Thorpie underwater in sale to Ricky Stuart: Title Tattle
The former champion swimmer Ian Thorpe has sold his Sutherland Shire waterfront home to another sporting legend, the NSW State of Origin coach Ricky Stuart, for $2.65 million.
But its sale reflects the shire’s tough selling conditions, as it has been sold at $250,000 less than the $2.9 million paid in 2003 for the Port Hacking waterfront.
Stuart's purchase marks his return to the sporty shire, having previously owned at Burraneer Bay.
In 2010 the glamour couple Shane Watson and Lee Furlong joined the wave of Australian sports royalty owning in the shire when they paid $3.99 million for a waterfront property at Burraneer Bay.
Test captain Ricky Ponting and fast bowling great Glenn McGrath, who tried to sell last year but couldn’t, all call the district home.
Stuart’s also been on the receiving end of the weaker property market in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, as he sold his former Vaucluse house for $2.3 million last year having paid $2.75 in 2006 while coaching the Sydney Roosters.
Thorpe’s used his middle name, James, to secure the property in 2003 to protect his identity and presumably so no seller took advantage of his known wealth.
He also bought a $710,000 Thirroul investment apartment in the name of James Thorpe. Set in the seaside pocket south of Wollongong, it was sold for $655,000 in 2010.
Land Tittle Office records suggest neither Thorpe has not bought any replacement Sydney home. But he still remains loyal to the shire as last weekend when asked by Sun Herald columnist Kate Waterhouse what he thought about the new Jersey Shores-style Channel 10 series on the shire he said: "I think it's terrible (laughs)." And asked if he'd make a comeo: "Hell no."
