Embracing the Joys of Shared Ownership

Sharon Russell shares her passion for travel, shared asset ownership, and the creation of Second Home.

Hello, I'm Sharon Russell, co-owner of Second Home, and I am thrilled to share my story with you. I am incredibly excited about our new venture and the happiness that co-ownership of lifestyle assets brings to our clients. The views from all of our properties are breathtaking, and you will often see me in Queenstown and Wanaka with a smile wider than the Remarkables.

I began my career as a travel agent at 18 and have owned a travel agency for many years. Traveling the world with my family has always been my favorite thing to do - until now!

In February 1999, during a holiday in Bali with my husband John, we contemplated our busy lives, family business, and large boat that we hardly ever used. John suggested the idea of sharing the boat - the use, costs, and everything. We spent the rest of our trip devising a business plan for Boatshare Australia, the first commercial shared boat ownership program in the country. We launched in May 1999 at the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show and sold our first shared ownership boat.

Fast forward to 2006, and Boatshare had grown significantly. We sold our family business, John Crawford Marine, to focus on shared boat ownership. That same year, we organized a month-long trip for our boat owners to Dubai, Spain, and other European destinations, with 48 co-owners joining us.

After returning from that incredible journey, we were approached by Riviera luxury yachts to join their business, and Riviera Syndication was born. Our international holidays with Riviera Syndication co-owners became highly sought after, and we continued to travel with like-minded people who loved sharing experiences and assets.

Even after semi-retiring in 2016, we kept our private travel agency and continued exploring the world with our friends and clients. However, the events of 2020 made us realize how fortunate we are to live in Australia and New Zealand. John's love of New Zealand the country of his birth and our Kiwi cousins has lead us to move to Queenstown in 2023 to establish Second Home.

As of March 2023, we have settled into Queenstown, enjoying the local vineyards and fresh mountain air. Our family adores Queenstown, and we feel safe and at home here. We eagerly anticipate welcoming our children and grandchildren to visit, as we fully immerse ourselves in the beauty of this place.

We look forward to inviting you into the amazing world of Second Home.