Home among the birds

West Australian yachtie and property developer Ron Packer and his wife Philippa have listed their riverfront Perth mansion.

West Australian yachtie and property developer Ron Packer and his wife Philippa have listed their riverfront Perth mansion through Ray White Cottesloe agent Jody Fewster. The four-bedroom, five-bathroom estate in Riverview Place, Mosman Park, features panoramic north-facing Swan River views. The family home has an internal staircase and lift, and offers private access down to the water. The bottom floor can be used as a self-contained two-bedroom apartment. The Packers are downsizing after six years. “There’s plenty of room for entertaining and I absolutely love the birdlife, with osprey nests nearby, pelicans and a lot of welcome swallows and dolphins,” Ms Packer said. Public records reveal the Packers paid $8.15m for the house in 2014 but have since spent significant sums renovating it. Ms Fewster is taking offers on the mansion, which is built into a cliff face, by July 31 unless it sells prior.

Water sports? Foreshore

Compass Helicopters boss and chief pilot Graeme Thomas is selling his six-bedroom Lake Macquarie mansion, north of Sydney. Positioned on 2.73ha, the property fronts 7 Foreshore Street, Eraring, and offers direct access to the lake. Multiple living areas include a bar, cellar, sauna, billiards room and a two-bedroom self-contained suite. McGrath Toukley agents Chris Smith and Mitchell Thomas (Graeme Thomas’s son) are handling the marketing campaign. The property includes a 14-car garage and will be auctioned on August 8. The agents say it is a mere one-hour’s drive from the northern Sydney suburb of Wahroonga. The lakeside record of $4.25m was set in January. “It will be a shame to sell it but we are moving to a new acreage property in the local area,” Graeme Thomas said. He bought the property five years ago for $1.58m, according to public records, and has since undertaken a full renovation. “Everything has been done including the driveways, landscaping and the gardens,” Mr Thomas said. Lake Macquarie is well known for its water sports, including fishing. “It is the biggest saltwater lake in the southern hemisphere. The site is irreplaceable.”