Latest NewsHemmes Clan Buys $12.6m MansionWednesday, 19 April 2017

The high-profile Hemmes hotelier clan has added another property to its portfolio with a $12.6 million purchase.

Bettina Hemmes, the low-profile interior designer daughter of the family, bought Kianga, a five-bedroom Federation house in Vaucluse at auction yesterday.

The purchase could trigger a shuffle within the Hemmes household. Justin Hemmes may soon take up residency in his parents John and Merivale's gothic-style Vaucluse beachfront estate The Hermitage. Pioneering fashion retailers John and Merivale may downsize to Bettina's now redundant Rose Bay beachfront house.

Kianga, which last sold in 1989 for $6.2 million, was listed for sale by the Bondi Beach-bound couple Sam and Barbara Linz, who bought it from the freight tycoon-turned-art collector Pat Corrigan.

There were two bidders at the auction. The successful bidding was done by Justin, who was accompanied by his father.

Bettina and partner Dominic Angelucci turned up after the auction with their children and her mother, after whom the family empire is named.

The house, with ornate period details, has wraparound balconies and sweeping harbour views. It was the 21-room Ormond Hall private hotel during the 1950s.

Since entrepreneur Sam Linz migrated to Australia from South Africa in 1981 he has backed successful businesses including Rebel Sport, Barbeques Galore and the Norgen-Vaaz ice-cream chain.

The Hemmes have owned the Hermitage since paying $500,000 in a 1970s credit squeeze fire sale when it was sold by Dick Baker following the 1974 collapse of his company Mainline.

It was the dearest of the 600-plus listings put to auction this week, according to Australian Property Monitors.

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