Stephen Nicholls, Property Journalist
First published 13 Nov 2026, 2:31pm
19 Gladswood Gardens, Double Bay, overlooks Double Bay beach and Sydney Harbour.
A deceased estate on the Double Bay waterfront, described as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”, has hit the market with a $30m price guide.
It’s the Gladswood Gardens home of the late Joan Hocking, who died at the age of 94 last August, and it had been owned by her family for more than 50 years.
There are spacious living areas with uninterrupted views over Double Bay beach and Sydney harbour, plus a double garage and additional off-street parking.
One of only three freestanding residences in the coveted blue-ribbon cul-de-sac, the three-bedroom single-level home on an 803sqm block is right next door to the coach house of the Gladswood Estate, that sold to creative director Beau Nielson last July for $20m.
Nielson is the daughter and heiress of billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist Judith Neilson and her ex husband fund manager Kerry Neilson.
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The property has been in the same family for more than 50 years.
The same agents that sold that property to Nielson, Pauline Goodyer and Michael Pallier of Sothebys, along with their colleague James Dunn, have picked up the Hocking estate.
It’s completely different from the Nielson property, explains Goodyer. “There, the gardens open to the water, whereas in this one the house it right on the water, almost like you’re in a boat,” she says.
Since then, in March this year, the dual-level Art Deco penthouse of the late socialite Eileen Bond at 3/9 Gladswood Gardens sold for $20m, just a day before its scheduled auction, to German footwear billionaire Alex Birkenstock and his wife Vanessa .
Given the location, developers may be keen.
Goodyer says there’ve already been offers on the Hocking property, but it’s expected to go the full-length of its expressions of interest campaign.
Meanwhile, there could be a few savvy apartment developers sniffing around.
The Department of Planning website shows Gladswood Gardens falls within the NSW Government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing precinct.
It’s within 800m walking distance of the Double Bay town centre places it inside the State-led rezoning zone.
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