Former NSW opposition leader lists renovated convict-built home for $13m

Peter Collins , a former NSW Opposition Leader, and his wife Jennine Leonarder-Collins , have put their Werrington County home in western Sydney on the market with a price guide of $13 million.

The couple bought the convict-built sandstone residence named Werrington House for $1.05 million in 2011, records show, and over the course of around 15 years meticulously restored it to keep its timeless elegance while adding modern touches.

Peter was the Opposition Leader in NSW from 1995 to 1998, and was also the arts minister from 1988 to 1995 and health minister from 1988 to 1991, among other parliamentary roles.

Jennine, who worked as a luxury real estate agent, told this masthead she and Peter share a “deep passion for Australian history and heritage architecture”, and while it’s bittersweet to leave the home, they look forward to embracing their next challenge together.

“We purchased Werrington House almost 15 years ago this week, determined to restore it to its former glory and take it to an entirely new level, sparing no expense in the process,” she said on Thursday.

“We often reflect on what its previous occupants might have thought had they been able to see what the house would ultimately become. We are exceptionally proud of the decisions we have made, the home we have created and above all, the legacy we are leaving.”

The property’s previous occupants include the late Sir Henry Parkes , who lived there from 1860 to 1872, the latter year being the year he became Premier of NSW.

On offer is a two-storey, four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence with a library room, resort-style swimming pool, Koi fishpond, paved courtyard and a multipurpose space that could be used as a gallery, office or museum.

Interiors feature restored ironbark floors, cedar doors, marble bathrooms, chandeliers and pendant lighting.

Michael Pallier of Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty and Paul Merrick of Merrick Property Group are accepting expressions of interest.

Music engineer pioneer Tom Misner , of SAE Institute, has listed his Bangalow estate in the Byron Bay hinterland with a price guide of $12 million.

The Croatian-born businessman, who is based in Monaco, made his fortune selling his audio engineering school SAE Institute for about $300 million in 2010.

Records show Misner purchased the estate, which consists of four residences each with their own pool, for a then-suburb record of $15 million. Tom and Emma Lane of the Oroton fashion family empire reset the record when they sold their luxury equine retreat known as Copperstone for $27.5 million last year to Brett Clark , a managing partner for Chemist Warehouse in NSW and QLD, and his wife Maria .

Misner’s property for sale consists of a main residence known as The Farmhouse with a media room and poolside entertaining area, and three self-contained cottages with private pools, coming to a total of nine bedrooms and seven bathrooms.