East Melbourne: Penthouse in former Parade Hotel where Aussie rules football was created is up for sale
Footy fans have a chance to buy a ‘completely unique’ slice of AFL history in the form of a luxurious penthouse within a former hotel, where the sport’s rules were first penned.
The owners of a “luxurious” East Melbourne penthouse which played a significant role in AFL history are taking a punt on the market.
Located within the former Parade Hotel, the home at 101/182 Wellington Pde is for sale with a $4m-$4.3m asking range.
It is widely believed that in May 1859, a small group gathered at the hotel to formally devise 10 rules for football, then played as a variant of English public school football to keep cricketers fit in the off-season.
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The meeting was chaired by star cricketer of the day Tom Wills.
Just a three-minute walk from the MCG, the hotel was also reportedly where the Melbourne Football Club and East Melbourne Cricket Club were founded.
Later renamed the MCG Hotel, the building was converted in a project overseen by heritage architects from Lovell Chen, to ensure its heritage integrity remained intact, as part of the Classic East Melbourne residential development.
Owner Neil Arrowsmith said he and wife Lisa bought the three-bedroom apartment within 15 minutes of seeing the off-the-plan drawings, more than five years ago.
The pair are passionate about the site’s history and have a picture of Wills hanging on their wall.
“Tom Wills and three guys sat down, basically in our lounge room, and wrote the rules of football,” Mr Arrowsmith said.
The living area, which has a gas fireplace surrounded by a marble hearth, previously housed three viewing rooms where hotel visitors would “stand and watch cricket with pints in hand”.
Still offering uninterrupted views across Yarra Park to the MCG, the full height picture windows fitted with acoustic glass are one of Mr Arrowsmith’s favourite features.
“It’s very quiet here, we can’t hear the football or concerts, but we are in a great location a 10-minute walk to the end of Collins St, and in other directions a 10-minute walk to Fitzroy’s Gertrude St or the centre of Richmond,” he said.
“But if I see a good game of football on television, I can head across and watch half a game.”
Behind the former hotel’s Victorian-era facade, the penthouse boasts 3.8m-high ceilings, three bathrooms, a study, ducted heating and cooling and a large kitchen complete with an island bench and Miele appliances.
A walk-in wardrobe and ensuite star in the main bedroom suite.
Occupying an entire floor, the penthouse measures about 214 sqm. A landscaped garden, shared with other Classic East Melbourne residents, is located on a higher level.
Below the penthouse is a communal lounge and kitchen where the owners and tenants catch up every month for drinks.
Mr Arrowsmith said he and Lisa were selling up to move to a larger country-style property.
Kay & Burton’s Monique Depierre described the penthouse as “elegant, luxurious and expansive”.
“It’s completely unique, it’s just got an incredible story within its walls,” Ms Depierre said.
Expressions of interest close at 12pm on September 19.
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Originally published as East Melbourne: Penthouse in former Parade Hotel where Aussie rules football was created is up for sale
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