There are whispers Ashton, the 1870 Elizabeth Bay trophy home, is under offer.
It seems a neighbour on the Elizabeth Bay Road loop has knocked on the door of the historic home making a too good-to-be-true offer.
Retired car dealer Ray Harris and his wife, Robyn, an interior designer, are considering the reputed near-$20 million offer.
They have transformed the home since they purchased the mansion for $10.75 million in 2009.
Set on 1078sqm of near harbourside land, it has 680sqm of indoor-outdoor living space.
A record $50 million is being sought nearby for the sandstone villa Tresco which the Waterhouse family have listed.
This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.