Rohan Kelly | @jenhawkins_
After years of construction, neighbour complaints and endless fascination from property watchers, Jennifer Hawkins and husband Jake Wall’s headline-making Whale Beach mansion has officially found a buyer.
The sprawling clifftop estate, dubbed the “Taj Mahal of Whale Beach” by locals, has settled for a reported $30 million, making it one of the most significant residential sales ever recorded in the exclusive Northern Beaches suburb. While the identity of the buyer remains officially under wraps, reports suggest Australian lingerie entrepreneur Justin Davis-Rice of Bendon lingerie/Pleasure State may be the man behind the purchase.
The sale marks the latest chapter in one of Sydney’s most talked-about luxury home projects.
A landmark build on a legendary site
Perched dramatically above the Pacific Ocean at 24-26 Rayner Road, the property occupies a rare double oceanfront block spanning on a 3,073 sqm block.
Before Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall purchased the site in 2020 for $6.95 million, locals knew it as Rocca Bella, a much-loved 1950s residence that opera legend Dame Joan Sutherland called home for almost four decades.
Jennifer and Jake later knocked down the original house and enlisted Jake’s company, J Group Projects, to create an entirely new architectural statement in its place.
What followed was a multi-year build that transformed the clifftop block into one of the largest and most ambitious private residences on Sydney’s northern coastline.
Inside the $30 million Whale Beach mansion
Recent construction updates shared by J Group Projects reveal a home that is nothing short of spectacular.
The residence stretches across multiple levels, with expansive walls of glass framing uninterrupted ocean views. Extensive natural stone, textured concrete and warm timber finishes create a resort-like atmosphere throughout.
The outdoor spaces are particularly impressive. An infinity-edge swimming pool appears to merge with the horizon, while a shell-inspired sunken conversation pit creates a striking focal point within the landscaped entertaining zone. Terraced gardens cascade down the clifftop, while multiple outdoor living spaces make the most of the property’s extraordinary position above Whale Beach.
According to development plans, the home includes: five bedrooms, infinity pool, a private home office, gym and yoga studio, sauna and wellness facilities, theatre room wine room, a bowling alley, four-car garage, internal lift, basketball half-court, outdoor bar and entertaining pavilion overlooking the ocean.
The latest imagery released by J Group Projects shows the residence entering its final stages beginning to bring the vision to life.
Why Jennifer Hawkins mansion sparked controversy
While the project has undoubtedly become one of the most impressive private homes on the Northern Beaches, it has also attracted considerable criticism.
Neighbours raised concerns throughout construction regarding the sheer scale of the development, its impact on views, privacy and the disruption caused by years of building activity.
Council submissions described the project as everything from “monstrous” to a development that would permanently alter the character of the tightly held coastal enclave.
Construction traffic, parked trucks and blocked access points also became a source of tension among local residents during the lengthy building process.
Yet despite the controversy, the property has arguably redefined the upper end of the Whale Beach market, setting a new benchmark for luxury homes in the area.
The mystery buyer
Property records show Rayner Property Pty Ltd settled the purchase of Jennifer Hawkins’ Whale Beach mansion, although nobody has formally identified the ultimate owner.
Industry speculation has centred on businessman Justin Davis-Rice of Bendon lingerie. A put and call option on the title was previously made on behalf of the mystery buyer by finance entrepreneur Simon Tripp, who is a long-time associate of Davis-Rice. The pair were board members of Cenntro Electric Group, an all-electric vehicle company. Tripp is no longer listed on the title.
If true, the acquisition would transform the already vast estate into one of the most substantial private holdings on the Northern Beaches.
Neither Hawkins nor Wall have publicly commented on the buyer.
Another successful property play
The sale continues Jennifer and Jake’s remarkable property success story.
The couple previously sold their Newport waterfront home, Casa Paloma, to Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes for a record-breaking $24.5 million and have built a reputation for creating highly sought-after luxury residences through J Group Projects.
With the Whale Beach mansion now officially sold, attention is likely to turn to what’s next for the couple, who also own acreage on the NSW Central Coast.
One thing is certain: few homes in Australia have generated as much conversation as this clifftop mansion, and even fewer have managed to transform a $6.95 million purchase into a $30 million sale before construction was fully complete.
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