Secret Agent

The Sunday Age

Sunday December 11, 2005

GARY LaPERSONNE

Bankrupt lawyer on burglary charges sells up

BANKRUPT Melbourne lawyer Susan Owens, accused of robbing a client of $240,000 worth of goods, has put one of four investment houses up for private sale.

The modernised period house in Hawthorn (right), which was passed in at auction, is being sold to settle her debts.

Owens has three other properties in Hawthorn and Middle Park and there's a possibility that she could be forced to put them on the market.

Her trustee, David Lofthouse of financial services group CJL Partners, says: "I don't know at this stage what we will end up selling."

Owens faces the County Court on June 6 on charges of burglary. She allegedly broke into a client's home, taking items to pay for outstanding legal bills. She denies the claims.

Selling agent Martin Langton says the two-bedroom renovated house for sale is one of a pair, "exudes taste and appeal and is realistically priced at $480,000-plus".

There's a formal living area, quality kitchen, roomy rear family room overlooking landscaped gardens, modern laundry and bathroom, polished boards throughout and a rear single carport.

It's at 24 Hill Street, Hawthorn. Call Martin Langton of Ray White Balwyn/Kew on 9817 0113.

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STRICTLY PLAY ROOM

Screen star Toni Collette (right) could soon have celebrity neighbours - movie man Baz Luhrmann and his production designer wife, Catherine Martin. They are on the prowl for a house in Sydney's premier eastern suburbs, and have payed particular attention to Bellevue Hill. And they're cashed up, too. The last of their three Bronte Beach apartments, a three-bedroom penthouse, sold last weekend for more than $3 million. Seems Luhrmann and Martin began scouting for their ideal suburban plot even before the birth of their second child, William Alexander - brother to Lillian Amanda, 2 - in June. There's a $4 million-plus cheque waiting for the vendor with the ideal property, which must include plenty of playing space for their offspring.

Collette is a newcomer to Bellevue Hill, having moved into her $5 million Spanish-style mansion "El Mio" a few weeks ago. Kerry and Ros Packer also call the pricey suburb home.

HOT DEALS

An early-morning commercial on Victorian television prompted a former employee of Queensland company Washington Developments to call Secret Agent. He says it rang alarm bells because it was plugging vacant blocks in Queensland for Victorians to check out.

The ex-staffer says there was a modus operandi when he worked at the company: "We drove people around for seven hours a day showing them various properties. And then we hit them with the so-called bargain. In that heat it was basically wearing people down." The former land salesman says holidaying Victorians in the Sunshine State are often seen as easy prey and frequently sold over-priced property.

AGENTS ALL AT SEA

Rumour has it that ancient mariners Philippe Batters and Warwick Anderson jumped ship and copped a dunking during a recent rowing expedition on the Yarra.

The veteran south-eastern real estate agent and his long-time paddle partner were churning up the river when a redback made a sudden appearance on the bow. Agitated at not being on terra firma, the spider scuttled back and forth on the vessel with two pairs of eyes following its every move. The perspiration on their brows was not only exercise-induced, admits Batters.

The tub is of such vintage, the toffee-nosed Mercantile Rowing Club won't allow it in the boat-house, so it's left outside. Perfect spot for a homeless arachnid.

Fortunately for the rowers, the redback didn't strike . . . perhaps out of professional courtesy.

BOMBED OUT

The international arm of Knight Frank is the latest victim of the second Bali bombing. The agency had barely stitched up a deal with Bali-based Elite Havens when the terrorists struck again.

Instead of a kick-start for Bali's accelerating property market, the kick in the guts saw website traffic plummet 15 per cent for St Regis Resort and Residences at Nusa Dua, scheduled for a 2007 opening. Inevitably, there was a slowdown and plans to target Australia, London, Shanghai and Beijing, and Hong Kong and Singapore-based expats were put on hold.

While Knight Frank failed to return our calls, Elite Havens developments director Ian Macaulay says both companies have pulled out of the venture. "(It's) a corporate culture clash," he says. "(The developers) were putting their marketing together and trying to finalise their show villa when we left. There was a lot of client interest pre and post the bomb."

© 2005 The Sunday Age

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