Sir Bob Jones’ Darling Point Apartment Lists For $9 Million As Alex Birkenstock Buys $20 Million Double Bay Pad

Sir Bob Jones’ Darling Point Apartment Lists For $9 Million As Alex Birkenstock Buys $20 Million Double Bay Pad

High-end activity dominates the Sydney residential sector as prominent international and local figures execute major transactions. The family of the late New Zealand tycoon Sir Bob Jones has listed his harbor-facing apartment for $9 million, while footwear billionaire Alex Birkenstock secured a $20 million Double Bay residence.

The family of the late Sir Bob Jones, an prominent New Zealand property investor, statesman, and author, has listed his Darling Point residence with a price expectation of $9 million.

Available for the first time in over three decades, the three-bedroom, two-bathroom property features panoramic vistas of Sydney Harbour. Jones, who passed away at 85 in 2025, acquired the residence for $1.06 million in 1993, according to property data.

The Darling Point apartment belonging to the late political figure and real estate investor Sir Bob Jones is being sold by his descendants.

The internal spaces boast marble finishes and custom cabinetry. A galley kitchen framed in timber overlooks the harbor, while multiple vantage points capture the Harbour Bridge, city skyline, and Botany Bay.

Residential amenities within the complex include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna, and communal cooking areas.

The timber-accented galley kitchen commands uninterrupted views across the harbor.

In 1961, Jones founded Robert Jones Holdings, a commercial and industrial real estate firm operating in Auckland, Wellington, and Sydney. The private entity reached an estimated valuation of $NZ2 billion (approx. $1.6 billion) in May, according to press reports.

The corporate figure also appeared on the 2024 Rich List with an assessed net worth of $NZ1.2 billion (approx. $987.9 million).

Jones maintained a diverse professional legacy, establishing and leading the New Zealand Party from 1983 to 1985, receiving a knighthood in 1989, and publishing both fiction and commentary.

Agency representatives Elliott Placks and Luke Hogan are managing the expressions of interest campaign for the asset.

The three-bedroom apartment carries an official price guide of $9 million.

Retail heir adds to empire

Billionaire Alex Birkenstock, an heir to the German footwear brand Birkenstock, and his spouse Vanessa have completed a mortgage-free $20 million acquisition of an apartment in Double Bay.

Alex Birkenstock, heir to the prominent footwear brand, and his spouse Vanessa spent $20 million on a Double Bay residence.

Property filings finalized this week identify Alex Birkenstock as the purchaser of the four-bedroom, three-bathroom duplex. The asset was previously held by the late Eileen Bond, former spouse of industrialist Alan Bond. The title documentation lacks mortgage registration, confirming a cash transaction.

This marks their fourth residential property acquisition within the country since December, all completed without financing.

The retail entrepreneur continues to build his domestic real estate presence, completing four unmortgaged transactions since December totaling $163 million. Forbes assesses Birkenstock’s personal net worth at $US2.1 billion (approx. $2.98 billion).

A sales notification was placed on the property listing following a pre-auction transaction on March 16. Final settlement documentation released this week formally identified Birkenstock as the beneficial owner.

The Birkenstocks bought the apartment from the heirs of Eileen Bond, who passed away at 87 in 2025 after holding the asset since 1986.

Set inside a classic art deco structure, the residence features a harbor-facing sunroom, a media lounge convertible to a fifth bedroom, and integrated elevator access near Redleaf Pool.

In February, statutory records confirmed Birkenstock bought Sydney’s highest-valued 2025 residential sale, an $83.5 million Rose Bay waterfront compound sold by Consolidated Press Holdings executive Lawrence Myers and his wife Sylvia.

Earlier media reports identified Birkenstock as the buyer of an $8 million Victorian estate in Brighton, Melbourne, alongside a $51.5 million full-floor apartment within Sydney’s Crown Residences in May.

The Double Bay transaction was brokered by agency representatives Elliott Placks and Thomas Popple.

Unique method used to sell trophy home

An unconventional marketing system deployed for a Vaucluse trophy asset yielded a successful $23.22 million transaction under the hammer on June 13 to a local buyer.

Assets valued above $10 million rarely head to public auction, typically clearing via private negotiation channels.

An agency representative elected to utilize a public auction framework despite current headwinds in Sydney’s top-tier residential market.

Lead agent Paul Biller, who managed the six-bedroom campaign alongside Ben Torban and Billy Moore, noted that the top end of the market faces notable headwinds.

“Without a fixed closing date, luxury homes risk remaining unsold indefinitely due to a lack of buyer urgency,” Biller stated.

“This is an institutional-grade asset on an elite Vaucluse street with direct views of the Harbour Bridge, offered by a motivated vendor prepared to align with current market conditions.”

The six-bedroom, three-bathroom home traded for $23.22 million on June 13.

The selling parties, medical practitioners Dzu Nguyen and Elaine Hoang, purchased the home for $16.6 million in 2020 before listing it with a $22 million expectation.

Auctioneer Clarence White confirmed bidding commenced at $20 million, advancing in descending steps from $500,000 down to $10,000 increments, with three active participants.

The interior layout features stone surfaces, elevated ceilings, white tones, and designer lighting.

The floor plan incorporates multiple formal areas facing the city skyline, Harbour Bridge, and Opera House.

History of Sir Bob Jones and Robert Jones Holdings

Sir Bob Jones established Robert Jones Holdings in 1961, developing it into one of the largest private commercial property empires across New Zealand and Australia. The firm focused heavily on central business district office towers and industrial assets in Auckland, Wellington, and Sydney. Jones used his substantial real estate wealth to fund his political ambitions in the 1980s before focusing on writing. His long-term ownership of the Darling Point apartment, purchased in 1993, mirrors his strategy of holding premium, well-located real estate assets over multiple decades.

FAQs

What was the guide price for Sir Bob Jones’ Sydney apartment?

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment located in Darling Point has been listed on the market by his family with an official price guide of $9 million.

How many properties has Alex Birkenstock bought in Australia recently?

Alex Birkenstock has acquired 4 luxury residential properties in Australia since December, spending a combined total of $163 million in all-cash transactions without any mortgages.

What was the sale price of the Vaucluse trophy home auctioned in June 2026?

The six-bedroom, three-bathroom luxury residence in Vaucluse sold under the hammer for $23.22 million on June 13, 2026, after originally listing with a $22 million guide.