Packer family’s incredible penthouse real estate portfolio

Is there such a thing as too many penthouses?

So, how big is your penthouse?

That might be the $64 million question over the lamb roast at the Packer family get together this Easter.

Gretel Packer’s very recent move to create an ‘unmatched’ penthouse worth around $20m in Australia’s most famous Art Deco building, in Sydney’s Potts Point could likely be an early talking point.

Billionaire Gretel Packer is set to create a mega penthouse in the Art Deco treasure the Macleay Regis, following her $9m purchase of the sub-penthouse.

Gretel Packer has big plans. Picture: Robert Edwards

Plans on turning this into a mega penthouse.

The 165 sqm two-bedroom, two-bathroom Potts Point unit she bought on Wednesday through Sydney Sotheby’s International’s Clint Ballard adjoins the 350 sqm three-bedroom, three-bathroom penthouse that Packer bought at auction for $8.75m in 2017.

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And well-placed sources say she should have little difficulty merging the two units to create one huge apartment of 865 sqm in the building inspired by New York’s Rockefeller Apartments, as that’s the way it was when it was originally built in 1938.

It’s certainty has a cracking view.

And plenty of character.

The opportunity is a dream come true for Gretel Packer, the daughter of media mogul Kerry Packer, after having offered $22m to buy two neighbouring penthouses in the Potts Point development, Omnia, in 2019 — but missing out.

Gretel’s buy comes hot on the heels of Benjamin Packer Barham, the son of philanthropic heiress Gretel Packer and Monaco-based financier Nick Barham, spending $8.4m on a record setting Bondi penthouse last month.

It’s the first property acquisition of the eldest grandson of the late media billionaire Kerry Packer and his widow, Ros.

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Ben Barham: Kerry Packer’s grandson, eldest son of Gretel Packer, attending to horses during his stint as a jackaroo.

Epic view: check.

Inside the $8.4m beachside pad.

With the idyllic Bondi lifestyle.

The low-key 24-year old who spends much of his time at the Ellerston estate in the Hunter Valley, is four years younger than his sister, Francesca, who has called a Horizon, Darlinghurst, sub-penthouse home since 2019 which cost $16.75m.

Benjamin Packer Barham’s 370 sqm two-level penthouse with three-bedrooms, three-bathrooms, and a three-car garage has Harbour glimpses across Rose Bay to Dover Heights, Ben Buckler and Bondi Beach.

The pavilion-style apartment features 250 sqm internal space with glass-encased casual and formal living spaces that open to a 120 sqm Palm Springs-inspired terrace landscaped by Stone Lotus.

Francesca Packer-Barham, has a level-40 penthouse in Darlinghurt’s Horizon.

Francesca has owned it since 2019. Picture: Richard Dobson

There are epic views from every room.

Meanwhile, Francesca Packer-Barham’s 40th-floor penthouse in the iconic Harry Seidler-designed block that towers above Kings Cross, features five bedrooms, five bathrooms and an eight-car garage.

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Then of course, there is James Packer’s $72m ‘sky home’ in at Barangaroo tower, which he bought in 2017.

According to reports, Kerry Packer’s best known offspring James has never set foot in the luxury two-storey apartment that commands stunning views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

James Packer speaking in front of an artists impression of the winning design for his Crown Casino Barangaroo development proposal.

Inside James Packer’s $72m apartment.

However after ordering some renovations to the home, including having a staircase removed to put in an elevator, James Packer is expected to view the home in the prestigious Crown Residences for the first time on his return to Sydney shortly.

Packer isn’t one to skimp on luxury, so it’s no surprise the apartment will include high-end interior design features and it’s reported his own alterations to the property will cost in the millions.

The home is over two levels.

It looks OK at night too.

Fashioned by New York-based interior designers, it’s expected the unit will have Scandinavian bleached birch wood, ripple textured bronze glass, polished blackened stainless steel, leather detailing, and white and silver-veined stone slabs from Greece.

And that gives all of us plenty to talk about.