Image: RealEstate.com.au / Instagam via @thelazyceo
Yes, everything the light touches is now Jane Lu’s kingdom. The founder of fashion juggernaut Showpo and a ‘shark’ on Shark Tank Australia snapped up a $14 million mansion in Sydney’s exclusive waterfront suburb of Birchgrove and has recently given it a palatial update.
Perched in a prime location with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the home had enviable bones – but its dated 1980s interiors, complete with bold teal walls, were crying out for a refresh.
Jane moved in with her husband and their two children in mid-2023. About a year later, in August 2024, she revealed on Instagram that a renovation was underway: “Building the home of our dreams!” she shared.
With the expertise of interior designer Crystal Bailey, builder Andrew Croft of Croft Built, and custom furniture makers Fform, the home has undergone a major transformation. Sneak peeks through social media reveal a shift from a jumble of styles and clashing colours to a calm, cohesive neutral oasis.
Not only have the interiors been modernised, but the exterior has also received a significant update. Croft Built shared the details: “We recently completed an extensive refresh for our good friends in Birchgrove, Sydney,” they said. The team revamped the outdoor area with over 100m² of concrete, Turkish marble pavers, low-maintenance turf, refreshed stairs and jetty, plus new paint and lighting throughout.
The fashion power player famously started her business in 2010 while living at home with her parents as a twentysomething. At the time, Jane pretended to head to her corporate job every day (which she had actually quit) but instead hit the cafe or library to get the fashion store up and running.
The new career move was only revealed to her family once Jane found success – and success it sure has found. More than a decade on, Showpo brings in more than $100 million per year.
The self-proclaimed @thelazyceo on Instagram and TikTok has shared the journey with her ample social media following, including life with her husband James Waldie, who formerly worked at Uber and is now CFO at Showpo, and their two young children.
The family moved on up from their Balmain home which sold in October 2023 for $3.2m.
Inside Jane Lu’s waterfront Birchgrove mansion pre-renovation
The Birchgrove property is quite the upgrade from the family’s former Balmain home. Their new pad is in prime position, backing onto the water with views of Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge.
The three-bedroom, three-bathroom house was built in the late 1980s and designed to get loads of natural light via floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors.
The lower level contains an open-plan living room, dining area and kitchen space which opens onto the outdoor patio. Upstairs are bedrooms which can be reached via a statement walkway.
The glass atrium gives an expansive feeling and allows the knockout view to be captured from every angle. We can see Jane Lu having the other sharks over for a beverage or two here.
The money shot is at the back in the alfresco area… there’s just a casual view of the Harbour Bridge. Can you imagine the New Year’s Eve experience? We know whose house we’d be crashing if we were Jane’s mates. Beyond the perfect patio setting is the manicured garden, charming boat house and impressive personal pontoon.
The pontoon has to be the cherry on the top of the cake of this property. When Jane’s not at Showpo head office we imagine she’d be right here. Nothing like spending the day on the Harbour, then pulling in to park your boat in your very own backyard.
The Sydney Harbour skyline is the kind of setting the Showpo CEO would never tire of. Now that’s a view worthy of a Shark Tank judge… and a not-so-lazy CEO.
Jane Lu’s net worth is now said to be around $55 million. Not bad for the corporate-world dropout.
