Darling Point 1960s ‘time capsule’ that cost £10,950 lures expats

14 New Beach Rd, Darling Point is unchanged since the 1960s.

A Darling Point 1960s “time capsule” long owned by a famous sailor and model is winning the hearts of Aussie expats returning from the US and UK.

The five-bedroom landmark mansion at 14 New Beach Rd cost Bill Solomons — who sailed in Australia’s first America’s Cup on board the Packers’ boat, Gretel, in 1962 — and his Vogue model wife, Faye, £10,950 in 1965, records show.

It’s now listed with Christies agents Darren Curtis and Martin Ross in an expressions of interest campaign with a $12.5m guide.

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The grand home last traded for £10,950 in 1965, records show.

Not hard to imagine the late America’s Cup sailor Bill Solomons, and his model wife, Faye — who appeared on many Vogue covers — enjoying family life here.

Agents expect the new owners will either do a modest internal reno, or a complete transformation.

Bill Solomons on Gretel in the America’s Cup in 1962.

“We’re getting a high number of expats interested, partly because of the favourable Australian dollar and also because opportunities like this one so rarely come up,” Mr Ross said.

“It really is a time capsule, as the photos suggest, presenting in original condition, ready for the next generation to make their mark on a fabulous old home.

“We’re also getting good local interest, with inquiries coming from people in Woollahra and Paddington wanting to be closer to the harbour.”

Looking through the pictures, it’s not hard to imagine Bill and Faye, who’d “tied the knot” in New York in the days that followed the America’s Cup adventure at Newport’s Rhode Island way back in 1962, enjoying the charming residence they purchased just a few years later.

Bill and Faye Solomons after their Rhode Island wedding in 1962.

They bought their home, overlooking Rushcutters Bay Park, a few years later.

With huge rooms like this, no wonder it’s proving popular with returning expats.

Faye Solomons on the cover of Vogue Australia and Woman’s Day.

Their sons, Dr Greg and Dr Andrew Solomons, both radiologists and founding partners at PRP Diagonostic Imaging, bought the home for $3.3m from their parents in 2003.

Both sons learnt to sail across the road from their home in Rushcutters Bay.

Bill passed away in 2016, but Faye continued to live at the home until moving to aged care recently.

The two-level semi-detached home is on a 235sqm block, adjacent to Rushcutters Bay Park and Rushcutters Bay.

“There are options galore, which is why it’s been so well received,” says Mr Ross.

“You could do a modest renovation within the current specs, or you could bring in Blainey North or Thomas Hamel to transform it for the next generation.”

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