Lady Sonia McMahon's Palm Beach weekender listed

It was only after a three-year search that Lady (Sonia) McMahon bought her Palm Beach summer retreat in 1993. Now almost two decades on its been listed by her executors for November 8 LJ Hooker auction.

Back in 1993 she'd advised the L J Hooker agent David Edwards she wanted level access property with views that could not be impinged upon.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom Ralston Road Palm Beach weekender had been in the Burton-Taylor family since bought for $29,575 in 1968. It was sold in 1993 by Lady (Joan) Burton-Taylor, widow of white-goods chief Sir Alvin, who resided at Warrawee's 2,600-square-metre estate Greenways.

The unrenovated brick-and-timber 1950s house was designed by architect John Suttor with an intent of instilling memories of former times even then.

Back in 1993 there were 44 house sales in 1993's first nine months totalling $28 million, with Palm Beach prices averaging $640,000.

So far this year RP Data says there has been 21 house sales totalling $57 million. So a $2.7 million average sale. But that includes the $22 million Kalua sale.  

David Edwards is suggesting a $2.25 million plus price estimate for the 1,350-square-metre property, which Lady McMahon had made available for her hairdresser's usage.

Lady McMahon, widow of the former prime minister Sir William McMahon, was 77 when she died in April 2010. The estate is being sold off by their children, the Hollywood actor Julian McMahon and his two sisters.

The sibblings have sold two Bellevue Hill properties since May last year.  

The latest listing could lift the sales tally from $15.25 million to $17.5 million plus – equating to about $5.8 million for each child, albeit less costs, which include sizeable land tax charges.