Ruthvens up sticks for Elwin in Brighton

Elwin, the vastly extended 1880s Brighton home, has been sold for $11.8 million to Samantha Ruthven.

The Trinity Beach property, which is for sale again.

Elwin, the vastly extended 1880s Brighton home, has been sold for $11.8 million to Samantha Ruthven, the wife of IBISWorld managing director Justin Ruthven. Last traded for $5.125m in 2010, Elwin had an initial $13m price guide after a modern extension was added to the original red brick home. Buxton Brighton Real Estate agents Halli Moore and Sonja Sendin handled the marketing. Elwin was built for portraitist Edward a’Beckett, the first pupil on the Melbourne Grammar School roll, who then studied at London’s Royal Academy of Arts. The extension is connected to the original home by a double-storey glazed linkway. The Buxton agency sold the Ruthvens nearby Brighton home ahead of this weekend’s scheduled auction. It was listed with hopes of $2.5m-$2.7m.

Relisting for Trinity Beach home

The Trinity Beach trophy home belonging to Otto Buttula, one of the pioneers of boutique fund management, and wife Virginia, has been re-listed for sale. It had been listed with $10m hopes in 2016. Now Abercromby’s agent Jock Langley is asking $6m-$6.6m for the retreat, north of Cairns, relaunching the campaign with a video produced by GoldenEye Media. The couple bought the beachfront estate in 2008, a year after Otto sold his online share brokerage IWL to Commonwealth Bank. The tropical haven was sold by New Zealand entrepreneur Josef Roberts,who introduced Australians to Red Bull. Set on a vast 7585sq m of beachfront land, the residence has two outdoor bars, which look out over the sea. The five-bedroom, six-bathroom home has a safari-themed den, a library, gym, sauna and golf practice range.

Views from the Forrest

There’s been a $4.5m sale in Canberra’s Forrest. From the Tasmania Circle home’s upper level one can see the flag fluttering atop Parliament House. The five-bedroom home on 2110sq m also has views of Lake Burley Griffin and Black Mountain tower. The grounds come with a north-south tennis court and solar-heated pool and spa. It was offered by Spiro Patios and wife Nina, who have owned it since paying $3.7m in 2010. The home, built in 1998, was initially listed in 2017 at $5.195m. Luton Properties agents Richard and Sophie Luton sold the home.

A wave goodbye to Wavell Heights

Maxine Horne, one of Australia’s richest female executives, is offloading one of her Brisbane investment properties. She’s possibly set to make a small loss on the Wavell Heights home, which cost $650,000 in 2015. She’s asking for offers of more than $645,000. The 1950s home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and two living areas across its two levels. Ray White Bridgeman Downs agents Sonya Treloar and Lauren Ellis have the listing. Horne calls a three-level riverfront in New Farm home, having paid $10.5m in 2016. Horne co-founded mobile phone retailer Vita Group. She sold $42m worth of shares in 2016. She is still the company’s CEO.

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