One photographer documents a crumbling past.
A derelict waterfront mansion in Mosman, that had been left abandoned for decades, has sold for $6.6 million.
The crumbling mansion owned by the estate of Anthony Carlton Parer, who died last year, sold to a Sydney-based Chinese buyer on Thursday evening.
On the Mosman foreshore where designer statement homes with manicured gardens and swimming pools compete for the best views over Sydney Harbour, the Morella mansion has been a standout for all the wrong reasons.
An abandoned mansion at 5 Morella Road, Mosman, was built in 1939 and featured in Australian Home Beautiful magazine in 1943.
Built in 1939 for the prominent Parer family, who bought the site three years earlier for £500, the once-grand art deco property has fallen into disrepair in recent decades.
Over the years, locals have lodged safety concerns with Mosman Council about the property which has crumbling walls, an overgrown garden that extends inside and missing floors.
While the empty home became the target of squatters and graffiti artists who left their marks all over the mansion, its former grandeur can still be seen in its detailed brick work bearing its name, curved walls and circular loggia with short pillars.
Morella has crumbling walls, an overgrown garden that extends inside, missing floors and graffiti art on the walls. Photo: Droneworx
It has now been sold by Daniel McGirr, of McGirr Lawyers, on behalf of Parer’s estate.
Despite the state of the home, the 865-square-metre property sold by Geoff Smith and Richard Harding, of LJ Hooker Mosman, attracted strong interest thanks to its prime position on waterfront reserve on Chowder Bay.
“It’s certainly one of the most original houses we’ve ever sold,” Smith said. “But given the location and the views it did attract good interest throughout the campaign.”
The property which was built in 1939, featured in Australian Home Beautiful magazine in 1943. Photo: Supplied
Four registered bidders vied for the property auctioned on Thursday by David Scholes. Although there were no takers for an opening bid of $7 million, spirited bidding began once Scholes dropped the bid to $6 million, News Corp reported.
The winning bid reportedly went to Edward Wei, a young man from China who was supported by family members.
Smith said the buyer was very happy with his purchase, but he didn’t know what the man had planned for the property.
“It certainly needs a lot of work, there’s a lot to be done,” Smith said. “At this stage they’re going to take their time and work out what they want to do with it.”
While the sale price fell well short of the preliminary guide of $7.3 million to $8 million, Smith said the seller was happy with it.