WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has landed back in Australia after securing his freedom, and so begins the inevitable search for a place to live in his home country.
Having spent the past five years in the UK’s maximum security Belmarsh Prison, and a further seven years before that holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London facing espionage charges, he landed back in Australia last night after securing his freedom through a plea deal.
According to his wife Stella Assange, he plans to take full advantage of his newfound freedom by enjoying Australia’s world-renowned coastline on a daily basis.
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Julian Assange has returned to Australia following a plea deal to secure his freedom after more than a decade in confinement. Picture: Getty
“Julian plans to swim in the ocean every day, he plans to sleep in a real bed, he plans to taste real food, and he plans to enjoy freedom,” Ms Assange told the media after his release was secured.
Teaching his two children, Gabriel and Max, how to catch crabs is also on his to-do list, Ms Assange said.
Mr Assange’s house-hunting brief would most likely be similar to many Australian buyers searching for a home.
With a young family of four, he’ll likely need at least four bedrooms, and ideally a home office too.
Having endured very cramped accommodation for more than a decade, including a 2m x 3m prison cell and a small office converted into a bedroom in the Ecuadorian embassy, it’s safe to assume a freestanding house with a backyard and plenty of fresh air will be on the wish-list.
After seven years holed up in cramped conditions in the Ecuadorian embassy in London and a further five years in prison, it’s safe to assume Julian Assange would prefer some more spacious living quarters. Picture: Getty
Location-wise, he’ll want to be close to the ocean, and with good food high on his priority list, might want to consider a suburb with a decent dining scene. Proximity to schooling will no doubt become a priority within a few years too.
Having lived in more than 50 different towns across Australia, there would be plenty of potential locations on his radar.
His father John Shipton said in an interview in 2020 that he might live in Mullumbimby or Melbourne, where he previously lived in a two-storey terrace in the inner-city suburb of Carlton while studying at the University of Melbourne.
Julian Assange called this Carlton terrace home back in his uni student days. Picture: realestate.com.au
But Sydney, with more than 100 beaches lining the coastline and harbour, is sure to get a look in, too.
While his financial situation and house-hunting budget is uncertain, it’s likely that plenty of suburbs would be open to him, given Ms Assange’s profession as a human rights lawyer and Mr Assange’s multiple book deals would generate a good income.
Mr Assange has also claimed to be an early investor in bitcoin, suggesting he had bought into the cryptocurrency as early as 2010, when one bitcoin was worth less than one cent. It’s since soared to astronomical highs, with one bitcoin now worth more than $91,000, although it’s unclear how much, if any, of the cryptocurrency he still personally holds.
With that brief and a potentially limitless budget in mind, here are a handful of properties on the market right now that could make an ideal home for Mr Assange and his family.
Located just outside the town centre of Mullumbimby, this character house on a 34-acre block is the definition of freedom.
Situated a 15-minute drive from the beach for that all-important daily dip, the eclectic property features “lush paddocks, a rejuvenated rainforest and the Brunswick River flowing at the rear of the property,” according to the listing.
In other words, the exact opposite of a maximum security prison.
This secluded farmhouse on a 34-acre block could be the perfect place for Julian Assange to recharge after so long in confinement. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
The renovated farmhouse features three bedrooms and open-plan living opening out onto covered verandahs in the main dwelling, as well as a pool house with two more bedrooms and two separate cabins.
Mullumbimby is known for its relaxed, alternative vibe, as well as its farmers market stocked with fresh produce (aka “real food”), and dining scene.
The spacious property would be a refreshing change to a prison cell. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
Being outside the capitals, it’s also far from the media throngs that are likely to follow Mr Assange as he adjusts to life back in Australia.
Mr Assange could enjoy a morning coffee and watch the waves roll in from the balcony of this near-new house in North Curl Curl on Sydney’s northern beaches.
The large, newly-built home would be the perfect place to raise a family. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
It includes five bedrooms, a pool, media and rumpus rooms, as well as an expansive garage that can double as a gym. Plus it’s less than five minutes’ walk to the waves.
The property’s elevated location takes full advantage of the coastal views. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
Sydney’s northern beaches came out on top in a recent report by SGS Economics on the most liveable regions in Australia.
North Curl Curl Beach, the perfect spot for a daily ocean swim. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
With gorgeous beaches, a family-friendly vibe and top eateries, it’s easy to see why.
Mr Assange was born in Townsville and frequently visited nearby Magnetic Island with his family, enjoying what he once described as a “Tom Sawyer” childhood spent fishing, building rafts and riding horses.
Julian Assange could enjoy a secluded island life in this large and somewhat affordable Queenslander on Magnetic Island just off the coast of Townsville, where he grew up. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
If he plans to return to that part of the world, this five-bedroom Queenslander would make the perfect island escape to relive those carefree days and raise his own kids in a similar fashion.
The home features wraparound balconies, a salt water pool, 6.4kW solar system and lush gardens.
Magnetic Island, an idyllic spot for daily ocean swims. Picture: Getty
Magnetic Island is ideal for water-based activities, featuring countless spots for swimming and snorkelling in the crystal clear ocean. It’s also not a bad spot to catch a mud crab.
Should Mr Assange return to Melbourne to raise his family, he could do worse than this double-fronted freestanding Victorian home in Kensington, northwest of the CBD.
The character home is just a short stroll from the local primary school. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
With recently-renovated open-plan interiors featuring luxurious marble, travertine and European oak finishes, the single-level home features four bedrooms, a pool and hydronic heating.
The luxury open-plan interiors would help Mr Assange forget his time spent behind bars. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
It’s also a short stroll from Kensington Primary School, and not far from his old stomping ground in Carlton.
Daily ocean swims might not be on the cards, however, unless he’s keen on braving the icy waters of Port Phillip Bay.