A single house in Clovelly is set to change the lives of hundreds of Australian children, after a late Sydney heart specialist left her $7.5-million beachfront home to be sold so the money could go straight into education support for families who need it most.
The five-bedroom home at 9 Surfside Avenue, Clovelly, known as Caleula, sits on one of the suburb’s largest land holdings with direct access to the coastal reserve that leads down to the beach.
The property, now listed for auction, has become one of Sydney’s most talked-about homes because of where the money is going, not just what the home is worth.
The property is being marketed through PPD Real Estate by agent Alexander Phillips.
The campaign has attracted unusually high buyer interest, driven by both the home’s tightly held coastal position and the fact that the sale will directly fund education programs for disadvantaged children across Australia.
Buyer inquiry levels were reportedly several times higher than typical Clovelly listings, reflecting how the story behind the house has resonated beyond the local market.
The doctor behind the decision
The home was owned by the late Dr Karen Duggan, a respected cardiovascular physician, researcher and associate professor at the University of New South Wales, who also co-founded biotech firm Vectus Biosystems.
Ms Duggan inherited the Clovelly home from her parents and lived a life shaped by a strong belief in fairness, education and health. After her death in 2024, her will directed that the property be sold and that the entire proceeds go to The Smith Family, one of Australia’s largest education charities.
Family members told media outlets that Duggan’s decision reflected the values passed down by her parents and her own lifelong focus on helping people improve their lives through both medicine and education. She had no children of her own and wanted her legacy to benefit young Australians who needed support to stay in school and build better futures.
How the money will be used
The Smith Family has confirmed that the expected funds from the Clovelly sale will support about 1,000 students over several years, helping pay for school supplies, tutoring, uniforms and learning support. The donation would enable more students to complete their education and transition to employment or further study, a major challenge for children growing up in financial hardship.
The size of the donation places this sale among the most significant single-property gifts to an Australian education charity in recent years, turning one home in Clovelly into a long-term source of opportunity for children across the country.
A wider contribution to the charity drive
In another unusual step, selling agent Alexander Phillips of PPD Real Estate has committed to donating his full commission from the sale. This will increase the total donation, ensuring that nearly every dollar generated by the Clovelly sale flows directly into education support rather than transaction costs.
Clovelly is one of Sydney’s most tightly held beach suburbs, known for its village feel, small coastal reserve and limited supply of freestanding homes. The property at Surfside Avenue sits on the third-largest block in the suburb, making it especially rare.
Published 13-Jan-2026
