In Toorak, home to the priciest real estate in Melbourne, glass walls and open plans didn’t always rule. During the 19th century, the suburb saw an influx of grand mansions in Old English and Tudor Revival styles built by wealthy families and businessmen looking for a showpiece to call home.
As Toorak’s popularity rose and decades passed, intricate designs gave way to minimalism. Expansive lots subdivided to maximize value for flats. Yet one residence on Grant Avenue remains a stronghold of Toorak’s architectural heritage and pedigreed past.
Built in 1936 by the renowned firm Yuncken, Freeman & Griffiths, best known for designing the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, this home is rich with history. It was originally built for piano heir Douglas Carnegie and his wife, art collector Margaret Carnegie. Later, it was acquired by Baillieu and Sarah Myer of the Myer retail empire. (For those unfamiliar, the Myer department stores are comparable to Bloomingdales in the U.S. – omnipresent and a staple in Aussie life.)
As the marketing film points out, this home embodies “provenance”.
“Provenance only exists when the object or building is truly loved and respected, as is the case here” says Rob Mills, a well-known Australian architect who designed a potential expansion. “It’s the rich stories that surround a home that gives it a character and personality. That is the power of provenance.”
Now this Heritage-listed estate is on the market for the first time in 70 years. What’s included? A piece of Toorak history and a chance to shape its future.
With its stately white stucco façade, semi-circular gravel drive and vine-clad entryway, the home is a striking contrast to the neighboring mansions. Unique for lacking a front fence – an architecturally significant feature that’s unusual for Melbourne – the house “stands tall and proud,” says Mills.
“Its presence is its number-one attribute,” says Michael Gibson of Forbes Global Properties brokerage Private Properties Global, who shares the AUD $20 million (US $12.9 million) listing with colleague Robert Fletcher. “It’s sublime in its street appeal.”
Inside, the rooms come alive with details that capture the charm of the interwar era. Ornate moldings, paneled walls and an original marble fireplace transport visitors back in time. Decorative parapets and an eclectic color palette of mustards and burgundies characterize the home’s old-world style. A grand spiral staircase connects two stories. (An elevator offers another option.) Multiple dining spaces, a guest wing, study and mudroom round out the living quarters.
French doors and balustrade balconies open onto lush Edna Walling-designed gardens. Outside, manicured lawns, topiaries and tranquil ponds curated by one of Australia’s most revered landscape artists provide an escape from city life.
Despite its heritage status, plans sketched by Mills could breathe new life into the estate. The property sits on 1,600 square meters (about 17,220 square feet), offering plenty of space to play with.
The proposed addition, a two-story pavilion adjacent to the main house, would accommodate contemporary tastes with more bedrooms and living spaces while respecting the original design. The plans include two staircases because… “All the best houses have two staircases,” says Mills.
