Coronavirus NSW: Celebrities in lockdown on Sydney’s northern beaches

A number of Australian stars have bunkered down on Sydney’s northern beaches amid the coronavirus lockdown.

There are worse places to be in a COVID lockdown than the northern beaches. Just ask Simon Baker, Jamie Durie, Mike Munro and Bilgola’s Richard Roxburgh.

They are among the locals who have been queuing for coronavirus tests, considering themselves lucky they are already inside the bubble.

Not so lucky are the millionaires who usually rent out their Palm Beach or Whale Beach mansions for a breathtaking $22,000 or more a week.

Australian actor Simon Baker. Picture: AAP/Dan Himbrechts

Richard Roxburgh. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Reports from real estate agents are that if they are not already here, around 90 per cent of the would-be renters have plugged the plug and decided to stay home.

It’s left empty the famous homes with sweeping ocean and Pittwater views like Sirius which in previous holiday seasons have hosted the likes of Elle Macpherson, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban and their clan, and comedian Billy Connelly.

While some former locals like Muriel’s Wedding actor Rachel Griffiths, model and actor Megan Gale and personality Rove McManus no longer call the Northern Beaches home, there are still plenty of celebrities looking to take their place.

The Mentalist’s Simon Baker has reportedly been staying with a friend as he does a bit of house hunting.

Providore Simon Johnson’s house in Avalon.

Providore Simon Johnson’s house in Avalon.

Providore Simon Johnson’s house in Avalon would be one where anyone would choose to be locked down at Christmas while the recent rains have been perfect for TV garden guru Jamie Durie’s garden overlooking Pittwater.

Former politician and trade unionist Greg Combet is hunkered down with long-time partner, the ABC’s Juanita Philips.

Some like former 60 Minutes journo Mike Munro are early birds, down at Woolies by 7am before heading back home.

Jamie Durie.

Mike Munro.

His former 60 Minutes colleague, Jeff McMullen, who works extensively to improve the well being of Aboriginal communities, has lived up there for years with his wife, Kim Hoggard.

A former US government official who has worked for two US presidents, she was in great demand for comments during the recent turbulent US election.

Home And Away alumni Cameron Daddo, veteran journo James Waley and SAS’s Nick Cummins are also locals.

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Reports out of NSW Parliament that Warringah MP Zali Steggall has been missing in action lately while her constituents are battling COVID hardship seems way off the mark. She’s been in lockdown like everyone else but still popping up on the ABC, Sky and The Project.

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Former treasurer and ambassador to the US Joe Hockey has moved to shut down rumours he was the origin of the Northern Beaches COVID-19 cluster.

Mr Hockey posted a short statement on Twitter, saying “just to be clear” he was not connected to the growing outbreak.

Joe Hockey. Picture: Nick Klein

“I am not ground zero,” he said.

“I have been in (Australia) six weeks.”

Mr Hockey said he had completed hotel quarantine like the majority of other returned Australians, and had three COVID-19 tests with “all negative”.

“I haven‘t visited any designated COVID hotspots,” he said.

“And 2021 can‘t come fast enough.”

For those still obsessed with who it was that attended the Avalon RSL on December 11, went to the Avalon Bowlo on the Sunday and then hit cafes from Palm Beach to Avalon on Monday morning as they carried the virus, for the record they are locals, not international celebrities.