While the Melbourne suburbs of Toorak and Brighton grab more than their fair share of headlines in the world of premium real estate, there are a number of truly spectacular homes located in other leafy tree-lined suburbs across the city. One such property is “Shrublands,” located at 16 Balwyn Road, Canterbury, which enjoys the distinction of being one of the largest estates in Australia with more than a century and a half of history behind it.
Despite having been sold just two years ago to the businessman Ali Ali, Shrublands is back on the market following minor repairs and renovations to the palatial property, which added the finishing touches to a previous $18 million restoration of the estate by its previous owner. Originally designed by the Melbourne architect John Flannagan and constructed in 1863, a two-story extension was added in 1889 by architect William Wolf before an additional two-storey extension was added in 1934.
Prior to being purchased by Ali, the home traded hands in 2003 when the owners completed the significant renovation and restoration that added several more contemporary spaces including an additional bar, garage, and basement cinema. Today, Shrublands returns to the market offering ten bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, as well as an enormous 10-car garage.
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Spanning an enormous landholding of 6,525m², the estate features meticulously maintained gardens and a competition-sized tennis court, an indoor pool, and a spot to relax in the bluestone cellar. With artisanally painted ceilings, gold-trimmed detailing, and antique crystal chandeliers, it’s large enough to require a two-bedroom caretaker’s apartment and also boasts its own boardroom, massage treatment room, plus a terrace with heated floors for entertaining.
There honestly are only a handful of properties in Australia that arrive with the same scale of old-world grandeur ingrained in their very foundations and despite the fact that it has come to market twice in two years, remains a genuinely rare buying opportunity for any deep-pocketed family or trust. The home at 16 Balwyn Road, Canterbury, returns to the market under the management of Kay & Burton Hawthorn with a price guide between $37 million and $40 million. The agents are currently seeking expressions of interest.
