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Jonah Lomu’s iconic former mansion is up for sale for the first time in 16 years.
The hilltop house overlooking the Wellington harbour has long been a landmark to onlookers and neighbours in the suburb of Maupuia and gained extra notoriety when the former All Blacks superstar bought it for $1.05million (NZ) in 2000 when he joined the Hurricanes Super Rugby side.
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When news of the grand purchase made local newspapers, police had to be called to help with crowd control after thousands of fans turned up outside the orange complex hoping for a glimpse of the star at home.
Former fellow Hurricane and All Black Ma’a Nonu described the house as “Jonah’s castle” when reminiscing of his time with the Wellington-based club to NZPA in 2009. “He used to live in Maupuia (in Wellington), the big orange house on the hill. That was Jonah’s castle.
“I just lived down the road in Miramar and he used to pick me up for training. I was pretty lucky… he had a few nice cars too.”
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In 2001, the house gained even more prestige when the National Business Review listed it amongst the country’s best and most beautiful in a top house survey.
Lomu, who tragically passed away in November 2015 after suffering a heart attack associated with his kidney condition, is understood to have sold the house for $1.15m in 2003, it was then valued at $1.5m but went for the bargain price during what was a down-turn in the property market.
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Nigel Wray , owner of @Saracens holding the Dave Gallagher jersey he paid £180,000 to own, with Jonah Lomu taking a selfie. #jonah #sarries #AllBlacks @RugbyPass
https://t.co/WO45e5yDOX pic.twitter.com/TDpPK2bJrP— chris jones (@chrisjonespress) November 6, 2018
The property is now valued at $2.43m – a price quite likely to be toppled as offers for tender are received until March 18.
Listed by Bayleys Wellington, the house is described as having “incomparable privacy, panoramic water views and extraordinary single-level living”.
The mansion boasts four double bedrooms, two double-garages, three bathrooms, an expansive kitchen and a terrace that wraps around its harbour-facing living areas.
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