Historic Melrose at Harkaway listed with $6 million hopes

Melrose was built for the late Australian health economist John Deeble on land subdivided from the original Berwick Run squatted by Robert Gardiner
Historic Melrose at Harkaway listed with $6 million hopes
Jonathan ChancellorDecember 13, 2020

There are $5.5 million to $6 million hopes for the historic Melrose, the 1875 Victorian era home Harkaway.

Melrose was built for the late Australian health economist John Deeble on land subdivided from the original Berwick Run squatted by Robert Gardiner.

In 1938 it became the Try Boys' Home, a training farm for disadvantaged youth.

It was resorted during the 1960s ownership by Noel and Marlene Gould, with the help of architects Whitman and Peck.

Historic Melrose at Harkaway listed with $6 million hopes

The house has far-reaching views towards Port Phillip and Western Port Bay, and at night the lights of Melbourne twinkle in the distance.

The home remains on eight hectares of grounds featuring a pool, a tennis court, a self-contained apartment, horse stables and 10 divided paddocks.

Historic Melrose at Harkaway listed with $6 million hopes

There is also an orchard with more than 150 fruit trees, plus a chicken roost and an original well.

The property has been listed through Barry Plant Berwick agent Paul Dabb.

It was last sold 12 years ago at $2.475 million.

Historic Melrose at Harkaway listed with $6 million hopes

At its 1990 auction historic Melrose, then on 22 hectares, attracted a bid for $2,450,000, $400,000 short of its reserve price.

Parkway is a suburb some 39 km south-east of Melbourne's central business district. 

Jonathan Chancellor

Jonathan Chancellor is one of Australia's most respected property journalists, having been at the top of the game since the early 1980s. Jonathan co-founded the property industry website Property Observer and has written for national and international publications.

Editor's Picks