Swim legend Ian Thorpe settles in Woollahra
Title TattleDecember 7, 2020
Olympic swim legend Ian Thorpe is whispered to have spent $2.75 million on a Woollahra townhouse.
The purchase is apparently just in Thorpe’s name and not with his partner Ryan Channing. The couple recently Instagrammed a picture of their new abode along with the new pooch, Kaia.
The townhouse that Thorpe took a liking to sits at the rear of a converted 1860s mansion amid tropical gardens with a shared pool and spa.
With 215sqm of indoor and outdoor living, the three-level home has three bedrooms, while the entire top floor is a study opening to a balcony.
The off-market sale was by MuscleFitness bodybuilders Paul Graham and wife Carole, who had it listed through Ray White agent Clay Brodie.
The Grahams bought the property last March, paying $2.5 million through Georgia Cleary at BradfieldCleary.
The Woollahra buy will mark a return to Sydney property for Thorpe.
He has previously owned in the Sutherland Shire and at Thirroul. His Port Hacking property sold in 2012 at $2.65 million and the South Coast investment fetched $655,000 in 2010.
His last property holding was a home in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, which was sold early last year.
It was known among agents that Thorpe was looking to buy after he was spotted at an open for inspection of an 1860s Paddington terrace in December.
Listed with a $2.5 million price guide, the Gipps St terrace fetched about $2.85 million midweek through Ray White agent Dean Jarman.
Meanwhile, Thorpe’s grandmother, Gwen, sold her Padstow home last year. She had lived in the three-bedroom cottage for many decades.
Darren Musgrave at One Agency Darren Musgrave secured the Padstow sale at well over its reserve price.
Thorpe was the youngest individual world champion when he won the 400m freestyle at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships in Perth.
Thorpe pointed to the milestone in January, when he posted on Instagram: “20 years ago today in Perth, I became World Champion — not bad for a 15 year old kid from Milperra!!
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.