Atlassian Co-Founder Mike Cannon- Brookes $143 million property spending spree
September 12 2019Australian tech entrepreneur and billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes has added yet another luxury property to his growing portfolio — shelling out $14.5 million for an expansive rural property in the New South Wales Southern Highlands.
Spanning 155-hectares, the property is one of the single-largest land holdings in the whole region, and is the second-most expensive sale ever recorded, according to Nine-owned property group Domain.
Widgee Waa, about 90-minutes drive from Sydney, is slated by real estate agency Meares as the “Point Piper of the Southern Highlands” due to its size and grazing quality.
The farm comes with general farming and equestrian infrastructure as well as a manager’s cottage, with Domain speculating the family will build a homestead there on the impressive property.
“The property is an outstanding aggregation of highly fertile basalt soil pastured rolling hill country with magnificent views, which over the past 31 years has been improved, “with no expense spared” by the owner,” a release advertising its listing stated.
That previous owner is Mark Burrows, a corporate adviser and former board member of Telstra and Fairfax Media (now defunct) among others. While Burrow, who owns nearby Sugarloaf Farm as well, has an enviable portfolio of his own, it pales in comparison to Cannon-Brookes.
In the last 12-months alone, the Atlassian co-founder — valued at $9.63 billion — has spent $143 million on prestige real estate.
A measure of his love of property is the fact that it’s not even the only estate Canoon-Brokes has in the area — it’s the third. He acquired Joadja Creek Farm for $3.3 million in 2016, and neighbouring Rosehill Farm in Kangaloon last year for $5.35 million.
Naturally, that’s on top of his purchase of Sydney’s most expensive house — the $100 million Fairwater estate.
Despite what the purchase might suggest, with Atlassian breaking the $1 billion revenue mark this year, it’s unlikely its co-founder will be out to pasture anytime soon.
Derwin, J. (2019, August 5). Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes splashes $14.5 million on NSW Southern Highlands farm - the latest in his 12-month $143 million property spending spree. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com.au/atlassian-co-founder-mike-cannon-brookes-splashes-14-5-million-on-nsw-southern-highlands-farm-the-latest-in-his-12-month-143-million-property-spending-spree-2019-8