Controversial real estate identity Myles Pearce passes away, aged 69
REAL estate identity Myles Pearce has died from a brief illness, bringing to a close a colourful and controversial life.
- Myles Pearce in ‘forgery’ row over court statements
- Myles Pearce investigated for unlicensed real estate trading
- Cathy Jayne Pearce’s journey from BRW rich-lister to suburban mum
REAL estate identity Myles Pearce has died from a brief illness, bringing to a close a colourful and controversial life.
Mr Pearce, 69, was best known as the husband of former property tycoon Cathy Jayne Pearce who, in their heyday, were high-profile members of Adelaide’s social circuit and lived in a $5.2 million Medindie mansion.
Industry insiders described Mr Pearce as a “character” when they heard the “sad news”.
Cathy Jayne, who split with Mr Pearce in 2011, told the Sunday Mail on Saturday the pair had maintained a close friendship.
“People think that they knew us publicly but our private relationship was extremely different. We were very, very close,” she said.
“I was his best friend. Out of everything that has happened, this is by far the worst.”
Earlier, she posted on her Facebook page: “No one will ever understand our relationship that not even your death (on Friday night) Myles will change.
“Right up until the end we were close and our marriage commitment and secrets are shared now by silence, the bond will not ever be broken.
“You were loved by many but gave your heart and soul to me and I will forever look after and value how we understood like no other.”
Real Estate Institute of SA chief executive Greg Troughton said Mr Pearce had been very successful during his career.
“It was sad to hear the news. I met him a couple of times and he was very highly regarded,” he said.
“Certainly the word that people use when comes to Myles Pearce is that he’s a character.”
Mr Pearce sold his successful real estate business to Century 21 in 1998 after marrying Cathy Jayne.
The couple moved to Queensland in March 2006 following the collapse of Cathy Jayne Developments, later renamed Metamorphosis, and were later declared bankrupt.
They returned to live in Adelaide in 2009 and split two years later.
Mr Pearce has been working for Brighton-based Peter F Burns Real Estate.
“Myles was the ultimate real estate professional, he genuinely loved his job particularly the interaction with so many people from different walks of life,” Peter Burns told the Sunday Mail.
“He was a man with a great deal of drive and a real love of life, a man who inspired people and always had time to help out a colleague or offer advice from the enormous experience.
“He was a very proud father that loved spending time with his four children and grandchild whom he adored. He will be missed by many, many people.”
