Jen Hawkins and her builder husband, Jake Wall, have settled their Whale Beach property.
The mega-mansion built at Whale Beach by the model Jen Hawkins and her builder husband, Jake Wall, has been settled at $30m, some five years into its construction.
The couple intended to live in the oceanfront Rayner Rd property but a Christmas Eve 2021 caveat on title revealed a put and call option to a mystery potential buyer. Cotality records now reveal the property was officially exchanged in April 2024.
Rayner Property Pty Ltd, the nondescript shelf company buyer, became the project’s co-financier and now has NAB finance for its purchase.
Realestate.com.au reported in September that a company owned by neighbour David Appleby took out the caveat for the property, however, it is unknown if Rayner Property Pty Ltd is the same organisation owned by Appleby.
Occupancy of the property will reveal the buyer’s identity.
Locals reckon its been the most expensive build ever on Sydney’s northern beaches, dubbing it the ‘Taj Mahal of Whale Beach’. One agent estimated it had a $45m end value.
MORE: Exposed: Best and worst suburbs to own an EV
Jen Hawkins and Jake Wall’s Whale Beach home has been settled at $30m. Picture: Rohan Kelly
MORE: Celebrity lifeguard cashes in $1.5m
The initial 2020 development application was costed at just $3m for the amazing cliff top residence on it’s 3073sq m block. It comes with a gym, yoga room, sauna, theatre, bowling alley and wine room. Its grounds come with outdoor bar, infinity pool, plus spa along with a shell-shaped sunken lounge. There’s a basketball half court.
The couple demolished Rocca Bella, the three-level 1950s timewarp residence with overrun tennis court which had been the home of the opera legend Dame Joan Sutherland for nearly four decades.
MORE: How petrol price spike could hit home values
Jen Hawkins and ake Wall. Picture: Supplied
Wall and Hawkins paid $6.95m in July 2020 when it was bought from Lorraine Tarabay, who’d paid $6.9m in 2015, but decided to renovate or replace the house.
The completed project, and the one underway next door, also owned by Rayner Property, was undertaken by Wall’s J Group Projects.
The couple retain acreage at Erina on the Central Coast which cost $3.7m in 2022, and also have a redundant Terrigal acreage that cost $6m in 2021.
Neighbour exodus amid complaints
Although local agents claim Mr Wall is very respectful of neighbours while the construction is going, there has been numerous reports of complaints from neighbours and disruption to the community.
Rayner Rd is a tightly held spot, with nearly half of the properties having jaw-dropping ocean views, yet a string of neighbouring sales have followed since the demolition and construction began in 2021.
At the start of October, two more properties on that street were listed for sale and open for inspection — 18-20 Rayner Rd, a 1733sqm property with 30m of ocean frontage; and 19 Rayner Rd, described as a north-facing sunlit home with four bedrooms.
Utes, trucks and construction equipment have been reported to block the already tight road. Picture: Google Maps
In February, 23 Rayner Rd sold for $5.2m, while 21 Rayner Rd sold in 2023 for $4m, and 27 Rayner Rd also changed hands around the time of demolition.
Other recent sales on the road include number 9 and Mr Appleby’s first purchase at number 30.
It is unknown if the sales are related to the construction.
Reports and images show utes and trucks blocking the street during construction, as locals say off-road parking is near impossible on the already tight road. Owners have also claimed online they had driveways blocked off for hours.
Rayner Rd has only about 30 homes on the street and almost half of the homes boast ocean front views.
MORE: Australia’s $85bn savings crisis exposed
English (US) · 