F45 founder gives Auschwitz survivor mammoth payday

PHOTO: Sotheby’s managing director Michael Pallier and auctioneer Stuart Davies during tonight’s action-packed auction in Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach. Picture: John Appleyard Source: News Corp Australia

An Auschwitz survivor’s block of flats overlooking Bondi Beach that cost £11,000 in 1958 have sold for a jaw-dropping amount to the founder of gym franchise F45.

Auschwitz survivor Freda Feuerstein’s block of flats overlooking Bondi Beach that cost £11,000 in 1958 have sold for a whopping $20.65m at an action-packed auction tonight.

Held on the footpath out the front of the block of four rundown units with retail space currently housing restaurant Trio at 56 Campbell Parade, the auction attracted a range of Bondi big-hitters, including Rebel Property Group’s Allen Linz, who developed Bondi Pacific, and the prominent investor Vaughan Blank.

Serial renovators Carmen and Steve Davidson were there too.

The trio was among the 16 registered parties, but none of the three actually raised their paddles, leaving it to eight or nine others to fight it out from the opening bid of $12m, which was the price guide.

Observers were gobsmacked at the price achieved. “I thought maybe $18m, but not more than $20m,” one said. Another simply said: “Insane!”

Bondi locals present at the auction confirmed to the Wentworth Courier that the man who won the keys was representing the founder of F45 gyms, Rob Deutsch.

When asked to comment on this, Michael Pallier and Joseph Raskin of Sotheby’s, said they couldn’t discuss either the reserve price or the buyer, saying only it was purchased by an investor.