Inside Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall's multi-million dollar property portfolio

Model, TV host, brand ambassador and business owner are all titles Jennifer Hawkins wears comfortably, but there is another role she’s worked hard at developing since shooting to stardom as Miss Universe Australia: property mogul.

The mother-of-two, together with builder husband Jake Wall, has become an Aussie property tycoon, bolstered by Wall’s construction company, J Group Projects.

Together, the pair have made a habit out of renovating Sydney homes and selling the luxuriously transformed pads for whopping profits, amassing a fortune in the process.

The desire to invest her money into property became a reality for Hawkins after winning Miss Universe Australia in 2004. Suddenly earning more than she ever had before, the savvy entrepreneur knew investing in real estate was a smart move.

And boy has it paid off. From her hometown of Newcastle to Sydney’s Northern Beaches, here is a timeline of the stunning homes that make up Hawkins’ impressive and ever-growing property portfolio.

Beach ‘burb buy in Newcastle

Originally from Newcastle, Hawkins entered the property market in 2006 with a double-storey Merewether house for $469,000.

The Novocastrian made the long-term buy two years after she was crowned Miss Universe and the year before signing a $4 million deal with Myer.

Hawkins leased out the three-bedroom, two-bathroom property for most of her ownership, before selling the residence for $782,000 in 2017.

Second Newy buy

In January of 2007, Hawkins bought her next investment property in the same suburb of Merewether for $620,000.

Another double-storey house featuring three bedrooms and two bathrooms, Hawkins leased out the property for $530 per week, before offloading it in 2015 for $731,000.

Around the time of the sale, Hawkins and Wall had plans pending with Pittwater Council for a new luxury residence on the double waterfront block they bought in Newport in 2014 for $4 million, but more on that later.

Bondi two-bedder

Merewether wasn’t the only purchase Hawkins made in 2007. The beauty also snapped up a two-bed, two-bath apartment in Sydney’s iconic Bondi.

She bought the unit, complete with views and a study, off-the-plan for $895,000, before living with Wall at the complex for several years. Thereafter it became another investment for the power couple.

She sold the property in 2014 for $1.2 million, after purchasing the $4 million plot of waterfront land in Newport.

Coastal Coogee pad

Jen and Jake lived in a townhouse-like house in Coogee before jumping ship to the Northern Beaches.

They sold the three-bed, three-bath house in 2012 for $2.22 million – $50,000 less than they bought it for in 2008, according to CoreLogic.

North Curl-Curl headland build

By 2010, instead of simply buying property, Jen and Jake began building the homes they wanted to lived in. The couple flew the Eastern Suburbs’ coop, purchasing a cliffside block of land in North Curl Curl for a cool $1.375 million.

Partnering with renowned architect Koichi Takada, the trio created a stunning and airy three-storey mansion complete with pool. It was on this project that Jen realised she loved working side-by-side with Jake on building homes.

Executed by Wall’s J Group, the five-bed, three-bath residence nestled within the exclusive ‘Windy Dropdown’ gated estate enjoys ocean views. There are ample entertaining areas, a lap pool and luxury appointments throughout.

Jen and Jake sold the dream home in 2014 for a hefty $4.1 million. It was last traded for $7.2 million in 2021.

North Curl Curl knock-down rebuild

Come 2013, the couple bought a nearby 1960s weatherboard cottage for $1.66 million. They demolished the humble home and rebuilt a new luxury residence, again enlisting the expertise of Koichi Takada and Wall’s J Group Projects.

The sold the designer rebuild for $5.235 million in 2016 to cricketing golden couple Alyssa Healy and Mitchell Starc.

The resort-style residence with stone feature walls prioritises indoor-outdoor flow, with an infinity pool and multiple alfresco lounging areas looking out to the stunning water views that sweep over the Lagoon and ocean to North Head and Manly.

The master suite includes an incredible dressing room and lavish marble bathroom.

Double waterfront block in Newport

As you may have noted, 2014 was a big year of real estate movement for Jen and Jake.

They purchased a double waterfront block of land in Newport for a sizeable $4 million, taking their property dreams further up the Northern Beaches peninsula.

The bushy lot, which at the time had ‘Jacaranda Cottage’ nestled within, is a whopping 3360 square metres on the shores of the Pittwater.

This prompted Hawkins to offload a few of her investment properties, including her second Newcastle investment, the Bondi apartment and their initial North Curl Curl residence.

Award-winning and record-breaking Newport build

Building their dream home on this rare block was a labour of love for Hawkins and Wall, with the project taking three years to complete from 2016. Of course, Takada was the commissioned architect on the build, which was estimated to be $2 million.

Set over four levels, the result was award-winning Casa Paloma – a cut above anything the couple had built before. The breathtaking five-bedroom home is set back from its own private beachfront, with a glorious sandstone feature wall at its centre.

Expansive glass walls open to cantilevered terraces overlooking a swimming pool, which wraps around a sunken lounge. Landscaped gardens lead down to the private boathouse.

The gorgeous interiors were thanks to Sarah-Jayne Marriott and Hellen Pappas. Other features include an indoor elevator, home theatre and private gym.

In a surprise move, Jen and Jake decided to sell their beloved residence in 2020, just weeks after the birth of their first daughter. While a tough decision, they wanted to be closer to family and friends on the Central Coast.

“It’s going to be really sad to say goodbye to this beautiful home and location,” Hawkins told Domain exclusively at the time it was listed. “It has been absolutely amazing to live in Newport and this house was perfect for entertaining family and friends being by the water.

“We really made some amazing memories here but I’m looking forward to designing a house with Jake with a similar aesthetic closer to family.”

Casa Paloma wound up fetching a record-setting $24.5 million in a sale to Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes.

Oceanfront Whale Beach build

Hawkins’ plans for building on the Central Coast to be near family and “living on an acreage by the ocean” seem to be on hold.

In late 2020, Jen and Jake claimed another prime stake of the Northern Beaches, this time the largest oceanfront estate in Whale Beach, for $6.95 million.

Another sprawling 3300sqm block, the Rocca Bella estate was once owned by acclaimed soprano Dame Joan Sutherland.

Stuck in a 1950s time warp (with a few ’70s flourishes thrown in), Hawkins and Wall submitted plans to Northern Beaches council to knock down the property and build a $3 million luxury residence.

That approval was granted six months later April 2021, with the couple finally able to build the dream home.

The hold up was something fellow celeb and Northern Beaches resident Jamie Durie knows all too well. The pair’s initial plans were rejected following community outrage over the driveway’s location.

In September 2021, the retro home was demolished and the build is now underway. Shortly after in October, Jen and Jake welcomed a second baby – son Hendrix – to the Hawkins-Wall clan.

We can’t wait to see what this power property developing pair do next.