Melbourne businessman Sir Rod Eddington has paid $6,175,000 to downsize Toorak homes.

His home of the past eight years remains listed with more than $11 million expectations.

The redundant Ledbury Court property comes with pool and tennis court on its 2,154 square metre holding.

It was bought by Sir Rod and his wife, Young Sook Park, for $7.85 million in 2006 from the Ayre family who'd been there since paying $550,000 in 1980.

It remains for sale through Kay & Burton's Michael Gibson.

The new acquisition of the contemporary abode (pictured below) was at a slight discount on its 2008 sale price of $6.3 million.

It was built by the developer Peter Gibson in 2007 to a design by architect Ilario Cortese.

The Smorgon family heirs Norman and Tania Smorgon sold their Toorak home late last year, reputedly for around $19.25 million, to Fiona Verrocchi, from the pharmacy family.

They initially wanted $25 million for their trophy home as they undertook repeated sales campaigns.

The latest tender closed mid-December, long after its fanciful October 2013 front page The Age spruik (below) that failed to yield the desired record price. Marshall White agent Marcus Chiminello took over the listing without fanfare about a month before its sale.

Source: The Age, 18 October, 2013

Toorak prices are not always heading positively upwards, despite the best endeavours of estate agents. 

The six bedroom 750 Orrong Road, Toorak estate comes with a tennis court and pool on its 5,450 square metres.

Fiona and Mario Verrocchi currently reside at Caulfield North.

The Smorgons paid $3.05 million in April 1995 for the 1920s home which was sold by the family of the then Polish businessman Abe Goldberg. 

Source: The Age, 18 October, 2013

Goldberg's daughter, Mrs Deborah Lea Furst, paid $3.95 million in 1987, and thought the property had been sold in 1991 for $4.1 million, but Title Tattle recalls the deal unravelled.

Furst's husband, Zev Furst, was briefly a co-director with Abe Goldberg of the textile giant Linter Group, which produced such labels as King Gee, Speedo and Stubbies. It collapsed in early 1990 with debts of around $1.3 billion.

There was talk of a $20 million sale in October this year, but it didn't eventuate. The sale price would need to surpass the $19.8 million paid for the nine-bedroom Avon Court mansion on Shakespeare Grove, Hawthorn in May which holds the year's top sale mantle.

Norman Smorgon heads Escor, their private company that manages the family's interests. 

The Escor Group was created by the family of Eric Smorgon, the late co-founder of Smorgon Consolidated Industries.

Eric Smorgon's grandson is Norman Smorgon. Eric Smorgon's family quit Russia in 1926 to escape Stalin and anti-Semitic sentiment.

They arrived in 1927 at Port Melbourne on the Kommisar Romel, settling in Carlton where young Eric began work as an electrical apprentice.

The $24 million achieved in 2010 by the Baillieu family remains Melbourne's top sale when a St Georges Road trophy estate sold to property developer Harry Stamoulis.

Marshall White selling agent Marcus Chiminello would only confirm its sale, not its reputed sale price.

Dogs don't typically feature in real estate marketing campaigns, or for that matter work when they do, but Title Tattle loves this one.

Adrian Oddi at BresicWhitney Balmain is seeking buyers for the five bedroom, four bathroom house on 236 square metres at 8 Byrnes Street, Rozelle.

The price guide is over $2.5 million, whippet not included. The dog's name is Jasper. He's apparently extremely timid but loved the camera at the photo-shoot!

Buyers get a sleek free-standing home, with modern finishes, multiple living spaces and a pool deck turn this quiet retreat into the ultimate entertainer.

There is rental guidance for investors of potentially $1,800 to $2,000 per week.

The Tony McLain architect plans were approved by council in 2011 for the new home.

The bookish television personalities Andrew Denton and Jennifer Byrne have bought a two hectare Southern Highland retreat.

Their bush land retreat is at Mount Murray, located on the Wollongong side of Robertson. Most of its streets are fire trails with an elevation of 780 metres above sea level. The mountain is named after Sir George Murray.

Title Tattle had little prior knowledge of Mount Murray, though the $1.1 million property was sold by Anne Judell, who was an active devotee of the quirky Ask Doug column that once graced the SMH pages.

The property does not appear to have been publicly marketed as neither Domain, allhomes nor realestate.com.au websites carry any recent listings or sales at Mt Murray.

The purchase on the outskirts of the Wingecarribee Shire followed the sale last year of the studious entertainment industry couples' Double Bay property (pictured above) through the Ray White Double Bay selling agent James Keenan.

After initial $3.8 million plus indications, the house fetched $4 million.

They had owned the house since 1998 when the 506 square metre property cost $1,845,000 after moving from McMahons Point where they sold in 2001 for $1.57 million.

There have been reports they have spent $4,025,000 on a Surry Hills penthouse in the St Margarets Ivy complex. 

The penthouse was sold by BradfieldCleary agent Georgia Cleary last year, but no settlement paperwork has been registered. The 272 square metre penthouse was sold by the Livingstone family who bought it for $2.9 million in 2006.

It was the first sale at Mount Murray in four years. There are fewer than 40 homes - perhaps even 30 - at the locality where the highest price was back in 2005 when comedian Tony Sattler and actor Noeline Brown spent $1.6 million.

But they have hardly put Mount Murray on the map over the past decade given the dominant popularity of nearby Robertson.

Indeed Skye and David Leckie’s Robertson property, Mulberry Farm is the feature in the latest edition of the Southern Highlands bible, High Life, for whom I pen the property column, Dream Estates.

Source: High Life, Feb/Mar 2105

It is revealed the 12 audio speakers have been installed along the country estate's driveway with the jaunty theme from the 1960s television series, Bonanza heard by anyone on their way to the homestead,if their window is down.

The music was installed as a joke, a gift from the long-booted Skye to David, who had wanted to name their country retreat Ponderosa, after the property on Bonanza.

“I told him, ‘Over my dead body’,” Skye advised, “but for our first Christmas I had the speakers installed to surprise him. He thought it was hilarious. The theme music plays whenever the gate opens.”

The magazine editor Deborah McIntosh adds that Skye, a party girl from way back, knows all about making her own entrance for her weekender guests.

"This isn’t a weekender for hardy folk who want to labour in the country air, endlessly renovating, gardening or working with cattle," wrote McIntosh.

"It’s about jolly weekend pursuits: tennis, swimming, fishing in the dam, taking country walks, sipping wine by the fire pit, and cocktail hour, starting at 3pm."

The internationally renowned character actor Miriam Margolyes, who became an Australian citizen in 2013, and has bases in London, Bondi, Tuscany and California, maintains that Robertson, Southern Highlands is her preferred home.

Dubbed the grand dame of voice, Miriam discovered the Highlands when she was the voice of Fly, the honey-toned Border Collie who was the surrogate mother in Babe.

The movie was filmed all around the Robertson area and Miriam saw enough to know that she wanted to reside in the district. 

The film makers had searched the world over before finding Robertson. 

A huge film crew of 100 and a further 100 animal trainers descended on the town in 1994, staying five months. Margolyes found the 63 hectare holding, Yarrawa Hill then commissioning Mark Jones of the Nowra firm Edmiston Jones to build a house for herself and her close friends, Australian born Heather Sutherland and sister Sandra Sutherland and her husband Jack Pallimbo.

Built on poles on a precipitous slope, the eco-friendly corrugated iron house, with underfloor heating, is close by rainforest and faces the rolling plains of the Illawarra and the ocean beyond.

Miriam, who is still in constant demand for television, radio, film and theatre around the world, will undertake a world premiere Australian tour this year, The importance of being Miriam. 

Yarrawa Hill, with east and west wings, is available for holiday rentals. 

Robertson's recent departs include the retired shipping manager Peter Marshall and his interior designer wife, Janie who sold Lynwood Farm, the Robertson farm for $4.65 million.

Lynwood Farm was sold for to the Katz family headed by Ervin and Judith.

The superbly proportioned, three-storey timber residence stands on a 5.8-hectare holding with magnificent gardens featuring rolling lawns and a citrus orchard. Inside featured staircase balustrades designed in the Chinese Chippendale crisscross style.

The magazine also features 2GB’s top rating breakfast broadcaster Alan Jones for whom the Highlands isn’t a retreat or escape, it is home.

The rural life on Alan’s home at Fitzroy Falls serves as a reminder of where he came from, growing up on Queensland’s Darling Downs.

Initially built by John Darling Snr in 1981, the house has been extensively rebuilt since bought in 2003 from the Ireland family.

The 28 hectare property is now surrounded by a five-rung, black wooden fence. Alan purchased it for $2.6 million after deciding to sell his Jamberoo property The Church. Jones rents a Circular Quay apartment.

A private auction for a Kew property has everyone talking in Melbourne's inner east.

But without price confirmation until settlement, much of the chatter is ill-informed.

The Australian Financial Review advised the private auction secured a bullish $5.6 million price for 10 Blythswood Court.

Expectations, they wrote, had been in the high $4 millions and the highest pre-auction expression of interest was reportedly $5.1 million. 

The Age had previously reported pre-auction the Smorgon family had price expectations of near $6 million. 

Then there were weekend News Ltd reports that it sold for more than $5.75 million.

"It is understood six bidders fought for the four-bedroom home and that it sold for more than its quoted price guide of $5.75 million-plus," the report said.

The selling agents clearly aren't that helpful with any confirmation, given it was a supposed private auction, so sadly the market remains ill-informed.

The riverside family estate sits on a 3,354 square metre holding with gas-heated in-ground pool and floodlit North-South tennis court. 

Kay & Burton sold it in conjunction with Castran Gilbert Real Estate.

The Balmoral Slopes trophy home of the former Elle editor-in-chief, now co-owner of Hush Communications, Debbie Coffey and her husband photographer, Ross, has been listed for sale.

They have hopes of $6 million plus through McGrath. It is a Corben Architects-designed home. 

The couple bought the four bedroom home on Edwards Bay Road in 2011 for $3.9 million.

Businessman Gary March, the former Richmond Football Club president, secured $3.95 million when he sold his 1915 Middle Park, Melbourne home, Fairhaven.

It last traded when bought by March and wife Bev for $1.3 million in 2001.

The 149 Canterbury Road house was listed through Cayzer Real Estate with $3.6 million plus hopes, and sold after its auction last year on extended settlement terms.

March was the the founder and former director of Concept Sports International, now known as Beyond Sportswear Limited.

Barrister and former Liberal politician Maurice Neil QC and his lawyer wife Natasha Goulden have sold their Spanish mission-style Double Bay residence, the Taj. 

The heritage listed property, built in 1934 by poulterer Albert Glazebrook, had $7 million plus hopes when initially listed last last year. It sold through Sotheby's International Realty.

It last traded in 2003 for $4 million from the art dealer Marlene Antico.

Its subsequent renovation won the Woollahra Council Conservation Award in 2006. It comes with rare Max Le Verrier light fittings.

The Wiston Garden house was built on the cul-de-sac at a cost of £2,700.

In 2002 it was bought by art dealer Marlene Antico for $2.9 million late last year from corporate adviser Robert Crossman, who put it up for sale with still unimplemented, council-approved Howard Tanner renovation plans.

Crossman had paid $1,705,000 in 1997. 

Neil, born in Manchester, England, was elected to the House of Representatives in December 1975 as the Liberal member for St George, narrowly defeating Labor's Bill Morrison by 56 votes.

In the 1977 federal election he withstood a challenge from the previous member for Grayndler, Tony Whitlam, to retain St George.

Neil was defeated by Morrison in the 1980 election.

The Neils have bought in nearby Darling Point.

Adman John Singleton is selling his little-used Killcare beach house on the NSW Central Coast.

It was designed next to the Killcare Surf Life Saving Club and almost on the beach by the local architect Karen Burke with skillion roof-lines and extensive glazing.

The interiors were designed by Chrissie Jeffrey with the master suite comprising a study, dressing room, bathroom and private deck, overlooking a small waterfall and bushland.

There is a private observation deck.

Given Singleton's desire to stay at his Central Coast Mt White stud farm, the property has been managed as a luxury holiday house by The Bells Boutique Hotel Group. 

Singleton bought the 80 Beach Drive property for a suburb record of $4.25 million in late 2007. The highest sale since then has been $2.7 million over the past eight years.

It has been listed with Gittoes agents Cathy Baker and Stephen Gittoes.

There have been reports the agents expect bidding to start at $3.5 million at its 9 May auction.

There are about 500 properties and Killcare and 500 at Killcare Heights, according to CoreLogic RP Data.

Hotelier Ben May has listed his Sydney northern beaches home with entertainment deck overlooking Bungan Beach.

After he bought the property in 2003, Clinton Murray designed the six bedroom beach Newport house on its 1,132 square metre holding.

The master bedrooms opens onto a roof terrace overlooking Mona Vale headland. There are gardens designed by Will Dangar that compliment the plentiful hardwoods, as well as a pool.

Agent Lachlan Elders, of LJ Hooker, Mona Vale has it listed for 30 April auction.

The hotelier, who has the Manly Wharf Bar and Paddington’s London Hotel, expects 89 Myola Road, Newport to fetch around $6.5 million.

Media lawyer Justin Quill has sold his Melbourne Docklands apartment for $1.47 million after buying in Brighton for $4,335,000.

The lawyer sold the Lorimer Street, Docklands apartment for $1.47 million through Baden Lucas, from Lucas Real Estate.

The 24th floor penthouse is in the up-market Mirvac project, Yarra’s Edge. It was bought though a company in 2012 for $1.17 million.

It was bought by a retired pilot moving from East Melbourne.

The 175 square metre apartment was bought about four years ago, then transformed from a three bedroom into its two bedroom design.

The Randwick parkside home of Robert Dickerson, one of Australia’s most recognised figurative artists, has been sold at $2.6 million.

Dickerson and his wife, Jennifer were offering their Federation cottage at 16 Dangar Street complete with professional studio above the garage to concentrate on work from their Nowra district base.

It was listed by the Phillips Pantzer Donnelley agency.

It last traded in 2008 for $1,925,000 when the Dickersons bought it as their Sydney base when not at the Bomaderry farm where the couple have been living for around two decades.

Mike Cannon-Brookes, the co-founder of software firm Atlassian, has been pinpointed as the $12 million mystery buyer of the record setting Centennial Park trophy home.

It was bought from the prestige car dealer Ian Pagent and his wife Marianne with listing details quickly taken down from the web.

Settlement has yet to occur on Braelin, restored and extended with high regard for its architectural heritage significance.

It stands on the largest landholding on the prized park-side avenue.

Designed in the inter-war Californian bungalow style by architect Donald Esplin and built in 1918 for Sir Allen Taylor, a former lord mayor of Sydney, the house has seven bedrooms, six bathrooms and grand reception rooms.

One of Centennial Park's finest residences, it sits on a 2,195 square metre land parcel opposite the park.

The suburb's record stood at $10 million for two Martin Road homes.

Local agents suggest local newspaper speculation as to the mystery buyer was likely to prove correct on settlement of the early March sale. 

A $38 million sale has been reported of Andrew Roberts' Gladswood Gardens, Double Bay property.

The six bedroom, eight bathroom harbourfront property is set on the northern point of Double Bay.

It was sold by the Bondi Beach-bound Multiplex scion Andrew Roberts who had it listed through Bill Malouf of LJ Hooker, The Australian reported.

The 1145 square metre north-facing holding has a three-level house completed in 2005 after Roberts paid $10.1 million in 2003.

Andrew Roberts, the former chief executive of Multiplex, has spent a record $25 million off the plan for a luxury Bondi Beach penthouse in the Pacific Bondi Beach complex.

Mr Roberts now heads RF Capital, which invests in commercial property, listed equities, ­private equity, and resources.

The house, which comes with heated pool, four-car garage, jetty and mooring, was once part of the Gladswood House grounds until subdivided by the Parisi family in 1950 for 10,000 pounds.

Bill Malouf briefly had it for sale in 2010 when it was tipped to sit between the Sydney records set in 2008, when Craig-y-Mor fetched $32.4 million and Coolong sold for $45 million to Ivan Ritossa, the head of foreign exchange at Barclays Capital, through estate agent Bill Bridges. 

Title Tattle recalls the property was sold to Andrew Roberts through Laing & Simmons Double Bay agent Bart Doff by the Ho hotel investment family who were relaxing at Huka Lodge, New Zealand, when Title Tattle breezed through some years ago.

The property had previously traded in 1989 for $7.28 million when sold by Robert Hampshire whose plans to merge it with Gladswood House failed after a tussle with then neighbour Alan Bond.

That was unquestionably one of the most riveting property dramas of the highflying late 1980s.

One of Australia's then wealthiest, Alan Bond, and the entrepreneurial property developer Dr Robert Hampshire were engaged in an expensive and intriguing tussle over who should own and restore the Sydney sandstone landmark Gladswood House. And neither got their way, with both sold out separately by the early 1990s.

Bond owned Gladswood House, built in 1856 on the prime Double Bay peninsula, but Dr Hampshire, the flamboyant Sydney developer, snookered Bond by secretly securing the adjacent property.

Both men harboured a $30 million desire to restore the baronial mansion, which was once set on two hectares, to its place as one of Sydney Harbour's most elegant homes.

Title Tattle recalls Dr Hampshire said at the time: "It's like Solomon's purse."

Each one worth (supposedly) nothing on its own but worth the world together.

Looking on from his neighbouring holding, Hampshire believed Gladswood House rivalled Kirribilli House and Carthona, the Oxley Darling Point residence, as the finest harbour-side homes.

Occupied by the crew of Bond's Southern Cross II, the Gladswood Gardens castle had purchased by Bond's Endeavour Resources Pty Ltd for $2.4 million in January, 1986.

Alan's then wife, Eileen Bond, who had a flair for interior design, told Title Tattle back then that "We really do love that house. We certainly won't sell, but it would be nice to get the property next door."

Gladswood House's previous owners include the property developer Warren Anderson and the investment banker Robert Whyte. 

Tomorrow will mark the halfway point of the 90 day divestiture order Treasurer Joe Hockey announced to force the sale of the $39 million Point Piper trophy home, Villa del Mare.

Nothing publicly has occurred, so who knows what face saving options are being considered by the billionaire owner Xu Jiayin (許家印 also known as Hui Ka Yan).

He is estimated by Forbes to be worth about $7 billion, so he can afford the best minds to attend to the outcome. 

Nothing further from the Treasurer either on his crusade to make houses more affordable for first home buyers.

The Point Piper gossip suggests neither past selling agents Bill Malouf and Ken Jacobs have taken through any prospects since the March 3 Federal Treasury order.

The Sydney property agent Monika Tu didn't help when she volunteered she had three buyers only prepared to pay around $35 million for the Point Piper mansion.

She has a nearby trophy home listing that had been priced on the maintenance of the $39 million figure.

Converted some 25 years ago, The Clocktower House in Toorak has been listed for 16 May auction through Warwick Anderson at RT Edgar.

With its bronze clock tower, the residence was originally the garage and chauffeur's residence of Homeden. The Rolls Royce has long gone.

Homeden was the 1890 home of Supreme Court Justice Sir Henry Hodges, who'd married into the Chirnside family.

Edward Grimwade, from the pharmacists, Felton & Grimwade, was a later owner, but Homeden was better known given its subsequent association with the Nicholas family whose fortune came from the pharmaceutical manufacturing of the Aspro.

The currently offered building dates from the Nicholas days, and is now a four bedroom home behind its blackwood and copperlight arched doorway following its renovation by the McKindley family - John and stylist Judith - at an estimated $22,000 cost following its 1979 purchase. The front door comes from the former Homeden mansion.

The original garage area comprises two distinct living zones,and a galley kitchen cleverly divided behind some of the original garage doors.

The upstairs chauffeur's quarters above offers three bedrooms, open fireplaces, with wooden floors and vaulted ceilings. There are windows taken from the demolished Homeden mansion.

It sits on a 740 square metre block at 4 Lawrenny Court. It last traded in 1985 at around $450,000.

Homeden was the home of George Nicholas and his wife Shirley Alcock, from the gun merchants Alcock and Pierce family, niece of Randall Alcock, owner of Robur Tea.

Homeden was a luxurious mansion George had refurbished in Lansell Road, having some 57 rooms. 

The Homeden name remains as a 1960s block of flats at 46 Lansell Road.

Locals are suggesting the Clockhouse should easily fetch $3.5 million plus.

The classic art-deco Dover heights residence of locksmith Jason Carr and Haley Carr has been sold.

It came with a $4.6 million asking price having been listed for auction with $5 million plus hopes.

The 1937 Kippara Road property was reportedly the Chinese embassy until World War II. In 1941, it was sold to pawnbroker Neville Grace and his wife Hilda, who resided in the property until her death in 1982.

It last traded in 2001 for $1.69 million.

Around five years ago another level was added by architect Michael Grimshaw, very much in keeping with its 1930s origin.

The 955 square metre property with pool has been listed through Sydney Sotheby's International agent Michael Pallier.

It has ocean and Harbour Bridge views.

Title Tattle did the title searches that showed it had been bought by Rose Bay merchant Tsu-Yau Lin in 1937 at £550 selling in 1941 after completion at £3,600.

Records show a vessel, Burwah was sold by Howard Smith Co. Limited, of Melbourne, to Tsu-Yau Lin, of China in 1947, perhaps a clue as to his business interests.

Sydney Swans player Daniel Hannebery has his North Bondi home listed for 7 May auction.

Ric Serrao of Raine & Horne Double Bay/Bondi has the two-storey home listing.

It was bought in August 2012 pre-auction for $1.48 million.

News Ltd report about $2.2 million is tipped for the four-bedroom semi, so while not quite the actual millionaire or billionaire he has ridden the coastal eastern suburbs wave.

The previous owner of the 1930s semi had it too for three years, but only made $150,000.

CoreLogic RP Data suggest the median house price has moved within the period from about $1.55 million to $2 million currently. 

There is a nearby single storey offering going to 23 April which ought provide some price indications.

It was the home of the late Luigi Coluzzi, whose cafe in Darlinghurst was a place for decades where artists rubbed shoulders with politicians, actors, leading lawyers and late night taxi drivers.

Luigi Coluzzi died last year, aged 84, with his two-bedroom home last traded in 2000 for $571,700.

It goes to auction on 23 April through McGrath agent Peter Starr in conjunction with Raine & Horne's Ric Serreo.

The property at 33 Parer Street, Maroubra (pictures from recent sale above) fetched $1.46 million at weekend auction through N G Farah agent Cameron Airlie.

The two bedroom semi on 310 square metres had last sold at $1 million in March 2013 (pictures from previous sale below).

Can you spot the $460,000 difference? 

I can't. But am advised there was just a fresh coat of paint. It has gone up 20% per year, so a bit more than the supposed overall annual Sydney median price growth.

Damien Cooley, the chief auctioneer at Cooley auctions, advised there were 13 registered bidders.

This time the price guidance was $1.2 million plus while in 2013 it was around $900,000, according to CoreLogic RP Data records which also show the suburb's median has increased from $1.1 million to $1.4 million over the period.