This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
ROSE Porteous, former wife of late mining magnate and once Australia’s richest man, Lang Hancock, has listed two large inner Perth homes for sale with a combined price tag of more than $10 million.
The socialite, along with her luxury real estate expert husband William Porteous, have put the mansion at 138 Dalkeith Road in the affluent and leafy suburb of Nedlands to the market with expectations of $5.75 million.
William’s agency, William Porteous Properties International – William is also developer – is handling the listing.
The couple bought the neo-classical, five-bedroom home three years ago for $4.4 million.
On a 1,002 sqm block, the house, designed by Melbourne architects Trethowan, boasts a white-pillared portico and begins with a grand entry hall and spacious study with high cleanings and marble fireplace.
The house also offers a grand staircase complemented by a feature chandelier – with a “whisper quiet” elevator an alternative. Adjacent to the landing of the staircase is a spacious formal sitting room, also with a marble fireplace, large north-facing windows side, and doors opening onto the central courtyard.
The courtyard on the northern side allows for abundant light and air into the key living and entertaining areas of the home. The family room spans the full width of the building and includes a modern kitchen, including a white Lacanche cooker imported from France, and spacious dining and living areas.
The kitchen also opens onto a completely private east-facing courtyard.
The main bedroom suite, on the ground floor, comprises the bedroom, dressing room, private courtyard and a white-tiled bathroom with a feature bath. Upstairs are four more large bedrooms, three ensuites and an office.
According to Domain, the median price for a five-bedroom house in Nedlands is $2.7 million.
At the same time, Rose Porteous has listed a two-storey property on Victoria Avenue in neighbouring Claremont, for $4.3 million.
She was employed as Hancock’s housekeeper in 1983; they married in 1985 and famously lived in the grand Swan River mansion Prix d’Amour. They stayed together until Hancock’s death, at the age of 82, in 1992. She married William Porteous three months later.
Rose was embroiled in a near-decade long legal battle over Hancock’s estate with his high-profile daughter Gina Rinehart, who was herself is Australia’s richest person after a boom in iron ore prices boosted her net wealth to $34 billion this year. The struggle for Hancock’s estate eventually ended in 2003 with an out-of-court settlement.
