Julie Trethowan pays $24m for Barangaroo apartment

A long-time friend and employee of the late media mogul Kerry Packer has forked out $24m for an apartment in Crown’s exclusive tower.

A long time friend and employee of the late media mogul Kerry Packer, has forked out $24m for an apartment in Crown’s Barangaroo tower, where Mr Packer’s son James also owns a unit which he purchased for $72.229m.

Julie Trethowan who worked for Mr Packer for more than 20 years purchased the apartment in October, according to CoreLogic data, settling the acquisition on March 25, 2022.

She joins other rich listers and luminaries in the tower dominating Sydney Harbour, including Trevor Rowe, a former managing director of Rothschild Bank who paid $13m and retired bookie Bob Blann who spent $41m.

Ms Trethowan recently listed her waterfront penthouse in nearby Elizabeth Bay that was for decades renowned as the private retreat of Mr Kerry Packer. It hit the market last November through Pillinger’s Brad Pillinger with buyers reportedly at the $25 million mark and is understood to be close to selling.

The two-level Toft Monks penthouse atop the 1960s waterfront building is an amalgamation of two apartments purchased first in 1979 and then 20 years later when a state politician sold Mr Packer his penthouse for $4 million.

A renovation and consolidation of the level 12 and level 13 apartments has since taken place including the construction of a private lift and an internal staircase. The three bedroom apartment sports parking for five cars as well as two kitchens and two lounges.

Meanwhile, Ms Trethowan, who ran the Hyde Park Club from the bottom of Mr Packer’s former office on Sydney’s Park Street, is understood to have retained her long-held Whale Beach house, north of the Sydney CBD, which was purchased for $1.35 million more than 30 years ago.

Barangaroo selling agent Knight Frank’s partner Erin van Tuil will not comment on how many units remain for sale in the 82-apartment Barangaroo tower.

Sydney businessman Milan Debelak, the co founder and managing director of lift company Liftronic has just forked out $13.4m buying a 240sqm apartment in the tower. The apartment initially sold for $12.5m.

However, the most expensive apartment in the complex atop the Crown hotel, gaming complex and 13 restaurants is still for sale. The two-level six bedroom unit which covers more than 800sqm of space is for sale through Knight Frank.

More than 65 apartments have sold in the tower designed by architect WilkinsonEyre and completed around 12 months ago.

Other Barangaroo buyers include Australian and New Zealand based investor Ian Campbell, the owner of a clearing house for superannuation, SuperChoice forking out $13.4m for a three bedroom and four bathroom apartment.