Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall demolish historic mansion as they begin building their new $3million luxury property on one of Sydney’s largest oceanfront estates
Model Jennifer Hawkins and her builder husband Jake Wall have demolished their property at Whale Beach, NSW, after being granted approval to build a $3million mansion in its place.
The property, known as Rocca Bella, was previously owned by Dame Joan Sutherland and is the largest oceanfront estate on the Northern Beaches.
Photos published by The Daily Telegraph show the property completely razed to a pile of dirt, which will soon become a sandstone-clad mansion.
Making the most of their 3070sqm area, the couple plan to build a three-storey home panning half of the 50m frontage.
New project: Jennifer Hawkins and husband Jake Wall (both pictured) have demolished their new property in Whale Beach, NSW, after receiving approval to build their $3million hilltop mansion on the property
Jennifer and Jake had been forced to amend plans for the mammoth renovation after their initial plans were rejected following objections from neighbours.
Their home was finally reportedly approved by the Northern Beaches Council last week.
The approved plans include the demolition of the existing house, replacement of the tennis court with a basketball court, and the construction of an infinity pool and four-car garage.
Changes: The couple had been forced to amend plans for the mammoth renovation after their initial plans were rejected following objections from neighbours
The couple snapped up the $6.9million mansion last September with plans to turn it into a modern estate with designer gardens.
But neighbours complained about the proposed height of their trees, fearing their enviable ocean views would be jeopardised.
The pair’s landscaper, Michael Cooke, had to reportedly replace several towering trees with smaller ones to try and keep the couple’s neighbours happy.
New plans: The approved plans included the demolition of the existing house, replacement of the tennis court with a basketball court, and construction of an infinity pool and four-car garage
The spacious home is set on 3,100sqm of land with expansive ocean and coastal views.
Australian model turned property developer Jennifer first entered the real estate market in 2006, two years after she was crowned Miss Universe.
Incredible views: The property, known as Rocca Bella, was previously owned by Dame Joan Sutherland and is the peninsula’s largest oceanfront estate
In August last year, she and Jake sold their Newport mansion for a record-breaking $24.5million, to Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes.
The couple built the property on land they’d purchased for $4million in 2014.
However, Jennifer has always been adamant that she and her partner are not ‘property flippers’, and firmly explained so in an interview with David ‘Kochie’ Koch on Sunrise in 2020.
Inside Jennifer Hawkins’ impressive property portfolio
Jennifer first entered the property market in 2006, two years after she was crowned Miss Universe.
The beauty first forked out $469,000 for a double-storey house in Merewether, a suburb located in her home city of Newcastle.
She leased out the three-bedroom, two-bathroom property for much of the time it was in her name, before she eventually sold the residence for $782,000 in 2017.
Modest first home: Property records show Jennifer first entered the market in 2006, purchasing this Merewether home for $469,000
On the market: She leased out the three-bedroom, two-bathroom property for much of the time it was in her name, before she eventually sold the residence for $782,000 in 2017
Clearly bitten by the real estate bug, savvy Jennifer added two properties to her portfolio in 2007.
In January of that year, she bought another home in Newcastle’s Merewether area for the sum of $620,000.
Like her first property close by, the house was double-storey and featured three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Jennifer leased out the address for $530 per week, before she sold it in 2015 for $731,000.
Second investment: In January 2007, Jennifer bought another home in Newcastle’s Merewether area for the sum of $620,000
Meanwhile, the second property Jennifer purchased in 2007 was a two-bedroom apartment in Sydney’s Bondi.
She bought the swanky condo off the plan for $895,000, before living at the address with Jake for several years.
It appeared they tired of the eastern suburbs some time later, selling the property in 2014 for $1.2 million.
Bondi apartment: Jennifer bought this swanky condo off the plan for $895,000 back in 2007. She and Jake sold it for $1.2 million seven years later
By this time, Jennifer and Jake had already begun to build homes, rather than simply buy them.
In 2010, the couple purchased a cliff-side block of land in North Curl Curl for a whopping $1.3 million.
They then partnered with renowned architect Koichi Takada to create a stunning three-storey mansion.
The couple sold the North Curl Curl home in 2014, for a jaw-dropping $4.1 million.
Making their dreams a reality: Jennifer and Jake bought a block of land in North Curl Curl and built this stunning mansion on it. The couple sold the home in 2014, for a jaw-dropping $4.1 million
In the meantime, Jennifer and Jake bought another block of land in the same suburb and had already commenced building another incredible mansion.
They paid $1.66 million in 2013 for the block, which had an old weatherboard house on it.
The couple demolished the house, before Jake’s company J Group project again collaborated with Koichi Takada to build another home.
Jennifer and Jake sold the North Curl Curl residence for around $5 million in 2016.
Second North Curl Curl home: The savvy couple built this resort-style residence on another block in the same suburb, before selling it for around $5 million in 2016
The couple then traded up, moving into a mansion in Sydney’s exclusive Northern Beaches suburb of Newport.
The home was built on a plot of land bought by the couple for $4 million in 2014.
Jennifer and Jake sold the stunning mansion for a record $24.5million in June this year, six months after listing it on the market.
Going, going, gone! The couple then traded up, moving into a mansion in Sydney’s exclusive Northern Beaches suburb of Newport. The home was built on a plot of land bought by the couple for $4 million in 2014. Jennifer and Jake sold the mansion for a record $24.5million in June this year, six months after listing it on the market
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