Hunting for nice homes in Toorak is about as hard as hunting for hay in a haystack. While there are plenty of remarkable properties in the suburb, the list of jetty-equipped riverfront mansions isn’t a particularly long one. One of these coveted homes is located at 108 St Georges Road, Toorak, which features said jetty and views out across the Yarra River, as well as some serious architectural provenance, and lush greeny to match.
Originally designed in 1965 by the widely celebrated Australian architect Guilford Bell, the home was sold most recently in 2013 and shortly after, underwent a four-and-a-half-year renovation to restore it to its former glory. Bell’s resume is an extensive one, including time in England working on homes for Agatha Christie, the design of The Simon house in Mt Eliza (for which he was awarded the 1964 Victorian Architectural Medal), and overseeing the construction of the once-great Royal Hayman Hotel.
108 St Georges Road, Toorak, hadn’t received much more than a lick of paint since Bell’s work more than half a century ago – fortunately, the Raidstudio renovation – led by architect Nicholas Ruljancich – was as ambitious as it was well-executed. The house as it stands today is one of Melbourne’s more impressive, presents a cascading series of verdant balconies, a well-appointed interior and plenty of privacy.
RELATED: This $3.5 Million Hobart Home Is Dripping In Old-World Grandeur
Just as the original design of the building was born in the mind of an Australian legend, so too were the gardens, originally crafted by the revered landscape architect Edna Walling. With 1,736m² of land to play with, the gardens have also been meticulously revived by landscape architect Jack Merlo, carefully planned to make the absolute most of the new lower ground level pool and entertaining area.
108 St Georges Road, Toorak boasts six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, with space for four cars to park off-street too. As the home is situated on the steeply sloped river bank, the garage is actually on the upper level (alongside a studio apartment), while the main ground floor hosts an enormous open-plan living and dining space.
The lower ground level, closest to the river’s edge, and the gardens that fill the space between it and the home, is where you’ll find most of the bedrooms — almost all of which feature ensuite bathrooms — and the home office. From there, twin sets of stairs on each side of the home run down to the level of the swimming pool, where tranquillity and calm are easiest found.
Despite these relatively recent renovations, 108 St Georges Road, Toorak, has recently arrived on the market, represented by the team at Marshall White. It’s currently seeking expressions of interest, with a price guide of between $23 million and $25 million.
