Family feud over $11 million Portsea mansion reaches Supreme Court

Another twist has unfolded in a wealthy family’s bitter feud over an $11 million Portsea mansion — this time over Christmas lunch.

Celia Burrell (right) has taken her mother to court over access to the family’s $11 million Portsea mansion to cook Christmas lunch.

A wealthy Melbourne family is at war over who can use the kitchen at their luxurious Portsea mansion for Christmas.

In July Celia Burrell launched legal action against her mother, Janice Shelmerdine, claiming the matriarch had attempted to sell a luxury property, known as Positano, despite promising it to her.

The $11m clifftop estate looks out over Shelly Beach and has a main house, a three-level “bungalow”, a grass tennis court and use of a boat shed.

In the Supreme Court on Friday an application was heard over access to the main house — in particular its kitchen — for Christmas and summer holidays.

Mrs Burrell, who with husband William created the El Questro resort in Western Australia, wants to use the kitchen to cook meals for her family as there is not a proper kitchen in the property’s bungalow, which she and her family usually stay in.

She also wants to use the bedrooms in the main house.

Celia Burrell (right) with husband Will.

The house overlooks Portsea Beach. Picture: Jay Town

Mrs Shelmerdine, who recently bought and moved to a nearby $2m home, does not want her daughter in the main house but is happy for her to use the bungalow and the rest of the property.

The kitchen kerfuffle arose after Mrs Burrell discovered on November 21 that locks to Positano had been changed and she could no longer access the property as she has since the 1970s.

She believed she had an agreement with her mother to use the whole property and over the past 20 years claims to have spent almost $1m on it.

After finding one door unlocked, Mrs Burrell entered the main house to find her linen and various items had been removed.

She claims she cannot cook adequate meals for her large family in the semi-kitchen at the bungalow.

“At the bungalow I have one small microwave, one small plug-in electric hotplate/cooker, one small plug-in oven (approximately 30cm and only big enough to heat a pie) and one outdoor BBQ,” Mrs Burrell said in her affidavit.

The house is right on Portsea beach. Picture: Jay Town

It said she had purchased many of the items in the kitchen and had regularly used the kitchen and bedrooms in the main house as her own.

Jack Rush QC, representing Mrs Shelmerdine, said Mrs Burrell’s use of the mansion had always been by agreement with her mother.

Justice Steven Moore is yet to deliver his findings.

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