Former Commonwealth Bank exec lists delightful $12m Killara home

Commonwealth Bank’s former head of retail banking Michael Cant and his wife Katrina are selling their family home of almost 26 years in Killara with a price guide of $12 million.

The tightly held property, which is owned in Katrina’s name, is set on 1828 square metres. The beautifully kept circa-1918 built double-brick house has five bedrooms and three bathrooms, and the expansive parcel of land comes with its own swimming pool and tennis court.

Michael worked at Commonwealth Bank for almost two decades in a range of senior roles, including leading the corporate banking business. He also had a decent stint as a director of Aussie Home Loans.

The 57-year-old is now chief financial officer of Helia, a lender’s mortgage insurance company, as well as president and board member of Gordon Cricket Club. Meanwhile, Katrina was a director of Pymble Golf Club until 2022.

The Cants purchased the elegant upper north shore property for $1.27 million in 1999.

It is now being sold through an expression-of-interest campaign through Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty, whose Scott Farquhar declined to comment.

Billionaire family buys in Byron

Melbourne-based Stephen Hains, of the billionaire Hains family, has emerged as the buyer of orthopaedic surgeon Dr Stephen Rackemann’s Wategos Beach house. It sold around the $17 million price guide, with a sold sticker going up last week, local sources said.

A caveat was lodged on the Byron Bay beach pad by Swood Properties No 2 Pty Ltd, of which Stephen Hains is sole shareholder of the ultimate holding company.

Stephen, a 2024 Rich Lister who is the son of the late engineer-turned-financier David Hains, continues to run his Portland House family office.

David died in 2023 and was best known for restructuring US steelmaker Wheeling-Pittsburgh in the 1970s and for breeding champion horses from his Kingston Park Stud, including 1990 Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule, reported The Australian Financial Review, which estimated the Hains’ family wealth at $2.98 billion last year.

Stephen purchased it from Rackemann, who owned the home for 16 years. Rackemann, who is also owner and director of Hill View Aged Care, an aged care provider on the Gold Coast, purchased the oceanfront for $4,475,000.

The stunning four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Byron Bay with breathtaking ocean views was sold by Will Phillips of Sotheby’s Byron Bay who declined to comment.

David Hains’ family home in Melbourne sold for about $40 million last year. It was once home to Keith Murdoch, father of Rupert Murdoch, and dubbed by a local buyer’s agent as the “prettiest house in Toorak”.

Steel boss levels up

Hasan Kanji, of steel manufacturer Metroll, has finally sold his stunning three-bedroom, two-bathroom unit in the Opera Residences after a sold sticker went up on the listing.

It had been guided at $13.5 million, and Kanji had been looking for a buyer since last year.

While it is one of the highest apartment sales for the year so far, the 49-year-old purchased the unit in the landmark Tzannes-designed block only in 2021, for $13.5 million.

It was one of few upper-floor apartments with its own private terrace, decked out in high-end appliances and finishes, including oak floors, an exquisite marble kitchen and custom cabinetry.

It sold through Martin Ross and Darren Curtis of Christie’s International, who both declined to comment.

However, it looks like Kanji has levelled up within the building. He purchased the sub-penthouse for $16 million earlier last year with the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms but a better and more bird’s-eye view of Sydney Harbour.

Kanji is involved in a long list of companies, including as secretary of Gunnersen Allen Metals, a steel distribution and processing service located in Alton North, Melbourne, the company’s website says.

Harbour views

In Balmain East, the estate of the late celebrated costume designer Wendy Dickson is being sold with a price guide of $2.4 million.

Well-loved and admired in the arts community, Dickson had worked with Charlton Heston, Sam Neill and Meryl Streep among others. She contributed to numerous theatre and screen productions, including some at the Sydney Opera House, costume design on the set of Antony and Cleopatra and production design on The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith. She died last year.

The Broken Hill-born Dickson purchased the charming two-bedroom, two-bathroom inner west terrace for $905,000 in 2007.

With breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and sitting up against Peacock Point Reserve, the light-filled terrace has tall ceilings, sandstone walls and is within a short stroll of Balmain East cafes and village shops.

It is being sold through Cindy Kennedy of McGrath Balmain and is scheduled to go to auction on March 22.