Robyn Boyd South Yarra penthouse snapped up

The eastern penthouse of the Robin Boyd-designed South Yarra complex, overlooking the Royal Botanic Gardens, has sold.

The 1980s Palladian villa at Dalkeith.

The eastern penthouse of the Robin Boyd-designed South Yarra complex, overlooking the Royal Botanic Gardens, was snapped up mid-week. It’s still-intact kitchen and bathrooms illustrated 1962 ideas in Domain Park, the iconic modernist residential tower. Its original David Jones furnishings have disappeared. The 18th floor apartment sold through Jellis Craig agent Iain Carmichael, who was telling buyers well over $3m was expected for the 165sq m space. The top floor Domain Road apartment last sold when bought from clothing store chain operator Norman Rockman and wife Susie. Boyd died in 1971, only 52, and left a legacy of 158 houses.

Duclos tunes out for $3.6m

Former radio presenter Brigitte Duclos sold her 1900 Melbourne home at auction last weekend for $3.63m. She bought the five-bedroom Edwardian home in Middle Park for $2,012,500 when she was the Triple M breakfast show host. Her most recent stint was as Brig & Lehmo on Gold 104.3 until late 2015. The property on 300sq m sold through Greg Hocking and John Holdsworth of Greg Hocking Holdsworth.

European elegance

One of Perth’s true trophy homes, a 1980s Palladian villa at Dalkeith, is under contract after having $20m hopes. It was listed by livestock exporting Wellard’s Mauro Balzarini and wife Giovanna, who paid $12.25m for the mansion in 2006. Selling agent William Porteous described it as “the epitome of European elegance”. The entrance hall is crowned by a domed cupola and it comes with antique French chandelier sourced from a Russian palace. The estate is no longer a riverfront, as it was when built over four years in the late 1980s by the late Bond Corp executive Peter Beckwith at a reported $9m. The Jutland Parade property first sold for $8.5m in 1996 by Beckwith’s widow Valerie, after she struck a deed of settlement with his bankruptcy administrators. It was Michael Boyd who divided the estate, selling the riverfront croquet garden for $5.6m in 2004 and the house for $7m in 2005.

Hintze ploughs in $9m for farm

Expatriate Australian billionaire Michael Hintze has spent some small change to buy another Queensland farm for $9m. The London-based hedge fund founder has amassed one of Australia’s biggest farm portfolios, with acquisitions totalling 50,000ha since 2007 through his super fund. It has spent about $150m on the land and water purchases. Hintze’s buying spree began when he spent $12.5m for a Breadalbane property in 2007.

McGuire moves on

And don’t say I told you but tennis mum Brigette McGuire, the managing director of McGuire Marketing, has recently upgraded Melbourne homes. It’s a double-fronted Victorian era home on bluestone foundations in Hawthorn, traded for the first time in six decades. For $3.6m, the 1300sq m property was marketed by Kay & Burton as having space for a pool and court. The McGuires’ Brighton home sold for $3m.