House That! Chicago Bulls legend Luc Longley lists William Bay sanctuary for $4.5 million after 33 years

In the thick of his international basketball career — rubbing shoulders with Michael Jordan and playing to packed-out arenas in the NBA — Luc Longley found peace in an off-grid coastal sanctuary near Denmark. Now, after 33 years of ownership, his serene hideout has hit the market for offers of more than $4.5 million. Longley, who made history as the first Australian to play in the NBA — bought the property at 132 William Bay Road, William Bay, in 1991 while playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was just 22 years old at the time. He never saw the property before buying it. Instead, he asked his dad, Richard, to scout something special using money from his first trading card deal. “Dad nailed it in 1991. I set him a challenge to find me a place near the bush and the beach,” Longley told Ray White Real Estate this week. “He found this total unicorn with a freshwater supply and no neighbours.” Longley first saw it for himself in April, 1992. “It was wild and rudimentary, but I fell in love with it straight away,” he said. “I’ve always loved the smell of peppermint trees. There’s nothing better than the smell of peppy trees and salt air.” Set on a staggering 135 hectare block, the property borders William Bay National Park and features an extraordinary 943 metres of direct coastal frontage to Mazzoletti Beach. The property even comes with a self-contained lakeside chalet, complete with a loft and private deck. Inside the main house, the open-plan design spills onto a generous deck overlooking a private lake. During his career — which kicked off with the Perth Wildcats before being launched into the NBA at age 18 — Longley used the property as a place to rest, recharge, and escape. “It’s been the best place on earth to rest and reset,” he said. “It was also my hideout.” After retiring from professional basketball in 2001, Longley and his wife, chef and musician Anna Gare, made the property their full-time home. They embraced a lifestyle of surfing and seclusion — a stark contrast to the flashing lights of NBA stadiums. Today, the estate offers even more than when Longley first arrived: a gymnasium, a mountain-bike workshop, and around 8km of private trails for hiking and riding. The home sits just minutes from natural wonders like Greens Pool, Elephant Rocks, and Waterfall Beach. World renowned walking tracks including the Bibbulmun Track and Wilderness Ocean Walk line the property. And while it feels like the edge of the world, it’s just 14km from Denmark and 54km from Albany Airport. Perth CBD is 436km away. The sale is being handled by Jody Fewster from Ray White Cottesloe and Mosman Park, alongside Andrew Barrow from Ray White Denmark. Offers close Wednesday November 5.