Major Renovations Start to Convert Middle Park's Danish Club, into Areas Most Valuable Home

IT was established as a place to celebrate, preserve and share the Danish culture and heritage – but now all that remains of Middle Park’s historic former Danish Club building, is its facade.
 
Victoria’s richest woman, Naomi Milgrom, has started a major renovation of the 120-year old Beaconsfield Parade mansion, which she bought off the Club for $12.5 million in an off-market deal two years ago.
 
Upon completion next year, the 2,000 square metre estate is expected to be worth about $20 million, making it the highest valued home in Middle Park and one of the most expensive in Melbourne.
 
Ms Milgrom, who will relocate from Toorak, is the owner of fashion giant Sussan Group, and chair of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. Until last year she was also chair of the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, the country’s largest consumer and retail fashion event.
 
After dwindling membership, the Danish Club sold the property and relocated to rented CBD office accommodation. It occupied the Middle Park site since about 1938, later adding function rooms and squash courts to land at the rear. These are now being demolished, and are expected to be replaced with a tennis court, pool and garden.

Earlier this year, Chinese investors paid $10 million for the former Naval & Military Club in Little Collins Street. That sale included a permit to redevelop the site, next door to the prestigious Melbourne’s Club, into a $70 million, 32-level apartment building and hotel.