Jodhi Meares sells ‘entry-level’ Watsons Bay house for $5.2 million
By Emily Power
Businesswoman and former model Jodhi Meares has sold her Sydney fisherman’s cottage for $400,000 above price hopes, following a stop-start attempt to pass on the keys.
The $5.2 million deal for her Watsons Bay property, which does not have parking but is one block back from the harbour, was inked on February 6.
The price guide of $4.8 million was considered entry-level for the high-end suburb, selling agent Christophe Serrao of Raine and Horne Double Bay said.
The deal for the baby-blue weatherboard at 13 Cove Street was secured before the auction, which was scheduled for February 11.
A failed push on the market in spring last year did not garner much interest above $4.25 million, Serrao said.
A glamorous interior refresh by Meares, the former wife of billionaire James Packer, and an agency switch, attracted a fresh pool of prospective buyers.
Jodhi Meares has sold her home.Credit: Janie Barrett
Serrao listed the home in the new year alongside co-agent Ric Serrao.
The purchaser is from the eastern beaches, seeking a lifestyle change. They won the keys over a city-fringe contender, Serrao said.
“Neither was considering going to Watsons Bay and we reached out to them on our database,” Serrao said. “It was the charm of the home that they fell in love with.”
The new owner will likely embark on some extra improvements, Serrao said.
An interior refresh attracted new buyers.Credit: Raine & Horne Double Bay
The coastal-style, two-bedroom villa does not have parking, but is in a tightly-held enclave where homes rarely transact, he said.
Given the guiding price was a stepping stone into the elite eastern postcode, the home drew 200 enquiries and 60 parties through the door.
The sale sum is the highest price paid on the street for a house without parking.
“It is a really good result, she is very happy,” Serrao said of Meares.
After the refresh, the home sold above its guide.Credit: Raine & Horne Double Bay
“It sold for a lot more than previous interest.
“In Watsons Bay, in terms of homes, there is almost nothing you can buy with a five in front of it - with or without parking.
“I don’t believe you will ever be able to get parking at that property, so it was a drawback for some.”
Meares is now based in Byron Bay, from where she operates her luxury activewear label The Upside.
She was a regular in the social pages during her marriage to Packer, before they parted in 2002.
Her Tigerlily swimwear and fashion designs were a staple in the wardrobes of Aussie women throughout the 2000s. She sold the brand to surfwear colossus Billabong in 2007 for $5.8 million.