The former treasurer and ambassador to the US has listed his childhood home on Sydney’s north shore, while Adrian Fonseca’s Terrey Hills property sells for a record price.
Former federal politician Joe Hockey is set to put his Northbridge family home on Sydney’s lower north shore up for auction, drawing the curtain on 55 years of Hockey-family ownership.
The 1950-built brick abode on Byora Crescent is where young Joseph Benedict Hockey spent his formative years along with his three siblings and late parents, Beverley and Richard – a Palestinian immigrant who arrived in Australia in 1948 who would later run a deli and real estate agency.
Joe Hockey is selling his childhood home in Sydney’s Northbridge.  Louie Douvis Inset: Joe Hockey photographed by Alex Ellinghausen
These days, Mr Hockey and his wife, investment banker Melissa Babbage, are based at historic Hunters Hill mansion Wybalena, relocating about 12 kilometres west (via Canberra and the US) of his childhood base.
Selling agents Brad Pillinger, of his eponymous agency, alongside local agent Karl Hockey (Mr Hockey’s nephew, in the firm started by Richard) have slated the recently refurbished six-bedroom home with views over Middle Harbour for an October 31 auction.
In his maiden speech to parliament in 1996, Mr Hockey – who now helms Australia-US strategy advisory firm Bondi Partners – painted a colourful picture of the diverse mix of properties that make up his then electorate of North Sydney.
Joe Hockey and his wife, Melissa Babbage, purchased Wybalena House in Hunters Hill in 2018.  
“North Sydney’s 32 suburbs thrive in a bustling 42 square kilometres of Sydney Harbour foreshore,” Mr Hockey said. “Old Neutral Bay whalers’ cottages, sturdy 1920s bungalows, federation homes, Victorian terraces and modern units all compete for harbour views.”
It’s unlikely Mr Hockey – nor any of his parliamentary colleagues – could have anticipated the extraordinary price growth that would transpire in his electorate over the ensuing 27 years, or how contentious and unobtainable the Australian dream of homeownership would later become.
At the time of his 1996 speech, the median price for a home in Northbridge was $819,339. Today it’s $4,451,285, according to data from CoreLogic.
While a formal guide is yet to be set, it is expected the Hockey residence will sell for well above the median price, given two vacant blocks on the same leafy cul-de-sac – albeit with DA approvals for two luxury builds – sold for $14.75 million earlier this month.
Then Liberal MP Joe Hockey with his late father, Richard, in North Sydney. Anthony Johnson
The former Australian ambassador to the US won his first political campaign at age 14 in Northbridge after he and a group of friends convinced Willoughby Council to install new cricket nets at Northbridge Oval after a successful campaign run by a young Mr Hockey and his schoolfriends.
In the upper reaches of Sydney, Oxanda Education childcare entrepreneur and GWS Giants deputy chairman Adrian Fonseca and his wife, Nancy Reardon-Fonseca, have reset the Terrey Hills record with the $14.1 million sale of their luxury equestrian property.
The 1.76 -hectare property on Myoora Road features a contemporary family home constructed by local firm Cadence and Co, hardwood stables, a separate guest cottage, floodlit Olympic-sized arena and seven paddocks.
Adrian Fonseca has reset the Terry Hills record with the $14.1 million sale of his equestrian estate. Inset: Adrian Fonseca. Oscar Colman
The previous Terrey Hills record was set by NSW Blues Coach Brad Fittler and his wife, Marie Liarris, when they sold their acreage to Telstra chairman John Mullen and his wife, Jacqueline, for $12 million last year.
The NRL star and his family stayed in the area, paying $8.225 million for another Terrey Hills estate.
Similarly, the Fonsecas aren’t relocating far, given they already own another equestrian property in neighbouring Duffys Forest, having paid $14.38 million for the trophy estate Claremont in late 2021.
Like Terrey Hills, prices in Duffys Forest have been on the up, with the recent sale of investment banker Simon Tripp and wife Brenda’s two-hectare, six-paddock estate Jabilusa for an undisclosed sum well over $14 million.
The Terrey Hills acreage of Adrian Fonseca has newly built equestrian facilities, seven paddocks, swimming pool and two residences. 
Located between the Sydney’s upper north shore and northern beaches, both Terrey Hills and Duffys Forest are undergoing a price recalibration after a slew double-digit sale prices.
The low-density, semi-rural region once known as the home of Skippy (the bush kangaroo) and Dick Smith has now become a coveted lifestyle destination.
When asked by AFR Weekend about the region’s appeal, Mr Fonseca said the area offered a national park lifestyle 40 minutes from the city. “There’s no need to go to the Southern Highlands when you can go to Terrey Hills,” Mr Fonseca said, remarking on the area’s proximity to the beach, improving amenity and abundance of nature and wildlife.
The Fonseca’s property comes with a hardwood stable and Olympic-sized equestrian arena.  
The Fonsecas are expanding their (luxury) foothold on both sides of the Harbour Bridge, given they’ve recently bought a three-storey 1970s home in Bellevue Hill for $15.58 million – located next door to their existing family home purchased for $14.35 million in 2018.
The Terrey Hills property was sold by Shayne Hutton of Sydney Country Living.
Staying on the northern fringes of Sydney where trader Zorin Finkelsen has listed his designer four-level Palm Beach escape with a $13 million guide.
The designer ocean-view property – featured in Belle’s Beautiful Australian Homes – comes with a heated pool, steam room, cellar and a kitchen with Gaggenau appliances and an integrated Sub-Zero fridge.
Zorin Finkelsen’s Whale Beach Road home has hit the prestige market.  
The master suite occupies the entire top floor, with an ensuite featuring the “Terra” bathtub by Italian bathroom designer Boffi. Meanwhile, automatic gates and a turning circle help visitors to avoid any awkward multi-attempt hill reverses.
So well regarded is Mr Finkelsen in trading circles that American Hedge Fund Point 72 even set up a bespoke northern beaches office to accommodate the beachside lifestyle of their star portfolio manager when he was recruited in 2019.
The property has panoramic views across Palm Beach and north to the Central Coast.  
The sale is being handled through LJ Hooker Palm Beach’s BJ and David Edwards, who declined to comment on the vendor.
A slice of Bellevue Hill’s coveted Victoria Road in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has hit the market, guiding $30 million.
The five-bedroom home is being sold by Ray White Double Bay’s Alan Fettes and Elliott Placks on behalf of vendor Heidi Vanderwerff.
The property – previously owned by Christie Corporate’s Robert Christie – has panoramic harbour views, a Japanese garden with waterfall plus heated pool, spa and gym.
The 1300-square-metre landholding – which last traded for $7.7 million in 2006 – was once part of Bellevue Hill’s Leura estate. Leura’s original Federation home was recently sold to flower wholesaler Leo Lynch for about $70 million.
The 1300-square-metre block used to belong to the Leura estate. 
The $30 million listing is located at the harbour end of Victoria Road, next door to Morgan Stanley CEO Richard Wagner’s Bellevue Hill pad. Mr Wagner paid $12.3 million in 2009 for the neighbouring property before embarking on major renovations in 2015.
There’s some good news for hapless trophy home hunters scouring Melbourne’s priciest suburb, with some late spring additions taking the edge off Toorak’s well-documented dearth of supply.
This Toorak home has hit the prestige market with a guide of $19.5 million to $20.5 million.  
Following Five:Am yoghurt founder David and Sallie Prior’s $50 million offering on St Georges Road earlier this week, another historic Toorak abode has come to market with a (slightly) more affordable guide of $19.5 million to $20.5 million.
The 1910-built property on Balmerino Avenue is being sold by jewellery designer Lousje Skala, and features a pool and tennis court along with a Sue Carr-designed pavilion on a 1687-square-metre block.
The property on Balmerino Avenue comes with a Paul Bangay-designed garden.  
The property is listed by Kay & Burton’s Andrew Sahhar, in conjunction with Marshall White’s Marcus Chiminello.
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