Bruce D. Hales is the leader of the 50,000 strong Plymouth Christian Church of the Brethren.
The fundamentalist church, dubbed an “extremist cult” by former prime minister Kevin Rudd, has been controversial in recent decades as its doctrine of “separatism” prohibits members from forming friendships with outsiders under threat of excommunication. Formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren, the church does not allow members to vote, although leaders have been politically connected, liberal party donors and advocates for conservative causes.
When the Epping property was sold, it was reported that the buyer planned to create a family compound instead of redeveloping the property, but those plans remain speculative with no comment from the Hales family.
The billionaire next door
Software billionaire Richard White has proven to be a lucrative neighbor for at least those few homeowners who live near his holiday home near South Coast Berry.
The founder of Wiztech Global has quietly acquired another property in the Beaumont hinterland, making four properties in a row and creating a 37-acre private estate.
AC/DC’s former guitar technician recently bought a three-bedroom home on 2.6 acres for $3.1 million, bringing his total spending to more than $11.5 million locally.
Richard White of WizTech has bought another Beaumont property.Credit:Natalie Bugg
White’s interest in the area dates back to early 2017 when he bought the holiday home “Cooinda” for $2.65 million, adding next door for $2.8 million a year later and in 2020 buying a 32 hectare property adjoining the Cambewarra Regional Nature Reserve for $3 million.
White’s interest in his neighbors’ real estate is unlikely to go unnoticed by wealthy Palm Beach residents, who last month purchased a hillside mansion for a record $27.5 million.
Mayer’s Heir Affects.
Will Myer, of Melbourne’s wealthy Myer retail family, has bought a $4.8 million home in Woollahra with his wife Sarah.
Federation House in Woollahara sold to William and Sarah Mayer for $4.8 million.
The couple bought Freesteng, Federation House, on the Mayer family’s historic Toorak estate, Cranlana House, a year after it had been occupied by the family for more than a century.
The granddaughter of Mayer founder Sidney Mayer is Bloomberg’s head of analytics, and Sarah Mayer was last seen on a reality TV show. Lux details Thanks to her new gig at the Rubinstein Group at a local real estate store.
Banking on the Parramatta River
ANZ co-head of global fixed income Rakesh Jampala and his wife Vasuda have emerged as the $15.5 million buyers of Drumoyne’s historic Shalimar estate.
Drummoyne residence Shalimar is set to undergo a major renovation for its new owners.
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The pair’s purchase ends 84 years of ownership by the McNiven family, once Australia’s largest ice cream maker, and is expected to see extensive renovations at Jampalas.
Jampala, one of the founding members of Swamy’s Army of Test cricket supporters, sold the couple’s riverside home near Henley for $8.4 million in May.
