Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982), Wednesday 3 January 1979, page 6


Home in a Million

A 50-year-old waterfront mansion on

Sydney Harbour, sold for more than $1 million to an unidentified buyer, will remain in its present glory for at least the next 10 years.

The sale of the house, "Boomerang," in Billyard Avenue, Elizabeth Bay, is subject to a covenant that lays down the main building must be used as a private dwelling or as diplomatic offices for that period.

The property includes 5000 square metres (1.2 acres) of land, at present occupied by the garage, tennis court and garden.

"Boomerang" is one of the world's few untouched Art Deco houses. De-

signed by Neville Hampson in Southern California style, it was built around 1930

for the late Frank Albert.

Mr Albert, publisher of the Boomer-ang songbooks, was a radio pioneer, one of the founders of the Australian Broadcasting Company, later taken over by the ABC.

He died in 1962, aged 87. Since his death, only a caretaker has lived at "Boomerang." The property was bought last year by an investment company.

lt was due for auction on December 12, but sold privately beforehand. Neither the buyer's name nor the price were disclosed, but the agent, L. J. Hooker, said it "exceeded $1 million."

A mansion empty for 16 years is eerie,

RIGHT: Bathroom for "her," with mother-of-pearl sunken bath and

10-jet shower. BELOW: A masterpiece of Southern Californian architecture, "Boomerang" brought the luxury of

Hollywood to Sydney's Elizabeth Bay.

although the house and gardens have been meticulously tended. In the gar-dens, the courtyards, the vast entrance hall, with its archways and pillars, only splashing fountains break the silence.

Only the finest of materials were used —travertine marble, bronze, mahogany, lacy wrought iron. The staircase with its ornate bronze handrail is like a Hollywood film set. Huge rooms have the polished floors of ballrooms., but nobody

there to dance.

Bedrooms have cupboard space to house a royal wardrobe. In one cupboard is a revolving hatstand that the lady of the house can twirl without effort to take her pick.

Bathrooms, with sunken baths and 10-jet showers, are decorated with Wedgwood motifs for "her," brown

leather for "him."

In the basement, a private cinema— the seats are gone, but the screen and projection room remain.

—EILEEN ALDERTON

ABOVE: Sunlight shines through stained glass and highlights the bronze handrail of the sweeping staircase. LEFT: Lush, exotic

gardens sweep down towards SydneyHarbour from the rear of the house.

sells for $1 million

RIGHT: The imposing entrance hall —solid pillars, graceful archways,

cool tiles and whispering fountains. INSET RIGHT: Gleaming parquet

floors link the spacious interior rooms. Pictures by Ron Berg.