Couple spends $14m on Hedges Avenue, Gold Coast mansions and then demolishes them
Daryl Passmore From: The Sunday Mail (Qld) July 25, 2010 12:00AM
191 Hedges Avenue which was bought by real estate guru David Henderson and knocked down to build super mansion Source: Supplied
187 Hedges Avenue which was bought by real estate guru David Henderson and knocked down to build super mansion Source: Supplied
A COUPLE has spent nearly $14 million on two waterfront houses in Queensland's most expensive street - and knocked them both down.
David and Rhonda Henderson paid $9.35 million for a two-storey house on an 809sq m double block on Hedges Ave at Mermaid Beach last September and another $4.5 million in January for the adjoining two-level property on 405sq m.
They wasted no time in having them removed.
The couple plans to spend millions more having their dream home built on the beachfront location.
They are among a group of cashed-up Queenslanders who have taken advantage of depressed property prices during the past year.
They also bought two apartments at Old Burleigh Rd in Broadbeach in July and August 2009 for $767,000.
Mr Henderson, 44, is part of a well-known family of Coast real estate agents. His father John established the Professionals Mermaid Beach agency in 1973 and it has been operated since 2007 by David and brothers Andrew and Luke.
There were rumours late last year that Mr and Mrs Henderson had won a $53.2 million jackpot in Australia's biggest lottery draw. He has repeatedly denied it.
But Mr Henderson has enjoyed plenty of luck. He and brother Luke were part of a syndicate that owned thoroughbred racehorse Sebring, winner of the 2008 Golden Slipper that had a $3.5 million prize.
They picked up $3 million as their share when Sebring was sold to stud last year for $30 million - not a bad return on an original outlay of $19,750.
The brothers own a string of other promising horses with leading trainer Gai Waterhouse.Gordon Gecko ....................would be at home here.
