TV legend Brian Henderson's Middle Cove home for sale with record hopes

The Middle Cove house that for almost 30 years was home to the late television legend Brian Henderson is set to hit the market with price expectations in the “double-digit millions” that will reset the Middle Cove record books.

Henderson, long known as “Hendo”, was Australia’s longest-serving and most trusted newsreader after a 45-year career at the helm of Nine’s Sydney news bulletin, and died in August after a battle with cancer, aged 89.

Henderson’s widow, Mardi, has listed the family home with Ken Jacobs, of Christie’s International, who is yet to set a price guide but confirmed he would be expecting it to sell in the double-digit millions.

The 1800-square-metre property was purchased by Henderson in 1994 for $850,000 from 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 with four bedrooms and four bathrooms. It was completed in the late 1990s with timber finishes and walls of sliding glass that make the most of the bushland and water views to Fig Tree Cove.

“The brief was to create a sanctuary, with influences drawn from the tranquillity of Bali and Thailand, ensuring it sat easily within the landscape and drew the beauty of the surrounds inwards,” said Mr Jacobs’ marketing.

The listing comes less than a year after the Middle Cove suburb high was reset at $7.25 million in December for the modernist house next door on a smaller 1200-square-metre block.

Meanwhile, in the neighbouring waterfront suburb of Castle Cove, there is speculation among local agents that a new record was set this week of more than $15 million after the estate known as Castle Cove House was flagged as sold on Domain.

The striking contemporary residence designed by Terroir architect Chris Rogers on 5300 square metres, won the best completed house award in 2019 at the World Architecture Festival. It comes with interiors by Pascale Gomes-McNabb, a championship tennis court, a heated swimming pool and a separate studio with a showroom-style garage.

It was listed with Mr Jacobs in March, with $15 million expectations. The sale price remains undisclosed so it’s unknown if it topped the $15.05 million high set in 2018 when Chinese movie star Tong Liya and her film-director husband Chen Sicheng purchased Neerim House Estate.