Outgoing Media Watch host Paul Barry, who criticised ‘endless’ newspaper real estate stories about ‘properties most of us can’t afford’ in his last diatribe on the program, lives in a sandstone terrace worth up to $6million.

Barry ran through a litany of what he sees as the media’s failings on Monday night as he farewelled viewers of the ABC program he has presented for the past 11 years.

Having complained about a proliferation of celebrity news, ‘clickbait’ content lifted from social media and stories about ‘women and their looks’, the 72-year-old turned his attention to real estate coverage.

‘Another hot topic that fills more and more column inches is real estate, with the Nine and News Corp papers awash with endless stories about properties most of us can’t afford,’ he said.

‘And why so much interest? Well, readers love to know how much theirs and their neighbour’s house is worth.’

The house Barry shares with wife Lisa McGregor in Sydney’s eastern suburbs was bought for almost $2.5million in 2010 and the couple looks to have at least doubled their investment.  

Barry went on to claim the main reason such stories were published was to promote the property websites realestate.com.au and Domain, owned respectively by News Corp and Nine.

As examples, the program showed a Sydney Morning Herald story headlined ‘The celebrities and rich-listers who failed to sell their Sydney mansions this year’ and a realestate.com article about Russell Crowe’s ‘endorphin-inducing $42million home’.

While most of the Herald story dealt with homes worth tens of millions of dollars, it included one with an asking price reduced to $8.5million and another sold for $6.1million.

Those figures are not far from the estimated value of the two-storey, four-bedroom house Barry and McGregor own in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Domain has appraised the house, which was purchased in McGregor’s name for $2.47million in July 2010, as likely being worth $5.2million, with a top estimate of $5.94million.

A title search on the 328.8 square metre property reveals the land alone to be worth $2.03million

The heritage-listed Victorian terrace was built in 1885 from sandstone quarried in Bondi and features ornate high ceilings and timber floors. 

When the couple bought the property it was listed as having original marble mantels in the living and dining rooms, with a large enclosed balcony and walk-in wardrobe off the master bedroom.

‘Rear lane access to a separate double garage with a studio/retreat above,’ marketing material stated. 

‘A landscaped front garden and side courtyard which wraps its way around to the back of the house provide ample outdoor entertaining room.

‘This wonderful family home is perfectly appointed and positioned.’

Before moving to the property, Barry and McGregor lived in a five-bedroom, four-bathroom home perched above Clovelly Beach which they sold in August 2010 for $2.37million

That Knox Street property, with its sweeping views to the ocean, was bought for $915,000 in October 2000 and last changed hands in December 2023 for $7.35million.

The Australian Financial Review reported in November 2000 that the $900,000 the couple achieved for their previous three-bedroom residence, designed by acclaimed architect James Grose, was a record for Selwyn Street, Paddington.

That place, the sale of which also appeared in the print version of Domain, was bought by Barry in August 1997 for about $600,000 and is now estimated by Domain to be worth up to $5.5million.

Barry laughed when Daily Mail Australia asked him about his own property purchases following his spray about real estate stories on Monday evening. 

‘I bought Selwyn Street for $590,000 in 1997, I paid a million for Clovelly and $2.3million for (my current property),’ he said.

‘So, you know, I’ve been a beneficiary of a massive rise in real estate prices and unfortunately it doesn’t help the younger generation. 

‘I have a house that’s gone up in value. It’s fine. Write what you like.’

Barry had only just sold the Paddington terrace when he was sacked during his first stint as Media Watch host after run-ins with then ABC managing director Jonathan Shier.

The best-selling author briefly returned to the program in 2010 before taking over full-time hosting duties in 2013. 

Barry was previously married to journalist Jane Wheatley, with whom he had had three children. He and McGregor, who is 14 years younger than Barry, have adult twins. 

She is a producer on Australian Story and has worked for other ABC programs such as Four Corners, Media Watch, Foreign Correspondent and 7.30.

Barry took the chance to fire some final barbs at ABC management during his last program.

In his parting words, Barry said ‘several executives at the ABC have wanted me sacked’ a second time but they left and he survived. 

‘It is remarkable that any broadcaster tolerates a program that rips into it as we have done,’ he said.

Journalist Linton Besser will replace Barry on Media Watch next year.  

‘I’m thrilled and sobered to be given the opportunity to host this important television program and hope to continue its great tradition,’ Besser said last month.

‘The media is big business and hugely influential. Its mission may be to hold others to account – but it too deserves the blowtorch.

‘For years, members of the public have described to me a fundamental distrust of the media. They lump us together, the good and the bad.

‘Rather than despairing at this uncomfortable reality I’m going to try in my own small way to do something about it.

‘Media Watch remains Australia’s best public guardrail against bad behaviour by the press.’

Barry has said he is not retiring but will be ‘having a rest’ before looking for a new challenge.