The Hubble, Bubble House
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday March 9, 1989
Geophysicist turned investment advisor Bruce McDonald fell in love with the witch's house the moment he spotted its picture in the auction columns.
A former panel beater who put himself through night school and university, Bruce thought the historic 20-room mansion at 260 Johnston Street, Annandale, would make a wonderful family home.
Although in bad repair, on inspection he found it structurally sound and filled with potential. He expected it would bring close to $1 million. As luck would have it he got it for $770,000.
No stranger to property investment, Bruce made his initial wealth in the late 1970s helping people locate minerals in out-of-the-way foreign countries. Six years ago he bought a few properties in the Darling Harbour and Ultimo area, where he and his extended family now live.
The witch's house, named because of its tall spire, is the most imposing in a row of three. Built in the early 1800s for First Fleeter Colonel Robert Johnston and designed by Sir John Young (he also designed Sydney Town Hall and the GPO), the property was auctioned on March 1.
"I knew it was ours," said Bruce. "In my mind I'd already planted the tomatoes in a corner of the yard. In fact I'd done such potent affirmations I had no doubts."
The mansion, which carries a National Trust heritage order, was owned by three partners who bought it three years ago. It was divided into 10 flatettes.
According to Ian Cohen, sales manager of Century 21 Taylors Real Estate at Petersham, bidding was spirited, starting at $550,000 and moving gradually from $25,000 to $1,000 bids. Ian, one of a new breed of inner city real estate marketers, spent hours buried in books at Leichhardt library researching the property's history.
"I didn't want to look a dill when people asked me questions," he said.
The night before the auction Bruce's wife, Francie, a former coronary care sister, was so excited she couldn't sleep.
"I thought someone with a bottomless pocket would come along and outbid us," she said. Rene Rivkin was a possible contender. He bought the adjoining house last year.
The McDonalds have four daughters and expect another child in June. Bruce believes current soaring interest rates acted in his favour at the auction, and he expects to spend at least the price again on refurbishment, restoration and renovation.
A cash settlement is in eight weeks. In that time the McDonalds will commission engineers and architects to plan strategy that will see work begin the moment they take possession. They are now seeking restoration craftspeople, who will be required to produce rarities including gargoyles, fleurs-de-lis, huon pine and various pieces of black and white marble. Also on the shopping list is lacework, because the original pieces are missing from the mansion's three upper levels.
Local ghost stories abound, but the McDonalds don't scare easily. A former owner, NSW Premier Sir Henry Parkes, died there, on the second floor. A few weeks ago a camera crew from the ABC's 7.30 Report climbed to the spot to film the historic site. Curiously, their equipment wouldn't work.
"But no, I don't believe in ghosts," said Bruce.
Whatever spirits reside there, the cheery McDonald clan - complete with dogs, cats and proposed lyrebird or two - will bring joy long absent from the grand old residence.
This is the case of the killer cocker spaniels.
Last week, an 18-year-old man was convicted of breaking and entry, steal and assault charges thanks to the heroics of three Paddington-based cocker spaniels.
It was after midnight, a week earlier, when our thief climbed the back fence of a darkened terrace house. It didn't worry him when confronted by the curly-haired cuties, even though they were barking furiously.
He crouched, waiting, and when no one came to investigate, opened the back door, letting in the dogs as he sneaked inside.
Unbeknown to the burglar someone was asleep upstairs, but had not heard the dogs until they were in the house. Now awake, the owner came to investigate, meeting the looting felon at the foot of the stairs.
The thief tried to push past the confident bulk of the partially clad owner. The intruder should have guessed this was no regular nervous resident, particularly when he was punched expertly in the nose. He had picked the house of a well-known local detective sergeant who then calmly ordered the dogs on guard while he went upstairs to dress and phone his colleagues.
In court, the defence barrister asked what breed of vicious watch dog was involved.
It is now known as the case of the killer cocker spaniels, a case of bark being worse than bite. The would-be burglar was already on parole for an earlier break and enter charge. He will be sentenced in July.
PANACHE IN BESIEGED EATERIES
Campbell Parade Bondi Beach, between Sir Thomas Mitchell Road and Lamrock Avenue, provides several examples of the way bricks and mortar crumble when constantly exposed to salty air.
This is a block of what were once grand apartment buildings above shop-fronts at street level. The buildings have names like Cairo Mansions and The Empire, suggesting a grandeur long ago eaten away by clean winds, pollutants, white ants and time.
That didn't dampen Daisuke Yamada's enthusiasm when she was sent to manage the Shiosai Japanese Takeaway, at 42 Campbell Parade. Opened only a few months ago, the tiny shop gives customers the option to eat in or take away a large menu, including tempura and sushi. The day Yamada san arrived, so did the builders. They erected scaffolds with screens. So unless you're walking past alertly, you wouldn't know Shiosai was there.
It is closed Tuesdays, but open otherwise from noon until midnight. The lads here, part-time surf nuts, try hard and serve graciously. Nothing exceeds$10. They even attract significant numbers of appreciative Japanese tourists.
There's also a frappe machine (imported from Japan) surrounded by flamboyant plastic facsimiles of the dessert concoctions it can produce.
Further down, on the corner of Lamrock Avenue, opposite the still popular Lamrock Cafe, is the beachfront's newest eating place, the Ravenous Panther.
Partners Ludmila (Ludi), whose Russian surname is unpronounceable, and Italian Robi Novello have gamely taken on a space many believe is doomed. In the past three years it has been The Metropolis, a Lebanese eatery and The Ruins Restaurant.
Even five years ago, the building looked like a bald and half-eaten Violet Crumble bar, but now, just as Ludi and Robi have farewelled their renovators and rewritten the menus, the scaffolds are about to go up here, too.
Because restaurants always try harder when they're new, these two, with their added duress, are well worth a visit.
Shiosai (telephone 303781) will create attractive Japanese platters for outside parties. The Ravenous Panther (telephone 3650585) has a pretty and private small inner courtyard available for special functions.
© 1989 Sydney Morning Herald