How an Australian food blogger became staggeringly wealthy with a single act that banked her $64.4million

A food blogger from Sydney’s eastern suburbs has made a whopping $64.4 million in six years by setting up ‘trophy houses’ in posh Bellevue Hill.

Stephanie Conley-Buhre, the daughter of the late aviation pioneer and philanthropist John Conley, has become mega-rich by renovating dilapidated houses of astonishing grandeur, fixing them up and selling them for double the price.

A trophy home refers to an exceptional property that contains one or more certain qualities, including historic homes, homes with large spaces or in a unique location.

In 2021, the fashion designer and lifestyle blogger and her husband Oskar Buhre invested $28.5 million in a 10-bedroom trophy home with grand renovation plans.

They added an internal swimming pool, three kitchens, a home gym, a day spa and a rumpus room to the property.

Alcooringa’s other attractions include a ballroom, private chapel, ladies’ and gents’ toilets, a spiral staircase and a lift to all levels.

There is a home office, billiards room, internal gym and sauna, large wine cellar, catering kitchen, secure three-car garage and additional guest parking.

The F. Glynn Gilling-designed home also comes with a three-bedroom self-contained guest house with a separate entrance and garage.

In August, the couple made waves in the real estate world when they sold the Spanish-style property for an eye-watering $80 million – $51.5 million more than they paid.

The house took six years to sell when Conley-Buhre first listed it, but she seemed to have no trouble eventually finding a buyer.

Simon Cohen, buyer’s agent for CohenHandler, initially declined to comment on the sale, despite rumors of the company’s involvement in the purchase.

News of the deal subsequently broke after a caveat was placed on the title of the property, revealing that overseas-based expat Hannah Chapman had purchased the renovated home.

Ray White Double Bay director Ashley Bierman handled the sale for the Conley-Buhre and her husband.

Conley-Buhre bought the property from doctor Louis Klein and his wife Claire, who originally paid real estate developer Maurice Moubarak $2.9 million for it in 1993.

Alcooringa was built in 1929 and then called Biscaya, in the Spanish mission style for the graziers Mary and Hugh Taylor and later became the Tunisian consul until 1965.

Moubarak bought the property for £55,500 (approximately AUD$107,101.56) before selling it to the Kleins a few decades later.

In an interview with Home Beautiful magazine this year, Conley-Buhre described how the house had been neglected for nearly four decades when she bought it.

At the time, the house included a ballroom, a private chapel, a self-contained caretaker’s cottage and some of the best views from Bellevue Hill.

Conley-Buhre, the author of the cookbook At Home with The Hostess, gathered ideas for her Alcooringa restoration during a trip to Spain to source ideas and finishes.

She and her husband also benefited from the sale of their previous home, which was also located in Bellevue Hill on Victoria Rd.

They bought it in 2018 for $17.1 million and sold it three years later after a renovation and new garden for $30 million, making a profit of $64.4 million for both homes.

Conley-Buhre is hoping to replicate that same success for a third time, as she recently invested a whopping $43.5 million in a mansion overlooking Sydney Harbour.

The sprawling Italian pad is also located in chic Bellevue Hill and features seven bedrooms and five bathrooms.

The influencer’s latest trophy home, known as Monkton, is spread over 1,252 square meters and offers stunning views of Sydney Harbour.

According to The Wentworth Courier, insiders say the couple closed the deal on the sprawling estate in September.

Designed by renowned Australian architect Espie Dods, the century-old vintage home is epically scaled and equipped with extravagant elegance.

Features include columns, a spiral staircase, an opulent entrance hall, grand ceilings and extensive gardens.

There are also multiple outdoor entertainment areas, a guest wing, a formal dining room and a private lounge.

Other highlights include a pool house and gym, a cabana and a viewing deck.

Conley-Buhre is the daughter of the late aviation pioneer and philanthropist John Conley.

She is the author of At Home with The Hostess, a cookbook inspired by her international travels and home life, filled with more than 150 recipes and culinary ideas.

The influencer shares two young sons, Hugo and Freddy, with her husband Oskar.