Property developer Ben Moore lists Brisbane mansion after transformation

Stripped down to its bare bones, a light bulb moment in 2015 has led to a spectacular conversion of this palatial Brisbane River home by its property developer owner.

Property developer Ben Moore and his wife Kirstie are selling their riverfront home in Hawthorne. Picture: Glenn Hunt.

Ben and Kirstie Moore bought their home on the Brisbane River when looking for a new project.

Upon walking through the doors of the Hawthorne property for the first time in 2015, they saw huge potential in the three-level mansion to create the perfect family home.

Positioned on a battleaxe block and set directly on the river’s edge along one of the city’s most prestigious streets, 132 Virginia Ave, Hawthorne, was designed to elevate the property to one worthy of sitting in such a premium location.

Mr Moore said around 90 per cent of the home was stripped down to the bare bones to improve and “add value” to the property through upgraded features and an improved floor plan.

The property on the Brisbane River has a $15m guide.

“It was just expanding on making the living areas better,” he said. “For example, the ground floor has been reconfigured. What once was a large, cut off office is now a living room and where the caterer’s kitchen is now was originally the laundry, which has now been moved to the top floor.”

The open plan kitchen, dining and living room area on the lower level opens out directly to the back via bi-fold doors which also makes it an entertainer’s dream property.

“Party central,” corrected Mr Moore.

Whether an intimate gathering or one with hundreds of people (in pre-Covid times), there is plenty of room for guests to feel comfortable. Overlooking 27m of absolute private water frontage with its own pontoon, manicured lawns and a saltwater pool, several breakout spaces were integrated into the patio, including a 16-seat built-in natural concrete fire pit.

The tucked away caterer’s kitchen means food can seemingly appear from nowhere as chefs and servers work diligently away from festivities.

For those who prefer to do the cooking themselves, they can have plenty of fun with the teppanyaki hotplate, a part of the standard kitchen fit out of De Dietrich appliances built into the Calacatta Statuario marble bench top back lit by LED lights.

The home has 27m water frontage with its own pontoon.

Ms Moore added the home is ideal for younger families because you can watch the kids in the backyard and the pool while you are in the kitchen.

Blood, sweat and tears went into renovation, with Ms Moore needing to go to the hospital on one occasion after badly injuring her finger on a crystal while hand making the large chandelier that hangs in the entryway of the property. “I designed it for the space,” Ms Moore explained. “Something big and grand.”

The entry of the home is on the top level, with the shining chandelier set against a wall of red and earth toned Onyx stone. Also on the top level is the master bedroom and multipurpose gym or office space which overlooks the river.

The middle level is the kids or guest retreat, with its own sitting room and four bedrooms with individual ensuites. Each level is connected by an eight person lift. The home also has ample space to garage four cars.

Most room have some sort of view.

Since it was listed last week, 132 Virginia Ave quickly became the most viewed property on Realestate.com.au in the Brisbane area. The Agency’s Garry Price and Kyle Pitman are marketing the property with a price guide of $15m.

The couple own an apartment down the Gold Coast which they visit most weekends and will likely be their temporary base.

In the longer term, Mr Moore – who currently owns and manages the Tamawood/Dixon Homes commercial building at Rocklea – is planning to build a 15 level tower at Kangaroo Point and retain the top three levels as the family home.

“It’s all about the view,” Mr Moore said. “The next project I’m looking at doing, we will still have that river view, really it’s just substituting one for the other.”

Prior to the move into property, he co-founded the Queensland-based telecommunications group Vaya, which was merged with publicly listed Amaysim in 2016. Optus acquired Amaysim 12 months ago for $250m.