A sprawling beachfront compound at 27–29 Surfview Road in Sydney's Northern Beaches has changed hands for $29 million in a quiet, off-market deal.
Poker player Tom Rafferty and his wife, Milly, secured the 2,056-square-metre oceanfront parcel. The transaction instantly shattered Mona Vale's prior real estate ceiling. It more than doubled the previous suburb high of $13.5 million set in October 2025 by a 657-square-metre cliffside property at 1 Bruce Street. The sale bypassed public auctions, glossy brochures, and open-home inspections altogether.
The deal was brokered directly behind closed doors. Joshua Perry of Bell Property Dee Why approached the owners with the vetted buyer, keeping the exchange entirely private. “It was really a one-on-one discreet buyer process,” Perry confirmed. “The owner didn’t want the home marketed to the masses. They simply wanted one particular buyer who was well-suited to the property.”
The estate has a pedigree of high-profile owners. Leigh Ritchie and Peter Ritchie, the former chief executive of McDonald’s Australia, originally owned the Peter Burford-designed pavilion residence, which features manicured lawns rolling directly onto the sand. The Ritchies offloaded the estate in December 2014 for $7.65 million to former Goodman and BlackRock executive James Quille and his wife, Gillian. The Quilles held the keys for over a decade before locking in an almost fourfold capital gain.
Luxury real estate at the very top tier continues to divorce itself from broader metropolitan housing trends. While wider Sydney residential valuations have faced downward pressure in recent years, prime coastal enclaves continue to command unprecedented premiums from ultra-high-net-worth buyers unaffected by credit tightening.
| Parameter | 27–29 Surfview Road, Mona Vale | Previous Suburb Record (1 Bruce Street) | 2014 Benchmark (Surfview Road) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sale Price | $29,000,000 | $13.5,000,000 | $7,650,000 |
| Transaction Type | Private Off-Market | Standard Market Sale | Private Treaty |
| Land Footprint | 2,056 sq metres | 657 sq metres | 2,056 sq metres |
| Architect/Style | Peter Burford Pavilion | 5-Bedroom Coastal | Peter Burford Pavilion |
Perry stressed that the ultra-wealthy play by different rules during uncertain cycles. “Once you get up to that echelon of people, they’re not holding back when everyone else is scared,” Perry said. “When they find the property they want, they’re happy to pay for it and even pay what a lot of people would deem above market value if they feel it’s a rare offering.”
Settlement on Surfview Road paves the way for the Quilles' transition to Sydney’s lower north shore. The couple has secured a landmark mansion on Coronation Avenue in Mosman for approximately $30 million—a storied residence previously leased to pop stars Justin Bieber and Adele during their Australian concert tours.