Vaucluse house back on the market for $15m within a year

Property watchers of the Vaucluse prestige housing market will recognise the historical Vaucluse residence Vue de La Cote – and not just for its classic Spanish mission-style. It may be better remembered for its enduring sales campaigns from 2013 through to 2018 when it finally sold through a protracted settlement to businessman John Shaw.

But despite settling in Shaw’s name last June, less than a year later the heritage-listed property has returned to the market, this time with a guide of about $15 million, through LJ Hooker Double Bay’s father and son team Bill and David Malouf.

The majestic two-storey house was designed by F. Glynn Gilling and built in 1932 for match manufacturer Paul Volkmere Buelens in the classic Spanish mission-style on what is now almost 1200 square metes with uninterrupted views over Sydney Harbour.

Buelens held onto the Gilliver Avenue property until he died in 1970 and it was subsequently owned by property developer Peter Aroney before former restaurateurs Leo and Vicki Varvaritis purchased it for $880,000 in 1984 when their Double Bay establishment Georges was at the height of its fame.

The Varvaritis family listed the family home in 2013 with $8 million hopes, but raised them to $12.8 million in 2016 .

Soon after, it was reported as sold by Domain in 2018 a caveat was lodged on title by Mr Shaw, the boss of Magic Door Industries, and a DA was lodged with Woollahra Council to modernise the property, complete with a new lift to the garage.

At the time of the purchase of Vue de La Cote for about $12 million, Shaw listed his former Vaucluse home on nearby Carrara Road for $15 million, but ended up selling it for $7.5 million in August last year to Paul Cochineas, chief operating officer of precious metal refiner Pallion.

Shaw had owned his former Vaucluse home for almost 40 years before he sold it, having purchased it for $425,000 in 1981 from the late architect Tom O’Mahony, husband of renowned concert pianist Mary O’Mahony.

Bill Malouf declined to offer explain why the property had returned to the market.