House That! City Beach the new Cottesloe according to high-profile sea-changers Steve and Hayley Munro-Tobin

The sale of an $11 million home to former vintners Steve Tobin and Hayley Munro-Tobin has sparked one of the great debates of the western suburbs — which is better: Cottesloe or City Beach? For the former winery owners, the answer is a resounding City Beach. The pair had their pick of suburbs after selling their Aravina winery for $14.7 million last year, and recently accepting an offer on the neighbouring home in Yallingup, which they listed for $15 million. But Munro-Tobin said City Beach was hands-down better value for money and offered a more enjoyable, family-oriented lifestyle. The family-of-five had moved into Cottesloe for two years while house-hunting, initially expecting to settle down in the suburb where Mr Tobin’s family had been for many years. But they bought the three-level home in City Beach on the same day they inspected it, setting a new local record with the $11.12m price tag. “It is much better value for money — the same house in Cottesloe would have cost $18m to $20m, “ she said. The five-bedroom, five-bathroom home sits on nearly 900sqm of beachfront-land at the highest point in City Beach. Without any other home in its field of vision — and only a quiet road between home and beach — it has arguably the best views in Perth. The quietness was a key selling point for Munro-Tobin who said she had become fed-up with how busy and noisy Cottesloe has become in recent years. “I am really happy to move in somewhere quiet,” she said. “It is so noisy along Marine Parade (in Cottesloe). The noise has tripled in the last couple of years we have been there.” Despite the quietness, she said the local amenities were just as good or better than those in Cottesloe, with plenty of restaurants and cafes, and the nearby sports stadium. “The surf club facilities in City Beach are much better than the one in Cottesloe,” she said. She said many people had qualms with how busy Cottesloe had become, with many believing City Beach had taken its place as the premium family-friendly coastal suburb of choice. “City Beach is the new Cottesloe,” she said. The three-level home, designed by architect Mark Aronson, is serviced by an elevator, includes a north-facing pool and alfresco area. The balcony is 98sqm, which is bigger than most two-bedroom apartments. It includes an office, a gym, a six-car garage and multiple living areas, including a sitting room, a living room, a recreation room and a family room. Munro-Tobin said the family were excited to move in but expect they will one day shift back to their beloved Yallingup. The home was sold via property agent Scott Swingler.