Political lobbyist Michael Kauter outside the “sold” sign at 33 Raglan St, Mosman.
One of the gay marriage poster boys who split in a “tough divorce” says the sale of their luxury home has given him enough to “start again”.
Political lobbyist Michael Kauter, who married top Sydney surgeon Professor David Gracey in New York in 2014, broke up with his husband amid a range of later dismissed charges and, then, reports of new lovers and their ex-boyfriend being moved into the Mosman mansion.
The year after their lavish nuptials, the gay marriage debate was raging in Australia, and Kauter, who was deputy campaign director for the Nationals in the lead-up to the 2013 federal election, reportedly told the Coalition government to “get out of my personal life”.
Gay marriage wasn’t legalised in Australia until 2017.
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Shock outcome from top 20 house sales nationally
The former couple had bought the mansion for $9.1m in 2022 and have now sold for $12.25 at auction.
Harbour views.
David Gracey and Michael Kauter get married in New York in 2014.
Today, Kauter says he’s “pleased” with the $12.25m sale at auction last Thursday, which was almost $1m over the $11.5m reserve via agents Adrian Bridges of Atlas and Alon Beran of Sotheby’s.
“I’m pleased and relieved it’s done … it’s enough to start again,” Kauter said.
“It’s been a tough divorce, and I don’t know what I’ll do next; maybe take a holiday … I’m possibly done with Sydney and a move to Melbourne is on the cards.
“But I’m also thinking about buying a smaller house and trying my luck at private equity.”
Prof Gracey was also contacted, but declined to comment on the result.
Bridges described it as a “really successful textbook auction” and one of the best auctions this year on the north shore.
“We had three parties, two Mosman families and a north shore couple I believe,” he said.
“A family with two young kids ended up buying it, which is great, and the feedback during the campaign was around $11m so competitive tension at the auction resulted in a good figure.”
With auctioneer James Kerley presiding, there’d initially been an opening offer of $8m, which was rejected.
The agents say both the sellers and purchasers, a young family, are pleased with the auction outcome.
There were three bidders at last Thursday’s auction.
Michael Kauter and his mother, Janet Kauter, celebrate after the auction.
“The next bid was $10.2m, and then predominantly $50k bids,” Bridges said.
“The three parties were there to buy, they wanted to maximise the opportunity to buy before Christmas … it was a really great outcome.”
Beran said: “All parties are very happy with the result … the owners are happy to move on with their lives and the buyers, too, are happy.”
Kauter and Gracey have done well from Sydney property over the years of their relationship, with their first home together, 182 Jersey Rd, Woollahra bought for $1.4m and sold for $2m; 84 Moncur St, Woollahra bought for $2.6m and sold for $3.35m, and a Holdsworth St, Woollahra residence bought for $5.5m and sold for $10.5m.
“The Mosman result was a solid outcome,” Kauter said.
“We bought the property for $9.1m in 2022 and I personally invested $350k of my own money in the reno and I think it’s paid off.
“That’s $3.1m profit in three years, so that’s pretty good.”
Would he ever get married again?
“Yes, I would like to,” he said.
“I still believe in marriage and that it’s meant to be for a lifetime.
“If I do get married again, I can see myself being very happy living quietly in a nice house behind a really tall fence.”
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