John Symond buys in Elizabeth Bay: Title Tattle

In 2006 historic Brighton residence Totnes (pictured above) sold to the then incoming Newcrest mining boss Ian Smith, the seasoned mining engineer born and raised in Broken Hill. Smith was in London at the time of his purchase, where he had been a senior Rio Tinto executive. The then selling agent Damian Taylor was surprised when it sold to a buyers' advocate who was representing a client who had viewed the property just 24 hours earlier on the internet.

The 1892 mansion with 10 rooms sits on an 1,100-square-metre block. It’s been listed for October 22 auction through Barb Gregory and James Redfern at Marshall White Brighton. Gregory says the house is expected to fetch $4.5 million. Smith stepped down at the end of June this year from Newcrest after five years in which he turned around the nation's biggest gold miner and doubled its market value. Newcrest’s recent annual report revealed it’s still paying Smith until the end of the year along with a $2.25 million payment on December 31. Smith received $1 million bonus after sealing a $9.5 billion takeover by Lihir Gold last year.

Retired surgeon Bill Roney and his wife, Sara, have listed their 1901 Point Piper residence (pictured above). Roney, who played rugby league for the Roosters from 1958 to 1962 and then for the Eels from 1963 to 1965, has been at the Wyuna Road property since paying $2.2 million in 1999. The price guide of more than $5.7 million is being given for the 670-square-metre holding by its conjunctional listing agents Sally Hampshire at Laing + Simmons Double Bay and Hamish Robertson at McGrath Estate Agents.

Double Island (pictured above), the tropical far north Queensland island belonging to one-time dot.com success story and OzEmail founder Sean Howard, comes with an $8 million asking price through Colliers International agent Jay Beattie. Set near Cairns just one kilometre off the coast at Palm Cove, it was bought in 2000 for $4.5 million from Sydney developer John Palasty. The 17-hectare island was previously owned by the late Robert Holmes a Court. The 12 two-bedroom villa resort has been available for rent from about $75,000 a week.  Actor Keanu Reeves ranks among the celebrities who have stayed, with the gymnasium especially built for his stay.

Victor Harbor's Mount Breckan – which in 2010 was tipped to push South Australia's record house price to a new high – has returned to the market with subdued mortgagee expectations. Anthony Toop at Toop and Toop has the baronial 1879 castle for sale with sub-$5 million hopes, with offers due this week. It’s set on 2.4 hectares with harbour views. The property was built in 1881 for state politician Alexander Hay. It last traded 16 years ago at $600,000 and has been restored it to its former glory. 

Yarroma (pictured above and below), which set a $3 million record Hawthorn price in 1987, has returned to the market. The Coppin Grove riverfront mansion sits on 2,930 square metres with an adjoining 3,082-square-metre holding owned by the O’Brien family. The historic Victorian mansion surrounded by lavish gardens in the renowned St James Park Estate must be worth about $18 million or so, but it's likely to be sold in two lots following its recent subdivision, with the house fetching about $10 million plus. It’s been listed through Marcus Chiminello at Marshall White Armidale. With elevated city skyline views, it was built in 1872 to a design by James T. Conlan in a Romanesque revival style.

Manicured lawns adjoin the glassed conservatory housing the heated pool with mosaic inlays. There’s a series of descending terraces that lead to a tennis court, arbours, pathways, a stilted cubby house, fruit trees and vegetable gardens all neatly positioned around bluestone cobbled pathways meandering down to the river banks. The new owners will have the opportunity to construct a cantilevered boatshed and mooring. It didn’t sell on its 2010 RT Edgar listing.