'weekender' Rich Pickings
Newcastle Herald
Monday February 25, 2008
QUEENSLAND mining magnate Nathan Tinkler is believed to have offered $4.25 million to buy Andrew Johns's Merewether mansion.
Johns is said to have accepted the offer early this month but contracts are yet to be exchanged. Mr Tinkler denied the sale yesterday, saying he "knew nothing about it". The house, in Berner Street, went onto the market with Robinson Property in October with a price tag of $4.5 million. It would be the latest splurge in the region for Brisbane-based Tinkler, thought to be wanting to buy Johns's house as a weekender. He paid more than $11 million for the Alanbridge and Riverslea studs in Scone, which he now operates as one stud called Patinack Farm, named after his grandfather's stud in Ireland. Mr Tinkler, who became a serious investor in the racing industry in only the past year, made headlines last month when he spent $6.92 million on 24 horses in two days at the Karaka Yearling Sales in New Zealand. If the house sale proceeds, it will be a record for Newcastle, quashing the $3.4 million record set by the sale of 39 Scenic Drive, Merewether, bought by builder Michael Lavis in December. Robinson Property director Guy Robinson refused to confirm a sale or status of a sale yesterday. "My instructions are not to say anything to anyone. I've got no authority to do so," he said. Johns's manager John Fordham said the house "hasn't sold at this stage. I can't make that clearer".The tri-level house overlooking Dixon Park Beach and designed by Killen + Doran Architects has a pool, gym and rumpus room with bar. Johns submitted plans to Newcastle City Council in February 2005 to knock down the original house on the site he bought 11 years ago for $480,000, and replaced it with the new house, thought to have cost around $750,000 to build.
© 2008 Newcastle Herald
