Ricky and Rianna Ponting sell $16m Brighton home, while McKinsey’s Angus Dawson buys in Randwick.

The sale clocks Mr Gibson’s second sale on Brighton’s so-called Golden Mile in a matter of weeks, following the circa $22 million sale of packaging executive Adrian Field’s family home on nearby Dudley Street.

“We are short of stock in that part of the world,” the veteran prestige agent added.

However, the stock-starved top end isn’t likely to be replenished until spring, given the exodus of well-heeled Melburnian to warmer climes.

“I think if you went to Tullamarine you’d see most of my clients leaving,” Mr Gibson said, adding he’d shortly be joining them for the European summer.

Buyers agent Emma Bloom says the Melbourne top end is experiencing a dearth of trophy listings.

“There are people out there fishing, and will swoop when they find what they want, regardless of price,” Ms Bloom said. “We are so starved of stock.”

McKinsey’s Angus Dawson’s Randwick homecoming

McKinsey’s Angus Dawson and wife Nikki have purchased Randwick grand estate Allowah in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Although the exact sale price remains undisclosed, it is understood to be between $14 million and $14.5 million.

The sale marks a coming home of sorts for Mr Dawson, who grew up in the grand property on St Marks Road. His parents – Sandy and Jane – previously owned Allowah before selling the five-bedroom home for $4.3 million in 2001.

The recent purchase follows a tragic chapter for Mr Dawson, who stepped down from his management position at the global consulting firm in November last year due to “very difficult personal circumstances”.

Late last year Mr Dawson lost his brother, respected barrister Sandy Dawson, SC, to brain cancer. Mr Dawson’s sister, Katrina – also a barrister – was killed in the Lindt Cafe siege of 2014.

The Allowah sale marks the first time Randwick has achieved a million-dollar transaction in the double digits. It raises the suburb record by more than 50 per cent from its previous high of $9.525 million, set by the 2022 sale of Federation house Wirringulla.

Allowah is arguably Randwick’s grandest home, built around 1880 on a 1691 square metre block. It comes with a gas-heated pool, tennis court, gym, parking for five cars and original features including a carved cedar staircase, several marble fireplaces and interior painting featuring detailed trompe l’oeils.

The property sold through Savills’ Martin Schiller, who declined to comment on Allowah’s purchaser or price.

Luxury $14m retreat puts Yamba on the map

Holiday hotspot Yamba on NSW’s Far North Coast– oft touted as the next Byron – has welcomed a new record contender with the $14 million listing of property duo Sein and Taliah Lowry’s Yamba escape.

The 40 hectare block on Micalo Island – a 10-minute drive from Yamba’s 11 surf beaches – comes with a five-bedroom main house, separate guest accommodation, pool, cabana, and a two-hole golf course complete with putting green.

Selling agent Pacifico Property’s Christian Sergiacomi said whether you’re a hedonist, naturalist or wellness warrior, the property has it all.

“There’s a range of wellness features like magnesium spa, ice bath and 10-person sauna,” said Mr Sergiacomi.

“’The property has a social wing with a motorised disco ball, circular media room with phenomenal acoustics, five outdoor fire pits including an Argentinian grill,” the Byron-based agent said.

“There’s a colony of wallabies that hop by in the afternoon, and kids can go crabbing and boating at the river,”

Owner and hotelier Sein Lowry, who sold the luxury Byron hotel The Bower for $20 million in 2020, bought the five-bedroom home on 40 hectares for $1.69 million in 2020, and set about replacing the dated brick veneer with a sleek new home.

The property, known as Micalo, is available to rent as a luxury escape for about $4000 a night. It was built by Byron-based master builder Greg Lyons, with interior design helmed by owner and designer Taliah Lowry.

Yamba was first put on the property map when Billabong’s founder Gordon Merchant created a luxury compound near famous surf break Angourie Point, later followed by former world champion surfer Nat Young.

Beyond surfing heavyweights and holidaying Moree cotton farmers, Yamba’s landholding elite is fast expanding – largely due the upgraded M1.

“The new highway puts Yamba an easy 45-minute drive from Ballina airport – if you’re not going to chopper down – and many people now drive up from Sydney for a long weekend,” Mr Sergiacomi said.

Meanwhile, TPG Capital’s Joel Thickins and wife Celina are the latest interstate heavyweights to take advantage of Yamba’s improved connectivity, settling on a $7 million four-bedroom oceanfront home in April.

Property records show the Melbourne-based private equity heavyweight and his family have opted for a four-bedroom Ocean Street property, which is held in Celina’s name.

Vaucluse’s $28m opening

Staying in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, the Vaucluse home of David Tan, CEO of property investment outfit Centurion Property Group, has joined the top-end market with a $28 million guide.

Mr Tan and wife Dewi Widodo – also at Centurion – picked up the five-bedroom, five-bathroom hilltop home for $20.55 million in 2021, according to CoreLogic.

Now, the Princes Avenue entertainer – on a 1455 square metre block – is back on offer.

Selling agent and co-founder of The Agency, Steven Chen, says the double block with circular drive has room to add a championship tennis court.

“It captures spectacular uninterrupted of Sydney harbour from every single room, from every single level,” Mr Chen said.

Andrew Spira sells Vaucluse home

Also in Vaucluse, the five-bedroom home of troubled entrepreneur, 24-year-old Andrew Spira, has sold for about $10 million.

The sale comes just 18 months after the founder of loan broking outfit Pineapple Funding bought the Lower Village Road home with his former fiance, The Capital Network chief Julia Maguire, for $9 million.

Mr Spira, the socialite son of Lizzie Buttrose (who is the niece of ABC chair Ita), is facing court proceedings following his alleged attempt to fraudulently obtain a passport to flee the country.

The property sold through Paul Biller of Biller Property.