Disgraced podiatrist offloads his Woollahra home for about $8 million

Disgraced podiatrist Dr Paul Bours and his wife Helen have offloaded their Woollahra home for about $8 million and it’s now listed as a rental at $1250 per week.

Bours was suspended for 12 months in October 2014 after he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct by the Health Care Complaints Commission. He has since retired, as detailed on his LinkedIn.

Settlement documents this month show the four-bedroom, two-bathroom Woollahra house sold for $8,425,000 to Claire Ratti, who is believed to be the director of a residents’ property management firm based in the UK. A mortgage is with NAB and the residence is now listed as a rental at $1250 per week through BresicWhitney East.

A ‘sold’ sticker went up on the listing, indicating a sale by private treaty on April 11 with the price disclosed. It was left to settlement to reveal the buyer’s identity as the listing agents were tight-lipped on any aspect of the sale.

The Bours bought the abode for $4.8 million in 2020, records show, under Helen Bours’ name. They previously listed the home for sale since purchasing.

Situated on a 525-square-metre block, it has dual street frontages, tiled floors and a white kitchen. DA-approved plans for a brand-new build are by Ergo Architecture.

The Bours sold their four-bedroom, two-bathroom Bronte residence for $4.29 million in 2015, and they later sold another Woollahra home for $6,375,000 in 2019.

The Health Care Complaints Commission prosecuted Paul Bours before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. He was found guilty of serious professional misconduct by the HCCC in October 2014, which said he left four patients with devastating, lifelong injuries.

The suspension did not take effect immediately, as previously reported by this masthead, allowing him to perform a third procedure with one patient that left her with permanent disability. She ended up with two different-sized feet.

Alexander Phillips and Gavin Lewis of PPD Real Estate sold the Woollahra home but both declined to comment on any aspect of the sale when contacted by this masthead.

Refreshed campaign

Lewis Ehrlich, a Millennial dentist, fitness instructor and health coach, has refreshed the campaign to sell his multi-level South Coogee home.

The five-bedroom, five-bathroom mansion had a price guide of $15 million when it hit the market in February, local sources said, and then varied in price, at one time as much as $500,000 more.

It’s now back to its original guide of $15 million, local sources revealed.

Ben Collier of The Agency has been brought in to sell the property, in conjunction with James Ball and Edward Quince of Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty.

It appears Ehrlich is hoping to get back the $15 million he paid for the house in 2024 from dentist Fadi Yassmin.

Deborah West, founder of SydneySlice buyer’s agents, who has no affiliation with this listing, said she had noticed co-agents being brought in for some properties.

“At the top end of the market there has been a shift in buyer behaviour, with buyers being more selective and price-sensitive, as opposed to the demand not being there,” West said.

“High-quality, well-located prestige properties are still transacting strongly but it’s become more and more that the pricing is more aligned with where the market sits.”

Matt Spooner of Buyers Market, who also has no affiliation with this listing, said: “It’s not uncommon for vendors to opt for a joint agent on a listing for prestige property, as not only can this unlock a different pool of buyers, it can bring two agents together with complementary skill sets, which can often secure a strong result for the vendor.”

The clifftop abode comes with a pool, outdoor kitchen, wine cellar, wellness zone, cinema and rooftop retreat.

Ehrlich describes himself as the “honorary dentist” to Football Australia for the Matildas, Socceroos, A-League and national youth teams on the website of the Sydney Holistic Dental Centre, a dental practice founded by his father Josh Ehrlich and uncle Ron.

An auction has been scheduled for August. All agents declined to comment on any aspect of the listing when contacted.

Byron hinterland retreat for sale

A luxury retreat in Newrybar in the Byron Bay hinterland is on the market with a price guide of $12.5 million to $13.5 million.

Damien and Sarah Connellan purchased the address for $765,000 in 2001, records show, and the eight-bedroom, six-bathroom property was built by Damien Connellan in 2012.

The property has operated as a luxury accommodation retreat, advertised on Stayz and Airbnb, and won first place in the Indulgence category in the 2013 Stayz national awards.

Situated on just over two hectares, with ocean views from Broken Head to Evans Head, the address consists of a main residence, guest house and a self-contained studio. There are a pool, workshop, stables, horse paddocks and a riding arena.

Interiors feature soaring ceilings, timber floors, open-plan living zones, a concealed butler’s pantry and a white palette.

McGrath Byron Bay’s Nick Dunn is selling the property.