Former Alan Bond mansion on market for $50m

A lavish Perth mansion formerly owned by Alan Bond has hit the market with price expectations north of $50m.

‘It’s just beautiful, a work of art’: William Porteous. Picture: Colin Murty

A lavish Perth mansion once owned by businessman Alan Bond has hit the market with hopes of more than $50 million.

But the house, which has been extensively renovated by a string of mining magnate owners, would be worth double its price tag if it was in Sydney, according to listing agent William Porteous.

The broader Perth property market has been subdued since the end of the resources boom but the listing in the prestigious riverfront suburb of Dalkeith could yet result in the second-most ­expensive sale in the city.

Perth’s most expensive property deal involved the $57.5m Mosman Park mansion bought by Mineral Resources managing director Chris Ellison in 2009 from iron ore heiress and businesswoman Angela Bennett.

The six-bedroom Dalkeith waterfront property, on about 6000sq m, has 3000sq m of living space across four levels and features a swimming pool billed as one of Australia’s largest private pools, with a 12-seat swim-up bar and spa.

The former home of Alan Bond in Dalkeith has been sold for a reported 39million

The house has a 21-seat cinema, a function room for more than 400 guests, two caterer’s kitchens, a walk-in cool room, a gym, squash court, tennis court, wine cellar and boat launch.

“The property’s meticulously maintained, you could eat off the floor in the garage,” Mr Porteous said. He said the current owner had spent millions of dollars on refurbishments but declined to comment further on the vendor.

Public records show the vendor is Susan Gibson, whose ­former partner is mining entrepreneur Steve Wyatt, project ­director at Mineral Resources.

The 1980s house was built by Bond but Mr Porteous said the current property was “nothing like when he had it”.

The first significant renovation was undertaken by St Barbara boss Ross Atkins, who spent about $11m on it after buying it from Bond in 1993 for $7.65m, Mr Porteous said.

Records show the next owners were Barry and Glenice Patterson, who bought the property in 1999 for $9.5m — and were said to have spent a further $6m on renovations. Mr Patterson was founder of JR Engineering which was known as Roche Mining after a takeover by Downer EDI.

The house most recently changed hands in 2011 for $39m.

Given the level of investment since then, Mr Porteous expects offers above $50m and says he has already shown a “very serious buyer” through the home.

If the property were in Sydney, it would be likely to sell for “close to $100m”, he said. “It’s just beautiful, a work of art.”

Realestate.com.au shows Dal­keith’s median house price is $2.6m, down from $3m in 2010.