Former Saints coach Grant Thomas is selling his ex-Cape Schanck holiday home.
Former VFL player turned Saints coach Grant Thomas has revealed he almost entirely gutted and rebuilt his Cape Schanck holiday home ahead of listing it for sale.
Thomas played 72 games with St Kilda before nothing a few matches at North Melbourne and Fitzroy, but is best remembered for taking the reins for the Saints as coach when Malcolm Bligh was sacked mid-season in 2001.
He continued in the job until 2006, before going into commentary with gigs including on SEN and a regular spot on Footy Classified, as well as co-founding online-only bank Up.
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Thomas listed his one-time family getaway in a gated community surrounded by the National Golf Course to see if there was interest at $11m-$12m last year.
He’s now got the 2 Cape Court address in a gated community slated for $9.5m-$10.45m as part of a process to have the home sold that could also include taking the new owner of the home out for a round of golf on the much vaunted National Golf Course, where the home looks out over the 14th hole of The Old Course.
“It sits right on The Old Course, which is the jewel in the crown,” Mr Thomas said.
“And I will be very, very happy to take the buyer out for a round of golf. As long as they don’t want to talk footy.”
An original pool was replaced by an Italian-tiled one surrounded by hand-cut stone.
The home is one of very few in the area flat enough for its own tennis court.
Noting that the home was “not an every day purchase”, Thomas said for his family, including eight sons, it had been a nexus for weekend golf trips that helped them escape Melbourne and spend time together.
He and wife Kerry had been part way through renovating the home for their family to use, after they moved into a nearby home with nine-bedrooms that seemed “purpose-built for the Thomas family”, and decided it was time to turn their old spot over to a new family.
But they didn’t stop the reno and after more than two years work the result is spectacular.
The home has impressive views over the water and the golf course.
AFL identity Garry Lyon with Grant Thomas at the Caulfield Cup.
“It was a complete rebuild, though we didn’t bulldoze it per se,” Thomas said.
“We had the basic footprint, but extended significantly, adding an extra third to the house again.
“And it’s now got the biggest butler’s pantry we have ever seen.”
The original fibreglass pool was completely replaced with an Italian-tiled one surrounded with paving. There’s also now a steam room handy and a spa, and the home is one of very few in the area with its own tennis court.
“There’s an enormous amount of stone work that’s been done,” Mr Thomas said.
“And it’s all been hand made.”
Folding doors provide scope for indoor-outdoor entertaining.
A fireplace adds a cosy touch to the open-plan living zone.
The five-bedroom, six-bathroom home now boasts a “beautiful cellar” and a library-meets-study space, and there’s also a games room with much of the residence now designed around making the most of the views on offer.
“It’s just spectacular and the views are to die for; sitting up on the balcony with a wine or a cup of tea and watching the sunset is incredible,” Thomas said.
“And there’s good security, which is important in this day and age. You do feel safe and secluded.”
Despite this there are excellent restaurants nearby, the RACV club is 500m away, and the wineries, lifestyle and dining destinations of the Mornington Peninsula are all conveniently accessible.
Luxurious bathrooms feature around the home, with six in total.
The main kitchen has expansive views towards the water and the treetops.
“So you don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy it,” Thomas said.
After renovating a home roughly once every decade he said getting a home just right wasn’t a major challenge compared to running an AFL club, though he noted that too was “not that sophisticated”.
Jellis Craig Nick Johnstone’s Marty Pask, a former Brisbane Lions footballer and player agent, is handling the sale and said the home was among the most spectacular, private and quality homes available today.
A mix of stone and timber frames the home’s elevated viewing decks.
Super-sized bedrooms offer plenty of space for rest and relaxation.
“It’s got everything,” Mr Pask said.
He’s expecting to deal with golf fans, those looking for a luxury escape from Melbourne and even people seeking a full-time spot by the coast.
Secondary agent, Nick Johnstone said the home was in rare air and featured incredible views and “a butler’s pantry bigger than a lot of lounge rooms”.
The more than 3500sq m property is listed for private treaty sale.
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