David Tyrrell doesn’t just sell Bronte. He grew up in it.
Born and raised in the beachside suburb where his father also grew up, the Ray White Phillips & Co agent has spent almost every summer of his life in the water at Bronte.
He joined Bronte Surf Life Saving Club as a six-year-old nipper, went on to compete in senior surf sports including Australian ironman and board paddling events, and still does patrols on the beach when he can.
“The surf club has always been a big part of our family,” David said.
“You start when you’re six, and it just becomes who you are. Work eventually took over my Saturdays, but I’ve never stopped patrolling.”
That connection has come full circle, with Alexander Phillips a major sponsor of Bronte SLSC in a 10-year partnership.
David went straight into real estate after finishing at Waverley College, starting in rentals and leasing at 17 before moving to sales, where he spent 11 years working alongside Alexander Phillips on prestige homes.
He is a successful agent at the hottest agency in Sydney, Ray White Phillips & Co.
Having started his career in 2007, on the eve of the Global Financial Crisis, David has seen the eastern suburbs through its toughest markets as well as its strongest.
“I started just as the GFC hit, so I learned very early that markets move in cycles,” he said. “They always recover, and the people who stay close to their clients through the hard times are the ones who are still standing.”
For David, Bronte’s appeal lies in what it isn’t.
“Bronte is the quiet neighbour between Bondi and Coogee,” he said. “It’s small, it’s mainly families, and there are no pubs or clubs. People who live here love it because it feels like a village, and they tend to stay for a very long time.”
His latest listing proves the point. The owners of 160D Macpherson Street, Bronte, a north-facing home with views, are downsizing after 33 years but staying in the area.
The home goes to auction on Saturday 17 October at 2.15pm with a $10 million price guide.
“I expect it to be a competitive auction,” he said off the back of the recent $5.25 million sale of 16 Cross St, Bronte.
David says buyer’s agents now play a major role in the Bronte market, with around 50 per cent of his sales involving one.
“Buyer’s agents are part of almost every campaign now, so relationships matter more than ever,” he said. “Knowing who’s looking, and what they’re looking for, is how you match the right buyer to the right home.”
Renowned for his perseverance, transparency and strong work ethic, David is as down-to-earth as he is driven, which makes him a natural fit for Ray White Phillips & Co’s local-first, results-driven approach.