The heritage-listed Hamilton home of bankrupt whisky and cattle baron Keith Batt and his wife Margaret has been sold by receivers for $1.615 million.
El Nido, built in 1928, is one of Brisbane’s earliest Spanish Mission style homes. Located at 19 Hillside Crescent, the iconic Hamilton residence was designed by renowned architect Percy Trewern in 1927.
Originally known as Cassa Anna, the home was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 February 2003. Because the home possesses a rich history, home development is restricted for the heritage-listed home. According to experts, if not for the heritage listing, the home could have been sold for up to $10 million considering it’s prime location.
The five-bedroom home is ideally located atop one of Brisbane’s premier streets with a sweeping view of the river and the CBD. Interest in the home peaked as Spanish Mission style homes in Brisbane are fairly rare and also considering the fact that El Nido is one of the most historic houses in Hamilton.
El Nido plays a vital role in illustrating the principal characteristics of Spanish Mission style homes. The unique residence is a substantial, decorative, middle-class residence specifically designed to maximize the steeply sloping block with extensive views of Brisbane and the Brisbane River.
The sale of the iconic home follows the Supreme Court of Queensland’s orders for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to appoint Richard Hughes and David Orr of Deloitte as provisional liquidators of three companies (Nangus Holdings Group Pty Ltd, Nangus Holdings Pty Ltd, Nangus Grazing Company Pty Ltd) linked to Keith Batt and his wife, Margaret Letizia.
The investigation was ordered due to concerns about the solvency and lack of management of the companies. The ASIC is specifically concerned about a herd of approximately 261 heads of cattle abandoned by company management.
Both Keith Batt and Margaret Letizia, founder and manager of the companies, are now personally bankrupt. This disqualifies them from managing any corporations.