A former Olympic swimmer has come under fire for plans to demolish a $20million mansion and put up a new multi-million dollar home in its place.
Libby Trickett won the hearts of a nation when she claimed four Olympic gold medals, one silver and two bronze across the 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games.
She set world records in the 100m freestyle [52.62 in 2008] and 100m butterfly [56.17 in 2006] during her Olympic career.
Trickett first retired in 2009, returned to competition in 2010, and then retired for the final time in 2013 after the London Olympics.
She married fellow swimmer Luke Trickett in 2007, and they have five children.
After her retirement, she co-founded a women’s health and wellness business, works as a speaker, and is studying counselling.
Former Olympic swimmer Libby Trickett and husband Luke are planning to build a new $10million family home in swanky Hawthorne in Brisbane
The couple have purchased this waterfront mansion for $20million and plan to demolish it
An artist’s impression of what the new Trickett family home will look like when the project is complete
Luke Trickett runs the financial services firm Blue Stamp Company and co-founded the investment platform Marmalade.
And together, the couple have amassed an impressive property portfolio – including the recent acquisition of a $20million waterfront mansion in bougie inner-city Hawthorne – which they plan on promptly demolishing.
‘We want something that really suits our quite large family and our needs, and something more sympathetic to the land,’ Trickett told News Corp.
‘We just want to make it as flowing as possible while getting to enjoy the incredible river, city views.’
They have engaged the services of prominent local architect Shaun Lockyer for the fifth time for their most ambitious project yet.
The couple plan to knock down the existing, sprawling property that was owned by pharmacy chain founder Don Gardiner, and build a new $10million property in its place.
With recent data showing Brisbane properties have bloated in price by 10.23 per cent to a median of $952,000 for all dwellings, the Trickett’s cash splash was not celebrated by everyone.
A host of locals lashed the couple for their real estate flex during a cost of living and housing crisis where many are struggling to make ends meet.
The Trickett’s want to build a home that is more suitable for the location and their five children
Trickett won four gold medals across three Olympic Games during her swimming career
‘So over these cashed up folk bulldozing perfectly good homes. What a waste of resources, just because we can,’ one posted.
Another questioned: ‘Is this news that some people really want to read when there are people struggling to find a roof and food over their heads at the moment?’
‘That should warm the hearts of those scraping up 5 per cent deposit to buy a two bedroom unit for 900k just to have somewhere to live,’ another posted, tongue firmly in cheek.
And another said: ‘I find this, and others like it, purchasing a fully livable home then demolishing it – absolutely disgraceful.’
Luke Trickett pre-empted the backlash and said that the existing property did not suit the location, with the value locked into the land itself.
‘No one is buying a $20m block of land with a house like that which – respectfully – doesn’t address contemporary living, living in the subtropics,’ he said.
‘It’s not climate responsive, it doesn’t even particularly well engage with the river and views.
‘It was built at a point of time where style seemed to take more than function and context.
‘For us, it’s about designing a home which does respond more appropriately to where it is and the amazing amenity it would enjoy.’
Trickett said building the new home would likely take three to five years.
In the meantime, the current property will be leased for $4,950 a week while the family resides at their Seven Hills home.
