Aerial photos reveal a stark fact about Sam Armytage’s new life – after she moved out of her estranged husband Richard Lavender’s Southern Highlands homestead
It’s been a rollercoaster of a month for Samantha Armytage.
Within weeks she announced her shock marriage split from husband Richard Lavender and then jumped straight into the guest chair of Nine’s Today show.
And she’s also making some moves in the property world: the 48-year-old TV personality is putting the finishing touches on her cozy new home in the NSW Southern Highlands.
The understated three-bedroom home is just a 12-minute drive from her former marital home, Lavender Equestrian, a sprawling estate in nearby Berrima.
Despite being a stone’s throw from her old place, the two stay properties could hardly be less similar.
Richard’s homestead, with its modern, hotel-like design and no neighbors for miles, could almost pass for a Bond villain’s retreat.
From a breakup to jumping from one TV network to another, Samantha Armytage has had her fair share of ups and downs this year. Pictured with ex-husband Richard Lavender in 2023
Sam’s new cottage (seen below left) is a quaint house on a quiet street, surrounded by a few neighboring properties
Now single, Sam appears to be leaving the quiet life she once craved with Richard behind, opting to move to a more close-knit area in Moss Vale.
Sam’s recently purchased single-storey property, by contrast, is separated only by hedges from the nearby cottages that abut each other in an intimate, tree-lined part of the close-knit Moss Vale.
While she will downsize significantly and lose the sense of privacy that Richard’s home provides, perhaps more of a neighborhood feel is what a social butterfly like Sam is looking for after her divorce.
Sam bought the quaint 1960s home in May for $1.3 millionand she has since installed a new roof and had a porch added during extensive renovations.
The cottage, just steps from the city’s historic Argyle Street shopping street and set on a sprawling 1,922 sq m block, has been given a modern makeover during the works, which lasted from August until this month.
Highlights of the home include a spacious living room with a fireplace and large windows that open onto a patio, perfect for entertaining.
There is also an open-plan kitchen and dining area, as well as a barbecue area and pond.
Aerial photos of the work in progress show a brand new example wooden veranda with access to a backyard that is yet to be constructed. The cottage looks to be the perfect downsized base for newly single Sam once renovations are complete.
Richard’s lavish 40-acre estate, on the other hand, has box-like walls and a flat roof, while the ultra-modern complex comes with a swimming pool and ample parking.
Sam’s new place is a long way from Richard’s 100-acre estate in the Southern Highlands (pictured)
The horse estate is crossed by creeks and surrounded by open fields of lush green grass, with ancient trees surrounding the property.
It’s the same house where Sam and Richard held their intimate wedding ceremony on New Year’s Eve in 2020, followed by lunch at Centennial Vineyards Restaurant in Bowral.
But that would all come to an end just four years later, when Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed earlier this month that the TV presenter and her businessman husband had gone their separate ways.
However, we are yet to see any tears from Sam, who appears to be putting the split behind her by making her debut on Nine’s Today show this week, putting her TV career back in full swing following her departure from Farmer Wants a Wife Channel Seven.
Sam’s new property, which she bought earlier this year for a whopping $1.3 million, is currently being renovated and has since had a new roof installed.
As for the landscaping, photos from May this year showed the backyard still had a long way to go, with grass still to be laid and an unfinished porch.
Sam’s TV career is also back in full swing after leaving Channel Seven for Nine
She has already undergone quite the makeover as she adjusts to her new life as a single, making a series of very glamorous appearances in recent weeks.
The presenter was last photographed with Richard on September 5, looking relaxed as he walked through Sydney Airport.
As Sam returned from a trip to Noosa for her 48th birthday, she showed off her unique style in beige trousers and a cream blouse, which she complemented with a wide-brimmed straw hat.
However, that would be the last time they were photographed together publicly before their marriage ended, and Sam has been seen solo ever since.
During the 2024 Melbourne Cup, Nine’s new presenter proved she was embracing her newfound independence as she pulled out all the stops with a glamorous outfit for a day out at Flemington Racecourse.
Sam attended the festivities without Richard – who works in equestrian himself – and instead met a host of Australian stars.
For the fun day out on November 5, Sam presented himself very stylishly in a beautiful red off-the-shoulder dress with dramatic puffed sleeves.
Traditionally, the veteran presenter attached a red-hued fascinator to her golden locks to complete her dazzling ensemble.
Sam has already undergone quite the makeover as she adjusts to her new life as a single, making a series of very glamorous appearances in recent weeks. Pictured on Derby Day 2024
At the 2024 Melbourne Cup, Samantha proved she was embracing her single life when she went all out with a glamorous outfit for a day out at Flemington Racecourse.
Still wearing her wedding ring, Sam fully embraced the race day dress code as she posed up a storm for the cameras and stood tall as she stepped out solo at the glitzy event.
She was a regular on the race day circuits this year and had also stepped out in style at Flemington Racecourse for Derby Day a few days earlier.
The former Sunrise host showed off her fashion credentials in a stunning black midi dress with sparkling buttons and white collar detailing.
She completed her fashionable outfit with a pair of pointed heels and packed her essentials into a chic white handbag.
A few weeks earlier in October, Sam started teasing her fashion makeover as she entered the Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.
Sam and Richard first started dating in April 2019 and announced their engagement in June 2020 before tying the knot at his estate in rural NSW six months later.
Samantha and Richard’s divorce was meant to be leaked to a Sydney newspaper, but sources confirmed the news to Daily Mail Australia in advance.
‘Yes, Richard and I have broken up. All breakups are difficult, but it is somewhat mitigated by the fact that it is amicable and we wish the best for each other,” Sam then told the media.
‘I appreciate you respecting our privacy. I will make no further comment.”
It is understood she has moved out of Richard’s home in the Southern Highlands and is now living in an apartment in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
The couple first started dating in April 2019 and announced their engagement in June 2020 before tying the knot six months later.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, only a small number of guests attended the intimate ceremony, with Richard’s daughters believed to have been present.
Amid her failed marriage, Sam has also undergone a huge career change after stepping down from Channel Seven after 21 years at the network.
She described the departure as “sad and bittersweet” and said she felt her time had come to an end.
‘I love instinct. I listen to my instincts. I know when the time comes. “I’m proud that I stand behind myself enough to say, ‘I’ve done what I can do here’ and I’ll move on,” she said.
‘This is not the end. It’s just the end of this chapter.’
Since signing with Nine, she has appeared as a fill-in anchor on Today and will also host new senior dating show The Golden Bachelor next year.