Fintech investor Danita Lowes buys Cate Blanchett's Macquarie Street, Sydney apartment

Fintech investor Danita Lowes has bought into the Sydney 1920s apartment block The Astor
Fintech investor Danita Lowes buys Cate Blanchett's Macquarie Street, Sydney apartment
Jonathan ChancellorDecember 18, 2020

Fintech investor Danita Lowes has bought into the Sydney 1920s apartment block The Astor. 

It’s the apartment recently sold by UK-based theatrical couple Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton.

Their little-used bolthole had $12 million hopes through Christie’s International agent Ken Jacobs.

Originally three apartments, the two-storey Macquarie Street abode was once home to entertainer Barry Humphries and then mortgage broker Mark Bouris.

Lower heads Euclid Capital Partners.

She owns at Longueville with husband David Fite.

The Astor is the 12-storey, 1920s company title block that once dominated not only the city skyline but Sydney society when Circular Quay was quaintly industrial and the Harbour Bridge yet to be built.

All of the apartments featured Jarrah timber flooring, high ceilings, large windows along with Queensland maple interiors by the controversial Francis de Groot.

Completed in 1923, the Astor was the idea of entrepreneurs John and Cicely O'Brien.

The building was designed by architects Stuart Mould and Donald Esplin with a rooftop garden and basement restaurant.

Back then there were butlers and maids provided by the house manager.

Despite being the city's oldest apartment complex - and facing serious competition from many nearby new developments – it continues to attract buyers, especially when a modernised Astor apartment comes with parking nearby.

Jonathan Chancellor

Jonathan Chancellor is one of Australia's most respected property journalists, having been at the top of the game since the early 1980s. Jonathan co-founded the property industry website Property Observer and has written for national and international publications.

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