Australian football superstar Michelle Heyman and her partner, Christine Aldridge, thought they’d found their dream home.
Instead, they’ve uncovered a hidden nightmare that’s turning their renovation plans upside down and exposing the brutal financial reality of buying an older property.
What started as an exciting new chapter for the Matildas icon has quickly become a costly battle against a widespread asbestos discovery, forcing the couple to confront a health hazard lurking within the walls of their 1965-built home.
The two-year property hunt for the celebrated striker and the qualified chiropractor and sports nutritionist finally ended last month with the purchase of their first home together in southern NSW.
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Michelle Heyman and Christine Aldridge spent two years searching for their first home. Photo: Instagram/MichelleandChristinereno
They finally moved into their dream reno home earlier this year. Photo: Instagram/MichelleandChristinereno
But the initial excitement of owning their own slice of Australia was quickly overshadowed by a costly discovery.
Heyman, a beloved figure in Australian sport, took to Instagram to reveal the extent of their predicament, sharing the grim details of what their pre-purchase inspection had only hinted at. While the initial report flagged “likely” asbestos in the laundry ceiling, outdoor toilet walls, and double garage, it came with a crucial caveat: “the inspection team were clear that it is not their expertise and a professional should be contacted for confirmation.”
The couple, who are bravely documenting their renovation journey online, weren’t entirely naive to the risks.
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Michelle Heyman is an Australian soccer player and commentator. She became the all-time record goalscorer in the W-League in March 2021 after scoring her 73rd goal.
The couple were surprised to learn that even glue can contain asbestos. Photo: Instagram/MichelleandChristinereno
“Our home was built in 1965 so it was inevitable,” the 37-year-old wrote, acknowledging the common presence of asbestos in homes of that era.
“Knowing it was there we bought our home anyway and immediately got a professional in to assess. Contrary to what many of you seem to assume – we are function, aware and responsible adults.”
But even their preparedness couldn’t cushion the blow of the professional assessment.
What they found was far more extensive and insidious than first imagined.
Beyond the expected areas, the deadly material was confirmed to be “lining the entire bathroom – floor to ceiling – the entire kitchen, the entire laundry, both roofs in the sunroom (pending).”
And in a truly unwelcome surprise, it was also found in “the glue that stuck the linoleum tiles down onto the kitchen floor, under the fuzzy linoleum layer.”
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Beautiful timber floors hide beneath old carpet. Photo: Instagram/MichelleandChristinereno
Elsewhere, the home is riddled with asbestos. Photo: Instagram/MichelleandChristinereno
While the bedrooms offer a reprieve, a layer of asbestos even rests between the bricks of the home, originally constructed as a fibro dwelling before being bricked over.
This widespread contamination means a significant portion of their new home is a ticking health time bomb, demanding immediate and costly remediation.
The discovery underscores the critical importance of asbestos removal, a process vital to eliminating severe long-term health risks including the aggressive cancers of mesothelioma and lung cancer.
“Does it suck to have to spend money on things that aren’t seen? Yes,” Heyman candidly shared with her followers.
“Would it suck more to live in a home that didn’t feel safe for your family? Absolutely. Old homes come with old problems. We knew this from the gates. We are building more than just a place to live.”
A free asbestos removal trial will be rolled out in NSW in an effort to reduce illegal dumping and support the prohibitive costs of renovations involving the material.
Their struggle highlights a pervasive issue across the state, prompting the NSW government to launch a significant initiative to tackle the problem.
A free asbestos removal trial, part of a two-year, $16 million program, is set to roll out next year.
This trial aims to reduce illegal dumping and ease the prohibitive costs associated with renovating homes containing the hazardous material.
Environment Minister Penny Sharpe emphasised the government’s commitment to making disposal safer and more accessible.
“One in three houses built before 1990 contains asbestos,” Ms Sharpe stated.
“That’s why it’s important to make it cheaper and easier for NSW families to dispose of these materials.”
The program will include free pick-up and disposal services, hoping to curb the alarming trend of asbestos appearing in public spaces and minimise the tragic 4000 asbestos-linked deaths each year.
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