"Mesmerising" James Bond-style mega-home hits the market
The owners of a luxury home in the exclusive Sydney suburb of Mosman that's just hit the market went so far as to call in miners from Lightning Ridge just to build an incredible tunnel – that is now wowing interested buyers.
“It’s very James Bond and high-tech,” says Di Jones Mosman agent Jacqui Rowland-Smith of the 25m tunnel on the property, which has $10m expectations in an expressions of interest campaign.
“You come out of the garage and walk into the tunnel, the lights come on and there’s music … it’s mesmerising.”
The five-bedroom home with four bathrooms also boasts a heated pool and stunning views taking in the Opera House and city skyline.
Owners Robert Procter, an electrical engineer, and his wife, Wendy, say it’s the addition of the tunnel four years ago, from the street and double garage to a lift taking them to both levels of the home, that’s been a game-changer.
“It means we don’t have to walk up 63 steps, which is particularly difficult in the pouring rain,” says Robert.
They even included a home gym in the tunnel. Their builder had put them in touch with the Lightning Ridge miners, who were prepared to move to Sydney for the six-month long project.
The Procters even gave them free board and three meals a day.
“It’s a big house and the five of them stayed downstairs … the only thing we didn’t supply was alcohol – which would have cost more than the tunnel,” Robert said.
The miners used jackhammers for the vertical lift shaft and a special machine that cut through the rock for the tunnel. He said that, including the lift and landscaping, there wasn’t much change from $1m for the work, which he declares was well worth it.
The miners went on to do similar work at other homes around Sydney, and WestConnex even offered them a job.
But the miners ended up knocking back the work, says Robert.
“They looked at the government contract — penalties if they were 10 minutes late? They decided to give it a miss,” he said.
The Procters moved into the home 40 years ago, when it cost them $290,000. Times have certainly changed.
Images: Real Estate.com.au