The one-time home of a prominent architect in a wealthy suburb of Melbourne, Australia, recently sold for AUD 29.5 million or almost US $20 million. The six-bedroom compound in the town of Toorak had been a retreat where architect and builder Gabor Hubay once lived.
Michael Gibson of Private Property Global, the agent who closed the deal, described the property as “a spectacular home with fabulous views and incredible quality throughout, a trophy home.”
Hubay, who has designed homes and apartments in Toorak, sold the home at 3 Macquarie Road about a decade ago. Positioned to take advantage of north-facing views, the house was created as a private oasis for the family. Floor-to-ceiling glass and a decorative water feature make views of nature ever present in the lounge area and dining room. Hubay is known for designing homes with contemporary interiors that capitalize on indoor-outdoor living.
The almost 10,000-square foot home also has a pool, tennis courts, game room, gym, wine cellar, parking for four cars and a guesthouse. The recent seller was entrepreneur Phillip Prendergast, director of London-based juice and smoothie company Mockingbird Raw Press.
The compound is located in Toorak, a town whose wealth can be traced back to its founding in the mid-1800s. It started with Toorak House, a flashy Italianate mansion built in 1849 that became the residence first of the merchant who built it and then of governors of the state of Victoria. Ever since, the town has come to be known for its extravagant estates―both old and new.
A year ago, record-setting house prices in Toorak were smashed—twice in one week. Sydney native Edward Craven, a 27-year-old cryptocurrency casino entrepreneur, bought an estate for AUD 80 million (approximimately US $53 million) that set a record in Melbourne. Media reports say Craven plans to raze the house and build something new. A second home in Toorak sold for almost AUD 75 million (approximimately US $50 million).
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