Ian Thorpe’s tough $3.5m challenge

Swimming legend Ian Thorpe has a difficult new challenge ahead of him.

Swimming legend Ian Thorpe has a new challenge ahead of him. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gary Ramage

The relisting of swimming legend Ian Thorpe’s Woollahra townhouse certainly comes amid more challenging times for vendors in Sydney’s spring selling season.

There is dampened buyer interest, heightened listing competition, and accordingly reduced price expectations.

Just nine buyer parties came through Saturday morning’s first weekend inspection ahead of its scheduled November 7 auction.

When listed in August last year, albeit unsuccessfully, it saw close to 30 inspectees at its first open.

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Ian Thorpe's Woollahra townhouse, at the rear of a colonial 1860s mansion converted in the early 1980s into six abodes, has been relisted. Picture: realestate.com.au

Refurbished by designers Ridgway Sassella, the townhouse comes with 164sq m of indoor and 52sq m of outdoor living. Picture: realestate.com.au

Thorpe bought the townhouse on Ocean St, Woollahra in 2017 for $2.75m from Muscle & Fitness Australia owners Paul Graham and wife Carole.

Refurbished by designers Ridgway Sassella, it comes with 164sq m of indoor and 52sq m of outdoor living.

The property passed in at its September auction on a $3.95m vendor bid, having had $3.7m guidance through Black Diamondz.

Its replacement agent, Warren Ginsberg, who issued a $3.5m guide midweek for the three-level townhouse, was a no-show at its 9am open for inspection.

It is was Ray White agent Jordan L’Estrange telling inspectees to take off their shoes when entering the townhouse located at the rear of a colonial 1860s mansion converted in the early 1980s into six abodes.

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Ian Thorpe.

This time Thorpe’s offering is up against a rival on the north-facing front of the complex overlooking its tropical garden pool — which has $3.3m guidance.

Thorpe, who was in the Nine broadcast team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, listed last year after he’d quietly bought nearby in Edgecliff for $2.79m in the 1960s Harry Seidler-designed Arlington complex.

His townhouse has subsequently been rented at $1850 per week.

Woollahra’s apartment median price currently sits at $1,365,000, according to PropTrack, down 4 per cent in the past year after 94 sales.

Thorpe has owned the home for five years.

It has reduced price expectations.

And now has a price guide of $3.5m.

Last time, the Thorpe listing secured 4400 page views on realestate.com.au during its marketing campaign, and so far it has garnered a quick 1100 page views.

The most successful athlete at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Thorpe, who retired in 2006 after winning five Olympic gold medals, has previously owned properties in the ­Sutherland Shire, Thirroul and the Hollywood Hills.

Thorpe in his heyday winning gold in the 200m freestyle at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Picture: Getty

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Originally published as Ian Thorpe’s tough $3.5m challenge