AUSTRALIAN Idol judge Marcia Hines is the newest resident of Woolloomooloo's Finger Wharf development. The entertainer bought a twobedroom waterfront home in the complex just over a month ago after deciding she needed a change from the quiet, leafy streets of Wollstonecraft, on Sydney's lower north shore. The new northeast-facing apartment overlooking Garden Island is soundproof and exactly what Hines was looking for – a bolthole she can lock up and leave, as she splits her time between Sydney, where she shoots Idol, and Newcastle, where she lives with her husband, Christopher Morrissey. “I love property,” says Hines, who admits she is always trawling property websites. Her new view takes in the Garden Island naval yards and she says she has a newfound respect for our servicemen after watching how hard they work. BOATHOUSE AFLOAT THE absolute waterfront Bondi apartment belonging to Wendy Heather Hunter, wife of the late Dragon frontman Marc Hunter, has sold. Selling agent Kate McNamara, from Cramer Property, was unable to release the figure but around $4 million was being sought. It was acquired by Hunter in 2003 for $1.85 million, property records show. Known as The Bondi Boathouse, the Ramsgate Ave property is on a prime position right above the rocks on the Ben Buckler headland, just metres from the water. It has stellar beach views, coveted off-street parking and incorporates the building's original boathouse. STILL HOPING THE Victorian Government's adventurous Water Minister Tim Holding, who last month survived two days lost in the mountains, failed to sell his elegantly restored Federation terrace at auction last week. However, two potential buyers are still interested in the classic East Melbourne property, which was being offered with $1.7 million hopes. Caine Real Estate agent Paul Caine said he was hoping for a result in the coming week. HOME OF A LEGEND THE Kirribilli apartment once owned by television legend Graham Kennedy is on the market. The home in Waruda St is in the same Edgewater block where, property records show, Daryl Somers paid $715,000 for the top-floor property in 1989. Both apartments have picture-perfect city views. The former Kennedy home last sold for $750,000 in 1993 and is on the market through Ballard Property's Bill Bridges with expectations of $2.5 million to $3 million. He said 11 contracts had been issued at the first Saturday inspection. WIRTH A LOOK EXPRESSIONS of interest are being sought for one of Sydney's landmark residences, the Coogee family home of Wirth's Circus founder Philip Wirth. The sprawling six-bedroom home on nearly 1700sqm in Alison Rd was built in 1916. Its many original features include clawfoot baths, fireplaces and servants' quarters. Raine & Horne Randwick are seeking offers of around $8 million. Wirth's Circus was the biggest of its type in Australia, regularly touring the country, and dominated the Sydney entertainment scene in the 1920s. [...]