The charming home at 9 Surfside Ave, Clovelly goes under the hammer on February 14, Valentines Day.
A respected doctor has donated the proceeds from the sale of her $7.5m beachside home to The Smith Family, to help underprivileged kids and it’s already a “hot” property.
The free-standing double-fronted five-bedroom residence on a 778sqm block at 9 Surfside Ave, Clovelly, which has direct access to the beach, is set to go under the hammer on February 14 — Valentine’s Day — with a $7.5m price guide.
And the sales campaign’s already going gangbusters, with sales agent Alexander Phillips of PPD being swamped with inquiries and a huge turnout at today’s first open.
It was the home of cardiovascular physician, researcher and scientist Dr Karen Duggan, who passed away in 2024 at the age of 72, having inherited the valuable property from her late parents, Andy and Jess.
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Dr Karen Duggan … donating the proceeds from the home sale to The Smith Family would have been “a no-brainer” for her, according to her cousin, Russell.
The home is built on a 778sqm block, third largest in Clovelly.
Dr Duggan, who never married and had no children, wanted the proceeds of the home sale to go to The Smith Family, which is to Australia’s largest children’s education charity.
The sales agent, Alexander Phillips of PPD, is also donating his commission to the cause.
“This doctor was obviously a very generous woman so we’re going to see a lot of money go to The Smith Family to help underprivileged kids and schools,” he said.
“This house is already very popular.
“Over the past 24 hours we’ve had more than 100 inquiries on REA — quadruple what we normally get — and at today’s open, a Friday, we had 16 groups through.
“We’ve already got five contracts out on it so it’s going to be hot.”
Clovelly homes are always in high demand, but he says this one is particularly special because it backs onto a nature reserve leading to the beach and is the third-largest land-holding in the suburb.
There’s a total of five bedrooms.
Known as ‘Caleula’, it’s described as “a generational opportunity with direct beach access”.
The two -storey residence, with a newly renovated two-bedroom apartment perfect for teenagers downstairs, also has 13.8m frontage to one of Clovelly’s most tightly held avenues.
There’s a Carrara marble kitchen, three bathrooms, bi-fold doors open to a large terrace, a child-friendly garden and terraced lawns.
“Fall asleep to the sound of waves, wander down for sunrise swims, and enjoy effortless coastal living just moments from The Cloey and village life or a scenic walk along the coast to Bronte Beach in one direction and Coogee Beach in the other,” the blurb says.
Dr Duggan was Associate Professor of Medicine, UNSW, from 1995 to 2008 and served on the advisory committees for the National Heart Foundation, NSW Department of Health and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.
The Carrara marble kitchen is a decent size.
Three bathrooms, this one with a spa.
She co-founded Vectus Biosystems, where she worked as medical and scientific director, focusing on treatments for fibrosis and high blood pressure.
Her research was driven by personal experience — both her parents suffered from heart conditions — and a strong desire to improve lives through science.
She grew up in Clovelly, attending Clovelly Primary School and Randwick Girls High, and later the University of Sydney.
Dr Duggan’s cousin, Russell, says the decision to leave a gift in her Will was reflective of her passion for education and to give others a fair chance, which she also inherited from her parents.
“Karen always wanted to help people, that’s why she got into medicine in the first place,” he said.
“She came from a family that believed everyone should have a fair go, to create a good life for themselves and contribute to society.
“So the choice to donate to The Smith Family was probably a no-brainer for her.”
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