South Yarra’s Albany boutique hotel sells for about $13 million

The Albany and Bloomfield boutique motel, located on Millswyn Street, South Yarra has been sold for about $13 million.

Property Observer understands the buyer intends to entertain plans for its residential future. Its been reportedly sold to Oakton computing chief Paul Holyoake, according to Fairfax Media

The 2,152-square-metre holding with Toorak Road frontage includes the 1890s Bloomfield Hotel, which is part bound by heritage overlay controls. It sold after KordaMentha appointed CBRE's Mark Wizel and Scott Orchard to market the property in conjunction with Kay & Burton's Michael Gibson and Nicole Gleeson. Sally Bloomfield, billed as a social doyenne since the 1980s, was the vendor company director, with Ian Robinson its only shareholder.

In 2010 it was reported by The Weekly Review that the hoteliers Ian Robertson and Sally Bloomfield were changing their lifestyle deciding to pursue hotel interests in Bali.

The site had 81 rooms, restaurant and bar, 24 car bays and roof top pool. It was marketed as having suitable use as a low-density prestige quality development with potential refurbishment of the historic mansion and subdivision. The 1890s mansion was originally owned by a businessman who imported panama hats, according to Robertson, who pioneered the Q-Bars of Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

The Albany and adjacent flats were built during the late 1950s or early 1960s and were owned by the Gishen family, who operated a guesthouse. Robertson has a background in architecture, including retrofitting 1960s hotels in the United States.