Brisbane mansion sold for record price just hours before Christmas
This stunning mansion was built by the man behind Breakfast Creek Wharf and then taken on by doctor and board games creator Peter Hawes who put it through multiple designer renovations costing millions.
A riverfront mansion built on land once owned by former mayor Clem Jones has sold just hours before Christmas, equalling this year’s record price fetched by Brisbane’s most expensive home.
Ray White Ascot principal Dwight Ferguson confirmed that 154 Virginia Avenue, Hawthorne, had gone unconditional at $15m in a private treaty deal which equals the highest price paid in Brisbane this year for 1 Leopard Street, Kangaroo Point.
Mr Ferguson took the home to market with Ray White Ascot colleague Khaela Hawes, who is the daughter of the Hawthorne property’s owner Peter Hawes.
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The colours were toned down during a two-year renovation to make the home minimalist.
The home’s pontoon was once home berth for cricketer Jeff Thompson’s charter boat “Queenslander”.
Peter Hawes and his wife Dominika Deckert at their home which has equalled the 2021 Brisbane sales record of $15m. Picture:/Attila Csaszar
A local buyer is understood to be the new owner of the Virginia Avenue mansion, though no details could be obtained as yet.
The Hawthorne home, owned by doctor and board games designer Peter Hawes for the past 24 years, covers a massive 2,110sq m, with its own tennis court and private beach.
It has been home to a host of Brisbane A-listers, having been built by flamboyant Park Rd developer James Penny in 1985, the pontoon area was once cricketer Jeff Thompson’s home berth for his charter boat “Queenslander”, and the site itself previously housed former Brisbane mayor Clem Jones whom the $3.2b M7 Clem Jones Tunnel is named after.
The home has strong street appeal.
Perfect for summer.
Among the big dollars spent on the waterfront in Hawthorne was $18.5m paid by Gina Rinehart in 2017 for a multi-sale involving six blocks around and including her Aaron Avenue mansion.
The all time Brisbane record price for a home is $18,488,888 which was paid for 1 Leopard Street, Kangaroo Point, in 2016 – and it was that buyer that went on to sell for $15m in May this year – a price that’s now been matched by 154 Virginia Avenue.
The Leopard Street record holder took a $3.488888m cut off the price he’d paid after a 2020 deal fell through, allowing Broncos chairman Karl Morris and wife Louise to move in with a $15m offer which was accepted.
Mr Morris had sold his riverfront home at 1 King Arthur Terrace in Tennyson in 2019 off-market for $17.6m, allowing him to bank a tidy $2.6m changing homes.
The redone pool zone. Picture: Attila Csaszar.
Tropical luxury.
Mr Ferguson said the Hawthorne site was one of the best in the city and the property had been completely renovated “from top to bottom” – twice in fact by engaging renowned Brisbane designer John Croft.
According to CoreLogic records, Mr Hawes paid $2.276m for the Hawthorne property in 1997, which is also about as much as he put into his second major renovation of the home a couple of years ago.
The home was listed for sale last year and continued to be marketed through private negotiation. At the time Mr Hawes said for he and his wife Dominika Deckert “the thought of leaving is a bit strange but if this year has taught us anything it’s to seize opportunities and be bold so we’ve decided on a seachange”.
Rooftop entertainment zone with bar.
Designed John Croft helped create a more minimalist feel across the home,
“I will have a tear in my eye when we leave after spending more than 20 years in the house but I hope the next owners enjoy the house, all the facilities and the lifestyle it brings as much as I have.”
He had found the home by chance more than two decades ago after spotting an advertisement in a newspaper real estate section.
“We hardly ever go to McDonalds but for some reason we were there that day and I saw a ragged newspaper in the corner, picked it up and opened it up to the real estate section and that was that.”
Behind the iconic arched window is a master bedroom.
Work from home space sorted.
“The house really intrigued me, I was drawn to the arched window and living on the river near to the city was attractive so I made it my ambition to buy the house and had a viewing that same day,” he said in a statement.
He had Brisbane designer John Croft restyle and renovate the mega-mansion after he bought it, and then asked him back in 2018 to make the home more minimalist – which he did during a two-year renovation program.
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“We decided to paint the inside and outside and replaced 1000sq m of tiling with European limestone, which was a major undertaking. The house had a complete colour change with every internal wall and the entire outside being brought up to date with the latest colour palette. John Croft came back and while he is famous for his wild and bold colours, he changed direction and recommended we use neutral colours like Charcoal and Whisper White.”
One of the designer bathrooms in the massive home.
Ready to host the biggest of families. Picture: Attila Csaszar.
Among its many charms, the home has an entire level dedicated to entertaining, with a wine tasting area and rooftop bar that has 360 degree views of Brisbane, and it also has its own gym, resort style pool, waterfall, barbecue zone, undercover daybed area, with smart tech throughout the home including six separate music zones.