth of Australia’s most expensive house

Australia’s most expensive publicly listed home is a stunner but it has a very dark history.

Australia’s most expensive house has a dark, tragic past.

It’s Australia’s most expensive publicly listed home and it’s a beauty but it does have a very dark history.

Burnham Castle in the little-known suburb of Henley, tucked away on the shores of the Parramatta river on Sydney’s Upper North Shore is the epitome of a Harbour City waterfront trophy home.

It sits just 7km from the Sydney CBD.

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The incredible Burnham Castle.

“Welcome to a 2,346 sqm Resplendent Waterfront Estate Of Breathtaking Scale In A Prestigious Lifestyle Address,” reads the almost understated marketing material for the 6-bedroom, 4-bathroom home than can house 10 cars.

“Capturing uninterrupted water, Harbour Bridge and City Skyline views from its exclusive peninsula setting, sits ‘Burnham Castle’, an awe-inspiring residence originally built in 1887. “Held by the same family for over 37 years, this prestigious estate presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the discerning buyer to secure a slice of paradise.

Trophy home but with a dark past.

Inside the home.

Absolute waterfront.

“The Italianate mansion boasts a three-storey tower which is an architectural landmark and a dramatic feature along the Parramatta River.”

The home sits at the top of a search for Australia’s most expensive homes on realestate.com.au

The home truly is an architectural marvel but it also has a very tragic past.

On June 15, 2012 Sydney grandmother Shahnaz Qidwai was brutally murdered in the mansion at 24 Dick St, Henley by concreter Tony Halloun, who was later found guilty of the crime and sentenced to at least 17 years in jail.

The Daily Telegraph reported, Halloun, a patient of Mrs Qidwai’s wife Dr Khalid Qidwai, had been contracted at the home to work on concreting the driveway.

But instead of performing the job, he was inside the house searching for money to help him pay off a $97,000 debt.

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Shahnaz Qidwai with her husband Dr Khalid Qidwai.

A police officer searches for clues outside the house of murder victim Shahnaz Qidwai in Dick Street, Henley, Sydney on 15/06/2012.

A sick Mrs Qidwai has stayed home that day to unwittingly stumble upon the robbery.

With his crime compromised, the father of three lashed out, killing Shahnaz and stealing $4000 in cash and some jewels.

He then concocted a series of lies to cover his tracks. First he said he never set foot in the house. Then he admitted entering the house, but only to make a cup of tea.

He claimed Shahnaz had given him a friendly tap on the shoulder, which he said explained why his DNA was found on her body.

Awaiting trial, the story changed again. Apparently, he stumbled across three masked gunmen in the house who then threatened him and his family if he told police.

A jury did not buy it and found him guilty of murder.

Judge Justice McCallum in handing down sentence on December 5, 2014 in the NSW Supreme Court, said Halloun had taken advantage of Mrs Qidwai’s kindness on the day of her death by getting her to allow him into the home.

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Murderer Tony Halloun.

Once inside, the financially stressed Halloun rummaged through the envelopes of cash kept by Mrs Qidwai.

While no one could say for certain what happened next, Justice McCallum said she was satisfied Mrs Qidwai probably happened upon Halloun doing something wrong and he attacked her “out of panic”.

“I am satisfied that the offender formed an intention to steal from the house but I doubt he intended to kill Mrs Qidwai,” she said.

“His apparent inability to accept responsibility for [the murder] in the face of an overwhelming circumstantial case may come down to a question of pride or an inability to say out loud that he did such a terrible thing.”

Mrs Qidwai’s body was found lying in the bedroom of the family home by her youngest daughter Maha, who told the court she could not get the image of her mother’s bruised and bloodied face out of her mind, news.com.au reported.

Dr Qidwai arrived home that day to find police swarming over his family’s luxury mansion in up-market Henley.

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The home is for sale for around $18m.

Inside, in one of the bedrooms, his wife lay dead on the floor. A paramedic had seen a footprint next to her bludgeoned body and immediately became suspicious. This was a homicide, he said to his colleagues. The order was given that Mr Qidwai and his son, despite their tearful pleadings from the driveway, be restrained from entering their home. This was a crime scene.

Halloun was sentenced to a prison sentence of 24 years with a non-parole period of 17 years.

The home has a guide of around $18m.

“What we have also been saying to the buyers is there is no direct comparable sale in Henley, it is a very hard one to price, with this type of property it’s about finding the right buyers that appreciate it for the love of the character.,” sales agent Thomas Popple of Ray White said.

“It’s a very small community this is an extremely unique and special property within that little catchment,”

Pic of Dr Khalid Qidwai with his kids outside King St after the Sentencing for Tony Halloun convicted of murdering his wife Shahnaz Qidwai.

Maha Qidwai found her mother’s body. Picture: John Grainger

Tony Halloun is escorted from court, after he was found guilty for the murder of Shahnaz Qidwai. Picture: Bradley Hunter

“What makes it so rare is the land size, it’s one of the largest land holdings in Henley”

“The land size, to have a tennis court on the beachfront is extremely special there is only one other property in the area that has that similar feature, and to have a tennis court right on the beach in Henley is very unique”

“It’s period features, there are a lot of classical homes and heritage homes but the proportions of this city is so soaring, the ceilings, huge beautiful bay windows, internally – remind you of being in the 1800s which is really unique.

“It’s getting a wide range of inquiry we’ve had international inquiry, strong inquiry from the local area within Henley and Hunters Hill who have always had their eye in it and looking to upgrade,”

Mr Popple would not comment on the history of the murder nor would the family.

+ Additional reporting Taylor Troeth

Originally published as Dark truth of Australia’s most expensive house