Cricketer Steve Smith’s punt pays off

AUSTRALIAN cricketer Steve Smith and his wife Dani Willis have had a great innings after flipping their Vaucluse mansion for a multimillion-dollar profit in just two years.

The high profile pair bought the four-bedroom residence for $6.6 million in May 2020 but have sold it under the hammer this week for $12.38 million.

The whopping profit, however, wasn’t achieved without a solid investment as the pair have given the Kings Rd property a celebrity makeover inside and out.

At the Thursday night auction, conducted by Damien Cooley of Cooley Auctions, bidding opened at $11.5 million then lifted by bids of $250,000 and $100,000 with serious interest from two rival parties.

Co-agents on the sale, Albert Sassoon of Raine & Hornes Double Bay and Frank Colacicco of Bentley Estate Agents had originally set the auction date for June 21, later shifting it to July 7 to allow purchasers time to prepare.

“The property drew a lot of attention from international and local buyers who were stunned by the presentation. We had about 185 groups come through over the five weeks we had it on the market. It just goes to show that end of the market is still very strong,” Mr Sassoon said.

Last month Kings Rd saw a $17.5 million and a $13.6 million sale.

Despite images of the home prior to the couple’s acquisition showing a stunning luxury home, the whole property has been transformed with the help of acclaimed architects McKim Design. Records show there was a DA approval granted in 2020 for extensions and alterations worth more than $500,000.

Although Willis was studying as a lawyer when they met, the WAG has publicly stated she has switched her interests to flipping real estate where she can show her creative side.

What was once a boxy floor plan with multiple closed off living spaces has been converted into an open plan footprint with a focus on indoor/outdoor living.

The expansive ground floor space spills out to a covered entertainer’s terrace with a built-in barbecue and wine fridge plus private gardens with a heated pool.

In the new gourmet kitchen there are Casa marble bench tops including a vast island, plus Gaggenau appliances and a butler’s pantry.

The primary bedroom suite is another VIP space with a palatial dressing room, a second walk-in wardrobe, huge ensuite and a private covered balcony. Another bedroom has its own ensuite.

Additional features include a basement home theatre, wet bar, wine storage, a Stoke fireplace, underfloor heating, a two-car garage and a fully integrated security system. The home on 766sq m last traded in 2005 for $3.22 million.

The couple still have a substantial property portfolio with homes in Balmain, Birchgrove, Marrickville and Sans Souci.