Test cricketer Alex Carey has hit his house sale for six and now has his eyes set on another win when Australia take on India at Adelaide Oval tonight.
The wicketkeeper-batter, who is starring in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, successfully auctioned his Netherby home at 38 French St on Saturday morning – only hours before taking to the field for the second day of the Adelaide Test.
The impressive three-bedroom home sold for $2.75m in front of a crowd of about 150 onlookers, including Carey’s wife Eloise who kept her husband up-to-date over the phone.
SIGN UP NOW FOR OUR FREE REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER
However, an ecstatic Carey was quick to take a break from pre-game training to congratulate the owners in person, according to selling agent Stephanie Williams of Williams Real Estate,
“Alex and Eloise Carey are absolutely delighted. He’s started his day with a spring in his step, a big win this morning … so now it’s over to him for this afternoon (to help achieve a double win for the day),” she said.
“A young couple were the winning bidders…and once we knocked it down (sold it), Alex drove over to quickly congratulate the new owners and shake their hand.”
![Alex Carey](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 720"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Eloise Carey with her niece Molly McKenzie are in full celebration mode following the sale of the family home. Picture: Brenton Edwards
Test cricketer Alex Carey also took a break from pre-game training to congratulate the new owners. Carey will take on India at Adelaide Oval for day two of the Test. Photo: Kelly Barnes
Around 150 onlookers attended the Netherby auction. Picture: Brenton Edwards
Mrs Williams said eight registered bidders attended the spirited auction.
“It was a really good auction and the crowd was massive. There would have had to have been 150 people there, consisting of quite a few buyers, quite a few neighbours and a lot of Alex Carey cricket fans.”
Speaking to the Advertiser ahead of the auction, Carey said selling his home and taking on India all in one day was nerve-racking.
“The game starts in the afternoon…at 2pm and the auction is that morning, so we’ll have to wait and see how it goes,” Carey said.
“I guess, I’ll be either going out on the field happy or going out on the field unsure.”
MORE NEWS
Five charities to benefit from auction of family home
Surprise reason this sport lover’s dream won’t sell
Five SA pools worthy of a national award
The 38 French St home was built and designed by the Heritage Building Group.
It features a modern and spacious layout, ideal for family living.
The backyard comes with plenty of lawn space and room for a friendly cricket match.
Carey and his wife purchased the 685sqm property in 2017, with the intention to renovate an existing home.
However, the couple quickly changed their minds and recruited the help of the Heritage Building Group to construct a modern but character-infused three-bedroom entertainer with plenty of lawn space in the backyard for a friendly cricket match or two.
“We’ve done some little home maintenance projects before when we lived in Panorama…but with this project we decided to start fresh but still stick with the character of the area.
“We put a nice bluestone frontage on it and love the high ceilings.
“I’m also very proud of my lawn and even bought a nice cylinder mower to mow it, so letting that go hurts me a little.
“I also love my wine, so I made sure there was a nice wine room in there – that was a big must.”
Carey said the decision to sell was prompted by a desire to be closer to family.
The couple is also hoping to try their hands on another Adelaide reno project.
