• The magnificent property at 68 Algernon Street is expected to break the Oatley house record of $4.8 million.
• The property was owned by famed Australian author John O’Grady who penned his bestselling novel, “They’re a Weird Mob” as Nino Culotta in 1957 within the walls of the property’s waterfront boathouse. 
• The property last sold in 1990 for less than $400,000. 

Oatley, NSW (13 February 2023) A stunning waterfront property in tightly held Algernon Street Oatley, complete with a historic boat house where the famed Australian author John O’Grady penned his bestselling novel, “They’re a Weird Mob” in 1957, has hit the market for the first time since 1990.

According to the selling agent John Pucak Principal of Raine & Horne Oatley, the historic property at 68 Algernon Street, Oatley, is located on 1,400 square metres of waterfront land and is expected to sell by private treaty for well above the current record Oatley house price of $4.8 million. 

“Mr O’Grady lived in the property until he died in 1981, while the current owner Mr Pacini bought it in 1990, since adding significant improvements to the house.”

The vendor, who paid less than $400,000 for the house in 1990, is selling after deciding to downsize, and Mr Pucak expects an upgrader will snap up the home located on one of Oatley’s premier streets. 

“The buyer will be an upgrader with a growing family who is seeking a waterfront property in a tightly held location, but that is still close to Oatley railway station so the kids can easily get to school and university,” he said. 

“I believe the buyer could be seeking a waterfront property in Blakehurst, Sans Souci, Cronulla, Kangaroo Point or even Mosman on the North Shore right now or a terrace-style house in Haberfield. This property will put Oatley waterfronts on their radar.

“What buyers from the Lower North Shore, Eastern Suburbs and the Inner West are increasingly recognising is that in Oatley, they can deliver better bang for buck with more water views, more extensive properties, and fantastic local amenities in a suburb that is just 30 minutes to the city. 

“The buyers might also be a little older and remember the movie or read the book They’re a Weird Mob and had a chuckle that the property where the idea for Nino Culotta crystalised is now up for grabs.”

More to stunning Oatley property than literary history

Apart from its literary history, the five-bedroom, the three-bathroom property is on one of Oatley’s most sought-after streets. According to Mr Pucak, the improvements since 1990 to the house give it a style associated more with an inner-city multi-level Federation terrace house. 

“But this property offers so much more than a standard terrace for a potential buyer with its knockout views of the Georges River from Blakehurst to Como that is enjoyed from two large entertaining balconies. These views are the best in the St George area,” said Mr Pucak. 

“The main house offers four generous-sized bedrooms, two bathrooms, a magnificent modern kitchen with modern appliances and fittings and multiple living areas.

“The main house also has a magnificent swimming pool with water features sheltered from the elements by a massive glass rotunda.”

The boathouse, where John O’Grady wrote another book in the Nino Culotta series “Gone Fishin” in 1962, was built in the 1880s and predated the main house.

“The boathouse offers a magnificent fireplace, as well as a self-contained bedroom, bathroom and a separate living room and kitchen and would work perfectly as a home office for an entrepreneur or senior executive,” Mr Pucak said. 

Mr Pucak said he is thrilled the vendor has appointed him to sell the stunning Oatley waterfront. “I love talking about the history associated with the property and would love to break the house price record for Oatley.”

Using the pen name of “Nino Culotta”, the name of the main character of the novel, Mr O’Grady in “They’re a Weird Mob” tells the fictionalised story of the struggles of an Italian migrant journalist arriving in Sydney and attempting to navigate his way through 1950s Australian society.  

The famous 1966 film of the same name famously starred a who’s who of Australian movie royalty, such as Chips Rafferty, Ed Devereaux, John Meillon, Graham Kennedy, and Walter Chiari as Nino Culotta and is still available on Netflix. The book is still selling today, and Mr O’Grady had 15 novels published.

To organise a private inspection of historic 68 Algernon Street, Oatley, contact Raine & Horne Oatley on (02) 8054 8222. Click here to watch a video of the magnificent home.