Tony de Leede is selling the Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat that sits on 320 acres of Australia’s Tallebudgera Valley after almost 20 years of operation.

He also plans to sell a property called Ecoview Retreat that sits on 75 acres of land adjacent to Gwinganna. This is a brand new, just opened facility that is designed to allow operators to host their own events, retreats and wellness experiences.

Gwinganna

De Leede told Spa Business he hopes to sell Gwinganna’s real estate and operations company for between AUS$70-80 million (US$46-52 million, €40-46 million, £34-£38 million).

Depending on the buyer, all minority owners (who collectively own 20 per cent) would exit with him, however, actor Hugh Jackman – who also has a stake in the company – may be open to staying on with the new owner.

“As Gwinganna approaches its 20th anniversary, I felt it was time to pass on the business to someone else who will hopefully continue to evolve and grow what has become the most successful wellness and lifestyle retreat property in Australia,” said de Leede.

“The main reason for selling is that at the age of 72 and still having five or six other active businesses, it's time for me to sell,” added de Leede. “The other reason is that as I'm still deeply immersed in the business of Gwinganna, I've not been able to enjoy the lifestyle benefits of Gwinganna as much as I'd like. I feel that if I sell it I'll be able to visit it more and practice more of what I preach.”

Gwinganna is trading steadily, at roughly its pre-pandemic profit numbers.

Known for its large variety of retreat packages and extensive spa and wellbeing facilities, the property receives regular investment and refurbishment. The most recent upgrade included the creation of four wellness suites with personal infrared saunas and recovery massage chairs.

The total number of guests Gwinganna serves a year is approximately 4,500. Almost 50 per cent of visitors booking the property’s Signature Retreats are return visitors and 65 per cent of guests who attend its Speciality Retreats are also returners.

“One of our great successes with Gwinganna is that we get many thousands of guests who come back regularly,” De Leede said.

EcoView Retreat

Designed as a ‘host your own retreat’ property, EcoView Retreat is a separate AU$9 million (US$5.8 million, €5.1 million, £4.3 million) property that de Leede has just launched.

De Leede described the model to Spa Business, “It’s essentially an AirBnB resort facility where there are no staff, we hand the keys over to the event organiser and if they want, we give them recommendations for chefs and operators offering lifestyle lectures and activities.”

The concept was created to meet a demand for events underpinned by nature-based wellness and activities. De Leede highlighted that there’s been a rapid evolution in the corporate realm, for experiences that are in less traditional conference spaces. The facility is therefore aimed at corporate clients, fitness and wellness operators, event clients and small weddings.

The 69-acre property offers 1,553sq m of facilities that include 15 twin eco-luxury villas with balconies overlooking the Tallebudgera Valley, a large yoga or conference room, a gym space, plus three 2m x 4m plunge pools of different temperatures.

The first retreat is taking place this week and the property has taken bookings for 12 further retreats until the end of the year, with more expected to sign up in the next 60 days.

“I'm not looking for a partner but to hopefully find someone who would want to grow the concept of either 'host your own' corporate, fitness, wellness facility – or many other uses such as a destination longevity centre, high end rehabilitation centre or possibly a wellness wedding venue. EcoView Retreat is a blank canvas that can be adapted to many different uses.”

Watch the real estate listing video here.

De Leede's other ventures

De Leede is also involved in a number of other businesses, including one he launched last year called Wello Works – a hybrid concept of wellness centre and co-working office.

The first one was launched in Sydney, Australia, in March 2024, followed by a site in Atlanta.

Read more about his accomplishments in an interview from earlier this year in our sister publication, HCM.