Property of the week: 1 Edzell Avenue, Toorak

Only four properties on coveted Edzell Avenue reach the Yarra River waterfront, so the arrival of this newly rebuilt residence at number 1 is a prize catch. So rare is the riverfront position, and the unique redesign by Andrew Parr of SJB Architects, that Marshall White Stonnington has listed the Toorak trophy home with a head-turning price guide of $50 million to $55 million.

The prestige property will be firmly placed in the top residential price bracket for Melbourne, but is still far from the giddy heights of the Victorian capital’s benchmark of the $80 million spent by crypto king Ed Craven on his Toorak pile in 2022.

A complete transformation of an original 1920s house, this stately home still holds much of its old world glamour but also showcases the best of what money can buy a century later.

And that cash comes from an owner who knows a little about renovations — title records reveal the period property was bought in 2013 by Sarah Laidlaw, wife of former Mitre 10 boss Mark Laidlaw. After purchasing for $6.1 million, the Laidlaws’ transformation has injected a sophisticated aesthetic complementing its glamorous historic facade.

The river sits centre stage with an uninterrupted outlook from most rooms of the house, as well as the private jetty and rare Melbourne boathouse, capturing Burnley golf course and the city skyline.

Beyond a stately reception hall the living areas have been carefully remastered on a grand scale with a choice of entertaining spaces opening to the great outdoors.

The palatial dining and living rooms have fireplaces and aged–bronze archways framing the river panorama and an expansive north west–facing stone terrace with pergola, barbecue kitchen, heaters and an outdoor fire. A media room and bar also spill out onto the landscaped gardens and for further entertaining the cantilevered heated infinity pool and spa seemingly hover above the Yarra.

In the state-of-the-art kitchen there are Pilbara marble benches, Gaggenau appliances, an integrated Sub-Zero fridge/freezer, wine fridge and a butler’s pantry.

Up the curved marble staircase, or via the private lift, the accommodation level includes three bedrooms with ensuites and built–ins plus a palatial primary suite complete with a gas fire, indulgent dressing room, deluxe marble bathroom and balcony overlooking the water and golfing green.

Down on the lower level, the property also features a gym, temperature-controlled wine cellar and executive home office with and independent street entry.

The rare piece de resistance for the riverside residence is the large river deck with a self-contained timber–lined retreat with kitchenette and ensuite. Below that is a personal boatshed with a slipway, one of only a handful of privately–owned jetties in Toorak.

Additional five star features include Control4 home automation, an alarm with CCTV and a video intercom, as well as hydronic heating, reverse-cycle air-conditioning, ducted vacuuming, full irrigation and a four-car lock up garage.

The Toorak residence is listed through an expressions of interest campaign closing at 1pm on November 11 via Marcus Chiminello, Nicole French and Alan Crawford of Marshall White Stonnington.

A bold architectural statement in Melbourne’s inner east, this unique Glen Iris home marries sculptural design with sophisticated family living in a remarkable real estate relationship.

Conceived by Pandolfini Architects, with interiors by Lisa Buxton, the custom-built four-bedroom, two-level home was crafted for its current owners but is now coming to market for the first time.

Listed via an expressions-of-interest campaign with Marshall White agents Rae and Hugh Tomlinson and Mandy Zhu, 8 Erica Ave is on the market with price expectations of $7.5 million to $8 million.

Its dramatic street appeal sets the tone for what’s to come, because beyond the contemporary façade sits a modern residence unlike any other.

Pandolfini’s team brief was to create an inviting home made from hard-wearing materials, with a palette inspired by ancient ruins and old industrial buildings.

The result is striking, cantilevered terracotta brickwork and a patinated copper-screened exterior that borrows hues from the classic neighbouring cottages.

One within the home, the Erica Ave property unfolds across three interconnected pavilions positioned along the deep block. Long gallery hallways are framed by floor-to-ceiling glass to showcase garden and pool views, making the most of the 886 sq m site.

Raw, heavily textured walls create an industrial aesthetic inside and out, while curious “upside-down” arched windows introduce a creative architectural twist.

At the heart of the home, the central living and dining zone is divided by a sculptural fireplace rendered in hard plaster. High barn-style spotted gum timber ceilings rise above bush-hammered concrete walls with Roman travertine floors, and American oak joinery.

In the marble kitchen, there are premium Wolf and Miele appliances, a butler’s pantry, an integrated study nook, and a bespoke curved window that wraps around a custom-made banquette dining space.

Walls of glass frame the north-facing terrace where a heated swimming pool and spa are enveloped by private landscaped gardens with an integrated barbecue setting.

Within the front pavilion, the large parents’ retreat features built-in and walk-in wardrobes, a dresser, and a travertine ensuite with a freestanding bathtub, rain shower, and a dual-marble vanity. Also on the ground floor is a second bedroom and a media room with a built-in daybed and a picture window overlooking the yard.

One floor up via the curved staircase with skylight, there are two more bedrooms with terrazzo bathrooms, study spaces, and leafy outlooks.

Car enthusiasts not only have a single lock-up garage on Erica Ave, but an additional rear showroom-style five-car pavilion or grand studio accessed via Irymple Ave. It has a high vaulted ceiling, a concealed in-floor Maha car lift, a workbench, and a sink.

Added extras include a mud room, laundry with side access, in-floor heating and climate control within the engineered European oak floors, deluxe joinery, and CCTV security.

The Glen Iris home is within walking distance of Central Park Village, Harold Holt Swim Centre, and Gardiner Station, as well as popular schools including Sacré Cœur, Korowa, and Caulfield Grammar.

The Pandolfini-designed house at 8 Erica Ave, Glen Iris is listed with Marshall White for $7.5 million to $8 million via an expressions of interest campaign.

Property of the week: 1 Edzell Avenue, Toorak

A rare riverfront position is just the start to the luxury offering at this Melbourne trophy home

Crafted by Pandolfini Architects with interiors by Lisa Buxton, the Glen Iris residence pairs industrial-inspired design with refined contemporary living and a five-car showroom pavilion.