Murdoch pays $23 million for Sydney mansion

By ninemsn staff

Lachlan Murdoch last night paid $23 million for a mansion in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs which formerly housed the French Consulate.

The mansion, called Le Manoir, was listed for auction at $15 million, but the bidding opened at $18 million before the price rose to $23 million, the highest selling price for a Sydney house this year, Fairfax newspapers reported.

The mansion boasts sweeping panoramic views of Sydney Harbour, five bathrooms, six bedrooms, a swimming pool, a tennis court and 3.6 metre high ceilings, according to the Australian.

Interested bidders were reportedly asked to pay a $50,000 ‘deposit’ to attend the auction, which was closed to the media and general public.

Actor Russell Crowe and his wife Danielle had inspected the property, but did not attend the auction, according to Fairfax newspapers.

The Georgian mansion housed the French consulate and was sold under instruction from the French Government.

Mr Murdoch, the eldest son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, is expecting his third child with wife Sarah. The couple previously paid $7.75 million for a beachside residence at Sydney’s Bronte Beach.

He returned to Australia after quitting his father’s News Corporation empire in 2005 to set up a new Australian company, Illyria.