The property at 45 Passmore Cres, Maori Hill, won the 2007 Registered Master Builders House of the Year award and has a rateable value of $4.1 million.
Neither the owner, Peter Shepherd, nor the real estate agent, his nephew Matthew Shepherd, of Edinburgh Realty, wanted to discuss the sale yesterday.
Peter Shepherd confirmed the house was for sale but did not want to comment further.
"We don't really want any publicity about it," Matthew Shepherd said. The house was designed by Mason and Wales Architects and built by J.J.Oskam Builders for Mr Shepherd.
An online advertisement yesterday described the sale as "a rare opportunity to own Dunedin's finest home".
The 820sq m house sits on 3155sq m of land, features a chromed Harley-Davidson V-Rod motorcycle in the foyer and boasts five bedrooms, five bathrooms and two dining areas.
The ground floor includes a home theatre, indoor swimming pool and basement wine cellar with tasting room.
Mr Shepherd was involved in family business Bob Shepherd Menswear until 1986, when he left to buy the George St McDonald's franchise.
He later established the Wharf St Restaurant with brother Robert Shepherd and operated three Dunedin McDonald's franchises until 2007.
Quotable Value Dunedin manager Tim Gibson said the only Dunedin property that had sold for more than $2 million since the real estate market slump in mid-2007 was a Braeview Cres, Maori Hill, property that fetched $2.75 million last June.
The sale price for Mr Shepherd's house is by negotiation.
