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Joe Hockey’s ‘mesmerising’ childhood home for sale

The freshly renovated home where ex-Liberal MP, treasurer and US Ambassador Joe Hockey grew up has hit the market with an $8.5m price guide.

Ex-MP Joe Hockey’s childhood home in Northbridge is for sale. Picture: Allison Shelley
Ex-MP Joe Hockey’s childhood home in Northbridge is for sale. Picture: Allison Shelley

Former Liberal politician, treasurer and ambassador Joe Hockey’s childhood home is for sale with a $8.5m price guide, following a major renovation by the Hockey family – who had wanted to update the house for Joe’s late parents before they died.

Joe was just three years old when Richard and Beverley Hockey bought the tri-level 1950s house in Northbridge for their growing family of four children. Nephew Karl Hockey, a real estate agent, remembers large family gatherings each Sunday and at Christmas with the children playing on the bushland opposite the house and vast amounts of food coming out of the kitchen.

17 Byora Crescent, Northbridge, NSW 2063
17 Byora Crescent, Northbridge, NSW 2063

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“There would be 20 or 30 people there every weekend, friends as well as family and the food kept coming. Richard was an amazing chef, and he made this rice dish with mince and herbs and spices which doesn’t sound flash but it was wonderful and I’ve never been able to replicate it,” he said.

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While the children played tip over the road at Broomham Park the adults talked on the balcony admiring the view of Middle Harbour.

“It was a very social house and intergenerational, there was room for everyone,” remembers Karl.

The home is for sale with a $8.5m guide
The home is for sale with a $8.5m guide
One of the home’s six bedrooms.
One of the home’s six bedrooms.
The home sits on 582 sqm.
The home sits on 582 sqm.
Then Treasurer Joe Hockey and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann pictured smoking cigars before delivering the first Abbott Budget on 9 May, 2014.
Then Treasurer Joe Hockey and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann pictured smoking cigars before delivering the first Abbott Budget on 9 May, 2014.

Number 17 Byora Crescent Northbridge, is a six-bedroom, four-bathroom house with northeasterly water views, generous floor plan, and quiet no-through road, basically it is on a circular road surrounding Broomham Park.

For years the younger Hockeys had wanted to upgrade the substantial home for Richard and Beverley but Karl said they were content with their home and it was only after they died that the decision was made to renovate and sell up. Richard died in 2016 while Beverley died last year aged 91.

The fantastic view of Middle Harbour.
The fantastic view of Middle Harbour.
The Hockeys bought the home in the 1950s.
The Hockeys bought the home in the 1950s.

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Co-agent Brad Pillinger, of Pillinger Double Bay, said the expansive home had the most mesmerising views north of the Harbour Bridge. There are multiple alfresco entertaining zones, a variety of living spaces, a teenager retreat, new state of the art kitchen with island bench and walk-in pantry, top floor main bedroom with ensuite and balcony plus there is a large walk-in wine cellar.

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The CBD is 20 minutes’ drive away.

Joe and his family still live northside, in Hunters Hill. His childhood home had many locals inspect it last weekend, particularly families upsizing. It goes to auction on October 31 through Pillinger and Hockeys Property with a $8.5m guide.

According to PropTrack, the median house price in Northbridge is $4.575m. that’s down 8.5 per cent over the past 12 months.

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Originally published as Joe Hockey’s ‘mesmerising’ childhood home for sale

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/buying/joe-hockeys-mesmerising-childhood-home-for-sale/news-story/5a44f286839ff97ef6addb7372df59bc