’Mr Bondi’ and Aussie expat duel pushes unit $551k over reserve

A man known as ‘Mr Bondi’, who won a $90k payout after a dramatic arrest during Covid, has lost an auction bidding duel for an apartment that sold $551k over reserve.

The dramatic moment Bondi local celebrity Dimitri Moskovich is arrested on the 19th of April, 2020. Picture: Supplied

A duel between the man they call ‘Mr Bondi’ and an Aussie expat based in Singapore saw a simple flat sell a whopping $551k over reserve.

And the expat hadn’t even seen inside the apartment!

It was the northerly views and glimpses of the ocean from the balcony of the top-floor at 5/10-12 Edward St, Bondi that saw the 98sqm two-bedder with two bathrooms and parking in the 1980s block sell for a whopping $2,651,000.

It had last traded for $935k in 2009.

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5/10-12 Edward St, Bondi Beach sold for $2,651,000, $551k over reserve.

The apartment block is located in south Bondi, which Ray White Double Bay director Warren Ginsberg says is increasingly preferred by buyers to North Bondi.

Bondi icon Dimitri Moskovich in his signature red speedos at the outdoor gym. Picture: Kristi Miller.

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Ray White Double Bay director Warren Ginsberg, who’d been guiding $1.8m, had six registered parties line up to Thursday night’s auction, and, with auctioneer James Keenan presiding, bidding opened at $1.7m.

Five were active all the way until $2.2m and, from there, it was down to Dimitri Moskovich, famously known as ‘Mr Bondi’ in the local community and often seen working out on the famous promenade’s outdoor gym, and the expat who was on the phone from Singapore.

The auction was a fascinating one to watch, with the expat making a bid of $20k, and Moskovich countering with $1000; the expat would offer $50k, and Moskovich would again offer $1000.

The apartment last traded for $935,000 in 2009.

It had two bathrooms and parking.

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But in the end, Keenan slammed the gavel down in the expat’s favour.

Ginsberg wasn’t keen to discuss the identity of the mysterious enthusiastic low-balling bidder, but I remembered him as the outdoor gym guy in his red speedos who was dramatically arrested for trying to go for a swim during Covid lockdown for trying to go for a swim.

He eventually had the charges dropped and his legal costs paid. And then he won a payout of $90k after Moskovich launched a civil suit against authorities for maliciious and wrongful arrest and prosecution.

Taking a swim at Bondi during Covid lockdown led to this. Moskovic said he didn’t see the signs saying swimming was banned. Picture: Supplied

He later won a $90k payout. Picture: Supplied

Moskovich will be very familiar with the block, since records show he already owns an apartment there purchased for $393k 24 years ago.

Ginsberg attributed the strong result to buyers increasingly choosing apartments in south Bondi over North Bondi. “It’s definitely a trend because buyers love the northerly aspect and closer access to the beach,” he said.

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Originally published as ’Mr Bondi’ and Aussie expat duel pushes unit $551k over reserve