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Australian Olympians in the race for property gold

The backyard of Matt Shirvington's home, which is up for auction.

The backyard of Matt Shirvington's home, which is up for auction. Photo: McGrath Mosman

Former Australian sprinter Matt Shirvington is among a host of Olympians lining up to secure property gold across the country from their auction listings.

Shirvington, now a presenter on Fox Sports, and his wife Jessica recently relisted their Mosman home for a third marketing campaign.

The updated 1897 Federation home is offered through McGrath’s Michael Coombs with a $4.3 million to $4.6 million price guidance.

The couple tried to sell the property in 2012 but it failed to sell after spending 65 days on the market.

Shirvington, the second-fastest Australian sprinter of all time, paid $2.5 million in 2008, the year he retired as a professional athlete.

The house was listed for a second time in May, this time with Belle Property Mosman, but went unsold after more than 100 days.

The couple – who fell in love when they were 17 – have two daughters, Sienna and Winter.

The four-bedroom home was built in 1897 and features a modern kitchen and lavish marbled terrace, hardwood floors, high ornate ceiling and a grand formal dining room with stained glass feature window.

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Matt and Jessica Shirvington first tried to sell their family home almost four years ago. Photo: McGrath Mosman

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The renovated Federation home is set within metres of Mosman Village. Photo: McGrath Mosman

Meanwhile, sailing gold medallist Mark Turnbull has his Gardenvale home in Melbourne listed for late August auction through Hocking Stuart.

Turnbull – who with Tom King won the 470 Class event at the Sydney 2000 Games – has $2 million-plus hopes for the four-bedroom contemporary home.

It was built four years ago for his family who will be upsizing in the Brighton area where the Olympian grew up.

The two-storey four-bedroom house in Gardenvale has a sublime stone kitchen with integrated fridge, induction cooking and walk-in pantry.

The two-storey four-bedroom house in Gardenvale has a sublime stone kitchen with integrated fridge, induction cooking and walk-in pantry. Photo: Hocking Stuart

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The house is described as a poolside entertainer. Photo: Hocking Stuart

James Stewart, who competed at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics in rowing, is selling his Mosman home in Sydney.

The renovated three-bedroom 1910 Federation Ourimbah Road semi is listed with LJ Hooker agent Cameron Scott.

The north facing c1910 semi-detached cottage maintains its Federation elegance whilst seamlessly integrating an array of luxury finishes and modern conveniences

The c1910 semi-detached cottage blends old-style elegance with an array of modern conveniences. Photo: LJ Hooker

Other former Olympians have turned their drive to selling property as estate agents. 

Water polo player Gail Miller, who secured gold with Australia in 2000, has joined a Brisbane agency.

She holds a property economics degree from QUT.

“Every time the next Olympics comes around you do start to reminisce about those times and memories,” she told The Courier Mail.

“In one sense it feels like yesterday and in another it feels like a lifetime ago.

“It sets the path to the rest of your life, you can do whatever it is you want.”

In Sydney’s east, Carl Wilson, who swam at the 1988 Seoul Games, sold an investment property of Sydney Swans co-captain Kieren Jack recently for $1,815,000.

Sydney’s Saturday auction colosseum, Strathfield, again produced the nation’s top seller.

It was a $6.8 million Tudor style four-bedroom home on 2000 sqm with tennis court and pool.

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The English Tudor style family residence is situated on a 2036sqm block. Photo: Devine Real Estate

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It also has a tennis court and a multi-purpose garden house that can be converted to a gymnasium or billiard room. Photo: Devine Real Estate

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An expansive casual lounge. Photo: Devine Real Estate

The home had last traded at $3.35 million in 2008. It took the sales tally from 12 offerings along Newton Road to $45 million plus since early 2015.

Sydney had around 650 weekend auctions, with a preliminary clearance rate of 86 per cent, representing a significant rise from last week’s 78 per cent, and again higher than one year ago when it was 76 per cent. 

“The preliminary clearance rate is the highest Sydney has reported since the first week in June 2015 of 88 per cent,” CoreLogic’s Kevin Brogan advised. 

There were 930 auctions held in Sydney one year ago.

Some 1747 capital city auctions were held and preliminary results reflected a national 76 per cent success rate, rising from the 75 per cent the prior week across 1471 auctions.

Auction volumes remain significantly lower, as one year ago CoreLogic tallied 2248 homes taken to auction across the combined capitals.

Melbourne also maintain its place as the second strongest-performing city. 

This week there were 785 auctions in Melbourne, up from 605 last week, and still below the auction activity recorded at the same time last year with 964 offerings.

The weekend’s 76 per cent clearance rate is higher than one year ago, when 74.3 per cent of reported results were successful.

Kew had Melbourne’s top sale when six bidders competed for 83 Mount Street which fetched $3.66 million.

The Kew house has woolen carpets, gleaming parquetry flooring and Italian crystal chandeliers.

The Kew house has woolen carpets, gleaming parquetry flooring and Italian crystal chandeliers. Photo: RT Edgar

It was a finalist by Englehart Homes in the 1996 Housing Industry Association awards.

Another Kew offering at 61 Molesworth Street passed in at $3.65 with no bidders. 

Melbourne had the nation’s cheapest auction when a one-bedroom apartment fetched $185,000 at 10/117 Anderson Road, Albion through Hocking Stuart Point Cook. It last sold at $177,000 in 2012 when it was rented at $180 a week. Its last rental asking price was $210 in 2014.

Meanwhile, there were 124 Brisbane auctions held, jumping from 87 last week, but not quite reaching the same 143 offerings last year.

Brisbane prices ranged from $299,000 at Forest Lake to $1,514,500 million at Corinda for a renovated 1920s Queenslander.

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The pool is one of the standout features at the Corinda property. Photo: Ray White

The kitchen is enhanced by marble floors, caesarstone benchtops, beautiful cabinetry, walk-in pantry and equipped with a European 7 burner stove and double oven.

The kitchen is enhanced by marble floors, caesarstone benchtops, beautiful cabinetry, walk-in pantry and equipped with a European 7 burner stove and double oven. Photo: Ray White

Brisbane agents secured a 56 per cent success compared to a one year ago at 54 per cent.

With 93 offerings, Adelaide’s clearance rate this week was 66 per cent, falling from 68 per cent, and lower than one year ago when it was 72 per cent.

There were 44 auctions held in Canberra with its 72 per cent clearance rate up from 59.6 per cent last week and higher than the 71 per cent one year ago.

Jonathan Chancellor is editor-at-large at Property Observer.

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