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
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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.
Early indications from several big regional real-estate boards suggest March was overall another down month.
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Tuscan elegance and Hollywood glamour come face to face in the Sunshine Coast’s coveted hinterland with the award-winning Château Immanuel.
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Created by the current owners Helene and Nick Van Der Merwe, the European-inspired five-bedroom mansion was listed a year ago but has just resurfaced with an $11 million price guide through Melissa Schembri and Daniel Rees of Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty.
An iconic estate behind a secure gated entry, the 1340sq m property features a long tree-lined driveway leading up to a stately turning circle and grand water feature, manicured lawns, ornamental gardens and a private lake.
Unfolding across one of the hinterland’s most tightly held pockets, the landmark residence was even crowned the Master Builders Sunshine Coast House of the Year upon its completion in 2012.
Château Immanuel was a two-year labour of love for the pair. Mrs Van Der Merwe said the couple, who have decided to relocate to a cattle farm, will miss the home’s year-round versatility.
“I’ll miss the serenity for sure. When the gate closes behind you, the busy world is left behind. It’s private and quiet, our own little bubble of paradise. In winter, I enjoy sitting in front of our bedroom fireplace with a good novel, chocolates, and red wine. In summer, I love being outside on the patio, sharing fabulous food and laughter with friends,” she said, adding that the house is a great entertainer inside and out.
“It’s grand and spacious, yet warm, comfortable, and inviting. Everyone loves dancing under the stars,” she said.
Hand-picked finishes include Italian flagstone flooring, Portuguese limestone fireplaces, ceiling roses imported from the US and French chandeliers.
The residence’s main wing has a dramatic foyer with 9m ceilings, which opens through to multiple formal and informal living areas focused on the vast covered patio for seamless outdoor entertaining.
The contemporary kitchen has stone bench tops, a long, expansive central island, a walk-in pantry, and commercial-grade appliances including a double oven and gas cooktop tucked behind bespoke cabinetry.
The outdoor room has multiple seating zones with bronze chandeliers, an integrated alfresco kitchen, and a stone fireplace overlooking a 14m swimming pool and gazebo.
A palatial primary bedroom suite sits in its own wing and is home to a sitting area, private terrace, fireplace, walk-in robe, a deluxe dressing room and a spa-like ensuite with a sunken tub.
An upper level houses a second spacious retreat with a bath ensuite, fireplace and balcony.
Across the expansive layout the self-contained guest annex adds more flexibility for extended family or visitors, containing three more bedrooms with ensuites, a separate kitchen, an open plan living zone and a courtyard.
Additional features at Château Immanuel include ducted air-conditioning and vacuuming, an integrated sound system, security, a 10kW solar system with a generator backup and an irrigation system. The grounds have a self-contained artist’s studio, a large shed, a dog run, ornamental ponds, antique statues and a four-car garage.
Château Immanuel is close to Maroochydore CBD and the international airport, 30 minutes to Noosa, and under an hour to Brisbane.
Offered through an expressions of interest campaign, Château Immanuel has a guide of $11 million via Melissa Schembri and Daniel Rees of Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty.
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The late rock star and his wife, model Iman, visited the house after seeing a news story about its unusual design by local architects Shim-Sutcliffe.
