Mystery $52 million Toorak sale story taken down by Domain website

A widely reported late 2018 property news story that a Toorak mansion had been sold for around $52 million, the second-highest price ever paid in Victoria, has been taken down from the Domain website.

The exclusive story had been published suggesting that the residence at 53-55 Irving Road had sold off market for a strong price.

The published article came without details on its exact sale price nor the alleged buyer’s identity.

It was reportedly sold by the Ebeyan family who bought it from the Zeigler family in 2002, according to the article published on the Domain website.

"The residence at 53-55 Irving Road is said to have sold in a quiet deal without being advertised for sale, Domain understands," readers were told.

There was a subsequent report in the Herald Sun suggesting the buyer knocked on the front door to secure the home.

Both websites have since removed the story from publication and the $52 million sale has not appeared in the end of year top sales list.

Title Tattle understands that the day after the article was published, a family member advised Domain the article was "completely inaccurate."

The family also advised it had been "unprofessional to print names."

The reputedly sold home sat on about 2000 square metres of land.

Even in the originating article, agents in the exclusive enclave had "raised eyebrows" at the reputed price given it didn't really match its land size.

The Stonington mansion sale by art dealer Rod Menzies holds the $52.5 million Melbourne record, for the 1890s home on 1.2 hectare.

It's followed by tech entrepreneur Ruslan Kogan’s $38.8 million purchase of a Toorak home from telecommunications investor Philip Cornish.

In third place Qi Yang bought the residence of former Mirvac director Marina Darling for $38 million.

The $26.25 million sale of the contemporary Toorak home of Daniel and Danielle Besen held the record in 2016.