A food blogger from Sydney’s eastern suburbs has earned a whopping $64.4 million in six years renovating “trophy homes” in luxury Bellevue Hill.
Stephanie Conley-Buhre, daughter of the late aviation pioneer and philanthropist John Conley, has become mega-rich by buying dilapidated houses of staggering grandeur, fixing them up and selling them for double their cost.
A trophy home refers to an extraordinary property that contains one or more particular qualities, including historic homes, homes with large spaces, or in a unique location.
In 2021, the fashion designer-turned-lifestyle blogger and her husband Oskar Buhre spent $28.5 million on a 10-bedroom trophy home with big renovation plans.
They added an indoor pool, three kitchens, a home gym, a day spa and a game room to the property.
Among Alcooringa’s other attractions are a ballroom, a private chapel, ladies’ and gents’ powder rooms and a sweeping staircase along with an elevator to all levels.
There is a home office, billiards room, internal gym and sauna, large wine cellar, catering kitchen, secure three-car garage and additional guest parking.
Stephanie Conley-Buhre has become mega-rich by buying dilapidated houses of astonishing grandeur, fixing them up and selling them for double the cost.
The F. Glynn Gilling-designed home also features a detached three-bedroom guest cottage with separate entrance and garage.
In August, the couple made waves in the real estate world when they sold the Spanish-style property for a whopping $80 million, $51.5 million more than they paid.
The house took six years to sell when Conley-Buhre first purchased it, but she ultimately didn’t seem to have any trouble finding a buyer.
CohenHandler’s buyer’s agent, Simon Cohen, initially declined to comment on the sale, despite rumors about the company’s involvement in the purchase.
News of the deal emerged after a caveat was placed on the property’s title, revealing that overseas-based expat Hannah Chapman had purchased the renovated home.
Stephanie is the daughter of the late aviation pioneer and philanthropist John Conley.
Ray White Double Bay principal Ashley Bierman handled the sale for Conley-Buhre and her husband.
Conley-Buhre purchased the property from doctor Louis Klein and his wife Claire, who originally paid real estate developer Maurice Moubarak $2.9 million for it in 1993.
Alcooringa was built in 1929, later called Biscaya, in the style of the Spanish mission for ranchers Mary and Hugh Taylor and later became the consul of Tunisia until 1965.
Moubarak purchased the property for £55,500 (approximately A$107,101.56) before selling it a few decades later to the Kleins.
In an interview with Home Beautiful magazine this year, Conley-Buhre described how the house had been abandoned for almost 40 years when she bought it.
In 2021, the fashion designer-turned-lifestyle blogger and her husband Oskar Buhre spent $28.5 million on a 10-bedroom trophy home before selling it this year for $80 million.
At the time, the house included a ballroom, a private chapel, a separate caretaker’s cottage, and some of the best views from Bellevue Hill.
Conley-Buhre, author of the cookbook At Home with The Hostess, gathered ideas for her Alcooringa restoration during a trip to Spain for ideas and finishes.
She and her husband also benefited from the sale of their previous home, which was also on Bellevue Hill on Victoria Rd.
They bought it for $17.1 million in 2018 and sold it three years later, after a renovation and a new garden, for $30 million, making a $64.4 million profit on both houses.
Conley-Buhre is hoping to emulate the same success for a third time, having recently spent a whopping $43.5 million on a mansion overlooking Sydney Harbour.
They bought it for $17.1 million in 2018 and sold it three years later, after a renovation and a new garden, for $30 million, making a $64.4 million profit on both houses.
Also located in luxurious Bellevue Hill, the sprawling Italianate pad features seven bedrooms and five bathrooms.
Known as Monkton, the influencer’s latest trophy home spans 1,252 square meters and offers stunning views of Sydney Harbour.
According to The Wentworth Courier, insiders say the couple sealed the deal on the sprawling property in September.
Designed by famed Australian architect Espie Dods, this century-old antique house is on epic scale and appointed with extravagant elegance.
Features include columns, a sweeping staircase, a luxurious entrance hall, majestic ceilings and extensive gardens.
Conley-Buhre is hoping to emulate the same success for a third time, having recently spent a whopping $43.5 million on a mansion overlooking Sydney Harbour.
There are also multiple outdoor entertaining spaces, a guest “wing”, a formal dining room and a private lounge.
Other highlights include a house with a pool and a gym, a cabana, and a viewing “terrace.”
Conley-Buhre is the daughter of the late aviation pioneer and philanthropist John Conley.
She is the author of At Home with The Hostess, a cookbook inspired by her international travels and home life, filled with more than 150 recipes and cooking ideas.
The influencer shares two young sons, Hugo and Freddy, with her husband Oskar.
Conley-Buhre and her husband Oskar (right) share two young sons, Hugo and Freddy.