Sonia Kruger buys $16m ‘blank canvas’ at auction

Gold Logie award-winning presenter Sonia Kruger and her partner Craig McPherson have paid out a massive sum at auction, spending a huge $4.6m over reserve.

The three-bedroom home is described as a “blank canvas” but it’s on Mosman’s best non-waterfront street and has extraordinary views.

Gold Logie award-winning presenter Sonia Kruger and her partner Craig McPherson have bought a Mosman knockdown at auction, paying $4.6m over reserve.

The Balmoral Slopes three-bedroom deceased estate, described as a “once in a lifetime opportunity with spectacular panoramas”, fetched a whopping $16.1m.

Atlas Lower North Shore’s Adrian Bridges and co-agent Priscilla Ouvrier said they couldn’t confirm Kruger and McPherson were the purchasers at Saturday’s auction.

But it certainly made sense, as the couple have been in the market for a new home having just sold nearby for circa $20m — and separate sources confirmed they bought it.

McPherson was doing the bidding.

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Sonia Kruger (Photo by Hanna Lassen/Getty Images)

Incredible views.

The realestate.com.a ad describes it as a “complete blank canvas”: that’s real estate speak for what the pictures reveal is a falling-down house.

There was certainly plenty of interest, given that this is Mosman’s best non-waterfront street.

It’s arguably the prime spot on the Balmoral slopes, with uninterrupted views sweeping beyond North Head, with 190-degree panoramas from every elevation.

“Build a multi-storey sanctuary with views from each level,” says the ad. It’s also only 550m from Balmoral Beach.

Auctioneer James Kerley had nine bidders register, with three of them active.

Bidding opened at $10m, rising in predominantly $100k and $250k increments.

It’s understood the pair intend to demolish the old home, in the same family for generations, and rebuild on the 743sqm block.

The old home is on a 743sqm block.

Expect an even better version of the home they’ve just sold, via Atlas’s Michael Coombs.

That was a five-bedroom Balmoral Slopes home with wet-edge infinity pool.

Sonia and Craig had moved from the upper north shore to Mosman nine years ago, paying $6.475m for the original house.

They engaged Corben Architects to help them redesign the home and undergo a multi-million-dollar renovation and rebuild, adding another level yielding huge Sydney Harbour views.

The tri-level project was interrupted by Covid, however it went on to win an MBA award in 2022.

Coombs had it set for a March 8 auction, but that didn’t proceed as several of his buyers weren’t quite ready.

Coombs said: “We had a number of buyers interested — things are taking a bit longer but we’re still getting the outcomes.”

It’s understood the buyers were a local Mosman family.

Along with the five bedrooms, their former home had four bathrooms, the pool, a studio, internal lift and separate guest quarters.

Features included a limestone induction kitchen with premium Miele appliances, self-contained accommodation with private access ideal for an au pair, versatile areas for a gym or media room, a porcelain tiled alfresco area overlooking Balmoral beach, triple garage and wine cellar.

Originally published as Sonia Kruger buys $16m ‘blank canvas’ at auction