Palm Beach shack For Sale

'Kaluha'

Every summer a flock of paparazzi set out for ritzy Palm Beach at the very furthest end of Sydney's northern peninsular where local and international celebrities spend their lazy days in the handful of mansions available in the area.

Now the most famous house that usually hosts an international star over summer is up for sale-Kalua, the magnificent property owned by businessman Ian Joye can be yours for an asking price of over $25M.

The 1920s Caribbean style beach house is actually three separate houses on about 5,500sqm in the cul-de-sac at the prestigious southern end of the beachfront, nestled among the lush vegetation of historic Cabbage Tree Boat Harbour with filtered views direct across to the beach, bordered by tall Pines.

Only HRH Prince Charles' friend Bob Rose has a better property being right at the end with commanding views over the beach.

Kalua was once owned by the Horden department store family (they all had Palm Beach houses in the 1930s-the Graces, the Lloyd Jones while the Myers opted for Sorrento in Victoria ). Gazing over the azure waters of the Pacific it's secluded amid magnificent sprawling grounds and really hearkens back to a more stylish era when Eastern Suburbs' families would motor down for the week end and jostle over who could host the smartest  garden party.

These days Palm Beach is a bit of a film colony with Oscar winning director Peter Weir, actors Bryan Brown and Racheal Ward and Sam Neil all living in the area while the North Palm Beach Surf Club is used as a set for Home &Away.

Those who have rented Kaluha for $40,000 a week include Mick Jagger, John Cleese, Bono, Nicole Kidman,Tom Cruise, Rupert Murdoch, Paul McCartney and Billy Connolly.

If you are short on cash the vendor is offering 60% finance which means you could look forward to a monthly mortgage of about $120,000.

a tricky mess for Charlie's pals

It wasn't too long ago that HRH Prince Charles toured the amazing suburb created by the Rose family at Breakfast Point and declared in reply to a Shuttler's question that it was "one of the finest modern developments he had ever seen"-high praise for a man known for his great love of the preservation of old buildings.

Indeed, it was an amazing coup for the well liked and very social Bob & Margaret Rose to even get the visiting British Royal  along for the afternoon that included a long hike through the development's streets, visits to a few houses and finally a reception in the the  'town hall' on the village green.

 Margaret & Bob Rose with HRH Prince Charles (C)

Now the Rose Group is facing a major obstacle in it's long planned re-development of the sleepy seaside hamlet Catherine Hill Bay and another planned 187 houses on Lake Macquarie after  

Justice David Lloyd of the Land and Environment Court handed down a judgment nipping the whole scheme in the bud and labeling the concept a "land bribe" with reports linking it to Labor Party donations from the corporation-despite them donating to all political parties evenly. Not only is this a blow to the Rose Group it seems certain to have a carry-on affect for other developers.

                                                        Breakfast Point's village green

Certainly many will praise the decision including the Catherine Hill Bay Progress Association who are ecstatic no others will share their fairly peace-full lives but it's an odd decision in a court known to be 'developer friendly' which has allowed some truly horror developments through to blight the landscape, most especially in Sydney with it's woeful record of modern architecture (Opera House excluded of course). 

Yet the Rose family have received numerous awards and praise for some of the most sensational large scale, environmentally friendly developments around the state including the highly successful Olympic Village built for the 2000 games and hailed by then Olympic president Juan Antonio Samaranch as the "best ever !" in the history of the games.

Although Bob & Margaret are secure in their sublime Point Piper mansion and glorious Palm Beach weekender with it's commanding views over the peninsular, they must be wondering just went wrong.


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##  Never were truer words said than those of the late British PM  Harold Wilson who once declared  "7 days is a long time in politics" .  Within days of speculation that NSW premier Nathan Rees may be rolled, 2 contenders for the job have hit the skids including Frank Sartor who was criticized in the Rose Group court judgement (see above)for his days as planning minister . Now state health minister John Della Bosca has resigned this morning after revelations of an affair with a 26 year old secretary. 

The Shuttle confidently predicts that within 2 months the new state premier will be 40 year old American born Kristina Keneally. Whilst Labor dominates Federally with PM Kevin Rudd's popularity soaring to such heights he remains the most popular leader ever, Keneally, neice of the Oscar winning writer Tom Keneally ('Schindler's List")  has risen quickly through the political ranks impressing all who meet her and would be a much needed shot in the arm for the ailing state party. 

Meanwhile Della Bosca's career will be far from over. As a political heavyweight he wields considerable power both statewide and federally with wife , federal MP Belinda Neal. Della Bosca and Neal easily survived the so-called "Iguanagate" scandal when both were accused of insulting waiters in a coastal nightclub after drinks last year. Despite PM Kevin Rudd taking Neal aside for a quick chat with a recommendation she seek 'anger management ' skills, her star continues to rise. Expect Della Bosca to be back within a heartbeat.