Dumped Sunrise presenter Simon Reeve has put his sprawling Gold Coast property up for sale days after suing Channel Seven for up to $1 million.
Reeve was flown to Sydney from the two-acre estate in well-to-do Tallai every week just to read the sport news on Weekend Sunrise.
The arrangement, which cost Seven $250,000 a year in flights and luxury hotels, persisted for years until the NSW-Queensland border shut in March.
Reeve spent three months in limbo at his Gold Coast home absent from TV screens before Seven finally cut him loose on June 25.
Reeve was spotted driving his 4WD at the property on Tuesday afternoon, having had an inspection by a potential buyer
Simon Reeve has put his sprawling Gold Coast property up for sale days after suing Channel Seven for up to $1 million over his axing from Weekend Sunrise
His lawsuit claims Reeve should have been paid out as an employee, but Seven argues he was just a freelancer whose contract was not renewed.
Reeve acquired the 7,735sqm five-bedroom, three bathroom house and estate he shares with his wife Linda for $848,000 in 2010.
He frequently posts photos on Instagram of himself at the property - working in the yard or relaxing in the tranquil surrounds.
The white beard he sports in each photo, and shaved off before going on air, has grown considerably longer in recent photos.
But despite the extreme, and expensive, lengths Reeve and Seven went to for him to live there and work in Sydney, he is now moving on.
Reeve doesn't stand to make much for his decade-long investment either as the property is listed for just $1.1 million - which given inflation and stamp duty won't even break even.
A glowing description by real estate agents Remax Regency talks up the property's 'idyllic rural lifestyle' just a few minutes from town.
'As you meander up the concrete driveway towards the home, passing the lush green paddocks and watch the horses graze, you will immediately feel the stresses of the day lift,' it reads.
'As you start to unwind and ground yourself again with mother nature, in this idyllic acreage environment.'
Simon Reeve was dumped from Weekend Sunrise in June and is now suing Channel Seven for up to $1 million, claiming he should have been given redundancy
The home includes a 14m pool and outdoor entertaining area for dozens of guests with a cabana and a barbeque
The huge deck overlooks the pool area and the two-acre horse farm and tranquil bushland and pasture beyond
Other features highlighted are the huge deck overlooking the 14m pool and acres of bushland, and two fenced horse paddocks with a stable.
'You can very much sense that a family has been raised in this home - they have lived together, loved together, cried together and laughed together,' it continues.
Whether selling off the prized estate means Reeve and his wife Linda are relocating to Sydney or just downsizing with both their children moved out, is unclear.
The couple also own a four-bedroom terrace overlooking Sydney's Coogee Beach, bought for $549,000 in 1998, which they rent out for $1,250 a week.
Reeve was believed to be a casualty of rampant cost-cutting across the Australian TV world with revenue devastated by the coronavirus pandemic.
However, a senior Seven source said the decision was directly linked to Weekend Today sport presenter Clint Stanaway leaving that show.
'Nine had dumped its weekend sports presenter on Today and we couldn’t justify keeping on. So we didn’t renew his contract,' the source said.
'He was just so expensive, flying him up and back and accommodating him - as well as the retainer. You can get a dedicated junior for half that and no expenses.
'News was under such pressure. Axing him saved close to half a million and didn’t lose anything on air.'
Reeve was flown from his large property on the Gold Coast to Sydney each weekend, and put up in a hotel, each week to present the sport on Weekend Sunrise. This photo of him at home in July shows his white beard getting longer
Reeve frequently posts photos in Instagram of himself on the property - working in the yard or relaxing in the tranquil surrounds
Since Stanaway's departure, Weekend Today sport is presented by Jayne Azzopardi, who also reads the news.
That setup is now copied by Weekend Sunrise where Sally Bowrey presents both news and sport, negating the need for Reeve as an extra presenter.
Reeve's status was not helped by his $250,000-a-year pay for six hours work a week, that also saw Seven fly him to Sydney from his Gold Coast home each week.
He was put up in fancy hotels like the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, by Seven's Martin Place studio, or the nearby Hilton or Intercontinental.
'The axe was always going to fall on Simon. Seven flew him down and paid for his accommodation every week for the weekend show while production staff couldn't get a cab charge,' another Seven insider said.
'It just wouldn't happen today. I mean, nice guy, but hardly a star.'
Reeve's high-paid position lasted so long because he was close to former Seven West Media chief executive Tim Worner who 'protected' him.
The pair go way back to when Reeve worked on Beyond 2000 in 1987 to 1993, which is when he began being employed via his company Simon Reeve Productions.
Reeve acquired the 7,735sqm five-bedroom, three bathroom house and estate he shares with his wife Linda for $848,000 in 2010
The property includes a stable and a shelter for the horses that roam around, and can be heard neighing in the distance from the house
Reeve did not take his boning well, particularly when he was only offered a payout of five weeks wages.
On July 3, the shocked presenter wrote a 960-word email to billionaire Seven boss Kerry Stokes and chief operations officer Bruce McWilliam pleading for more.
The email obtained by Daily Mail Australia began by thanking the pair and outlining Reeve's long career at the network, beginning in Perth 41 years ago.
'I love television. It's all I've known over 41 years since walking into the TVW Dianella building in February, 1979 as a pimply, clueless 17-year-old,' he wrote.
'Every single day I've cared deeply about the job I do and the product to which I contribute.'
But suddenly what first appeared to be a heartfelt letter of thanks to his bosses, morphed into a moan about how he was hard done by.
The email complained he had been 'very patient' with Seven over three months in limbo since the border closure.
Instead he was 'devastated' to be told on the phone by Sunrise producer Michael Pell that his services were no longer required.
'When I asked... if there was an exit payment in mind, he suggested five weeks. I have to say that was a huge shock,' he wrote.
'I broke the news to my family only yesterday, unable to pretend anymore that I was going back to work.
Reeve doesn't stand to make much for his decade-long investment either as the property is listed for just $1.1 million - which given inflation and stamp duty won't even break even
Whether selling off the prized estate means Reeve and his wife Linda are relocating to Sydney or just downsizing with both their children moved out, is unclear
'I would have walked into the sunset with no regrets if... I'd been offered fair exit terms, for what I feel has been an unfailingly wholehearted effort.'
Reeve said at 58 he was far from retirement and had 'too much to give and to do' and given the economy his family faced an uncertain future.
'I understand times are tough for the business, but five weeks won't come close to giving my family and I a reasonable buffer,' he wrote.
'I've never quibbled over or demanded anything, the first number that was put on any contract with 7 I've been happy to sign, without an agent.
'I'm stung and distraught to think my years with 7... was worth five weeks pay.
'Aside from this, it doesn't recognise I've spent these 12 weeks without pay, trying to find ways to be a contributor, with little feedback.'
Reeve then made a personal appeal to Mr Stokes and Mr McWilliam to intervene and secure him a much larger payout.
'I felt reaching out honestly to the two people who have been very good to me over many years at 7, might count towards reaching an agreement that enables a period of unprecedented certainty for my family, weekends home and the chance to find other work,' he wrote.
'I've avoided scandal and despised the privileged behaviour of others, conscious of my good fortune to have a job at 7.
'I've been a lucky, loyal, bloody hard working and proud part of the network ecosystem.'
Court documents filed to support his claim include a reply to his email from Mr Stokes referring to Reeve as having 'been made redundant'.
He claims this and a reply from McMillan saying he was 'part of the DNA' of Seven showed he was 'treated as an employee of Seven by other officers and employees of Seven'.
Reeve and his wife Linda also bought a four-bedroom terrace overlooking Sydney's Coogee Beach for $549,000 in 1998, which they rent out for $1,250 a week
However, a senior Seven source told Daily Mail Australia that Reeve selectively edited Mr Stokes' email and removed the context.
'Kerry told Simon he wasn't aware he'd been made redundant. He couldn't have been aware as Simon wasn't made redundant. His contract expired,' they said.
'Simon was the one who told Kerry he'd been made redundant... Kerry took his word for it.'
The source said Reeve had been contracted through his company, Simon Reeve Productions, for three decades - at his own urging.
They claimed Reeve wanted to be an independent contractor via his company in an elaborate scheme to save on tax.
'Simon Reeve Productions has been in business for a long time as an Independent Producer which also provided his personal services as well as trying to get various film projects up, with varying degrees of success,' the source said.
'That's not something employees can do which is presumably why he did it through Simon Reeve Productions.'
Reeve wrote a 960-word email to billionaire Seven boss Kerry Stokes (pictured with his wife Christine Parker) and chief operations officer Bruce McWilliam pleading for a bigger payout after he was axed
Reeve made a personal appeal to Mr Stokes and Mr McWilliam to intervene and secure him a much larger payout
Reeve claims Seven breached his 'ongoing contract' and misrepresented his employment status by claiming he was an independent contractor.
He wants the contract between SRP and Seven declared in breach of the Fair Work Act 'in that they falsely represented that Reeve was employed as independent contractor'.
However, the senior source said Seven's contractor arrangement were in recent years audited to make sure they complied with the law.
Those that did not had to become employees and and have PAYE tax deducted.
The source also claimed Seven paid Reeve about $10,000 for a documentary about rhinos the network was yet to receive.
His exit was contrasted with former Sunrise host Mel Doyle, who was publicly feted by a host of stars and praise from the network, while Reeve went without fanfare.
A senior Seven source told Daily Mail Australia that Reeve was given the same opportunity by Sunrise producer Michael Pell.
'He offered Simon the option of doing an official goodbye on air with Weekend Sunrise. He declined,' they said.
'Big contrast to how Mel Doyle handled her departure.'
Reeve had essentially worked odd jobs on Seven in recent years, hosting game shows Million Dollar Minute and It's Academic and presenting sport on Weekend Sunrise.
Court documents allege he was told to 'cease performing services' on Weekend Sunrise on March 16 by producer Matt McGrane.
A senior Seven source said the decision to axe Reeve was directly linked to Weekend Today sport presenter Clint Stanaway leaving that show and showing a dedicated sport guy wasn't necessary
Reeve's departure meant Seven could save cash by having newsreader Sally Bowrey (pictured centre in the Sunrise studio with Reeve and their then-colleague Angela Cox)
He only appeared on screen twice more - reporting on Seven's ANZAC Day coverage and shops reopening in Brisbane as the coronavirus lockdown ended.
His court filing insisted his 'age, seniority, and length of service' entitled him to 12 months notice, but insiders questioned whether his profile warranted this assessment.
'Let's be frank - he's not a star, never was a star. Show his photo to 100 people walking through Martin Place and none of them will know who he is,' one said.
'You have casuals and staff who are quietly being let go after years of service, not replaced and now on JobSeeker and Simon wants more money? It fails the pub test.'
Reeve 'lawyering up' has not gone over well with Seven's rank and file, either - many of them were made redundant and others are on JobKeeper.
Many of those who survived the months of culling took pay cuts and the network handed out $200 food vouchers to staffers struggling to stay afloat.
Reeve's lawyer John Laxton told the Federal Court in Sydney last Thursday that his client was seeking 'in excess of $500,000' and up to $1 million.
Reeve has been on and off Channel Seven for the past 40 years. Above, he poses with longtime colleagues Mel Doyle and Kylie Gillies at a Seven Christmas party in 2007
Seven will defend the case and is expected to argue Reeve had 'changed his tune' on being a contractor after leaving.
Reeve is yet to respond to messages from Daily Mail Australia and Seven declined to comment.
'All I am asking for is nothing more than all Australian workers are entitled to… even those living on the Gold Coast,' he earlier told the Daily Telegraph.
In Reeve's statement of claim, which was filed to the Federal Court, he argues that he was an employee according to the Fair Work Act and therefore was entitled to annual leave payments, a notice period for his departure and a redundancy package.
'It was an implied term of the ongoing contract that Seven would provide Reeve with reasonable notice of termination,' his statement of claims reads.
'Reasonable notice for Reeve as at 25 June 2020 given his age, seniority and length of service, was not less than 12 months' notice of termination.'
Reeve is claiming 12 months' salary in lieu of termination notice in court, as well as compensation over the failure to receive annual leave, interest and costs.
The lawsuit sets the stage for what could be the highest-profile court stoush Seven has faced since the network and Mr Worner's executive assistant Amber Harrison sued one another in 2017.
Simon Reeve's rambling email
Dear Kerry and Bruce,
I just wanted to say thank you for the opportunities and wonderful times with the 7 network, since I commenced my second stint of employment back from living in Botswana in 2002.
From producing Undercover Angels, hosting Quizmaster, the incredible Bali bombing appeal, News presenting, Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise, It's Academic for 9 years, The Force for 13 years, commentating at the Athens and Beijing Olympics, It Takes Two, Million Dollar Minute, the odd failed pilot and many memorable Telethons, there have been few dull moments.
Live television especially has a way of producing adrenaline like few other professions and I will never forget the visceral moment the surviving members of the Bali bombings from Kingsley Football club walked into the studio at TVW as I stood in front of a camera introducing them, with people standing and clapping thunderously, including the floor crew.
Simon Reeve is suing Seven, claiming it breached his 'ongoing contract' and misrepresented his employment status
I was near speechless with the emotion and haven't had an experience in television like it, before or since.
It seemed the ultimate expression of our platform that day to convey something important and make a difference.
I will also never forget announcing Trevor Sauer winning $750,000 on Quizmaster in 2002 and Andrew Skarbek pocketing a million bucks on MDM in 2015.
There's something about saying, 'That's correct... you have just won a million dollars' that triggers a first thought for the Chairman of the company!
I love television. It's all I've known over 41 years since walking into the TVW Dianella building in February, 1979 as a pimply, clueless 17 year old. Every single day I've cared deeply about the job I do and the product to which I contribute.
When Michael rang me Thursday of last week to say the role of Weekend Sunrise sports presenter/features reporter was no longer required, I was devastated.
I've been very patient over the past 3 months as Martin Place has dealt with Covid-19 disruption, offering work arounds including relocating to Sydney for as long as it took, but understanding the challenges.
It hasn't been easy with no pay through this time thrust upon us. I thought with Jim's departure and Ryan's leaving in the past fortnight, it stood me in good stead as an experienced hand to keep my job. It wasn't to be.
When I asked Michael in that same phone call if there was an exit payment in mind, he suggested 5 weeks.
I have to say that was a huge shock.
I broke the news to my family only yesterday, unable to pretend anymore that I was going back to work.
Reeve regularly worked on Sunrise and was a regular presence when Mel and Kochie were on the couch. Above, the trio together in 2013 - with Kochie the only survivor
I would have walked into the sunset with no regrets if after 18 incredible years with 7, I'd been offered fair exit terms, for what I feel has been an unfailingly whole hearted effort. Decency and work ethic are everything to me. Funny, but I'm most proud of It's Academic.
I know I'm well respected and liked by my colleagues and have been a sounding board for many on air people, producers and others over the years, through their own challenges.
I'm 58 and far from thoughts of retirement. Not that Linda would let me, not that I can, not that I'd want to. I have too much to give and to do. We face a very uncertain future given the state of the industry and the economy more generally.
I understand times are tough for the business, but 5 weeks won't come close to giving my family and I a reasonable buffer.
I've never quibbled over or demanded anything, the first number that was put on any contract with 7 I've been happy to sign, without an agent.
I've much preferred direct, eye to eye 'gentlemen's' agreements.
Bruce, I have always enjoyed speaking and dealing with you and your honesty and integrity.
I believe I still had a lot to offer 7 and as much as anyone on air across the network, I think I represented a good example of the best of our brand.
In some capacity I reckon I've been on air pretty much every day on our network for the last 10 years or so, either live, with a new episode or on a re-run of a show.
People I meet comment on this all the time.
Reeve (above with Larry Emdur and Monique Wright) has been on Weekend Sunrise for about a decade but hasn't appeared on screen since March
I know cost cutting is a reality of our industry and our company at the moment, but I'm stung and distraught to think my 18 years with 7 this time (plus 8 years when I was a much younger chap, and another 5 years on Beyond 2000) ... 31 years on the screens of 7, was worth 5 weeks pay.
Aside from this, it doesn't recognise I've spent these 12 weeks without pay, trying to find ways to be a contributor, with little feedback.
This is a personal note Kerry and Bruce and I apologise for its length. However I felt reaching out honestly to the 2 people who have been very good to me over many years at 7, might count towards reaching an agreement that enables a period of unprecedented certainty for my family, weekends home and the chance to find other work.
I hope you can view it in the genuine spirit in which it is written.
Although I've witnessed a lot, I've avoided scandal and despised the privileged behaviour of others, conscious of my good fortune to have a job at 7.
I've been a lucky, loyal, bloody hard working and proud part of the network eco-system.
It would be a pleasure to speak to either of you further if you wanted, or a staff member you might want to put me in touch with, in the context of this background.
If you got this far, I deeply appreciate it.
All the very best to you both.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Reeve
Reeve with his daughter Stella Reeve and music legend Molly Meldrum
Reeve then sent this reply later that day after Mr Stokes and Mr McWilliam responded:
Dear Kerry and Bruce
Thanks so much for the kind replies.
(I have literally been out picking up horse poo for the last 2 hours.)
I understand the strain out there. It’s palpable even here in Covid free Qld.
I would not have written this at all, there is too much on your plates to address individual circumstances and I would have limped off into the sunset after these years happily enough if there had been an exit plan that reflected my 18 years this time around and my long association with the 7 brand overall.
But I was shattered after that call as it goes to the core of our self worth. It’s been an average week.
I do deeply appreciate your messages and hope we can work something out and that our paths cross again down the bumpy road.
Kindest regards
Simon.
