World champion's retreat: Robert de Castella lists spacious Canberra residence

In January 2003, world champion marathon runner Robert de Castella was on the South Coast with his family when they received the news that bushfires were threatening the outskirts of Canberra.

By the time they returned, their Chapman home was gone.

The fire destroyed everything, save for a few medals from de Castella’s illustrious running career, which were found smouldering in the rubble.

“We lost beautiful art, memorabilia, things I had collected from around the world during my running career,” de Castella says. “My wife, Theresa, had just relocated all her late father’s personal belongings to our place, but it was all gone.

“If that taught us anything, it was that physical things aren’t as important as we sometimes think they are … you can lose them pretty easily.”

The ordeal brought into sharper focus what really mattered to the de Castellas: “Family, social connections and making memories.”

This is why they bought 10 Mialli Place in O’Malley as their next home.

The expansive seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom house was one they could envisage as the backdrop to the next phase of their lives.

“We’ve had so many great family gatherings here; there has been room for my children and grandchildren – there’s space for everyone,” de Castella says of the property, which offers an incredible 846 square metres under roof, including garaging.

“They might be in the pool, or in the yard, we’ll go for walks with the dogs up on the trails in the reserve. It’s been a truly wonderful place to live.”

Despite the joy and space the home provided for their family, the sheer size that once offered room for everyone is now prompting a change of pace for the couple. The sale of the home is being managed by Sophie Luton of Luton Properties Manuka.

“It’s a big house; you could probably lose yourself in it,” de Castella says.

Or at least run a mini-marathon from one end to the other?

“Almost,” he says, laughing. “But I’ll show you where I get most of my exercise when I’m home.”

Both Robert and Theresa practice traditional Okinawan karate and have built a dojo in the basement that would be the envy of many professionals.

“That space was one of the main selling points when we bought 20 years ago; it’s going to be hard to replicate that,” he says.

At 68, de Castella is still a passionate advocate for health and fitness, and believes working on mobility, agility and flexibility should be a part of people’s everyday lives as they age.

It’s been 43 years since he won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in front of a home crowd in Brisbane in 1982, battling the humidity and a strong field, but he still runs daily, jumps on his mountain bike or enjoys a session in the dojo.

And the indoor pool? Was he ever a swimmer? “Ha, not really. I was only ever in the pool when I was injured, doing rehab, so it still has that connection for me.”

Situated on a 1356-square-metre block in an elevated cul-de-sac, the house spans three levels, with formal and informal living areas and versatile spaces that can be turned into home offices, extra bedrooms or reading nooks.

Each bedroom has its own en suite, while the luxurious main bedroom has views across the city to Black Mountain. There’s also a sauna and a connecting al fresco dining area for family barbecues.

The lower level, where the dojo is situated, has its own entry, kitchenette, and powder room and could serve as a professional suite or extended-family living space.

Throw in a five-car garage and additional parking, a workshop, cellar and storerooms, plus its excellent location close to Woden, and this home is ready for a new family to move in.

By negotiation

10 Mialli Place, O'Malley ACT 2606

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The de Castellas are keen to stay in Canberra. Robert grew up in Melbourne, where he began his training under Pat Clohessy as a teenager, but Canberra is home now.

Ideally, they’d love to move to the Molonglo Valley, close to Stromlo Forest Park, which Robert helped establish as part of a task force after the bushfires.

“Stromlo Forest is a beautiful location,” de Castella says. “When I’m out there, it makes me realise that even though we all get impacted by struggles and difficult times, if you endure and stay positive, and you’ve got people around you, things will not only recover, they can be better.”