He has also held the title of chief executive at Pacific Magazines before being promoted to chief operating officer of Kerry Stokes' Seven West Media in 2013 and then resigning just one year into the job. The publishing executive has most recently held the position of chairman at online wagering business TopBetta.

While there have been a number of moves for Chan on the work front over the years, that has not been the case with the Roseville home that the couple purchased in 1999.

At that time they paid $1.7 million for the Federation residence on 2000 square metres in the prime north shore suburb.

Today the four-bedroom house, listed with Phillip Waller of McGrath Lindfield, has a price guide of between $5 million and $5.5 million. It is listed to go to auction on May 7.

It features a lawn tennis court and pool and is set on the more desirable east side of the rail line. The interiors are also striking with a grand formal dining room, lounge room featuring an original fireplace and kitchen with butler's pantry. There is also an impressive wine cellar.

The property is in the same street as the home that created a suburb record last year, when 10 Clanville Road sold for $6.75 million, also through Philip Waller. The couple are looking to downsize to Mosman.

Like a country estate

It's not often that you come across a property nestled on 2163 square metres in Mosman, so the listing of Kirkoswald House, which boasts such an asset, is a significant one.

Looking at the history of the property reveals that Mosman has long been in favour with finance types. The Georgian colonial single-storey home was built in 1873 for insurance broker and banker Joseph Willis, who named the home after this birthplace of Kirkoswald, in Scotland.

Listed with Ken Jacobs of Ken Jacobs Christies International Real Estate, the property has a price guide of $14 million to $15.4 million.

Along with lush gardens designed by renowned landscape designer Annie Wilkes, the five-bedroom home also features interiors by Thomas Hamel.

The home may be in the much sought after Balmoral area of the suburb, but with its extensive grounds it has more the feeling of a country estate.

Stunning transformation

Photo: Anthony Johnson

Fashion plate and precious jeweller Heidi Onisforou has taken on the mantle of multi-million-dollar flipper and interior designer following the highly successful sale of her Potts Point terrace for $13 million, in an off-market deal through Jason Boon of Richardson and Wrench Elizabeth Bay this week.

The mother of three, who has long been a fixture on the city's social scene, mastered the makeover of the property she bought for $5.25 million in 2014.

Onisforou jumped on the property, then a commercial building which had been lingering on the market for five months without finding a buyer.

At that time the Victorian Italianate terrace, known as Saraville, was operating as offices and a function centre but also had previous incarnations as some of the city's most fashionable restaurants of the day, including Le Triannon and Cicada, where one of Sydney's best known chef's Peter Doyle ruled the kitchen.

Working in conjunction with interior architect Tim Allison, Onisforou set about transforming the circa 1883 property into the ultimate designer family residence with stunning results.

Standout features include a large but secluded courtyard with verdant garden wall and black-and-white Moroccan tiles.

Onisforou, who previously lived on the waterfront in Billyard Avenue, in Elizabeth Bay, said the garden wall was her way of creating a view in the multi-level home.

Equally impressive is the top-floor master suite, which Onisforou created as the ultimate retreat and described it as her "own hotel suite".

The Poliform dressing room, with glass-fronted wardrobes to easily access the designer robes, has enough room for the most ardent clothes horse. While the main sleeping area comes with freestanding marble tub and private terrace.

Onisforou is now on the hunt for her next project in the area. 

Room to spread out

In Galston, the luxury acreage of Arena International Aviation chairman Chun Ming Li is up for grabs for $5.8 million.

While the property has estate-like proportions ideal for a permanent residence, it is understood it is currently used as a weekender and to entertain international guests.

There is plenty of room to spread out, with the main residence including five double-sized bedrooms along with a separate self-contained four-bedroom guest house all on more than two hectares.

The Hills district property also features a swimming pool, spa, tennis court and two separate garages.

Li has held the property since 2011 when he bought it for $3.25 million from CVW Engineering's Cornelis van Weelderen.

The property is listed with Neil Clark of Mode Property. He was unable to reveal who the owner of the extensive property was but a quick glance at title records show it is Chun Ming Li.

Finest of Woollahra

Woollahra's heritage-listed St Aubyn's, the home of sports and personality manager Robert Joske and contemporary artist Elizabeth Wadsworth, has been listed with an asking price of $9 million.

The prominent Queen Street home is one of the suburb's finest. Built in 1850 it is also one of the earliest sandstone residences and is housed on a 442 square metre block.

The three-bedroom house is built around a private courtyard, and there is a separate one-bedroom guest suite.

Wadsworth is represented in galleries in the US and Singapore, as well as in Australia.

Joske's company, Robert Joske Management, includes a who's who of clients from former politicians Alexander Downer and Anna Bligh, sportswoman Sally Pearson and former army chief Lieutenant-General David Morrison.

The Duntroon graduate also formerly managed Steve Waugh and George Gregan at the height of their sporting careers.

The property last changed hands in 1994 for $940,000.

Selling agent Clint Ballard, of Ballard Property, was tight lipped about the owners but confirmed there had been strong interest in the property, which is for sale through expressions of interest.

$5.5m sale before auction

The Manly home of Julie Meldrum, the global head of communications for the ASX listed Australian biotech firm Mesoblast, has sold before auction for $5.5 million.

Meldrum, also a former diplomatic staffer and one-time ABC journalist, had her five-bedroom home on the prized Eastern Hill set for an April 30 auction.

However, listing agent Anthony Walls, of Max Walls International, said the popular property created huge interest with the new owner putting in an attractive offer more than two weeks out from the scheduled auction date.

Within footsteps of the harbour and a short walk to Manly wharf, the property created interest among executive couples looking for a freestanding house that was easy to lock-up and leave.

The open-plan home with a lush garden courtyard and pool is understood to have sold to a member of a prominent publican family from the Hunter Valley.