Pasta baron’s house sold for a pretty penne

Pasta baron Ralph De Pasquales has sold this sprawling estate in Brisbane northside in favour of a sea-change. Picture: Supplied.

An heir to the Nanda pasta dynasty has sold his suburban ‘palazzo’ in Brisbane’s northside – a unique half hectare estate with its own Tuscan-style mansion complete with turret, recording studio and ‘Top Gear worthy’ garage.

The sprawling Aspley estate – on the market for the first time ever – was owned by Ralph De Pasquales, one of three sons who took over from Francesco (Frank) De Pasquale, the co-founder of Nanda “the Australian company that sells pasta to Italy”. No price has yet been confirmed for how much the 0.5 hectare property fetched, but it’s believed to be significant given its location, size and the current state of the Brisbane market.

Interestingly, the name Nanda was said to have come from the suburb Nundah, but got lost in translation when Nanda Macaroni Products was registered in Northgate, Brisbane post-World War II.

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The resort style pool is at the heart of the house itself. Picture: Supplied.

Frank De Pasquale’s sons (from left) Ralph, 21, Victor, 18 and Vince, 21, pictured in June 1959 when they held senior positions in the factory. Picture: National Archives of Australia.

Pasta baron Ralph De Pasquales has sold this sprawling estate in Brisbane northside in favour of a sea-change. Picture: Supplied.

The unique 5,032sq m estate looks like it belongs in Tuscany with its turret and archways, soaring ceilings and stone, but it has a touch of Versace about it too with its marble and ornate fixtures.

The five bedroom, four bathroom, six car garage house – which was listed as “Palazzo Versace meets acreage living” – was built in 1974, according to CoreLogic records. It has been up for sale since April this year as part of a sea-change plan for retirement.

Stunning workmanship across the entire property. Picture: Supplied.

The home is filled with marble elements. Picture: Supplied.

Easy access to the pool from the recreation area. Picture: Supplied.

Real estate agent Tristan Rowland of Stone Real Estate Aspley, who took over the listing 39 days ago with colleague John Bradley, said the estate was “without peer or rival”. He had the property go under contract on Tuesday after massive interest across local and interstate buyers with some international interest.

The estate has only ever been owned by the De Pasquales, who upgraded it during a refurbishment program in 1998. It has a “chefs heaven” commercial grade kitchen which comes with its own cold room, tonnes of marble and reclaimed timbers from Newstead Wharf, a tennis court, gym, numerous outdoor entertainment areas, library and a “palatial pool”.

Frank de Pasquale, the managing director, with the dispatch manager, Leslie Clark, pictured in 1959 at the Nanda Macaroni Products factory in Brisbane. Picture: National Archives of Australia.

An entertainer’s dream. Picture: Supplied.

Stunning detail in the floorwork and ceilings. Picture: Supplied.

Nanda Macaroni Products was set up when Frank De Pasquales, who was managing director, teamed up with fellow former Italians Anthony Franchin and Ennio Cartasegna (directors) in the hard years around World War II to create and export pasta to war-ravaged Italy.

Their factory helped provide employment to hundreds of people fleeing Europe in the late 1940s for a safer environment in Brisbane.

Young former Italian resident, Gastone Bulfoni, arrived in Australia in the early 50s “with little except determination and a ready smile”, according to the National Archives of Australia. By 1959 he had bought a home for 3,500 pounds off his work at Nanda, married an Australian citizen and had a son, Robert. Picture: National Archives of Australia.

High ceilings and loads of room for the whole family in the enormous kitchen. Picture: Supplied.

Multiple spaces to relax with friends and family. Picture: Supplied.

According to the National Archives of Australia the firm went from producing 10 tonnes a week of pasta to 100 tonnes a week in the space of a decade – “working two shifts a day in Brisbane to keep up with the steadily rising demand in Australia for macaroni products including spaghetti”.

“The boom in sales due to changing eating habits of Australians, as a result of the post-war influx of immigrants, has led to the suspension of shipments of macaroni from Brisbane to Italy.”

The sale of the Aspley estate was described as “a once in a generation sale”.

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The home has a viewing deck for its tennis court. Picture: Supplied.

The special billiard room. Picture: Supplied.

Yes, it has its own pizza oven. Picture: Supplied.

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