Work still underway to secure sinkhole near Prime Minister's mansion

A sinkhole has opened up on a footpath near Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's Sydney harbourside mansion.

Emergency services were called to reports of a strong smell of gas on Wentworth Street in Point Piper – streets away from Mr Turnbull's home – about 7.10am today.

Firefighters arrived to find a large sinkhole in the footpath, thought to have been caused by heavy rain over the past 24 hours.

A water and gas pipe had ruptured and a firefighter was lowered into the pit to clamp off the gas supply, a Fire and Rescue spokeswoman told 9news.com.au.

Nearby residents left their homes as a precaution and have since been allowed to return. The house most affected by the sinkhole was vacant, Fire and Rescue NSW said.

Point Piper is an affluent eastern suburb of Sydney that has recorded the highest median house prices in Australia.  

The road was also temporarily blocked by police.

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With AAP.