Rumoured to be Sydney’s first ever Hungarian restaurant back in the 1930s, the now apartment of Brian Sinclair-Thompson and his family in Sydney’s famous Potts Point is on the market for the first time in almost 25 years with Ray White TaylorJones and a price guide above $850,000
With a link to Hollywood, and according to local residents, it is also rumoured to be the apartment Mel Gibson lived in while filming Mad Max, and used to be the home of an Australian film director many years ago. The property was the location of many a party in the 70s and 80s and the title has the apartment still listed as a restaurant - much to the dismay of the building’s board.
“We have never used the apartment as a restaurant,” said Brian. “There is a lot of space and it is the ideal flexible modern warehouse apartment.”
Brian, who is the regional manager for ground services in APAC and the customer services & station manager in Bangkok for international airline Swiss Air is a New Zealand born local who admits many people told him he was crazy when he purchased the Potts Point property.
“I knew Potts Point would become a desired suburb,” he said. “It is central without being part of the CBD.”
Brian and his wife took on an extensive renovation of the property in 1997, with the design skills of architect Mark Cashman and Rowena Marsh, and one particular feature saw them sourcing glass blocks and creating a private entrance giving the warehouse apartment a New York feel.
“The apartment is designed to be functional and maximise usage,” he said, adding that a great example of this is the billiards table he acquired in Melbourne.
“The pool table itself is multifunctional, and that is what we wanted the apartment to replicate. It’s a funny story, I happened upon it in a liquidation sale from a divorce. And it represents the spirit of what we wanted our apartment to be, minus the divorce.”
Currently living in Bangkok, and with future hopes of making a return home to New Zealand, it is the right time for the family to put their longterm home on the market.
“It’s a great place to live, it’s a great location with access to cafes and restaurants and the culture in Potts Point is changing positively,” said Brian.
Ray White TaylorJones Director Seaton Jones added that the apartment is a gem and a rare offering amongst an area which is currently going through many changes, with a number of property developers buying up large. Seaton is experiencing a high level of interest from potential buyers for this property.
5/19a Tusculum Street, Potts Point will go to auction at 11.15am Saturday 21 November.
