The world's second richest man Bill Gates and his family are in Sydney and have settled in for a month's holiday in a grand Point Piper mansion.Gates is staying just 6 doors away from Hollywood star Leo DiCaprio who is in Sydney to film Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby (in glorious 3D). Leo also has an entire floor at the newly renovated Star Casino where his entourage stay. That floor has been provided gratis by The Star management in return for DiCaprio turning up for the odd party now and then. They throw in the corporate jet as well for Leo's use.
 |
| Neville Crichton |
The Tuscan style mansion that Gates is renting for a reputed $25000 a week belongs to luxury car entrepreneur, New Zealander Neville Crichton. With an underground garage, a spa, a pool and a private beach and jetty, the villa has everything one could desire.
 |
| The Ferrari HQ minus tram shed |
Neville Crichton has also scored another property victory. Two years ago he spent $4M on his new Waterloo headquarters where one can pick up a new Ferrari or Maserati for some loose change.
 |
| the vanished tramshed |
Crichton has had an ongoing battle with the local council over a rather dilapidated tram shed that sat right at the front of his glistening new glass and steel showrooms. Locals insisted it should be heritage listed but in a city where so many glorious sandstone convict era buildings have bitten the dust, the tram shed was just an eyesore.
Over the past few months the council demolished half the building, leaving a bizarre half section remaining with a plaque on it. Just a month ago the entire thing finally disappeared leaving Neville Crichton's entrance free of obstructions.
