By Sally Howes
The Rudd family has purchased a holiday house at Castaways Beach, south of Noosa.
According to the selling agents, Kevin Rudd and his wife, Therese Rein, have chosen well, describing the property as a "stunning contemporary" home. For $3.1 million you would expect nothing less.
The five-bedroom, well-appointed house is very open, with expansive beach and ocean views from all the main rooms.
Rudd may well have got himself a good deal - by the looks of recent local sales, a number of the million-dollar plus listings have discounted sale prices on the selling agent's website.
Designed by Stephen Kidd, the five-bedroom, well-appointed house is very open, with expansive beach and ocean views from all the main rooms.
The $3.1 million purchase, confirmed by the agent, hasn't been a flight of fancy for the ex-PM, though. Karen Harman of Zinc Properties Noosa, who sold the property to Rudd, said that the family "have been looking around on and off for a few years".
"They saw the property a couple of times" before they bought, she said. Harman could not be drawn on whether the family were accompanied by any staff on their visits to Noosa.
Back in 2007, the Rudds were looking at a $5 million property on beachside Tingiara Crescent in Sunrise Beach, south of Noosa. Unfortunately for them, the property was not for sale.
Rudd said in a statement in 2007 that he and his family had stayed at the house several times. "We liked the house and were interested in whether we could buy it one day."
Rudd will be another of a growing number of celebrities calling the Noosa area home, or home-away-from-home, with Richard Branson ensconced on his very own island in Noosa River and Pat Rafter and Bob Ansett in the Sunshine Beach area.
There is also an ex-Wallabies captain among a slew of other sporting celebs and a fair number of captains of industry with properties in the area, according to Harman.
She thinks they are drawn to the area "because it is so relaxed".
So the newest high-profile property owner shouldn't send too many ripples through the property market. "Noosa in general has always had fairly high-profile people," Harman said.
Sales volumes have fallen since the global financial crisis, Harman conceded, but said with cheerful real-estate agent spin that it meant there would be "good buying opportunities in the area".
She added that "a feel-good place never goes out of fashion". Having escaped from the smog and traffic of Sydney a number of years ago, she did admit to a little bias towards the area.
Rudd's purchase may leave the property market in the area unruffled but his new neighbours could be another story.
While Domain was on the phone to Harman, she received a rather amused email from a nearby home-owner that the press was already on Rudd's doorstep and been door-knocking the neighbours for comment.
The new owners have wasted no time in getting into the swing of having a holiday home. We asked Harman if the locals should expect to see the Rudd family in the local cafes and fish-and-chip shops any time soon, she replied: "I believe they have been already."
Harman wouldn't be drawn on the sales process or any negotiations that took place. When asked if dealing with an ex-prime minister added any complications to the deal, she said that after 22 years in the business, it was no different to any other sale.
The question of whether Mr Rudd drives a hard bargain was met with a polite "no comment".
Harman says the home is "surprisingly private", considering how open the building looks. She said that the family should have sufficient screening from neighbours and the beach.
Perhaps it has taken a few years to find somewhere with the right combination of style, views and privacy. Harman said it was understandable that "privacy was a very important factor in the purchase"
The house was advertised as having security, and Harman wasn't aware of any extra measures that might be taken to protect the family's holiday house.
The large open-plan living areas will give the former prime minister plenty of room to hold court, even if that consists more of family and friends than parliamentarians and business leaders.
The Miele and CaesarStone kitchen will be perfect for entertaining and Rudd will also have a handsome built-in BBQ on the deck.
The first floor also has a spacious master bedroom with en suite and walk in wardrobe, plus another two bedrooms.
The ground floor has a second living room that leads out to a heated saltwater pool, terrace and deck, where according to agents the Rudd family will have a "tranquil setting" and a "great way to unwind and relax".
Could Rudd and his wife be hinting at impending grandparenthood with the generous guest accommodation? The fifth bedroom sleeps up to six people and, as the agents say, is "great for kids and entertaining over school holiday periods."
The agents' advertisement also read: "The home is located in a friendly peaceful neighbourhood and only minutes from Peregian shops, prestige beaches and a short drive to Noosa heads and 20 minutes to the sunshine coast airport."
There is easy access to the dog-friendly beach so Abbey, the Rudd's pooch, should have a great holiday destination to look forward to as well. Jasper the cat may be confined to the house though.
"Public transportation" is listed as another feature of the location, although Domain is not sure how often the former PM will be hopping on the local buses.
The Rudds still own a family home in the Brisbane suburb of Norman Park that was bought for $384,000 in 1994 and recently purchased a property in Canberra.