Ex-Crown Resorts chief Rowen Craigie sells Middle Park home

The recently retired Crown Resorts boss Rowen Craigie has sold his 1920s Middle Park home off market.

The vista from Jefferson Lane.

The recently retired Crown Resorts boss Rowen Craigie has sold his 1920s Middle Park home off market. He and wife Susan Byrne have secured $7 million for the home that they bought unrenovated for $2.221m in 2006, just before Craigie took the top job at James Packer’s casino empire. Its reputed buyer is NAB boss Andrew Thorburn and wife Kathryn, who recently sold their 264sq m apartment in the Royal Domain Tower. The Middle Park home on a prominent 550sq m corner parcel is set between the lake and the bay. Thorburn paid $3.235m for the St Kilda Road apartment in 2014, when he came from New Zealand to be NAB’s chief executive. Set on the 21st floor, the apartment has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Kay & Burton South Yarra agents Grant Samuel and Ross Savas sold the apartment after it had been on the market for less than a month. Craigie, who stepped down as CEO of Crown after 10 years in February, retains a longtime Blairgowrie beach retreat.

Squash champ courts offers

Now coaching in the US, former world squash champion Rodney Eyles and wife Michelle have listed their luxury Palm Beach, Gold Coast home. It’s on the Jefferson Lane dress circle. The couple paid $1.75m for the home, which has views from Currumbin’s Iconic Alley rock north to Stradbroke Island, in 2000. An oceanfront terrace leads down to the sand. Spanning three levels with an internal lift, the home has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, three living areas and a games room with wet bar. No space for a squash court. Ray White Mermaid Beach agent Troy Dowker has set a September 2 auction.

Going for a song

Laneway Music founder Vincent Donato has listed his Glen Iris home in Melbourne’s Donnington Estate. It is a 1910 Edwardian home with grand period features. Some $2m has been spent on a full restoration of the six-bedroom home on an elevated 950sq m parcel on Ranfurlie Crescent. Donato paid $1.56m in 2014. The home blends period elegance and state-of-the-art contemporary style. A wide reception hall under high ceilings opens to a formal sitting room and dining room. Vendor Marketing’s Craig Knudsen has assisted on the listing with the Marshall White agency. Donato founded Laneway Music, a heritage music label devoted to reissuing artist catalogues.

Bakir lists land parcel

Entrepreneur Ron Bakir, the founder and CEO of HomeCorp Group, has listed his vacant Benowa Waters land parcel. Bakir paid $790,000 for the 1030sq m site in 2011. It is being advertised as the largest and cheapest Main River allotment available in the prestige security enclave of Royal Pines Riverside. Ray White agent Grant Roper is asking $935,000 for the site. Bakir’s lavish Chevron Renaissance penthouse at Surfers Paradise remains on the market, but with a reduced $9.95m asking price. The two-level penthouse spanning more than 1000sq m had been listed at $12.5m.

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