Boomerang, Elizabeth Bay

Boomerang
Boomerang as seen from Beare Park
General information
Location	9 Billyard Road (Lot1 DP77439 & Lot DP597121, Elizabeth Bay, New South Wales, Australia 4,233m2
Construction started	1926
Client	Frank Albert
Design and construction
Architect	Neville Hampson

Boomerang is a historic home in the suburb of Elizabeth Bay in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Built in 1926, it lies on Billyard Avenue and has been ranked as one of the most expensive houses in Sydney.^[1]

History

English architect Neville Hampson designed Boomerang in 1926 for wealthy Sydney music publisher Frank Albert. Spanish-American in style, the building is named after Frank's father Jacques Albert's business trademark, and Boomerang song books and mouth organs were well known in Sydney at the time. The waterfront land had originally been part of the Elizabeth Bay House Estate; this had been carved up and rows of luxurious villas and mansions had sprung up in the area.^[2] Frank Albert himself had married and built a two-storey brick house in 1902, which he demolished to make way for Boomerang.^[3]

Boomerang as seen from Sydney Harbour

Boomerang has been described as the oldest and finest example of Spanish architecture in Australia.^[3] A three-storey mansion with rendered walls, it has 25 rooms, 6 bathrooms and 4 kitchens. A private cinema was constructed in the basement by Albert in 1928.^[4] Likened to a miniature version of the State Theatre, it could seat 200 people.^[4]

Albert resided at Boomerang until his death in 1962, after which the house remained closed with a caretaker until 1978.^[5][6] Oil recycler Peter Burnett bought the property in 1978 for $1.25 million, which was reputedly Sydney's first million-dollar house sale. Film entrepreneur and businessman Peter Fox bought it in 1981, but died when his Ferrari hit a tree at Kempsey, and it was sold to bookmaker Mark Read for $3 million 1982.^[4][7]

Kowloon-based expatriate funds manager Duncan Mount and his wife Sally procured the house in 1996 from Nati Stoliar, who in turn had obtained it for $6.6. million in 1993. The previous owner, Perth-based developer Warren Anderson, paid $5.1 million in 1985, but required eviction in 1993.^[4][7]

The Mounts in turn sold to John and Julie Schaeffer in 2002.^[4] Boomerang was sold to the family of Melbourne trucking magnate Lindsay Fox for $21 million in March 2005.^[8]

The house was used as a set for the film Mission Impossible 2. The garden was recently redesigned by Myles Baldwin.^[9]

Sales history

Year	Sale Price	New Owner
1928	$25,000 (land only)	Mr Frank Albert
1978	$1.25 million	Mr Peter Burnett
1981	$2.4 million	Mr Peter Fox
1982	$2.8 million	Mr Mark Read
1985	$5.1 million	Mr Warren Anderson (Owston Nominees No 2 Pty Ltd)
1993	$6.6 million	Mr Nati and Mrs Miki Stoliar (Miriam Stoliar- Owner)
1996	$15 million	Mr Duncan and Mrs Sally Mount
2002	$20.7 million	Mr John and Mrs Julie Schaeffer
2005	$21 million	Mr Lindsay Fox

References

1. "A city and its multi-million dollar digs". Sydney Morning Herald website. Fairfax Digital. 27 April 2002. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
2. Irving and Kinstler, p. 121
3. Irving and Kinstler, p. 122
4. "Boomerang". Heritage Council of New South Wales website. Heritage Council of New South Wales. 2008. Retrieved 2013-07-18. (NB: Click on 'Read more')
5. Irving and Kinstler, p. 124
6. Alderton, Eileen Home in a Million sells for $1 million The Australian Women's Weekly, 3 January 1979, at Trove
7. Bonsai Boomerang Sun Herald 12 July 1998
8. Chancellor, Jonathan (9 March 2005). "Fox family snares Boomerang for $21m". Sydney Morning Herald website. Fairfax Digital. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
9. Macquarie Visions Ambassadors

Cited text

• Irving, Robert; Kinstler, John; Dupain, Max (1982). Fine Houses of Sydney. Sydney: Methuen Australia. ISBN 0-454-00244-0.

Coordinates: 33°52′13″S 151°13′42″E / 33.8702°S 151.2282°E