‘Darling of Darley Rd’ returns to market

87-89 Darley Rd, Randwick had a $20m price guide 18 months ago. Now there’s a $14m guide for an October 23 auction.

The grand Randwick home of retired publican Robart Richards and his wife Mary Lou has returned to the market with a considerably more attractive price guide than 18 months ago.

And with the trophy home market on fire, the agents expect the seven-bedroom home overlooking Centennial Park at 87-89 Darley Rd to still break the suburb record of $14.35m, set in 2023.

Last year, Ray White Double Bay’s Kate Smith and principal Elliott Placks had a $20m guide for the incredible home on a 1,349sqm block, known as “The Darling of Darley Rd”.

It didn’t find a buyer at the time, but the pair are confident it will with its new guide of $14m guide for an October 23 auction.

“It is likely to break the Randwick suburb record,” Smith said.

“The market has lifted and confidence is high.

“Spring has been incredible so far with impressive sales in the prestige property market and a new suburb record in Randwick will be the cherry on top.”

The Ray White Double Bay team has been behind the top three sales this year, including a waterfront that sold for $60m+.

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There’s a barbecue area and studio/pool house overlooking the heated swimming pool.

The vendors have made a range of modern updates in keeping with the home’s Victorian grandeur.

The home’s on a 1,349sqm block.

The property was offically known as “Swan Isle”, built for an army colonel in 1906 who had his soldiers parade out the front while he took the salute on the balcony, in full military dress of red and gold braid.

But for the past 24 years it’s been the home of the Richards family who bought it for $2.02m in 2000.

Its first owner, Colonel William Farrell, lived in the grand residence with the castellated towers with his wife, Francis, and their five children, Charles, William, Fanny, Charlotte and Louise.

It was used by St Judes Anglican Church, Randwick, for monthly services while the family continued to live there and, after the death of their parents, the daughters stayed on until 1945.

The huge home was vacant until 1954 when it was converted to a private hotel and, in 1960, returned to being a private residence.

There are seven bedrooms.

The original formal and casual living areas have high ornate ceilings …

… along with solid timber floors and leadlight windows.

It’s fitting that its current owners have a long association with hotels, with Robert Richards being the publican at The Strand, in Darlinghurst in 1992 and the Rocksia in Rockdale between 2012 and 2020.

They’ve made a range of modern updates in keeping with the home’s Victorian grandeur — the original formal and casual living areas have high ornate ceilings, solid timber floors and leadlight windows.

The modern kitchen has a stone island bench, premium Illve gas stove, Miele dishwasher and butlers’ pantry.

Outside, there’s a barbecue area and studio/pool house overlooking the heated swimming pool.

And the new residents will have a choice of four bathrooms, two with tubs, showers and dual vanities.

It would also be a great place to work from home, with studies on both levels, plus a private suite for guests.

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