Alluring Outlooks On Water

Newcastle Herald

Saturday March 29, 2008

SNIPPETS SARAH-KATE SCICLUNA

THE Toronto waterfront home of former Hunter Area Health Service boss Katherine McGrath and her surgeon husband Stephen Clarke has sold for $2.15 million to Sydney builder Robert Cole and his wife Ainsley.

Sold through Avery First National's Bruce Avery, the 1906-built house (with separate guest accommodation) at 13 Hunter Street, known as Hunter Lodge, passed in on a vendor bid of $2.2 million at auction 18 months ago.

Following the auction, which Mr Cole attended, a price of $2.5 million was set.

Ms McGrath and Mr Clarke bought the property 10 years ago for $850,000 through Mr Avery before commissioning acclaimed architect Shane Blue to help with renovations.

Mr Avery had previously sold the house in 1989 for $700,000, setting a Lake Macquarie record at the time.

Points of viewTHE former owners of the Mayfield newsagency voted the best in Australia, Max and Margaret Cornally, have listed their Kilaben Bay waterfront for sale for $1.495 million through PRD Nationwide Newcastle's Mark Kentwell and Ray White Toronto's Brad Thornton.

At 106 Kilaben Bay Road and with views to Coal Point, Rathmines and Styles Point, the 1970s five-bedroom, three-bathroom house passed in with no bids at its December auction through LJ Hooker Toronto.

On 3230 square metres, the house has been in the family since 1953.

It has an in-ground pool, large undercover entertaining area and rumpus room connecting it to an additional self-contained unit.

Mr Kentwell said the property had subdivision potential, with each lot having water views because of the sloping block. There was driveway access from the road to the water's edge.

The couple are selling to move to Wallalong in the Lower Hunter to be closer to their daughter.

The house is open today from 11am to 11.30am and tomorrow from 3pm to 3.30pm.

Merewether belleMINING business Bramco Electronics managing director Mark Leishman and his wife Kath have listed their French provincial-styled Merewether house for sale for $969,000 through Robinson Property's Lyndall Allan.

Bought by the couple five years ago and at 73 Kenrick Street, the 1920s house has four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Mr Leishman said the pair had converted the house from a modern renovation to its current charm.

They took out its aluminium windows and doors and installed french doors, laid whitewash timber floorboards and remodelled two bathrooms to suit the rest of the decor.

The gardens were also changed to cottage-style, with hedging. A cabana and covered entertaining area is off an in-ground pool.

The house is open today from noon to 12.30pm.

Remarkable domeA GEORGETOWN house in the one family for the past 50 years has been listed for sale for $319,950 through Robinson Property's Darren Bender. Built in the 1940s and being sold by the three children of Margaret Eather, it has a spectacular domed ceiling in the lounge room, one of the best Mr Bender had seen in Newcastle.

In original condition and on 409 square metres at 64 Chatham Road, it has two bedrooms, two sunrooms and an eat-in kitchen.

Mr Bender said the lounge room, originally a bedroom, could be converted back into a third bedroom.

With entrances at the front and side, the house has a leadlight bay window at the front and picture rails and decorative ceilings throughout.

Robyn McGregor, who is selling the house with her brother Noel Eather and sister Joanne Hewitt, said their mother was moving to a nursing hostel.

The house is open today from 11.45am to 12.15pm.

Chief attractionNEWCASTLE football great Paul Harragon will officially open the first release of the 700-lot master-planned Sanctuary Estate at Fletcher at 10am today.

Fifty lots of the 118-hectare former farming land off Minmi Road will be released, with about half already sold through a VIP sales program.

The display village will feature two houses from each of the four builders Rawson, Huxley, Kingstone and Eden Brae.

Packages will start at $360,000 for a freestanding house on a Torrens title site.

The opening will be followed by a family fun day, also hosted by Harragon.

Cover price cutFLORAVILLE couple Dean Jones and Jeni Black have dropped the price of their sleek home with views to Wangi Wangi (the Domain cover house of January 19) to $849,950 from $899,000.

At 9 Franciska Close, the Warren Anstiss-designed split-level house has CraftStone feature walls in the foyer and kitchen and as the backdrop to an eye-catching lap pool.

The house has raked ceilings, blackbutt timber floors and verandas front and back. The living areas and main bedroom are upstairs, with additional bedrooms and a rumpus room overlooking the pool downstairs.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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