Ray Martin and wife Dianne list their luxury Sunshine Coast holiday home

Iconic Australian TV journalist Ray Martin and his wife Dianne have listed their stunning Sunshine Coast holiday home for sale, bucking the trend of people moving further north during COVID-19, and bringing more than 20 years of ownership to a close.

The couple, who are planning to spend more time with family in Sydney, listed the four-bedroom home at 13/87 Toolga Street, Mount Coolum, this week.

Dolby Property Group Noosa’s Marcus Dolby was tight-lipped about the spacious home’s asking price but confirmed similar properties in the area were listed for more than $3 million.

The Martins paid just $250,000 for the property in 2001 when it was vacant land, property records show.

Ray Martin told Domain the family loved their Mount Coolum holiday home because of the restaurants, cafes and clothing shops, describing it as a “church for the soul”.

“That’s why it’s been our second home … besides, it lets us claim we’re Queenslanders when the Maroons whip the Blues in the State of Origin, which they so often do,” he said.

“We call it ‘the Coolum state of mind’. The minute we open our front door, we hit the shorts and the T-shirts – and the blood pressure drops to chilled. Deadly. ‘How good is this?’ is the standard, rhetorical question.”

Mr Dolby said the holiday home, in Mount Coolum’s exclusive The Lakes estate, is adjacent to the Palmer Coolum Golf Resort meaning keen golfers can simply open a gate and walk to the course to play.

The two-storey home, one of just over 40 in the area, features a gourmet kitchen, home cinema and views of the Coolum Lakes and Mount Coolum from most rooms.

As well as places to relax, the home has a large library and office which is connected to each of the bedrooms. It also has enough parking for two cars and, of course, a golf buggy.

While the Martins were not following the wider trend of either moving to or staying in the Sunshine Coast, they were looking forward to the future.

“The truth is, life moves on and you have to chase new dreams,” Mr Martin said. “The COVID lockdowns have drastically changed our habits and our expectations. So have our family circumstances changed – especially now with gorgeous grandkids to dote on.

“Work-wise, my television life is still chaotic but very different to the nightly shows – even though I spend as much time on an aeroplane as I ever did, until COVID grounded everybody, of course. So, for a myriad of good reasons, we’re moving on – with a thousand great photos and a million even better memories.”

Ray Martin became a household name across the country for his work on current affairs programs, including 60 Minutes.  

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Martin was also the host of The Midday Show, winning five Gold Logies for being the most popular TV personality and for his work on A Current Affair.

Amongst his many accolades, Martin has a lasting legacy in Queensland, having been awarded a spot on Caloundra’s Walk of Stars in early 2007.