News Corp Australia
First published 5 Nov 2024, 4:30am
A glittering Adelaide mansion that evokes memories of Tinseltown’s golden era and is well known for hosting lavish parties that attracted the presence of police is on the market for the first time.
Vendor Sumra Sallis has fond memories of the home his late parents built at 8 Darrell Ave, Wattle Park, which still has its original richly coloured furnishings, golden archways, mirrored walls and stipple ceilings.
He said parties were a regular feature, held fortnightly for up to 400 guests who spread throughout the sunken lounge and bar, the billiard room near to a jacuzzi and the spacious rear yard.
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“They were massive parties … until 4, 5, 6 o’clock in the morning,’’ Mr Sallis said.
“The police would always turn up. Not because we were in trouble – there was never any (noise) complaints because the neighbours were always there too.
“But they would come and have something to eat and then they’d call other patrols to come too.
“One night, we had eight police officers from two or three police cars there.
“Mum would bring them in and give them a plate of food and then get them up and do traditional Lebanese dancing.’’
This much loved and tightly held home is being offered to the market for the first time since it was built.
The opulent home was once known for hosting lavish parties.
The “Gold Room” comes with its own bar area and sliding door access to the front balcony and rear yard.
The “Red Room” is an impressive lounge area, ideal for high-level conversations or simply relaxing with a book.
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During these parties, Mr Sallis and his three siblings were often required to wash dishes – a job that lasted until the early hours of the morning.
“One night, my brother and I were so tired and we wanted everyone to go home so we found
the power box and we switched off all the power,’’ he said.
“My dad got three-phase power (installed) after that because it was such an embarrassment to be hosting a party with no power and he wanted to make sure it never happened again.’’
Mr Sallis said his parents met in Beirut and, after marrying, moved to Australia in 1950, where his father worked numerous jobs, including in commercial property.
They built the two-storey, four-bedroom home two decades later, he said.
His mother – who drove a Lincoln Continental, sewed her own clothes and was a “very
glamorous cross between Joan Crawford and Zsa Zsa Gabor’’ – was responsible for all the design decisions and, to the chagrin of the architect, insisted on a cool room rather than a fridge.
She painted the home’s ornate ceiling roses herself, using 14-carat gold paint, and sourced much of the decor from the couple’s frequent overseas travels.
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The formal dining room offers a generous space to host unforgettable gatherings.
The master bedroom is of good proportions and comes with an ensuite and large walk-in robe.
A full-size spa area with mirrored ceiling and walls will get plenty of tongues wagging,
The dedicated games room provides plenty of space for a game of pool and table tennis.
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A second home in Beirut, that the couple built when the Lebanese Civil War ended and returned to every summer, was even “more opulent’’ than this one, Mr Sallis said.
He said while not everyone would agree with his parents’ tastes, the home had provided a wonderful childhood and he hoped the new buyer would create similar happy memories.
“For better or worse, we’ve presented it in (my parent’s) style – some people will love it, some people will be confused by it and some people won’t like it at all,’’ he said.
“There’s a lot of sentimental bits still in there and it will be very hard to let it go.’’
Expressions of interest for the home, which is listed with DB Philpott Real Estate, close on
November 20.
English (US) · 