Shahin family, owners of On the Run chain, put their first SA home on the market

THE home that was the birthplace of the Shahin empire in South Australia has hit the market for just under $1 million.

The original Shahin family home at Woodville Park is on the market, next to the family’s first petrol station. Picture: Tait Schmaal

THE home that was the birthplace of the On The Run empire in South Australia has hit the market for just under $1 million.

The Shahin family bought the Woodville Park home in 1996 with a service station attached and, according to Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure records, the home has been owned by Mohin Shahin and Asmahan Shahin since January 2002.

LJ Hooker Kensington real estate agent Nick Ploubidis, who is selling the home for around $995,000, said it had played a significant role in the growth of the family’s empire.

Charlie and Fred Shahin at their first petrol station.

“The Peregrine corporation, which own all of the On The Runs — the service station that is adjacent the property is the first petrol station that was purchased, and that’s where it all started and that home was the first home that was built for the family that own Peregrine,” Mr Ploubidis said.

“So they’ve gone from rags to riches, or from a very small humble beginning to the empire they’ve created today, so I think it’s got a landmark almost historic significance for our state in that respect.

“Originally the two or three surrounding homes were also purchased by the company in order to accommodate the family.

The entryway into the home.

“The petrol station is still owned by the Peregrine Corporation but it’s on a separate title to the home.”

The two-storey home features five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a 10.1 x 27.3m rooftop terrace that spans the entire roof of the home.

Mr Ploubidis said the home was of quality construction and featured high-end features throughout.

“It’s solid construction — in some areas it’s triple brick and in other areas it’s five bricks thick and that’s to reduce any potential noise from the main road,” Mr Ploubidis said.

The home features marble floors, ornate cornices, bathroom with floor-to-ceiling tiles and large rooms throughout.

Inside the Shahin home at Woodville Park.

“There are hand painted feature walls throughout and the walls are actually handpainted stone, it’s not real stone, and ... you can see a peregrine hawk in the vistas that have been painted on the wall and that is a tribute to the original foundings of the corporation,” Mr Ploubidis said.

“It’s got very intricate detailing throughout and it’s very ornamental, so someone is going to come along and fall in love with it as it is, or they’re going to put their own mark on it.

Aside from suiting large families, Mr Ploubidis said the home may have international appeal.

The home’s main bathroom.

“The Chinese will absolutely love this because it suits that kind of a buyer, but it’s definitely somebody that has a very large family or entertains a lot and is prepared to personalise it a little bit and needs something in that location that does have that kind of opulence,” Mr Ploubidis said.

“I think it’s a testament to the way that the business has been run, you can see how quickly they’ve shot up ... they just do what they do properly, they don’t muck around and that’s reflected in the houses.”

The home’s kitchen.

Mr Ploubidis said the home was now surplus to the family’s needs,

“The family no longer has any use for it and it’s time to move on,” Mr Ploubidis said.

“It’s sad to see it go because it’s where it all started but it’s a necessity at the end of the day.”

From Woodville Park to this