Comedian Andy Lee buys unliveable $8.5m Melbourne mansion

The riverside home has been unoccupied for a decade resulting in no power or plumbing and damaged floors, but it still went for almost $1m over the price guide.

Comedian Andy Lee has splashed out $8.5 million on a mansion in Melbourne that has no kitchen or bathroom.

The rundown riverside property located in Hawthorn was snapped up by the television presenter just 18 days after it was listed, beating out 80 other parties who had inspected the home.

Lee also paid well above the price guide, which was set at $7 million to $7.7 million, for the two storey mansion that was built in 1876.

The historic home, which is located on the Yarra River, has remained vacant for 10 years resulting in damaged walls, floors and ceiling and with no power or plumbing, however it can’t be knocked down.

Lee’s new home at 18 Yarra Grove, Hawthorn. Picture: Supplied

It has seven bedrooms. Picture: Supplied

There’s damage to the walls, ceilings and floors. Picture: Supplied

The agent responsible for the sale, Jellis Craig partner Antony Woodley, had estimated a couple of millions of dollars would be needed to fix up the property, with potential buyers speaking to him about simple restorations through to grander makeovers.

Mr Woodley said at the time of sale that the plan at first was to make the residence liveable.

“It’s probably going to be a lifetime passion. It’s going to be a generational home for them,” he told the Herald Sun.

“(They were drawn to) the river, combined with the opportunity to renovate an original home, and it’s on that city side of Hawthorn so they weren’t moving too far.”

The home offers a prime outlook, with the Italianate manor sitting on almost 2000 sqm of riverfront land.

Andy Lee and Rebecca Harding plan to fix the place up. Picture: Fiona Hamilton Photography

It’s a two storey riverside mansion. Picture: Supplied

There is no bathroom or kitchen in the property. Picture: Supplied

The Hawthorn mansion last sold for $1.18m in 1995, according to CoreLogic data, meaning the previous owners made a whopping profit of over $7 million.

The property, was sold in October but the price and owner was only revealed via public records this week.

It had been marketed as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” and features seven bedrooms, Baltic pine floorboards, open fireplaces, a slate roof and an arched hallway.

The listing also noted the property and land had the potential for architectural expansion, beautiful landscaping and multi-car garaging, subject to council approval.

The media house price for a Hawthorn house sits $2.5 million, according to realestate.com.au.