Blues footy boss and ex-PwC chief executive Luke Sayers and wife Cate have sold their Hawthorn East mansion for more than $16.5m.
The couple put the circa-1880s house, named Strathnaver, on the market in October with a $15.m-$16.5m asking range.
Both Marshall White group sales director John Bongiorno and director James Tostevin
declined to comment on the sold price, but industry sources put the figure at more than advertised.
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Mr Sayers served as international consultancy firm PwC’s head honcho for eight years but left in 2020 to start the investment and advisory business Sayers Group.
Since 2021, he has been Carlton’s president.
The Sayers renovated the seven-bedroom house, after they bought it almost two decades ago for $4.84m, records show.
Strathnaver boasts a 2021sq m garden created by well-known landscape designer Paul Bangay.
There are also a three-storey tower with Melbourne CBD skyline views and a 15m-long heated pool and spa, adjacent to a two-storey pool house
One outdoor dining area contains a barbecue, while a second features a wood-fired stone pizza oven and a third has a water fountain.
Indoors, there are a wine room, gym, study and lounge area, formal dining and sitting rooms that open to the garden, a food servery, two powder rooms and laundry with a chute.
The marble- and stainless-steel-fitted kitchen has Miele appliances and a large butler’s pantry.
Upstairs, the main bedroom features a dressing room, an ensuite and balcony.
Mr Bongiorno said described the seven-bedroom abode, measuring 709sq m, as “one of Melbourne’s best properties.”
Mr Tostevin said the grand residence’s interior warmth and ambience, impressive garden and ivy-covered facade had won over purchasers, with Strathnaver attracting multiple offers from buyers before its expressions of interest process ended.
“A lot of people commented on how much bigger the house looked inside, even with the impressive facade,” Mr Tostevin said.
He said overseas-based buyers had inquired about the mansion but it ended up selling to a local family.
Another impressive Hawthorn East house that’s also up for sale in the area is a four-bedroom residence at 29A Leura Grove.
With a $8.5m-$9.2m asking range, the home recently built by design and build company Mazzei showcases a hallway with a dual-level void.
The kitchen is equipped with a butler’s pantry and a concealed workstation and bar.
Stacker doors lead to an elevated terrace and self-cleaning, horizon-edged pool and spa.
In the basement level, there are a home cinema with a bar, wine cellar, powder room and storage space.
The first floor has views from Mt Macedon to Melbourne, with a main bedroom including a dressing room, ensuite and balcony.
Kay & Burton’s Sam Wilkinson said the property had been “very well inspected” ahead of its private auction at December 12.
“At the top end of the market in the last month, in the $10m-plus space, we’ve had quite a number of transactions, that’s probably an improvement on what we’ve seen in the last few months,” Mr Wilkinson said.
“There’s still some heat, or energy, in the market as Christmas approaches.”
Mr Wilkinson said that most turnkey houses in good locations were attracting multiple buyers, including local families, expatriates returning to Australia and internationally-based purchasers.
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