‘New chapter’: John Symond and wife Amber separate

Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond is separating from his wife Amber after eight years of marriage and 12 years in a relationship together.

Exclusive: Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond is separating from his wife Amber after eight years of marriage and 12 years in a relationship together.

“We enter this new chapter of our lives with a deep, mutual respect and friendship for each other,” the couple exclusively told the Saturday Telegraph in a joint statement.

“We are united in our love and commitment to our family.”

Long time supporters of charities across Sydney, John and Amber each have two children from previous marriages.

Amber’s children are from her marriage to Patrick Keating, the son of former prime minister Paul.

“Aussie John” has two children to ex-wife Kerrie Fox – a son, Stephen, and daughter, Deborah, who owns the fashion retailer Mode Sportif and is married to prominent property developer and Addenbrooke co-owner Ned O’Neil.

Amber and John Symond attend the official opening night of Capella Sydney in March. Picture: Getty Images

The pair together after announcing their engagement in 2015. Picture: Toby Zerna

A friend of the couple told the Saturday Telegraph the pair had simply grown apart and were now starting new chapters of their lives, with no third party involved.

John built an iconic home in Point Piper, where he has lived for 17 years and hosted, with Amber, many charity and corporate functions.

John Symond's Point Piper mansion could be worth $200 million.

Packed with artwork including that of Sidney Nolan and Brett Whiteley, the mansion was also the venue of the couple’s nuptials.

They announced their engagement at the mansion in 2015, with John saying he’d proposed on Valentine’s Day.

The couple are long-time supporters of many charities. Picture: Toby Zerna

There are suggestions the mansion might now be worth more than $200 million.

Symond has lived in the home that boasts more than 75m of absolute water frontage, since 2007.

The 76-year-old multi-millionaire is now semi-retired, after having developed Aussie Home Loans into a mortgage giant before selling it to the Commonwealth Bank.

John and Amber are major donors to the St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospital, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Art Gallery of NSW.

He has also been chairman of the Sydney Opera House Trust.

Their family intends to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve together.
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