Vaucluse

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Victor Spink, a convicted drug importer who loved his property and the punt, has died age 76.

His body was found early Monday morning in a $79 a night hotel near Sydney’s Central Station, the death likely caused by a drug overdose.

A police spokeswoman told the SMH's Kate McClymont, who has diligently followed his life and times through the decades, that there were no suspicious circumstances.

The SMH's Title Deeds column similarly followed the Sydney-born, St Ives-based Victor Thomas Spink after authorities sought to seize 10 properties that he owned across NSW from Darling Point to Byron Bay, on the NSW north coast.

In 2008 Spink told the Herald the botched 1994 $225 million drug importation had cost him much of his prior fortune.

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'I lost everything when they arrested me,' Spink said.

"Three of the properties in Byron and two at Potts Point were worth $16.5 million," he once suggested.

Born in 1942, Spink was first convicted of breaking and entering in 1960. He was jailed then deported from United Kingdom in the early 1970s.

He was next imprisoned in the late 1970s over a $54,000 mailbag robbery at Port Macquarie on the NSW mid-north coast.

By the 1970s the Woodward Royal Commission heard evidence linking him to the heroin trade.

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In the 1990s, the Australian Federal Police were listening in on Spink’s phone calls as part of Operation Caribou, investigating cannabis importation from Pakistan.

The Herald revealed in 1995 that it had obtained AFP recordings of phone conversations suggesting Spink, then only known as Mr C, was part of a race-fixing network on Sydney tracks.

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The jockey Jim Cassidy was disqualified for three years and Kevin Moses for one year, both penalised for pretending to fix races, rather than for actual fixing.

"All I ever did was ring jockeys and get their tips," Spink said, denying any rigging.

Known as one of the biggest punters on Sydney racetracks until his arrest, Spink reportedly lost $400,000 in one afternoon.

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Spink belonged to a drug importing syndicate that unsuccessfully arranged for 15 tonnes of cannabis resin to be shipped from Pakistan to Australia in 1994, after one of the trawlers ran aground near Hervey Bay in southern Queensland. Another 10 tonnes were dumped at sea off New Caledonia.

Spink was one of the leading participants in the intended shipment along with Raymond John Dumbrell, a property developer from Maroubra, who contributed $65,000 to buy a boat.

In 1995 the SMH's Title Deeds reported Spink, who had by then pleaded guilty under Section 51A of the Justices Act to a charge of conspiracy to import cannabis resin, knocked back $917,500 when his two Potts Point backpacker terraces were auctioned to pay for his legal bills. Bought in 1993 for $760,000, the 10 bedroom terraces had a potential $6,300 weekly return, according to the listing agent John McGrath who had the terraces at $1.3 million. 

In 1996 Title Deeds reported Spink owned five Byron properties totalling a $1.046 million outlay. The properties had been bought in a five-month period, some sight unseen, in 1993.

On his release from jail he still owned three, as well as five houses in the Sydney suburbs of Alexandria, Gordon and Ku-ring-gai. 

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After leaving jail in 2002, Spink then tried to access $US500,000 funds that had been sitting in his Swiss bank account since 1987.

Spink had to wait three years until his parole conditions enabled him to leave the country and head for Switzerland.

But authorities noted his passport in the name of George Saunders was expired as well as false.

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Spink claimed the money in the Geneva account came from gambling, not drugs, and fought for access.

The Swiss Federal Tribunal granted him the money as it was deposited before his Australian drug conviction.
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<div class="_1lC_G">It was in the name of Saunders that Spink owned a Vaucluse mansion (top), bought in 1993 for $600,000 and sold in March last year <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-vaucluse-126840814" target="_blank">for $4.9 million through Di Baker Prestige Properties</a>.</div>

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<div class="_1lC_G">Spink said he listed the home to make a sea change up to the north coast.</div>

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Di Baker was seeking more than $6 million for the two-storey home on dress circle Olola Avenue.

Last year the father of two wrote on Facebook about chronic health problems and the loss of his brother and sister from cancer, while alluding to struggles with addiction.
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<div class="_1lC_G">The Daily Mail suggested he died of an ice overdose in a room at the Great Southern Hotel.</div>

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<div class="_1lC_G">A 30-year-old woman who was also in the room with him stayed to assist police with their inquiries. </div>

 
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firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

The life and times of the late Victor Spink 

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A block of nine apartments sold on the weekend following a makeover in Vaucluse for $10.4 million.

The three storey complex at 8 Marne Street has 15 bedrooms.

The selling agent Paton Jamieson advised the 1970s block had undergone a recent transformation so generous depreciation benefits were available.

The whole block on a 576 sqm block was traded in February last year at $7 million, and at $5.75 million in 2015.

It has 3x1 bedroom apartments, plus 6x2 bedroom apartments and 7x single lock-up garages.

When sold last year its gross annual income was put as $251,000 with an estimated market gross income of $288,600 after a rental reversion opportunity to increase rents to market at lease expirations.

It came with a NLA of 513sqm.

The Orcades coplex is located close to the Vaucluse Village in a pet friendly community.

Some apartments had ocean views.

McDonald Industries had been preparing to sell the apartments separately with pricing from $899,000 for the one bedroom apartments and the two bedroom apartments from $1,095,000.

<h2>Popular Vaucluse projects to check out:</h2>

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A block of nine apartments has sold in Vaucluse for $10.4 million

jchancellor

Vaucluse apartment block sells for $10.4 million

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The property developer Lim Sen Yap and his wife Elizabeth Garbacz have sold Djirang, their restored 1940s Vaucluse trophy home to hotelier Anthony Medich for $12.8 million.
It was listed with $12 million plus expectations through Hamish Robertson at McGrath, who had the three storey Fisher Avenue home in conjunction with Christie's International agent Ken Jacobs.
The former chairman of retail property group Ipoh bought the historic F. Glynn Gilling-designed residence in 1996 for $3.4 million from restaurateur Harry Vardis. 
Ipoh Australia was the developer behind the QVB Building and Capitol Theatre restorations.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph. 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Anthony Medich buys Djirang, the Vaucluse trophy home

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Just five days before Christmas, a $36 million trophy home at Vaucluse was bought by billionaire supermarket chain owners from China, Huang Qiaorong, who with her husband, Zhang Xuansong, is co-owner and director of China’s Yonghui supermarket chain.
Agents had listed <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/9-coolong-road-vaucluse-nsw-2030-2010930119" target="_blank">the 1480 square metre harbourfront property</a> two years ago with $35 million plus hopes. It settled January 11 this year through McGrath and Sothebys.
It was sold by Alistair Walton, a former chairman of the local Goldman Sachs outfit, who was appointed consul-general and senior trade commissioner to Houston last October by the Turnbull Government.
Alistair and his former wife, Gilly had commissioned the Coolong Road residence by<a href="https://luigirosselli.com/residential/coolong-road" target="_blank"> architect Luigi Rosselli </a>following their 2002 purchase at a then record $14.72 million from retired bookmaker Bob Blann.
The three-storey residence on a north-facing block comes with guest quarters, garaging for nine cars, a tennis court and pool, all within gardens designed by William Dangar.
There is also a private jetty and slipway.
Rosselli recalled "a high level of diplomatic and political skills were required" after the development application was subject to "venomous objections from the neighbours on either side of our project."
"It was like being in the middle of the Maginot lines," he advised.
"Despite this neighbourly war, we obtained a building permit in less than four months." It was built by Alvaro Bros.
It became known as the brief 2011 rental of Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio.
Fairfax Media noted the new owner of the property, Ms Huang, is a permanent resident, based in Canberra, and did not require any approval to buy property in Australia. 
Her husband debuted on the Forbes list of China’s billionaires last year with a net worth of $1.35 billion.
Within days of the December 20 exchange another Vaucluse trophy residence, Villa Igiea, <a href="/news/49505-jan-15-trophy-home-inside-the-52-million-villa-igiea-vaucluse-the-2015-runner-up-trophy-home-sale" target="_blank">was sold for $52 million</a> on New Year’s Eve by expat entrepreneur Wayne Burt to 27-year-old property developer Shangjin Lin.
Also in Vaucluse, the all-time highest Australian trophy home sale price of <a href="/news/44741-james-packer-and-erica-baxter-sell-vaucluse-trophy-la-mer" target="_blank">$70 million was set in August</a> when casino tycoon James Packer and his former wife, Erica, sold to the Hunters Hill based property developer billionaire Chau Chak Wing.
The median price for a home in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Vaucluse is $3,700,000</a>, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
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Chinese supermarket billioniare buys $36 million Vaucluse harbourfront

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Designed by celebrated architect F. Glynn Gilling and built circa 1934, a Vaucluse harbourside house with views from both levels has been scheduled for auction on June 5.
It is listed by James Ball and Clint Ballard from Ballard.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-vaucluse-128328598" target="_blank">Located at 53 Towns Road</a>, Vaucluse, the lower level features formal and casual living zones onto lush garden, while the upper level features a parent retreat and children's wing.
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It comes with six bedrooms, double sized living room, formal dining, home office and library. 
Other features include the home gym, guest powder room, ducted air, underfloor heating.
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Set on 1,075 square metres with dual street access and forever views over the city's harbour icons, it is moments to Kincoppal and Kambala Schools, world-class waterfront dining, boutique beaches and harbour villages.
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Vaucluse harbourside trophy house to go under the hammer

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Prestige Vaucluse agents are finding it hard to get buyers to turn up to invitation-only inspections.
With 25 listings, and prices falling, agents hoped to get a call from KISS breakfast co-host Jackie “O” Henderson, who has sold her $6.5 million home.
“I haven’t left home for 13 days,” Jackie O said from her Bondi Beach rental before going off-air for a fortnight.
She missed out last year at a $5.8 million Vaucluse auction.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Jackie-O not inspecting next home after Vaucluse sale

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There has been a $900,000 loss taken on a non-harbourfront Vaucluse listing.
The knockdown home on the high side of prestigious Carrara Rd fetched $10.9 million midweek via private treaty, having sold a year ago at $11.8 million to the Grunberg family from North Bondi.
The single level home, on its 728sqm cul-de-sac block, had ­previously been the abode of ­Michael Caredes and his wife Fylia for 44 years.
The resale price, after 50 days on the market, reflects a 7.5 per cent price drop, at the lower end of the worse case COVID-19 price collapse forecasts. The $900,000 decline comes after its $765,000 stamp duty purchase outlay, plus its 8.25 per cent mortgage rate.
Laing and Simmons agent D’Leanne Lewis handled both sales.
The property, which has views of the Harbour Bridge across the 1930s hospital dormitory building on the Strickland House estate, comes with a 1950s height covenant from a neighbouring Vaucluse Rd home.
Up the other end of Carrara, another non-waterfront sale has been done at $7.5 million, less than the $10.85 million sought on its initial 2018 listing. The house is set on 600 sqm above the Hermitage estate.
This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph. 
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Vaucluse home sells for $900k loss

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The top-rating breakfast radio co-host Jackie “O” Henderson sold her matrimonial Vaucluse home on Friday night ahead of its planned Monday online auction.
It’s apparently fetched a tad above its $6.5 million price guide with buyers agent Ed Flitcroft of Chalk Road negotiating the acquisition for a local family.
The five-bedroom, three-bathroom home was built in 2018 by Henderson and her husband, photographer Lee Henderson.
Jackie O previously told listeners on The Kyle &amp; Jackie ‘‘O’’ Show that she is “sad to let go because it is such a lovely home’’. Now renting at Bondi, she missed out last year on a $5.86 million Vaucluse auction offering.
With 940 scheduled auctions, before the coronavirus onsite auction ban, most vendors have gone private treaty or withdrawn altogether. The auctioneers did a great job yesterday with the estimated 150 going ahead online. The auctions were typically running late and long, one taking 45 minutes and another with 67 bids.
There was drama at a Ray White auction when a bidder lodged a virtual bid some $200,000 higher than intended into the online bidding system. The bid was undone by auctioneer James Keenan and that bidder went on to be the $1.41 million Newtown underbidder.
Hunters Hill saw a $3.375 million sale, the highest reported success, where the McGrath auctioneer Edward Riley needed to deviate from his regular positive script about the proximity to cafes.
“Make no mistake they’ll be back,” he added.
Just two bidders competed but over 130 tuned in to the auction, which had three interruptions with technical glitches.
“Not everything always goes smoothly ... but there’s plenty of people interested in what is happening in the market.”
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph. 
 
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Jackie O sells former Vaucluse matrimonial home

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Former Australian cricket captain Steve Smith has spent $6.6 million on a family home in Vaucluse.
The four-bedroom, six-bath home was inspected by Smith and his wife Dani Willis in late May, having been leasing nearby.
Danny Doff of Laing and Simmons Double Bay secured the sale which Smith and Willis will renovate extensively.
The house, which has an inground pool, gym, steam room, four-car garage, 400-bottle wine cellar and travertine-tiled outdoor entertaining terrace with a built-in BBQ and wine fridge, last traded in 2005 for $3.22 million.
It also has views out towards Sydney Harbour. Prior to buying the home, the Smiths had been renting in the area, having sold the Coogee apartment they had owned since 2011.
Smith had other reasons to celebrate this week, marking his return to training with a cheeky Instagram post.
Fully padded and wearing a helmet, he told his two million followers: “First hit in the nets in 3 months. Good news...I remembered how to hold the bat.”
Smith and the Aussie team haven’t played a competitive game since their one day international win over New Zealand in mid-March. The series was cancelled shortly after due to the pandemic.
The couple add the Vaucluse house to an already-crowded property portfolio, which also includes homes in Balmain, Birchgrove, Marrickville and Sans Souci.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph.
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Former Australian cricket captain Steve Smith buys Vaucluse home

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Star casino chief Matt ­Bek­ier and his wife Melinda snappily sold their seven-­bedroom, five-bathroom Vaucluse home mid-week. 
It had been listed with a $7.5 million to $8.2 million guide by Raine &amp; Horne agent Samuel Schumann.
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It seems it happened so quickly the agency hadn’t quite updated the open for inspection web notifications, so hopeful attendees were still turning up yesterday.
The three-level house last traded in 2012 for $4.05 million when sold by former rugby league player-turned hotelier Steve Bowden.
The home was bought shortly after Bekier departed Tabcorp, where he was CFO.
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Fairview’s prior owners include art dealer Marlene Antico.
It now comes with $667,000 approved plans from Weir Phillips Architects that would see a top-floor redesign, accessed by a spiral staircase as well as a lift.
The Bekier’s have owned a beachfront house at Callala Beach on Jervis Bay since 2014 that cost $1.1 million.
This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph.
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