Images: RealEstate.com.au / Instagram via @jackieo_official
Breakfast radio star Jackie ‘O’ Henderson made waves when she fell in love with a Clovelly oceanfront home boasting panoramic views over Gordons Bay, securing it for $13.25 million at auction in March 2023. Now, just over two years later, her ambitious vision for the property is coming to life, with a $5.05 million renovation well underway.
The original 1960s home is undergoing a top-to-bottom transformation, and Jackie O hasn’t held back in sharing the excitement. She’s posted glimpses of the site stripped down to its bare bones, a blank canvas for what promises to be a spectacular coastal retreat. Leading the charge on the project are renowned builders Robert Plumb Build and the talented team at Madeleine Blanchfield Architects.
If the stunning renders are anything to go by, the new design will be light-filled and airy, with sweeping glass windows that frame the ocean like a moving artwork. “It’s like you are in Italy on the Amalfi Coast,” Jackie has said of the breath-taking views from her 492-square-metre property overlooking Gordons Bay.
Outside, the transformation continues. The backyard is set to be a private sanctuary, featuring a sparkling pool and lush, considered landscaping by acclaimed designers Dangar Barin Smith.
For Jackie, this isn’t just another house – it’s a forever home. She’ll live here with daughter Kitty, whom she shares with ex-husband Lee Henderson. They were married for 15 years before their split in 2018.
Their former home in Vaucluse, which Jackie fondly calls the “Father of the Bride house”, was a charming five-bedroom residence with a white picket fence that sold for $6.675 million in March 2020.
“Once the Father of the Bride house was finally sold, it was time for me to buy again,” wrote Jackie in her autobiography, The Whole Truth. Privacy was a top priority for the media personality, who has long been in the public eye.
She initially opted for a secluded Woollahra home, purchasing it for $11 million in June 2020. However, while it ticked the privacy box, the interior left much to be desired. “It was like living inside a Westfield shopping centre – chilly and soulless,” she admitted.
That home was sold for around $13 million, and after a series of moves, Jackie is finally ready to put down roots. While there’s still a long road ahead before the renovation is complete, with her dream team in place and a stunning design in the works, it’s safe to say this home will be well worth the wait.
