Outgoing Media Watch presenter Paul Barry, who criticized the “endless” real estate newspaper stories about “properties most of us can’t afford” in his latest rant on the show, lives in a sandstone terrace worth up to 6 million dollars.
Barry ran through a litany of what he sees as media failures Monday night as he said goodbye to viewers of the ABC show he has hosted for the past 11 years.
After complaining about the proliferation of celebrity news, “clickbait” content lifted from social media and stories about “women and what they look like,” the 72-year-old turned his attention to real estate coverage.
“Another hot topic occupying more and more columns is real estate, with Nine and News Corp newspapers inundated with endless stories about properties most of us can’t afford,” he said.
‘And why so much interest? Well, readers love to know what their house and their neighbor’s house are worth.’
The home Barry shares with his wife Lisa McGregor in Sydney’s eastern suburbs was purchased for almost $2.5 million in 2010 and the couple appear to have at least doubled their investment.
Barry went on to claim that the main reason such stories were published was to promote property websites realestate.com.au and Domain, owned respectively by News Corp and Nine.
As examples, the program showed a Sydney Morning Herald article titled “The celebrities and rich who failed to sell their Sydney mansions this year” and a realestate.com article about the “endorphin-inducing $42 million home” by Russell Crowe.
Outgoing Media Watch presenter Paul Barry, who on his last show lamented the “endless” real estate newspaper stories about “properties most of us can’t afford”, lives in a sandstone terrace worth up to $6. million dollars.
The house Barry (pictured outside his home this week) shares with his wife Lisa McGregor in Sydney’s eastern suburbs was bought for almost $2.5 million in 2010 and the couple appear to have at least doubled their investment.
While most of the Herald article dealt with homes valued in the tens of millions of dollars, it included one with an asking price reduced to $8.5 million and another sold for $6.1 million.
Those figures are not far from the estimated value of the two-storey, four-bedroom house Barry and McGregor own in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Domain has appraised the home, which was purchased in McGregor’s name for $2.47 million in July 2010, with a probable value of $5.2 million, with a high estimate of $5.94 million.
A title search on the 3,500-square-foot property reveals the land alone is worth $2.03 million.
The heritage-listed Victorian terrace was built in 1885 from sandstone quarried in Bondi and features high ornate ceilings and wooden floors.
When the couple bought the property, it was listed as having original marble mantels in the living room and dining room, with a large enclosed balcony and walk-in closet off the master bedroom.
“Rear lane access to a detached double garage with a studio/shelter above,” the marketing material said.
‘A landscaped front garden and side patio surrounding the rear of the house provide ample outdoor entertaining space.
Barry and his wife Lisa McGregor live in a two-story, four-bedroom home that was purchased in their names for $2,470,000 in July 2010. Real estate website Domain appraised the property with a probable value of $5.2 million , with a high estimate of $5.94 million.
The heritage-listed Victorian Barry Terrace was built in 1885 from sandstone quarried in Bondi and features wooden floors and ornate high ceilings.
‘This wonderful family home is perfectly equipped and located.’
Before moving into the property, Barry and McGregor lived in a five-bedroom, four-bathroom home on Clovelly Beach, which they sold in August 2010 for $2.37 million.
That Knox Street property, with its expansive ocean views, was purchased for $915,000 in October 2000 and last changed hands in December 2023 for $7.35 million.
The Australian Financial Review reported in November 2000 that the $900,000 the couple got for their previous three-bedroom residence, designed by acclaimed architect James Grose, was a record for Selwyn Street, Paddington.
That place, the sale of which also appeared in the print version of Domain, was purchased by Barry in August 1997 for about $600,000 and is now estimated by Domain to be worth up to $5.5 million.
Barry laughed when Daily Mail Australia asked him about his own property purchases after his spray of property stories on Monday night.
“I bought Selwyn Street for $590,000 in 1997, paid a million for Clovelly and $2.3 million for (my current property),” he said.
“So, you know, I’ve benefited from a massive increase in property prices and unfortunately that doesn’t help the younger generation.”
‘I have a house that has gone up in value. Alright. Write what you want.’
Before moving to a suburb in Sydney’s east, Barry and McGregor lived in a five-bedroom, four-bathroom house above Clovelly Beach which they sold in August 2010 for $2.37 million.
Lisa McGregor is a producer on Australian Story and has worked for other ABC programs including Four Corners, Media Watch, Foreign Correspondent and 7.30.
Barry had just sold Paddington Terrace when he was sacked during his first spell as a Media Watch presenter after clashes with then-ABC chief executive Jonathan Shier.
The best-selling author briefly returned to the show in 2010 before taking on full-time hosting duties in 2013.
Barry was previously married to journalist Jane Wheatley, with whom he had three children. He and McGregor, who is 14 years Barry’s junior, have adult twins.
She is a producer on Australian Story and has worked for other ABC programs including Four Corners, Media Watch, Foreign Correspondent and 7.30.
Barry took the opportunity to deliver some final criticisms of ABC management during his final show.
In his parting words, Barry said that “several ABC executives wanted me fired” a second time, but they left and he survived.
“It is surprising that any station tolerates a program that attacks it as we have done,” he said.
Journalist Linton Besser will replace Barry at Media Watch next year.
“I am excited and serious about having the opportunity to host this important television show and look forward to continuing its great tradition,” Besser said last month.
‘The media is big business and hugely influential. Your mission may be to hold others accountable, but you also deserve the blowtorch.
‘For years, the public has described to me a fundamental distrust of the media. They group us together, the good and the bad.
‘Instead of despairing at this uncomfortable reality, I’m going to try, in my own way, to do something about it.
“Media Watch remains Australia’s best public barrier against bad press behaviour.”
Barry has said he will not retire but will “rest” before seeking a new challenge.