A Portsea home once owned by Richmond legend Ian “Octa” Wilson has hit the market with a $6.2m-$6.8m price guide, blending AFL history with coastal luxury.
Richmond legend Ian “Octa” Wilson’s secluded Portsea retreat has hit the market with a $6.8m price tag.
The four-bedroom house at 11 Sahara Court, offered with a $6.2m-$6.8m guide, was a long-time base for the former Richmond Football Club president, and a gathering place for the AFL’s elite.
Wilson, who played 144 games for the Tigers before serving as club president, built the home as his coastal base on the Mornington Peninsula.
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Set on a sprawling 2238sq m block, the property pairs a rare single-level layout with a north-facing pool, expansive lawns and a resort-style outdoor entertaining zone.
The home also has a strong family link to veteran football journalist Caroline Wilson, who said Sahara Court became the backdrop to her father’s later years and regular reunions with Tigers figures from across the decades.
“Dad spent the best part of his last two decades at Sahara Court, which set the scene for his colourful Richmond past, including regular reunions of the legendary Tigers of old,” Wilson said.
The home’s central living areas flow seamlessly to an outdoor entertaining space overlooking the pool.
Ian “Octa” Wilson played 144 games for Richmond before later serving as president of the club.
In the years that followed, the property earnt a reputation as neutral ground for yellow-and-black legends, with former Richmond players and officials regularly gathering there to relive glory days from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Kay & Burton Portsea agent Liz Jensen said Wilson’s standing in the community was clear following his death.
“He was a very popular man, not just in football but more broadly,” Ms Jensen said.
“I remember attending a Sorrento Football Club president’s lunch after he passed and seeing grown men in tears.”
Wilson also had deep ties to the peninsula through the Seagulls, where he played a mentoring role and regularly welcomed club powerbrokers and locals to the home.
The home also holds a strong family connection to veteran football journalist Caroline Wilson, who said it was a backdrop to her father’s later years and Richmond reunions.
Positioned near Shelley Beach, the property sits within one of Portsea’s most tightly held coastal pockets.
Inside, the home is built around a central living zone with multiple formal and informal areas that flow out to the pool and outdoor entertaining spaces.
The single-level design, rarely seen at this scale in Portsea, allows for multi-generational living with separate bedroom wings and generous living zones.
Privacy is a defining feature, with a long driveway and established gardens shielding the home from the street.
Wilson remained a respected figure in football circles long after his playing days, maintaining strong ties to the Tigers.
The Portsea home became a regular meeting place for former Richmond players and officials across generations.
“From the moment you arrive, you’re completely removed,” Ms Jensen said.
“You can’t stand on the street and see in.
“It’s incredibly well protected and secluded.”
The home is in a tightly held cluster of courts near Shelley Beach, one of Portsea’s most sought-after stretches of coastline.
“You don’t drive down there unless you live there,” Ms Jensen said.
The property includes extensive parking with a large garage and additional off-street space, ideal for car collectors or hosting guests.
Blending privacy, scale and lifestyle, the home offers a rare opportunity to secure a tightly held Portsea retreat.
Interest is expected from a mix of buyers, including football families and those seeking a long-term coastal base with scale, privacy and genuine sporting pedigree.
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