01/09/2026
A Special Piece of Local History.
There are occasions in real estate when a property brings together family, friendship and a wonderful piece of local history.
We have just had the privilege of selling 84 Beatrice Street, Balgowlah Heights, a much-loved family home that had been held by the same family for more than 64 years, on behalf of the Estate of Doug and Pat Raupach.
For many people on the Lower North Shore, the Raupach name will bring back memories of Neutral Bay Pharmacy on Military Road. The pharmacy itself has an extraordinary history, dating back to 1898, and Doug and Pat were familiar faces there for many years, serving generations of local families.
The wonderful old photographs of Doug behind the pharmacy counter and Pat working in the dispensary capture another era of Neutral Bay — a time when longstanding local businesses and the people behind them were very much part of the fabric of the community.
For me, this sale was particularly personal. The Raupachs are close family friends and I have known them my entire life. One of the photographs here shows Doug and Pat together at Croll Real Estate’s 100-year celebrations in 2004 — a particularly special image that reflects the long friendship between our families and two businesses with deep roots in the local community.
It was therefore a genuine honour to be entrusted by the Raupach family with the sale of a property that had been part of their lives for more than six decades.
84 Beatrice Street achieved $3,050,000, a strong result in the current market and another indication of the resilience of Balgowlah Heights. While the broader Sydney property market has experienced a correction, tightly held homes in quality locations continue to attract strong buyer interest.
A special thank you also to Lucia, who worked incredibly hard alongside me throughout the campaign and played an important part in achieving this result for the family.
From Doug and Pat’s days at Neutral Bay Pharmacy, through decades of family friendship, to the sale of 84 Beatrice Street, these photographs tell a wonderful story of family, community and local history spanning generations.
Thank you to the Raupach family for entrusting Croll Real Estate with such an important sale. It was genuinely a privilege.
