Formerly derelict Melbourne mansion listed with $10 million plus hopes

Alistair WalshDecember 7, 2020

A previously derelict 14-bedroom mansion in Melbourne's Armadale has been listed for sale with reported price hopes of $10 million plus.

Redcourt was left to the elements from 1996 until 2009 when Melbourne investor Adam Garrisson bought and started renovating the property. The photos of the property above are from prior to the building's renovation.

The Queen Anne-style mansion at 506 Orrong Road  was originally built in 1888 by glass and timber merchant Edward Yencken. It was designed by architect Joseph Reed, also responsible for State Library of Victoria and the Royal Exhibition Building.

It was then bought and sold by a series of pastoralists, politicians and mining entrepreneurs, Vogue Living reports.

The Ministry of Education bought the heritage listed 3497 square metre property as a residency of music students, but reportedly abandoned the property in 1996. It then listed the property for $8 million but sold to Garrisson for reportedly less than half that.

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The property in it's pre-renovation state

Garrisson, who makes a business out of restoring old buildings acquired the site in 2009. Previously he was responsible for the redevelopment of Melbourne's GPO building, he co-founded the restaurant Fifteen Jamie Oliver, and is currently working with Vue de Monde’s Shannon Bennett to create an eco-resort at the 1930s Art Moderne mansion of Burnham Beeches near Sherbrooke Forest.

For this project he appointed John Warwicker of London art and design collective Tomato as creative director, Vogue Living reports.

Each room had a different creative professional working on it. Fashion designer Akira Isogawa worked on the music room, artist David Bromley worked on the children’s room, Warwicker worked on the Great Hall, artist Naomi Troski worked on a bedroom White Room, and Shannon Bennett worked on the kitchen.

It has a tennis court, servants' quarters, a coach house and a pavilion.

"I wanted to create an environment that fostered a cultural and artistic exchange," Garrisson told Vogue Living.

"Some people don't care about old buildings, but they are defining, contextualising and encase the character of a civilisation."

It is being sold by agent Ross Savas from Kay & Burton.

Alistair Walsh

Deutsche Welle online reporter

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