Joel Smith: Gavl founder and chief executive’s property journey

Joel Smith has built a successful real estate career with Gavl.


Joel Smith is a two-time All Australian who played 221 AFL games for Hawthorn (163) and St Kilda. He’s the founder and chief executive of auction streaming and bidding service Gavl, which is livestreaming Melbourne auctions in the Herald Sun auction blog each Saturday.

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Joel Smith’s first home in Malvern East.


FIRST HOME

My first home was in Malvern East — the Chadstone end. It was a renovator’s delight; it had the perfect foundation for an inspired renovation and extension or rebuild, neither of which I did. I ended up giving the property a quick freshen-up while playing footy at the time: polished floors, new paint, new light fittings, new blinds and garden. I lived there for three years during the mid 2000s, then sold due to an ever-expanding family needing a larger house. Surprisingly, the house looks exactly the same today as it did 15 years ago — maybe the freshen-up was all it needed.

Carlton v Hawthorn. Telstra Dome. Brad Sewell and Joel Smith.

Brad Sewell and Joel Smith in their playing days.


The beautiful home Smith sold recently in Camberwell.


CURRENT HOME

We are currently renting while we find our next family home. We recently sold in Camberwell, a circa-1914 grand Federation Queen Anne residence on an established 1344sq m allotment, overlooking Boroondara Park. It was the most beautiful home.

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Goulburn River dreams.


DREAM HOME

Once the hustle and bustle of living, working and having a family in Melbourne is done, a 100 acre farm with a beautiful old homestead overlooking the Goulburn River sounds ideal. I’m a country boy at heart!

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