The huge property, with heated pool and tennis court, has an incredible view of Hanging Rock and last sold for $8.8m in 2021.
The Block’s 2003 contestants Gavin Atkins and Warren Sonin, who were the first openly gay couple on Aussie TV in the first series of the popular renovation show, have nabbed a magnificent ‘country estate’ for a $2.1m discount.
And the rumour is that it’s a property where Elton John stayed for a week during his global farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour in January, 2020.
The pair, who developed a cult following after renovating in their undies as Gav and Waz in in The Block, told a packed crowd at the launch of their Designer Boys showroom for artwork in Sydney’s Alexandria last week that they’d bought a property overlooking Hanging Rock — scene of the classic film ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ — in Victoria.
When approached later, the boys said they couldn’t discuss the price of the grand five-bedroom residence with heated pool and tennis court on a 28ha estate, though settlement records show they paid $6,675,000.
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Gav and Waz of Designer Boys.
Their new home is set on 28ha, which is nearly 70 acres.
That’s $2,125,000 less than the $8.8m paid (during Covid) in December 2021 by the former owners, property developer and tech entrepreneur Steve Pharr and his wife, Rebecca, who, soon after in March, 2022 sold their Hopetoun Rd, Toorak mansion for $15.5m.
Gav and Waz, who sold their Sunshine Coast Hinterland property for $10m a year ago breaking records at the time, say they’ve reached the “pinnacle” with their latest Stephen Akehurst-designed home and its Paul Bangay gardens.
“We were at the right place at the right time …. we fell in love with it, it’s everything we’ve ever dreamed of and more,” Waz says.
Gaz interjects: “It’s got an amazing feel, a combination of a home in the Hamptons and a French chateau.”
There are even equine facilities, though they say while they might “rescue a few old horses”, their preference is for cattle and sheep.
Gav and Waz in The Block.
The property comes with equine facilities ….
But while they might “rescue a few old horses”, their preference is for cattle and sheep.
After they’d sold their Queensland property, they’d headed to Europe, intending to relocate there permanently.
“But we realised very quickly that while Europe is fabulous, the majority of the homes we were looking at we couldn’t afford because of the currency devaluation,” Waz said.
“We decided that Australia is where we want to be.”
They first saw the Hanging Rock property in an Instagram post, and as soon as they got back from overseas they went for a look.
“We loved the view of Hanging Rock, it’s breathtaking, and you can see it from every room in the house,” Gav said.
Waz jumped in: “And we loved that it’s on 70 acres, it’s the most outstanding country estate, the amount of money that’s been poured into the house and infrastructure is incredible!”
But as you might expect from the creative duo, they’ve been quick to make some improvements since they moved in a month ago.
The minute the boys got the keys, they called in the renovators.
“We’re getting all the interiors reconfigured,” says Waz.
“We got the keys on the Monday and by Tuesday lunchtime the place was gutted,” Waz said.
“There’s new kitchen joinery and we’re getting all the interiors reconfigured .. and Paul Bangay is coming back to re-do the gardens!”
Once the renos are done, the boys plan to spend their time between their new home, their Designer Boys Sydney showroom and the joys of their new neighbourhood and the bright lights of the Melbourne, which is less than an hour away.
“We’ve passed the day-to-day operations of Designer Boys to a new CEO and creative director in Sydney, but we’re still the face of the business,” Gav explained.
Now fast approaching their 60s, the lads are after a “new chapter” in their lives.
“We want more than to go to the beach, we want to have access to the city and to progressive country towns, culture, coffee, theatre, the design community and more like-minded people,” Waz said.
“This area gives us the best of everything … a lot of people said why are you moving away the warmer climate but here we’re enjoying the four seasons and a wonderful community.”
The property sold off-market via Rhys Nuttall of Bound Real Estate and Chris Barrett of Marshall White.
English (US) · 
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