Credit: The Daily Telegraph
THE Doyles look set to net a very pretty portion after putting the family's historic luxury Watsons Bay home on the market.
Located one street back from the water, the $4.5 million heritage-listed Bay Cottage, circa 1835, was the original harbour pilot's cottage and one of the first houses built in the area.
Following the death of fish and chip matriarch Jean in June last year, her five children Peter Jr, Shaun, Robyn, Gayle and Sharon have put the historic property, which has been in the family for three decades, up for auction.
The cottage is not part of the Doyle family empire, which was torn apart in a bitter dispute between Peter Doyle Sr (who died in 2004) and his brother Michael.
Of the sale, scheduled for next month, Peter Jr, 51, Doyle Group CEO and a Liberal Party wannabe who has aspirations to step into Peter Debnam's shoes in the state seat of Vaucluse, said: "I lived in the house for a few years and was married there.
"My sisters (Robyn, Sharon and Gayle) have stronger links with the house and it is where the children remember their grandparents."
Belle Property agent Nick Moore said the house was a unique Sydney property given its fantastic location and heritage character.
On a 850sq m block with "views that can never be built out", the agent is upbeat about the wide interest the property is generating.
"We're taking it to auction on April 27. It is a bit difficult to put a price on it. We've had some people through with suggestions of price in the mid fours, that's millions to you and me," he said.
In the fight over the Doyle dynasty Michael got the beach and wharf restaurants at Watsons Bay, Doyle's restaurant at the Sydney Fish Markets and rights to the Doyle name.
Peter Sr's side kept the hotel, the restaurant at Circular Quay and a bottleshop at the Fish Markets.
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