The Sell: Jennifer and Jake list Terrigal mansion with lake views
Power couple Jennifer Hawkins-Wall and Jake Wall's surprise listing of their Central Coast estate signals fresh real estate plans are in motion.
There are potentially unrevealed new residential plans by Jennifer Hawkins-Wall and Jake Wall on the horizon.
They have quietly listed their Terrigal, Central Coast acreage that has rolling lawns down to Avoca Lake. Mat Steinwede at McGrath Terrigal has the listing.
Their $6m purchase of the 3.3ha holding was secured in 2021 and settled in mid-2022.
At the time, the couple had advised agents they were on the lookout for a Central Coast home which would put daughter, Frankie Violet, and son, Hendrix, closer to their grandparents based in the Newcastle-Lake Macquarie district.
The celeb couple remain leasing nearby on the coast.
The redundant Scenic Highway property comes with an empty seven-bedroom old-English style manor, one of only a handful bordering the water. The local chatter had been that they planned to knock down the house and build using Jake Wall’s award-winning construction company, J Group Projects.
But there’s not been any development approval.
Meanwhile, their four-year build of the mega mansion at Whale Beach on the Rocca Bella estate continues.
But the couple do not intend to live in the property, with a Christmas Eve 2021 caveat revealing the home has been sold via a put and call option to a mystery buyer, reputedly for a little under $30m.
The initial purchasing paperwork was lodged by lawyers Mills Oakley signed by finance entrepreneur Simon Tripp who had no beneficial interest in the purchasing company.
Now the company is directed by David Appleby from Speed and Stracey Lawyers who are continuing to shield the buyer’s identity. The mystery buyer added the adjoining Rayner Rd lot in 2023 for $7m.
The original home on a double block, once owned by the opera singer, Joan Sutherland, cost $6.95m in 2020.
MAGGIE’S STYLISH HOME WILL SUIT BUYERS TO A T
The Bellevue Hill apartment of the late fashion, publishing, television and property icon Maggie Tabberer has been listed for auction on November 3.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with north-facing aspect is being offered through Michael Pallier of Sydney Sotheby’s International, who was guiding $4.5m at its first Saturday open inspection.
One of 12 residences in a secure complex on the edge of the Bellevue Rd village, it has been listed by her daughters, Brooke and Amanda.
Spanning 160sq m internally, the layout includes an expansive open-plan living, modern island kitchen and dining area with seating for 10. There’s a big master suite, a home office and two more king-sized bedrooms.
The apartment includes two car spaces in the basement.
Tabberer, who died last December, bought the apartment for $2.05m in 2014.
It was after she sold her Sydney Rd, Randwick, home – set around a courtyard dominated by a fragrant frangipani tree and pool – for $2.41m.
Tabberer ranked as the earliest of all-white decor influencers, and the Sotheby’s marketing photos show that she maintained that theme until the end.
The darkest object in the apartment is the commanding painting of her that hangs in the dining space.
It is the Paul Newton portrait done for the 1999 Archibald Prize, showing her as glamorous, elegant and sophisticated.
Between the plantation shutters, there’s plenty of wall space for other art, including one by family friend Stuart Membery.
Born in Adelaide, she moved to Sydney, via Melbourne, for modelling in 1960.
It was Maggie Tabberer and Richard Zachariah’s hit ABC television series, The Home Show, that sparked much interest in home decor style in the early 1990s.
“I’ve always been a white-on-white person,’’ she said at the time.
“I dress in white shirts and trousers, and my houses always have been white throughout – ceilings, walls, the lot.”
Tabberer adored property, and The Sell was thrilled when she launched my book, The Sydney Hot Property Guide, in 2002.
Columnist Susan Owens once noted her endearing and enduring role having begun “the cult of the home show”. And Tabberer was never outshone.
COACH LATEST CELEBRITY TO SPEND UP A STORM IN COOLANGATTA
Craig Bellamy, the three-time Melbourne Storm NRL premiership-winning coach, has settled his luxury off the plan apartment purchase on the southern end of the Gold Coast.
Bellamy and wife Wendy have bought an apartment at Coolangatta in the Rockpool Rainbow Bay complex for $3.55m.
The near 250 sqm apartment is in the 12-floor apartment block by architect-turned-developer Joe Adsett.
Their ninth floor purchase was in late 2021, but the settlement comes at the same time as reports the Gold Coast Titans could seek him to be their coach at some time in the future.
With just 21 apartments, Rockpool has attracted a who’s who of buyers, including The Block interior designer Shelley Craft and her real estate husband Christian Sergiacomi, who bought on the eighth floor for $3,630,748.
Comedian Celeste Barber and her husband Api Robin spent $3,778,206.
Surf loving coastal Sydney estate agent Jason Boon and wife Melinda bought for $3,921,489.
The Bellamys have long had a penchant for Coolangatta property.
They recently sold their longest held Coolie investment, a one-bedroom apartment at the top of the Calypso Plaza Resort that cost them just $190,000 in 2002. It fetched $675,000.
The couple retain two investments in the precinct, a two-bedroom apartment that cost $540,000 in 2010, and a house that cost $1.45m in 2021.
While Bellamy is in a buying mood, the 2025 Brisbane Broncos premiership coach Michael Maguire has snappily sold a Queensland investment property.
Maguire and wife Joelle, who retain a Maroubra apartment bought as an investment, have offloaded a townhouse in Bracken Ridge in Brisbane’s north.
The four-bedroom townhouse was bought new in 2020 for $494,000.
The Maguires spent nearly $4m on a six-bedroom home in Ashgrove late last year, while retaining three Brisbane investment properties accumulated since 2018.
They own a Maroochy River, Sunshine Coast investment property that was put up for $850 a week rental last month.
DEVELOPERS SEE GHOST IN REVIVAL PROJECT
August’s Woollahra ghost station revival announcement has quickly provoked a flight-or-fight mentality among the many puzzled nearby property owners.
But there are many understandably sceptical, especially since a departmental briefing note has since revealed NSW Transport bureaucrats only pulled the rail-and-road modelling together 72 hours before Premier Chris Minns’s announcement.
And apparently the 10,000 not really affordable new homes will be built by 2051.
Developers, however, are moving quickly seeking to seize some prize holdings.
The 82-apartment, 1963 strata high-rise Piccadilly Gardens, that sits on less than a quarter of its 4895sq m Fullerton St lot, attracted a $188m offer midweek. It is understood to be from the Scarf family.
The highly conditional offer from their entity, Arissa, is subject to 100 per cent acceptance, and for all to use the same lawyer. Obviously all done confidentially too.
After the initial 180 days due diligence, with a possible 90-day extension for NSW Planning’s Housing Delivery Authority response, Arissa’s option period will run for three years, so the owners can count on their lives being in turmoil well into the future.
Hugo Gruzman, from the Flight Facilities electro dance outfit, has only just paid $3.05m for his four-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. Arissa is apparently offering him $4m, plus $29,900 for the carspace.
WAREHOUSE IS SURE TO BE IN FASHION
Fashion industry stylist Lesley Crawford has listed her Botany warehouse conversion for November 13 auction.
Dubbed the Blue Shed, the William St property comes with a $2.95m price guide through Marnie Seinor of McGrath in conjunction with Daniel Cipolla and Dimitrios Franze of IB Property.
Set on 401 sqm, the freestanding 1960s factory-warehouse has been transformed into a residence and creative studio under its iconic saw tooth roofline.
Its industrial heritage is obvious throughout the building’s 315sq m internal space.
There are soaring ceilings, polished concrete finishes, and wide open spaces.
Currently configured as a three-bedroom main residence plus a self-contained studio apartment with private entry, the property also offers parking for two vehicles and a courtyard.
Zoned R3 Medium Density Residential, it has development potential.
Crawford, who often ranks on lists of the country’s best-dressed women, purchased the property for $350,000 in 1997.
It sits adjacent to the 6630sq m warehouse facility at 97 Banksia St.
Of course Botany’s most famous warehouse owners are Jimmy and Jane Barnes.
CONSOLATION FOR SWANS STAR
AFLW star Lulu Pullar has bought in Sydney following her move from Melbourne.
The 27-year-old defender has spent $2.7m on an apartment in Woollahra.
She joined the Swans ahead of the 2025 season, when traded from North Melbourne which thrashed the Swans last weekend 88-20.
The three-bedroom 160sq m historic Ocean St apartment last sold for $1.95m back in 2016.
TURNTABLE TO TURNING PROFIT
DJ Annie Conley has listed her Darling Point investment property – a block of six Federation-style apartments – for auction on October 27.
The three-level Darling Point Road offering has a $20m price guidance through Michael Pallier at Sotheby’s.
The 917sq m corner property, that sits next door to historic Lindesay, was purchased for $4.2m in 2014. It has been recently experiencing $1200-a-week rentals.
PUSH TO LOCK IN FAMILY MOVE
Penrith Panthers lock Matthew Eisenhuth has his contemporary Caringbah duplex listed for an October 29 auction through Highland agent and ex-Parramatta Eels player Nathan Smith, who is guiding $1.8m.
The four-bedroom Cawarra Rd home features a covered alfresco area with an outdoor kitchen. The family, which paid $1.365m in 2018, intends to upgrade nearby.
Got a property news tip? Email jonathan.chancellor@news.com.au
Originally published as The Sell: Jennifer and Jake list Terrigal mansion with lake views
‘Unavoidable pressures’: $12.4bn cost blowouts add to budget woes
