New owners of Toorak’s Darnlee facing hefty reno bill

The 47-bedroom Toorak mansion Darnlee has sold for $20m with the buyers facing a major renovation of up to $10m.

Darnlee is positioned in one of Toorak’s most prestigious boulevards.

The 47-bedroom historic Toorak mansion, Darnlee, has sold for around $20m in one of Melbourne’s higher priced sales of the year with the buyer facing a major renovation of the house positioned on more than 3500 sqm.

The property was listed by aged care operator Blue Cross in February through RT Edgar agent Antoinette Nido who initially placed a $20m to $22m price guide on it.

Ms Nido said on Thursday that she attracted 55 registered buyers for the 33 Lansell Rd property which included seven serious bidders.

The buyer is believed to be a wealthy local couple, however Ms Nido declined to comment on their identity.

Local sources estimated the property, which sports large public rooms and is unrenovated needs at least $6m to $10m to restore it to a luxury home.

Ms Nido declared it was an extraordinary sales result given the property needs a significant renovation to reinstate it to a single luxury home and the “result was a reflection of the strength of the top end of the market.”

The property which includes a commercial kitchen and dated bathrooms was sold vacant possession and via an expressions of interest campaign.

Darnlee is positioned in one of Toorak’s most prestigious boulevards where Sam Gance, the chief executive of Chemist Warehouse paid $43.1m for 47 Lansell Rd in 2021.

While Rob Zagame of Melbourne’s wealthy hospitality family paid around $25m for 43 Lansell Rd that year.

It is understood Blue Cross decided to sell the property as it was too small to operate as an optimum aged care facility.