Brian Henderson home sets Middle Cove record amid run of news anchor home sales

The Middle Cove residence that for decades was home to the late television legend Brian Henderson has sold, setting a record for the Sydney suburb in the double-digit millions.

Ken Jacobs, of Christie’s International, declined to reveal the sale price, confirming only that it had sold, but industry sources say it is expected to have traded within the $11.5 million to $12.5 million range, given it was only on the market a few weeks.

Widely regarded as the country’s most trusted newsreader after fronting Nine’s Sydney news bulletin for 45 years, Henderson died in August, aged 89, prompting his widow Mardi to list the family home.

The last time the 1800-square-metre property traded was in 1994, for $850,000, when sold by Enid Taylor, then-recently widowed from Supreme Court judge Robert Taylor, who bought the waterfront reserve block in 1957 for £3000.

The Hendersons commissioned architect Mike Macauley to design the modernist-style residence. Completed in the late 1990s, it boasted commanding views over Fig Tree Cove.

The sale topped the suburb’s previous high of $7.25 million, set last December by the modernist house next door.

Sydney’s high-profile newsreaders have featured prominently on the high-end house market this year.

Last week Seven news stalwart Ann Sanders and her husband, orthopaedic surgeon Andrew Strokon, sold their Hunters Hill home for what local sources say is close to $12.5 million.

McGrath’s Tracey Dixon initially placed a $10.5 million guide on the lavishly renovated, French-inspired mansion with six bedrooms, separate guest house and a swimming pool on 1500 square metres.

The couple purchased it in 1991 for $1.25 million.

Nine’s Peter Overton and his journalist wife Jessica Rowe took their Vaucluse home of the past 12 years to auction in September with a $7 million guide and sold for $8.175 million.

The couple are trading up closer to the harbour at Parsley Bay, where they have purchased a newly renovated house for a reported $11 million.

And former Ten newsreader Natarsha Belling and her husband, head of Renault Australia Glen Sealey, have traded in their Lane Cove North home for $3.42 million to buy in Longueville for $6.1 million.