Low-key McDonald’s moguls list their exquisite $30m Central Coast home

Little known McDonald’s moguls Gavin McLeod and his wife Raylee Joyce have listed their exquisite rebuild on Wamberal’s beachfront with a guide of $30 million, which would reset the Central Coast record by a country mile.

No expenses have been spared on Ocean House, a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom property that was a four-year passion project for the couple after they knocked down the former home they bought for $3.95 million in 2019.

The Wamberal beachfront has been entirely rebuilt into an architectural luxury.Credit: Luke Shadbolt

The White + Dickson Architects design is a sight to behold not only for its expansive views of the ocean but for its meticulous engineering and high-end Tecorp build throughout the home.

A long list of high-end finishes and state-of-the-art features are included on the 1000-square-metre block. Perhaps the most impressive is the geothermal system that heats and cools the home sustainably all year round.

If the beachfront access wasn’t enough, the luxury home also includes a swimming pool, spa, gym, cellar, and a lift through the three-storey house.

At the height of their business, Gavin and Raylee owned 10 McDonald’s, from the Central Coast to Newcastle. But the couple started at the bottom of the fast food chain, as casuals on the front counter in their first jobs, working their way up over the years, with Raylee becoming senior vice president at one point, McLeod said.

The home was a passion project.

They eventually left the corporate side of the business to become owner-operators, buying their first McDonald’s in 2010. After almost four decades with the company, the pair sold the last four of their restaurants in 2023.

While they consider themselves retired now, Gavin and Raylee enjoyed their first big major rebuild so much so that they are hoping to develop their next site in Terrigal.

“I definitely love architecture, I love the drawings of design, even through McDonald’s renovations in the restaurants; I love looking at floor plans and optimising layouts and where you go,” McLeod said.

The Central Coast locals, who have dabbled in property renovations and flipping on the side, will stay in the area, where they also own a $4.6 million acreage in Matcham.

The Wamberal property is being sold through Tim Andrews and Matthew Farrugia of LJ Hooker Terrigal.

A sale at this level would reset the area record by almost double. The current record on the Central Coast is $16.2 million in Wagstaffe, set in 2022.

Darling Point newcomers

There are two new neighbours in Darling Point after long-time locals sold within weeks of each other.

Sue Ingham, of the Ingham chicken empire family.Credit: Mark Stanley

Sue Ingham, of the Ingham chicken empire, has sold her five-bedroom, three-bathroom manor on the exclusive peninsula for $14.05 million through David Malouf of Highland Double Bay.

The billionaire heiress, who was downsizing but sad to be leaving, bought the home for $7.8 million in 2009.

Updated property records reveal Agape Pappas, who works at Electrolux, and her husband William Pappas as the buyers. They picked it up for somewhat of a discount through buyer’s agent Simon Cohen as it was first listed with hopes of $18 million earlier in 2024.

The Pappas family have moved over from Bellevue Hill where they sold their extensively renovated house with city skyline views for $17.5 million through Elliott Placks of Ray White Double Bay.

The stunning redesign of Finney and Badenoch’s Darling Point home.Credit:

Their home last sold for $5.088 million in 2015, more than tripling in price in the nine years the Pappas family owned it.

Nearby, James Finney, of Burton Property, and partner Marion Badenoch have also sold their Federation home for above the price guide of $20 million through Michael and James Dunn of Richardson & Wrench Double Bay, who remained tight-lipped on the new owners.

Linden was impeccably redesigned by Hancock Architects with custom interiors by Handelsmann + Khaw in the time the couple owned the property. They purchased the 727-square-metre block for $5.9 million in 2016.

The couple, who are still looking for a home to relocate to in the eastern suburbs, decided to capitalise on the strength of last year’s market.

Manly’s marine lovers

In Manly, former Colgate-Palmolive executive Dorset Sutton and his wife Jenny Lim are downsizing from their waterfront home overlooking Little Manly Cove with hopes of $12 million.

The Suttons’ waterfront house overlooking Little Manly CoveCredit:

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom house has panoramic views from Little Manly Cove to the eastern suburbs and is a short stroll to Manly.

The couple, who purchased the home for $4 million in 2005, have been passionate environmentalists in the area over the years.

Their instrumental work includes building the seawalls in Little Manly Cove, Shelley Beach and Cabbage Tree Bay, which helps rebuild complex marine communities. Their work with the Sydney Institute of Marine Science was selected as a finalist in Prince William’s inaugural Earthshot Prize in the ocean category.

It is being sold through Jake Rowe of The Agency Northern Beaches.