23-04-2025
Bachelor mansion returns to the market
While the first series of The Bachelor was a happy ending for Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich, the house that hosted the inaugural show has yet to find its forever family.
The French-inspired mansion on Sydney's northern beaches has had three owners since the 2013 reality show and this week it was back on the market this time with a $15m guide in an expressions of interest campaign via Sydney Sotheby's principal Michael Pallier and colleague Spencer Sun.
'La Joie de Vivre' in Bayview is a vast estate on 4091sqm of land with championship-size tennis court, resort-style pool, six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a six-car garage.
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The late transport magnate and philanthropist Gregory Poche and his late wife Kay bought La Joie de Vivre in 2003 for $10m and allowed the reality television program to film the first Bachelor series at the property.
This is where chiropractor Tim Robards met and fell in love with lawyer Anna Heinrich.
The couple married in 2018 and they now have two daughters aged four and one.
The series was a huge success, ran for 11 seasons and five of the 15 final couples are still together.
The Bayview house wasn't used again in the show.
The Poches sold the Minkara Rd property to fellow freight tycoon Clive Thomas and his wife Lee in 2016 for $7.05m.
Four years later the home changed hands for $8.5m then during 2022 and 2023 it was rented out for $6500 a week.
Less than two years ago it sold again for $9m to a Chinese owner who lives elsewhere.
Now after some cosmetic changes the trophy home with vast sandstone terraces, water views and banquet-sized formal rooms is up for grabs again.
Spencer Sun, of Sotheby's International said a neighbouring house sold for $15m in 2021 and they are using that comparison as a guide for La Joie de Vivre.
'We already have interest from a local family, we might have overseas buyers too and we have three private inspections on the property this week,' he said.
Only inspections by appointment are being offered for the house.
Features include multiple rooms for entertaining, a chef-grade granite kitchen with twin ovens, dual dishwashers and fully equipped butler's pantry.
Each of the six bedrooms has its own ensuite, there is a library, home office, games room, gym, outdoor kitchen and bar, sauna and temperature-controlled wine cellar.
No mention of a rose garden though.
