One of St Francis Bay’s canal-fronting mansions has just made local real estate history as the second most expensive house ever to be sold in the picturesque village.

Listed at R18.5-million, it was sold to a KwaZulu-Natal businessman within 10% of the asking price.

This stunning mansion that resembles an oppulent boutqiue hotel inside was rumoured at one stage to have been considered by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt as a South African holiday home.

Its high selling price is second only to that fetched by another mansion on the canals that was sold by Pam Golding St Francis Bay in 2008 for R21-million.

Comprising seven bedrooms, all en suite to full bathrooms, the home is the perfect entertainer, with expansive glass panelled reception and living areas, huge suspended decks overlooking the Kromme River and out towards the mountains, a pub, built-in braai, Jacuzzi room, library with coffee station, cordon bleu kitchen and butler’s quarters.

According to the agent who sold this mansion last month, principal of Harcourts St Francis Bay, Esme Welman, during its time on the market, the property, received more than 2200 hits from 27 different countries on the Harcourts’ Luxury Portfolio website alone.  While not at liberty to disclose the actual selling price, she says the multi-million rand price tag befits this 1008m² ‘architectural masterpiece’.

The mansion boasts celebrity features such as a sliding roof over the entertainment area to enjoy night-time star viewing, indoor heated swimming pool, entertainment room and cinema complete with electric reclining seats. It also has its own mooring, automated double garage and additional off-road parking.

Other distinguishing features include central music and vacuum systems, night foot lights and under-floor heating.

No expense was spared in the construction of this house, with quality craftsmanship evident throughout. Sold complete with tasteful furniture and five television sets, there is literally nothing to do but arrive on holiday, sip cocktails and relax while taking in the spectacular surrounds. 

St Francis Bay, which made national headlines a few weeks ago in the wake of a devastating fire that destroyed 75 homes and an office, has long been a holiday playground for the wealthy. Besides its seaside location and temperate climate, it offers every conceivable water sport, from surfing, snorkelling and swimming to fishing, surfing and boating.

“Despite the destruction caused by the fire the ‘Little Venice’ on the canals with thatch and white-walled homes and navigable waterways, will always inspire confidence among buyers and holiday makers,”  Welman says. She believes the area’s aesthetic appeal will remain unchanged, even though some owners are likely to opt for tiled, rather than thatched, roofs this time around. “Ahead of the approaching holiday season, plans are afoot to clear the rubble so that the area no longer resembles a war zone. “

She adds that most home owners were insured and will be rebuilding on the canals though there will be some who will be selling their canal-side plots. “This will be a rare opportunity to buy stands in a prime position.”

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