Besen House sale smashes Melbourne record

The buyer of the modernist Toorak home, which sports six powder rooms and a cargo lift for the art gallery, revealed.

The Tooral property was put on the market in October

A low-profile infrastructure executive has smashed the Melbourne house price record paying $26.25 million for the modernist Besen House in Toorak which sports six powder rooms and a cargo lift for the art gallery.

Netflow managing director Phil Dreaver bought the Towers Road, Toorak mansion from rich listers Daniel and Danielle Besen, trumping Melbourne’s previous record of $24.1m set in July 2015 when Tony and Jennifer Smorgon sold their Robertson Street home in the same up-market suburb.

Daniel and Danielle Besen, who reportedly separated last year, are described as entrepreneurs, arts patrons, and members of the billionaire family which founded retail chain Sussan.

Mr Besen declined to comment on the sale of his four-bedroom, five-bathroom home last night saying: “You are very welcome to write what you like.”

The Wood Marsh-designed home was marketed as representing the pinnacle of modern residential design.

The property, which was never occupied by the Besen’s features a cargo lift for the gallery, a 6-car basement garage, six powder rooms, two wine rooms and irrigation.

The Besen’s put the Towers Road property on the market in October. The home was listed through Marshall White director Marcus Chiminello and interest had been tipped to go as high as $30m. Mr Chiminello declined to comment.

The property is set on a 2300 square metre block and also has a library, a media room, a wine lounge, as well as a retreat, and several other living, dining and entertaining spaces.

The home has four bedrooms and five bathrooms.

Little is known about Mr Dreaver except that he has previously worked for investment bank ABN Amro and the Plenary operation, one of Australia’s most successful infrastructure investors.

Ms Besen spent six years overseeing construction of the luxury home.

The Wood Marsh-designed home was marketed as representing the pinnacle of modern residential design, sporting a sculpturally striking facade of raw textured concrete, scalloped in sweeping arcs.

A double-height foyer opens into a light-filled interior with the home forming a crescent around a verdant lawn and garden.

Speaking through a spokesman Mr Dreaver declined to comment on his Toorak purchase last night.