PHOTO: Burnham Castle on Sydney’s Upper North Shore. FILE
Burnham Castle, located in the quiet suburb of Henley on Sydney’s Upper North Shore, stands as Australia’s most expensive publicly listed home. This stunning waterfront trophy home on the Parramatta River is just 7 km from Sydney’s CBD and boasts breathtaking views and luxurious amenities. However, this architectural marvel also has a tragic past.
The incredible Burnham Castle.
Described as a “2,346 sqm Resplendent Waterfront Estate Of Breathtaking Scale In A Prestigious Lifestyle Address,” Burnham Castle features six bedrooms, four bathrooms, and the capacity to house ten cars. The Italianate mansion, originally built in 1887, has been held by the same family for over 37 years and presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for discerning buyers.
Trophy home but with a dark past.
Inside the home.
Absolute waterfront.
Despite its beauty, Burnham Castle harbors a dark history. On June 15, 2012, Sydney grandmother Shahnaz Qidwai was brutally murdered in the mansion by concreter Tony Halloun. Halloun, a patient of Mrs. Qidwai’s husband, Dr. Khalid Qidwai, had been hired to work on the driveway. Instead of doing the job, he searched the house for money to pay off a $97,000 debt. Mrs. Qidwai, home sick that day, stumbled upon Halloun, who then killed her and stole $4,000 in cash and some jewels.
Shahnaz Qidwai with her husband Dr Khalid Qidwai.
A police officer searches for clues outside the house of murder victim Shahnaz Qidwai in Dick Street, Henley, Sydney on 15/06/2012.
Halloun concocted various lies to cover his tracks, but a jury found him guilty of murder. On December 5, 2014, Judge Justice McCallum sentenced Halloun to 24 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 17 years, noting that Mrs. Qidwai had likely happened upon Halloun doing something wrong, leading him to attack her out of panic.
The home is for sale for around $18m.
Burnham Castle is now on the market with a guide price of around $18 million. Sales agent Thomas Popple of Ray White noted the unique and special nature of the property within the small Henley community. The mansion’s large land size, period features, and unique amenities, such as a beachfront tennis court, make it a rare find.
Burnham Castle continues to attract a wide range of inquiries, both locally and internationally. While the history of the murder casts a shadow over its past, the property remains a highly sought-after piece of real estate, admired for its character and grandeur.
SOURCE: NEWS.COM.AU