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Downsizing retirees splash $40m in one day on Elizabeth Bay units

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Johnson, K. (2026, October 2). Downsizing retirees splash $40m in one day on Elizabeth Bay units. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/downsizing-retirees-splash-40m-in-one-day-on-elizabeth-bay-units-20261003-p6110v.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed

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The Sydney Morning Herald · collected 2026-10-02 · by Kristy Johnson

Quick Summary

Two apartments in Elizabeth Bay’s Billyard Avenue development sold for a combined $40 million on September 25 to downsizing retirees from Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Jason Boon and Geoff Cox of Richardson & Wrench confirmed both buyers were retirees selling properties they had recently purchased or owned, such as Peter Maher, who sold his Potts Point residence for $10 million in 2022. The apartments, designed by SJB architects with modern art deco elements, attracted high-profile buyers including Matt Allen and Chris Coudounaris. Boon highlighted Elizabeth Bay’s appeal due to its eclectic atmosphere reminiscent of New York's SoHo district, along with its proximity to hospitals, beaches, and the city center.
Written by AI on 2026-10-02, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

On September 25, two apartments in the Billyard Avenue development in Elizabeth Bay were sold for a combined total of $40 million. Both units, each with four bedrooms and bathrooms, were purchased by retirees. The real estate agents Jason Boon and Geoff Cox from Richardson & Wrench Elizabeth Bay and Potts Point facilitated these sales but declined to disclose the buyers' identities. One buyer confirmed is retired Macquarie banker Peter Maher, who previously sold properties worth $17 million in other Sydney locations earlier this year.

The high demand for units in Elizabeth Bay stems from its unique atmosphere rather than just pricing, according to Boon, likening it to New York's SoHo district. Notable corporate figures such as yachtie and Australian Olympic Committee vice president Matt Allen are also residents of the complex.

Written for “Retirees Buying Property Elizabeth Bay” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Retirees Buying Property Elizabeth Bay
Economy/Business · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

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How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
33
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
12%
4 of 33 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
61/100
The Sydney Morning Herald's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Economy/Business
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-10-02 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

The Sydney Morning Herald · 5654 article(s) · 15 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 15 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Kristy Johnson
11 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 “It’s not been an easy decision because I love Manly, and the unit is amazing and will never be replicated,” he said.
🔮 “We purchased Werrington House almost 15 years ago this week, determined to restore it to its former glory and take it to an entirely new level, sparing no expense in the process,” she said on Thursday. “We often reflect on what its previous occupants might have thought had they been able to see what the house would ultimately become.
🔮 Chen said the prized waterfront “will be highly sought after as the home itself is substantial and further enhanced by uninterrupted harbour views, a boat house and its own rare private jetty”.
🔮 Michael Pallier of Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty, who sold the residence alongside Pillinger’s Brad Pillinger, confirmed it sold for a figure around the $75 million guide, but would not divulge the exact sales price nor the buyer’s identity. However, a caveat on the title was lodged last week by Steven and Carol Moss.
🔮 William Brush of Manor Real Estate, who holds the Dural listing, declined to comment on the listing, vendors’ identities and decision to sell when contacted by this masthead. Inner-city living Angela Fleming, wife of the late Jim Fleming, who launched the Jewel supermarket chain, has bought into the new residential development at Castlereagh Street in the CBD, the former site of the David Jones menswear store. Settlement documents that emerged last month reveal Angela bought two four-bedroom, five-bathroom units, one for $15,215,000, and the other for $4.2 million.
🔮 One sold for $20.5 million and the other for $19.5 million, both to retirees. Jason Boon and Geoff Cox of Richardson & Wrench Elizabeth Bay and Potts Point sold both residences but could not divulge the buyers’ identities when contacted by this masthead.
🔮 Michael Pallier of Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty, who sold the residence alongside Pillinger’s Brad Pillinger, confirmed it sold for a figure around the latest guide but would not divulge the exact sales price nor the buyer’s identity. However, he did say the sale puts “confidence in the market” and that when there are price adjustments and vendors willing to meet the market, properties sell.
🔮 The sale comes after the Duncans in May last year paid $29.5 million for a Point Piper penthouse previously owned by Sue Ingham, widow of poultry business millionaire Jack Ingham.
🔮 It was briefly listed with another agency in May and is now on offer with the original agency with a guide of $19 million.
🔮 Will Phillips and Denzil Lloyd of Byron Bay Sotheby’s International Realty are accepting expressions of interest for the Hammonds’ residence.
Also by Kristy Johnson
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 11 articles by Kristy Johnson →

Topics

Elizabeth Bay Macquarie Potts Point Richardson & Wrench Elizabeth Bay Sydney

Subjects

Cleary PERSON · 4× Boon PERSON · 3× Maher PERSON · 2× Nathan Cleary PERSON · 2× Point Piper GPE · 2× Potts Point GPE · 2× Sydney GPE · 2× Elizabeth Bay GPE · 1× Geoff Cox PERSON · 1× Jason Boon PERSON · 1×

Narrative

The buyers will be neighbours with a bevy of corporate types who have bought into the complex including yachtie and vice president of the Australian Olympic Committee Matt Allen, Tina Green, the widow of hotelier Maurice Green, James Hawkins, and Chris Coudounaris, lawyer and former business associate of former Australian prime minister Paul Keating.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-02
🔮 One sold for $20.5 million and the other for $19.5 million, both to retirees. Jason Boon and Geoff Cox of Richardson & Wrench Elizabeth Bay and Potts Point sold both residences but could not divulge the buyers’ identities when contacted by this masthead.
2026-10-02 · The Sydney Morning Herald
Downsizing retirees splash $40m in one day on Elizabeth Bay units · assertive framing

Claims (33 extracted, 4 hedged)

Two apartments worth a combined $40 million sold in one day to two downsizing parties from Sydney’s eastern suburbs. asserted
apartments → combine → suburbs
Sold stickers went up on two listings at Billyard Avenue development in Elizabeth Bay – both four-bedroom, four-bathroom, house-sized units, on September 25. asserted
stickers → sell → September
One sold for $20.5 million and the other for $19.5 million, both to retirees. Jason Boon and Geoff Cox of Richardson & Wrench Elizabeth Bay and Potts Point sold both residences but could not divulge the buyers’ identities when contacted by this masthead. uncertain
Boon → sell → masthead
However, Boon did reveal they were corporate downsizers after a lifestyle change. asserted
they → reveal → change
This masthead can reveal that one of the apartments was purchased by retired Macquarie banker Peter Maher. asserted
one → reveal → Maher
It will be left to settlement to reveal the buyer of the other apartment. asserted
It → leave → apartment
Maher is returning to the neighbourhood from the eastern suburbs, after Boon and Cox sold his Potts Point residence for $10 million in 2022. asserted
Boon → return → 2022
Maher also sold his Whale Beach house for $7 million in May this year. uncertain
Maher → sell → May
Boon said demand for Elizabeth Bay was not driven by price point, as it has caught up to suburbs in Sydney’s east, but was down to its eclectic atmosphere, which reminded him of New York’s SoHo, and its proximity to hospitals, the beach and city. asserted
which → say → hospitals
The buyers will be neighbours with a bevy of corporate types who have bought into the complex including yachtie and vice president of the Australian Olympic Committee Matt Allen, Tina Green, the widow of hotelier Maurice Green, James Hawkins, and Chris Coudounaris, lawyer and former business associate of former Australian prime minister Paul Keating. asserted
who → buy → Keating
Developed by North East Corp and P3-Living and designed by SJB architects, the apartments reinterpret art deco design with their curved surfaces, and offer a modern palette with honed marble, fluted stone, patterned tiling, parquetry floors, statement lighting and expansive glass. asserted
apartments → develop → marble
The development won the 2026 UDIA (Urban Development Institute of Australia) NSW Award for Excellence in Design. asserted
development → win → Design
Nathan Cleary, star halfback at NRL club the Penrith Panthers and the winner of the 2026 Dally M Medal, has put his Curl Curl home on the rental market, months after purchasing it for $5.5 million. asserted
Cleary → put → million
Settlement documents show Cleary paid the figure in June to children’s charity Stewart House, after the property was sold in April. asserted
property → show → April
Listed as a rental, available for $2350 per week with bond set at $9400, the cottage is now configured as a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house. asserted
cottage → list → house
At the time of purchase, it had four bedrooms, one bathroom and dated interiors. asserted
it → have → bedrooms
Cleary has since transformed the interiors with new floorboards, a fresh lick of paint, a brand-new kitchen and an updated bathroom. asserted
Cleary → transform → paint
There is a multipurpose space that could be made into a home office, gym, teen retreat or man cave, and ocean views from the balcony, and the beach is a stroll away. uncertain
beach → be → balcony
Linda Nero and Bernadette Broadman of Belle Property Northern Beaches were unable to comment on any aspect of the listing or interest shown in the property. asserted
Nero → comment → property
Paul Franks of Area Specialist, who sold the residence to Cleary, also declined to comment on any aspect of the sale. asserted
who → sell → sale
Records show Cleary also owns a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home at Leonay, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. asserted
Cleary → show → Mountains
He purchased the property from his father, Penrith Panthers head coach Ivan Cleary, for $1.7 million in 2022. asserted
He → purchase → 2022
Nathan underwent surgery after suffering a double compound fracture in his left leg as a result of a hip-drop tackle by the Newcastle Knights’ Phoenix Crossland in the preliminary final game. asserted
Nathan → undergo → game
Over in Point Piper… The deceased estate of the late Muriel Balkin on prized Wolseley Road in Point Piper has hit the market with a price guide of $50 million. asserted
estate → hit → million
Configured as three interconnecting apartments with a total of eight bedrooms and six bathrooms, it could be retained as a multigenerational family estate. uncertain
it → configure → estate
Balkin’s son Richard Balkin, who has worked in real estate, told this masthead he hoped the property would not be knocked down, and another family would live there for another 40 years or so. asserted
family → work → years
Interiors feature marble detail, oak floors and an overall white palette, and there are terraces with stunning views over the harbour at Double Bay to Redleaf Pool and the city skyline. asserted
Interiors → feature → Pool
Richard noted the property’s exclusive location in a prized pocket. asserted
Richard → note → pocket
As previously reported by this masthead, the site of Symond’s home – most recently offered with $200 million-plus price hopes – once boasted a landmark doughnut-shaped house designed by late architect Guilford Bell in 1956 for the Hordern retail dynasty. asserted
site → report → dynasty
Symond’s block was later owned by high-profile corporate identities like the late New Zealand pulp and paper magnate John Spencer, fellow Kiwi businessman Christopher Huljich and property investor, Rich Lister and confidant of the late Kerry Packer, Robert Whyte. asserted
block → own → Packer
The landmark house was demolished in the 1990s and sold as land to Symond for $10.85 million in 1999. asserted
house → demolish → 1999
Architect Alexander Tzannes designed Symond’s new home. asserted
Tzannes → design → home
Pillinger’s Brad Pillinger is accepting expressions of interest for the deceased estate. asserted
Pillinger → accept → estate
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