Retired AFL referee great Shaun Ryan leaps from his family home in Torquay, which boasts its own outdoor skate park.
Ryan has refereed several Grand Finals, including most recently the 2018 clash between Collingwood and West Coast and the 2017 match where Richmond defeated Adelaide.
He has refereed over 340 AFL games as of October 2020 and has received multiple awards including the Bishop Shield three times and the All-Australian Field Umpire gong twice.
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Ryan said he and his wife bought their Torquay land after falling in love with the 7,226-square-metre five-bedroom house, set in bushland surroundings.
“It’s a beautiful house, we’ve lived here for over seven years and we’ve raised our children here,” Ryan said.
“It’s bittersweet to say goodbye because we love him so much.
“However, our kids are a bit older now, so the skate ramp, cubby house, and sand pits aren’t so much for them anymore.”
The family spent nine months renovating the house, which has three living rooms, a powder room, laundry room, solar-heated pool, a separate study and a shed connected to electricity.
“We basically took the house apart and put our own stamp on it,” Ryan said.
The kitchen has wooden worktops, a breakfast bar, butler’s pantry, 900mm stove and oven and sliding doors leading to the covered terrace.
Ryan said the master bedroom with its walk-in closet and private bathroom with a free-standing tub was one of his favorite places.
“It has a big window that looks out over the pool and the gum trees,” he said.
Outdoors there is a fruit orchard, vegetable gardens, a chicken coop, fire pit and a second entry point, while the guest bedroom has its own private terrace.
The property is perfect for entertaining, added Ryan.
After Victoria’s pandemic lockdowns ended, the family erected a concert stage to host a local musician and about 50 guests around the fire.
“The skate ramp was installed by the previous owner, I understand it was a concrete with the kids who were great at skateboarding,” Mr. Ryan said.
“It’s pretty cool, it has three separate shortcuts and a basketball hoop.
“It’s quite funny, while we’re away, sometimes the people who stay here call and say that half a dozen kids have snuck in and are using the skating ramp.”
McCartney Real Estate Torquay director Tim Carson said the tree-lined property provided a secluded retreat.
“The perspective of the kitchen and the master bedroom is a really beautiful thing,” said Carson.
“And it’s completely private, so you never have to close the blinds.”
The house has a sales range of $2.8m-$2.9m.
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Originally posted as Retired AFL umpire Shaun Ryan sells Torquay home with its own skate ramp
