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Rumour has it that Justin Davis-Rice, the executive chairman and co-owner of Bendon lingerie, is the mystery buyer of Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall’s $30 million Whale Beach mansion.
Numerous local sources who are not authorised to comment publicly have pinned the retail boss as the buyer of the luxury compound. There are at least five bedrooms, a pool, spa, outdoor bar, wine room, games room, bowling alley and home office. Wellness zones include a sauna and cold plunge, as well as a dedicated health spa.
Settlement documents last month revealed a shelf company, Rayner Property Holdings Pty Ltd, paid exactly $30 million to Hawkins, a former Miss Universe, and Wall, the director of J Group Projects.
A put and call option on the title was previously made on behalf of the mystery buyer by finance entrepreneur Simon Tripp, who happens to be 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.
This masthead reached out to Justin Davis-Rice for comment but has yet to receive a response.
Davis-Rice co-owns Bendon with chief executive officer Anna Johnson, and the company’s brands include Bendon, Pleasure State, Fayreform and Bendon Man.
Founded in 1947, the company is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, and there are around 60 company-owned Bendon retail and outlet stores across Australia and New Zealand, according to the company website.
Co-ownership between Davis-Rice and Johnson has been in place since 2021 after a management buyout from its former US parent company, Naked Brands, in 2021, of which Justin Davis-Rice was once chief executive officer.
This masthead exclusively revealed in February 2022 that word had leaked on a structured deal on the property totalling $30 million, part of which was for the land and the rest for the residence once completed. The property sold in April 2024 and has now settled.
Hawkins and Wall purchased the double block, once owned by the late Dame Joan Sutherland, for $6.95 million in 2020 from Museum of Contemporary Art chair Lorraine Tarabay, records show.
Grand plans to demolish the 1950s house were approved in April 2021 to make way for a new four-storey residence with a half basketball court, at a cost of more than $3 million.
The $30 million sale is a suburb record, topping the $14.3 million paid in 2023 for a five-bedroom, six-bathroom home.
Lights, camera, action
Nora Gazal, the sister of The Real Housewives of Sydney star, Nicole Gazal O’Neil, and Michael Milling, the director of timber floor supplier Woodos, sold their glamorous Vaucluse home at auction on May 21 for $11,875,000, above the $10 million to $11 million price guide.
The opening bid was $11.5 million and the property sold under the hammer to a local family.
Nicole starred on all three seasons of the reality TV franchise and was crowned Miss Australia in 2002.
Nora and Michael bought the four-bedroom, four-bathroom house for $4.6 million in 2019, records show, and it was understood to be their matrimonial home following their wedding at hotspot Catalina a year prior.
A full renovation was completed, transforming the dated home into a luxurious design with a marble kitchen, pendant lighting, timber floors and an al fresco garden sanctuary.
Nora is the marketing manager for Gazcorp, a property company that was founded in 1971 by her late father, Nabil Gazal, that develops, builds and manages commercial and residential real estate, according to the company website.
Nora and Nicole’s brothers, Nabil Gazal Junior and Nicholas Gazal, are listed as directors.
Ray White Double Bay’s Elliott Placks and Alan Fettes sold the home. Both declined to comment on the vendors’ identities and reason to sell when contacted by this masthead.
Buyer revealed for retail couple’s home
Brian Powell and his wife, Corin, the founders of activewear brand Running Bare, sold their Rose Bay home for $26.5 million in December, and now the buyer has emerged on settlement documents as property developer Hua (Jerry) Chen.
Chen is the founder and director of H&T Group, a property developer and investment firm in Australia. The title is linked to a company name of which Chen is the sole director.
A sold sticker went up on the listing for the six-bedroom, four-bathroom house, indicating a sale by private treaty on December 10, with the sales figure disclosed. It was left to settlement documents this month to reveal Chen as the buyer.
The Federation estate was purchased by the Powells for $2.2 million in 1997, records show, and has been renovated over time.
There is a grand entrance foyer, timber floorboards, coffered ceilings, leadlight windows and a marble island kitchen.
Running Bare was founded in 1983 by the Powells, and their daughter, Yolanda, is the design director.
Paul Biller and Ben Torban of Biller Property sold the home but were tight-lipped on the buyer’s identity when contacted by this masthead.
