Packer Barham break-up may trigger Melbourne property listing

Packer Barham break-up may trigger Melbourne property listing
Title TattleDecember 7, 2020

Francesca Packer Barham, fashion curator and daughter of Australia's newest billioniare Gretel Packer, has broken up with her Melbourne beau, so estate agents are wondering what she'll being doing with her recent Melbourne purchase.

The Sydney Confidential column in the Daily Telegraph recently reported she'd quit Melbourne having split with property developer Kelli Holland earlier this year. 

Her purchase was a rather pricey Fawkner Park, South Yarra house that cost around $6 million last October.

Her financier was a company directed by her mum, Gretel so there ought not be any issues there.

Set in a cluster of some of Melbourne's finest homes, the prominent freestanding Victorian residence hadn't traded since 1990 when it sold for $1.2 million.

It was bought from engineer Dean Pritchard who moved into a $3 million Yve, St Kilda Road apartment.

Continuing the era behind its Victorian facade are two grand reception rooms, an arched hallway, tall ceilings, marble fireplaces mantles and raw timber doors.

The stately four bedroom home - one with Juliet balcony - also has a home office.

The house sold through Gowan Stubbings and Nicole Gleeson of Kay & Burton who'd been suggesting $5.5 million plus would buy it. 

Francesca is the eldest grandchild of the late media tycoon Kerry Packer and his widow, Ros.

She usually resides in the Bellevue Hill compound of the family, next to Gretel's 1919 home, Wiston.

It was a $4 million purchase of an adjoining house which the Packer's bought from the Fairfax family in 2013.

Of course her grandmother Ros lives at nearby Cairnton whose ownership dates back to 1935 when Sir Frank Packer started to buy up some hillside property. 

This article was first published in the Weekend Australian Mansion Australia property section.

Editor's Picks