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Salim Mehajer’s Lidcombe home listed for mortgagee-in-possession sale
By Lucy Macken
If there is a hotly anticipated listing on the spring sales calendar, it has to be the Lidcombe home of colourful former Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer.
But it won’t be Mehajer cashing in on the four-storey mansion with 13-car garage, swimming pool, spa, Swarovski crystal chandelier and the Persian onyx staircase that featured in a music video by rapper Bow Wow. It’ll be his bank.
The house that Salim Mehajer built in Lidcombe is set to hit the market this Spring.Credit: Domain
The six-bedroom house is being prepared for sale after Joseph Hansell and David McGrath, of FTI Consulting, were appointed as agents for the National Australia Bank as mortgagee in possession.
It is no doubt a less celebratory milestone in the well-documented life of Mehajer since he bought the property for $565,000 in 2007, peaked in civic leadership as Auburn’s deputy mayor and made national news for his lavish wedding ceremony in 2015 to former beautician Aysha (known since their divorce as April Learmonth).
Salim Mehajer attending Downing Centre Local Court.Credit: Janie Barrett
That’s the wedding at which there were four helicopters, a fighter jet, a film crew and a troupe of drummers in attendance, as well as herds of bikers and dozens of Rolls Royces, Ferraris and Lamborghinis that forced the closure of the street outside Mehajer’s home and earnt him a $220 traffic fine.
Mehajer’s fortunes have taken a few hits since then. In 2018, he was convicted of electoral fraud, for which he served 11 months in jail. In the same year, he was declared bankrupt by the Federal Circuit Court after a liquidator’s petition was supported by the tax office and a Greenacre-based marble company owed almost $600,000 for elaborate stonework at the Lidcombe home.
The house was advertised for lease in 2017 for almost $3000 a week.
The Persian onyx staircase featured in the Too Real music video by rapper Bow Wow.Credit: Domain
Meanwhile, Mehajer’s former investment property, also in Lidcombe, has been sold mortgagee-in-possession by FTI Consulting, settling recently with Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club for $2.1 million.
Bought by Mehajer in 2013 for $857,500 and demolished a few years ago, it sold as vacant land to become part of Dooleys’ Concourse at Lidcombe hospitality development.
Reality real estate
The North Bondi home of Ben and Catherine Davies is up for sale for $4 million.Credit: Domain
TV producer Ben Davies, whose TV hits include Bondi Rescue, Here Come the Habibs and Big Miracles, and his wife Catherine have listed their North Bondi home ahead of a September 14 auction.
Richardson & Wrench’s Jason Boon has set a $4 million guide, reflecting both soaring capital growth since they bought it in 2007 for $1 million and a major redesign and extension in more recent years.
ITV Studios Australia chief executive David Mott.Credit: Marius Luppino
Still with our TV executive class, ITV Studios Australia chief executive David Mott and his wife, former publicist Wendy Mott, have listed their Darling Point apartment.
The couple bought the four-bedder in the Karinya triplex in 2019 for $5.25 million when they moved from Rose Bay.
It was last owned by Katie and Earl Evans, the stockbroking and wealth management boss, who had discounted it by $1 million from the original ask.
It goes to auction on September 19.
The Darling Point apartment of Wendy and David Mott goes to auction on September 19.Credit: Domain
Banking on Killara
In Killara, the home of recently retired Bank of Queensland senior executive Paul Newham and his wife, Helen, has sold quietly after quick-fire interest from three parties.
The six-bedroom house with tennis court and pool on almost 2000 square metres cost the Newhams $5.525 million in 2016 and has had a few cosmetic upgrades since then.
Sotheby’s Scott Farquhar had guided $12.5 million before it sold for what local sources say was $13.8 million.
Lendlease’s head of private equity Paul Snushall and wife Lisa have given Farquhar the job of selling their landmark Killara home, The Grange, asking $13 million.
The Grange at Killara is being sold by Paul and Lisa Snushall with a $13 million guide.Credit: Domain
The 1935-built residence with tennis court, pool, cinema room and billiard room was last owned by former Stockland chief Matthew Quinn and his wife, Julie, who sold to the Snushalls in 2009 for $5.5 million.
Pastoral matters
Little Minnows at Bowral last traded five years ago for $5 million.Credit: Domain
Pastoralist Roy Chisholm, whose late father Tony Chisholm was the godson of King Edward VIII, has put his Little Minnows cattle property in Bowral up for sale for $9.5 million.
This is the property that Chisholm bought as something of a downsize a few years after he sold the family’s Northern Territory Napperby Station for $20 million.
The Chisholm family’s royal connection was first revealed by the Australian Women’s Weekly in 1936. The story, never substantiated, stemmed from reports Chisholm’s grandmother Mollee Little was the King’s favourite dance partner when he visited Australia as the Prince of Wales in 1920.
Little Minnows last traded in 2019 for $5 million when sold by veteran fund manager John Murray and his wife, Catherine. Forbes’ Richard Royle is asking $9.5 million.