The Sell: Post-NRL season action for Danika Mason
The end of the NRL season has seen a flurry of activity on the property market among players and sports reporters, Jonathan Chancellor reports.
NSW
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It’s been a subdued time on the property front for the stars of rugby league during the 2021 NRL season, given the pandemic meant their interstate relocation took them away from their home base.
There has, however, been an end-of-season uptick, with a few investment property sales.
Eels captain Clint Gutherson this week secured $1.53 million from an investment apartment sale in Collaroy through Upstate agent Chris Aldren, who’d sought $1.4 million.
It was co-owned with family members, having been bought for $1.2 million in 2018.
Josh Reynolds, now over in the UK playing for Hull, thinned out his portfolio when he pocketed $1,355,000 for a Belmore property through Stone agent Joseph Tropiano last month.
And Newcastle playmaker and Merewether resident Mitchell Pearce secured $1,276,000 recently for a Neutral Bay apartment that had been a $750-a-week rental.
Pearce had bought it for $795,000 in 2009 when he was with the Sydney Roosters.
Notwithstanding the absence of players making a property move in 2021, it’s been the off-field stars who report on the game who got busy, and with the season over they can now spend more time to enjoy their new surrounds.
Danika Mason, the sports reporter on the ascendancy at Channel 9’s Wide World Of Sports, recently upgraded homes in Maroubra, from where she posted her weekend workout video on Instagram from the basement gym.
Mason spent $1,525,000 mid-season on a newly built townhouse with her fiancee, personal trainer Todd Liubinskas, who is the fitness director at Men’s Health magazine.
Their three-level, four-bedroom home in a boutique complex of four replaced her one-bedroom abode.
Her redundant Maroubra apartment, which had been bought for $640,000 in 2017, has become a rental.
Mason, who moved from sideline reporting to hosting during the season, is the personality most likely to replace Erin Molan, who will be stepping back a bit in 2022.
Mason recently told Stellar magazine she’s great friends, and learnt much from her female colleagues, including Molan, who recently sold her Randwick apartment through Adrian Bo at NGFarah for $1,680,250, seeking something closer to Nine HQ in North Sydney. The two-bedroom apartment cost $1.2 million in 2017.
The year also saw Fox Sports presenter Yvonne Sampson pay $2.4 million for a home in the inner west, with her husband Chris O’Keefe, who’s a rising star in the Channel 9 news stable, with plans to expand from television into radio over the summer break on 2GB.
NEGUS SELLS RUSTIC BALMAIN TERRACE
Television current affairs doyen George Negus has sold his rustic Balmain East terrace after 42 years ownership.
His eclectic William St terrace was sold with just a hint of current-day marketing hyperbole through BresicWhitney agent Chris Nunn, who’d given $2.6 million guidance.
The 79-year-old well-travelled media professional paid $70,000 in 1979, while single and working on 60 Minutes.
Brisbane-born Negus had moved to the peninsula in 1972, renting with mates, chef Tony Bilson and fellow finance journalist Terry Ogg.
He briefly owned on Grove St, Birchgrove, having paid $39,000 in 1973 and selling in 1975 for $41,000.
He then rented on the peninsula, but twice found after returning from overseas assignments that he’d have to vacate since the house had been sold.
The Balmain terrace became his office when he worked on Foreign Correspondent in the 1990s.
Since 1988 Negus has spent most of his time at Gleniffer on the NSW north coast after he and wife Kirsty Cockburn paid $158,000 for their 12ha holding when he was on The Today Show.
They have not been to Balmain since the pandemic, and are keen to resume their Travel for the Mind expeditions when borders reopen.
The 124sqm Balmain terrace with water views from its upper level comes with three bedrooms and one bathroom.
It was marketed as being located at the “prestigious east end” of the peninsula, which has been transformed from its working-class industrial origins during their tenure.
CHEFS DINE OUT ON BOTANY SALE
Expatriate chefs Jaci and Monty Koludrovic, who are taking Los Angeles by storm, have sold their Botany home base.
They have secured $1,575,000 for their tri-level 2000-built townhouse that adjoins the Sir Joseph Banks Hotel apartment complex.
It was sold by Craig Wieckhorst and Shelley Bays at Plan A Property Group, who secured the off-market sale within a week of listing.
Two of the three bedrooms have balcony views across the park. There is internal access to double car spaces at the Anniversary St abode bought for $1.4 million in 2017.
It first sold at $595,000 in 2000.
Botany’s median price sits at $1,700,000 for houses and $850,000 for units, according to realestate.com.au. Based on five years of sales, Botany has seen a compound growth rate of 3.9 per cent for houses and 0.9 per cent for units.
The Koludrovics’ home was renting for $1000 a week in 2019 when they made the move to the US.
The award-winning husband-wife team showcase their Aussie-inspired cuisine with the Botanical Hospitality Group, incorporating southern California’s best seasonal produce into meals which are largely vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free.
After moving from Lord Howe Island, Jaci met Monty, who moved from Byron Bay, at Becasse in 2006, and then relocated to the kitchen at Bondi Beach’s Icebergs Dining Room.
‘CROWN JEWEL’ ON MARKET
Entrepreneur Ian Gowrie-Smith has listed his redundant holiday retreat at Berowra Waters through LJ Hooker Terrigal agent Tim Andrews.
The 2ha bushland holding comes with $4.4 million price hopes.
The Fishermans Point abode, with internal road, is accessible only by water and sea plane. The grounds enjoy sweeping views, with Andrews suggesting its indulgent amenities offer semi-remote, resort-style living.
There’s a pool, spa and tennis court at the holding, which comes with a four-bedroom residence and a one bedroom cottage.
“It’s the crown jewel of the Hawkesbury River,” Andrews said.
Gowrie-Smith bought it for $485,000 in 1986 from breadmaker Niels Stevns.
Gowrie-Smith sold the adjoining 3ha property, an old 1950s Outward Bound property, which was also owned by Knox Grammar School, two years ago for $3.5 million.
The London-based Gowrie-Smith, who made his fortune through pharmaceutical and mining companies, is a self-confessed property romantic.
Located 40km north of Sydney, Berowra Waters, with a permanent population of around 120 in the 2016 census, possibly saw a pragmatic surge in the recent census with the trend to safe isolationism during the pandemic. Two recent sales have been to Channel 7 stars.
The Morning Show presenter Larry Emdur and his wife Sylvie expanded their holding with a $1 million building block on Neverfail Bay, and the Weekend Sunrise co-host Matt Doran and his fiancee Kendall Bora spent $1.75 million on a 1905 retreat.
KEIGHERY GOING UP AT POMEROY
Lisa Keighery is upsizing in the much-sought-after Pomeroy, Potts Point apartment block.
Her third-floor apartment has been listed by McGrath agent William Manning after a stylish makeover by her mate, interior designer Marco Meneguzzi.
It was bought only last October for $4,295,000 after her $16 million Palm Beach beachfront sale, through Manning.
Now with a Manhattan feel, the apartment was listed late week with a $6 million to $6.5 million price guide through Manning, who’s already issued a contract from Nicholas Eddy & Co.
The 149sqm space was turned from three bedrooms to two during an earlier ownership, having been first sold by Winten to the wine entrepreneur Lisa McGuigan in 2003 for $1,865,000.
Keighery is moving four floors higher in the Susan Rothwell-designed block, with her purchase put by informed neighbours at close to $7 million.
It had traded just six months ago for $5.15 million when bought by the well-connected Alpe property family, who snapped it up just three days into its listing through local agents.
FARAHS SCORE WITH CONCORD HOME
The Concord West investment property syndicate headed by former West Tigers star Robbie Farah scored $2.8 million with a midweek sale.
There had been $2.5 million guidance for the renovated four-bedroom bungalow on Myall St that unsuccessfully went to 2018 auction when passed in at $2.18 million.
The investment property bought for $1.02 million in 2012 was co-owned by Farah, with other family members, Jason, Jessica, Eddie and Renee in the syndicate.
It was last advertised as a rental in 2018 at $1050 a week, having initially been listed with $1375-a-week expectations. It had been a $550-a-week rental before its rear extension construction.
Another investment syndicate of the family recently sold its holding in Brisbane’s Hamilton, securing a combined $2,275,000 from the dual-occupancy project. The initial acquisition had been $1.13 million in 2016.
DUNROBIN BREAKS STRATHFIELD RECORD
Strathfield prices have broken the $9 million mark.
Dunrobin, the tightly held Llandilo Ave abode, has eclipsed the nearby Ray Itaoui record sale of four years at $8.8 million.
Joseph Georges, and his father Sam, of Georges Ellis & Co secured the off market sale with settlement likely to show a $9.5 million stellar price.
Built in 1905, the five-bedroom, six bathroom house last sold for $4.95 million in 2007 through Georges Ellis. It previously sold for $1.93 million in 1993 when offloaded by the McCarroll car dealership family. Dunrobin, which sits on 2757sqm, retains its original ornate ceilings, stained glass windows and fireplaces. It comes pool and an all-weather tennis court with lights.
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