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sh Bradnam announced on Friday, 28 November, that his final day at Nova 106.9 would be that morning. The long‑running breakfast show “Ash, Luttsy and Nikki” ended after two decades on air, coinciding with the departure of KIIS 97.3’s breakfast trio—Kip Wightman, Robin Bailey and Corey Oates. The ex‑radio stars have quietly built sizeable property portfolios during Queensland’s most explosive real‑estate boom, turning early‑2000s bargains into multi‑million‑dollar assets.
**Property growth in Queensland**
According to PropTrack, house prices in Brisbane’s local government areas have risen 82.7 % over the past five years. The Gold Coast has seen 87 % growth, while Ipswich has surged 111 %. These figures illustrate how strategic buying in the early 2000s, when entry prices were a fraction of today’s levels, has produced returns that far outpace typical superannuation balances.
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### Ash Bradnam
- **Main Beach apartment** – Purchased August 2021 for $1.15 million; still owned.
- **Runaway Bay waterfront home** – Bought $1.175 million in 2011, sold January 2022 for $3 million, a $1.825 million gain.
- **Surfers Paradise house** – Acquired 1999 for $375 000, sold 2011 for $1.16 million, a $785 000 profit. Current market value is estimated at $3.8–4.5 million.
- **Hervey Bay cottage** – Bought March 2018 for $375 000, sold April 2019 for $360 000, a $15 000 loss.
Bradnam’s portfolio reflects a pattern of buying low in the early 2000s and selling high as demand surged across Queensland’s hot markets.
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### Robin Bailey
- **Chelmer unit** – Bought 2001 for $93,500, sold 2019 for $290,000. Current rental potential ≈ $577 per week.
- **Indooroopilly house** – 4‑bedroom on 716 m² block, bought 2001 for $169,000, sold 2006 for ≈ $340,000.
- **Kenmore house** – 6‑bedroom with pool, bought 2002 for $344,500, sold 2015 for $775,000.
- **Barellan Point** – 3‑bedroom on 0.54 ha overlooking the Brisbane River, bought 2013 for $445,000, sold 2019 for $500,112.
- **Fig Tree Pocket waterfront** – Bought 2010 for $1.15 million, sold 2022 for $1.6 million, a $450,000 gain.
- **Abbotsford NSW family home** – Sold 2023 after 57 years; sentimental value rather than investment.
- **Paddington house** – 3‑bedroom, bought 2023 for $1.275 million; current valuation $1.57–1.76 million, rental ≈ $793–$904 per week.
- **Surfers Paradise unit** – 2‑bedroom, bought 2019 for $495,000; current rental ≈ $935–$1,000 per week; valuation ≈ $967,000.
Bailey’s sales show a steady appreciation, with her most recent properties yielding significant capital gains and strong rental potential.
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### Corey Oates
- **Samford Valley estate** – 9,560 m² block bought 2019 for $880,000; home built and listed for offers over $4.75 million in 2024.
- **Collingwood Park house** – 4‑bedroom built on land bought 2017 for $190,000; listed for rent $610 per week (≈ $32,000 annual). Current valuation $820–884 k.
- **Everton Park townhouse** – 3‑bedroom bought 2017 for $610,000; current valuation $1.03–1.11 million, potential rent $722–$830 per week.
- **Albany Creek house** – 4‑bedroom on 815 m² block bought 2014 for $462,000, sold 2020 for $685,000, a $223,000 gain (48 % increase).
Oates began investing at 20, turning his early career earnings into a diversified portfolio that now includes both high‑end homes and profitable rental properties.
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### Industry context
The simultaneous exits of Bradnam, Bailey, Oates and Wightman reflect a broader network shake‑up. Their property journeys, spanning multiple market cycles, demonstrate how consistent investment in Brisbane and Gold Coast real estate has created substantial safety nets for their next chapters. As the radio industry evolves, these former hosts illustrate the financial resilience that can be built through strategic real‑estate decisions.
