Billionaire Alex Sekler snaps up properties on Abbott St and luxury northern beaches homes are for sale
Publicity-shy property baron Alex Sekler’s appears to be dramatically switching focus with his substantial portfolio of Far North assets.
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Property baron Alex Sekler appears to be switching focus from the northern beaches to Cairns City, offloading prime land and ultra-prestige properties.
Property records reveal not only did Mr Sekler outlay $3.987m for the heritage-listed Cairns Post building at 22-24 Abbott St in November 2021, he went to acquire the whole strip, and now owns from 22 Abbott St to 34 Abbott St, for $7.384m in total.
He owns the property between luxury goods retailer DFS – which is closing down – and the architect award-winning building Art Work Space.
Late last year he sold a 1.85ha Palm Cove waterfront site for $8.8m.
Mr Sekler has what would easily be Queensland’s most expensive duplex for sale – a pair of newly-built luxury homes with commanding ocean views at 1-3 Peacock St, listed with Brisbane agent Michael Bacon.
The stunning homes were on the market for $6m and $6.5m apiece but the price is now “contact agent”.
The home of Mr Sekler and wife Violetta at 46-48 Kewarra Street, Kewarra Beach, has undergone a revamp and has been on the market for some time.
No price is listed for the spectacular beachfront home, which they paid $4.5m for eight years ago, but the property next to it, Astoria House, has an asking price of $4.95m.
A plum opportunity awaits the buyer of a 9.52ha block of land on the southern end of Kewarra St, one of the region’s most expensive streets.
The beachfront land has development approval for 10 properties on block sizes ranging from 6949sq m to 886sq m.
Mr Sekler owns a choice piece of land at 102-104 McGregor Rd, Smithfield, a 1695sq m block.
Another property that has been on the market for some time is a modest Queenslander in a prime spot at 231 Esplanade, Cairns North, which Mr Sekler bought for $2.87m in September 2021.
It is on a 765sq m block with an existing development application for three boutique apartments which is valid until 2026.
He bought commercial property at 230-232 Mulgrave Rd Westcourt, for $7.3m.
Mr Sekler also owns several apartments in the soaring Skytower building in Brisbane and his three level penthouse is on the market.
He paid $10.26m for it in August 2020.
Mr Sekler has had his eye on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland but is selling some of those properties.
Mr Sekler had high profile plans for a $100m resort at Buderim but it did not eventuate.
Mr Sekler purchased the home Malumba Estate and the adjoining Aquila Estate for a combined $20.5m.
It would have been the Sunshine Coast’s first new resort in 40 years and Buderim’s largest ever development, but concerns were raised about the development, and it was scrapped in October 2022.
But Mr Sekler expanded his Buderim property portfolio buying an eight bedroom home on 7.3ha at Cogill Rd, Buderim, for $9m.
Plans have now been lodged for an exclusive 20-bed residential care facility at 21 Box St – formerly Aquila – and Cogill Rd.
The reclusive investor has been in the spotlight of late with the revelation Queensland Health has referred a matter between him and veteran MP Warren Entcsh to the state’s Crime and Corruption Commission.
It was revealed Mr Entsch organised for Mr Sekler to fly to Thursday Island, accompanied by one of Mr Entsch’s electorate officers, to get a Covid jab in July 2021, when he was ineligible for Pfizer but could get it at Thursday Island.
Mr Sekler subsequently donated $304,000 to the LNP, $300,000 of which funded the Leichhardt MP’s successful election campaign.
It was reported $4000 was spent on a Canberra restaurant bill for a private dinner Mr Entsch organised for Mr Sekler with then-prime minister Scott Morrison and senior ministers.
Mr Sekler has been a generous Far North philanthropist, donating $650,000 to the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation.
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Originally published as Billionaire Alex Sekler snaps up properties on Abbott St and luxury northern beaches homes are for sale
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