Rich lister who spent $66m on three Manly mansions decides it’s too many

Dubbo rich lister Wes Maas and wife Emma have sold one of their prized Bower Street properties in their Manly portfolio for circa $15 million.

The five-bedroom, four-bathroom house was their first foray into a blue-chip neighbourhood when they paid $12.5 million back in 2021 for a 20-year lease from the Catholic Church, which owns the majority of that pocket of the beachside suburb, with an option of renewal for another two decades after that.

The Maas have quietly offloaded one of their Bower St holdings. It had a price guide of $15 million.Credit:

While the price of the property, which is in Emma’s name, remains undisclosed, it had a guide of $15 million. The sold sticker went up quietly in the blue-chip neighbourhood after selling via private treaty.

Positioned above the tranquil Shelly Beach in one of the most sought-after oceanfront cul-de-sacs in the area, the family beach house is set on 696 square metres and has panoramic views stretching to Queenscliff Beach and beaches further north.

A former South Sydney Rabbitohs player, Wes has since gone on to create the Dubbo-based ASX-listed construction materials, equipment and services company Maas Group. He rejoined the AFR Rich List in 2024 at number 176 with an estimated wealth of $814 million.

The business started with just one Bobcat and a tip truck in 2002 after Maas retired from rugby league and now has 450-plus machines for hire and has expanded into property development, the Australian Financial Review reported.

Wes Maas, founder of Dubbo-based Maas Group.Credit: Dylan Del Moro

Indeed, the Maas family has only spread their foothold in the coastal neighbourhood, buying two more properties in Bower Street since 2021. They reset a Manly record for their $34 million purchase near Fairy Bower last year and have since picked up another home nearby in recent weeks for circa $20 million from the late Barry Bennett of Bennetts Surf who pioneered foam blowing in Australia.

This first home was perhaps redundant after the family upgraded to better-positioned properties twice since then. It was sold through Michael Clarke and Cherie Humel of Clarke & Humel Property, who both declined to comment.

Meanwhile in nearby Balgowlah Heights, the former home of the Walker family, pioneers of Australian surfing and life-saving, has hit the market with a guide of $4.75 million.

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom house known as “Bungaloe” was built circa 1913 and was originally a quarry workers’ cottage and sold in the early 1920s to William Walker who, along with his brother Tommy, were renowned for being Australia’s pioneers of surfing at Manly Beach and Yamba in 1911. The Walkers’ surfing is said to have pre-dated the arrival of the legendary Duke Kahanamoku, who introduced Hawaiian-style surfing to the country.

Located in one of the most prestigious streets in the suburbs, the 822-square-metre block was last purchased in 2014 for $1.725 million.

It is being sold through Kingsley Looker, of Clarke & Humel Property.

Dover Heights moves

In Dover Heights, the family home of lawyer Denielle Campey for the past three years has hit the market with a price guide of $10 million.

The beautiful five-bedroom, four-bathroom house has been restored to its 1920s Art Deco grandeur with modern interiors by Danielle Victoria Design.

Campey’s stunning renovation of her Dover Heights home.Credit:

With views of the city skyline, including Sydney Harbour Bridge, and within footsteps of Raleigh Reserve, the home is located in a secluded enclave of the peninsula.

No expenses have been spared on the renovation, featuring a new roof, swimming pool and marble kitchen and bathrooms.

The Narrabri-born Campey purchased the home for $7.2 million in 2022 from brothers Steven and Robert Coppola of Coppola Home, a family homewares business that they have continued on from their mother and father who started it after World War II.

The house is set to go under the hammer on April 1 and is being sold through Brad Pillinger of Pillinger.

Racing away

The long-time family home of Betty Dacres-Mannings nee Wootton, of the racing family, in the heart of Double Bay is up for sale with a price guide of $10 million.

The historic three-bedroom, two-bathroom Victorian Italianate villa has been owned by Betty and her late husband John Dacres-Mannings, who came from a military background and was once a director of The Royal Commonwealth Society, for 60 years.

The tightly held Double Bay home has hit the market for the first time in six decades. Credit:

Betty’s father Richard Wootton was a famous horse racing trainer, owner and breeder. After competing in Australia, South Africa and England, Richard was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. He was also a businessman with significant real estate holdings, which included building and owning the Doncaster Hotel in Kensington, of which Betty became the publican for a short time.

The two-storey house is set on 278 square metres, a short stroll from nearby cafes and restaurants in Double Bay.

The property is being sold through Clint Ballard of Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty.