Ivanhoe Art Deco built for Sir Albert Victor (AV) Jennings hits the market
Postscript: this home sold at auction for $1.335 million following competition by two suitors.
A renovated Moderne Art Deco residence built in 1938 to be the family home of Sir Albert Victor (AV) Jennings (pictured, top) is for sale.
Beaumont at 8 Melcolmbe Road has a price guide of between $1.25 and $1.35 million.
It shares the same name as the heritage protected Beaumont Estate Sir Albert built in the street.
According to this 2017 biography published by Donald Green, AV Jennings was established in 1933 following the construction of a house at 78 Booran Road, Glen Huntly, which Sir Albert mortgaged his own home to fund.
Estates including Beauville at Murrumbeena and Beauview at Ivanhoe East were developed at about the same as Beaumont.
“He sold most [homes] on contract from plans because this method offered greater security than speculative building,” Mr Green said. “The practice would become a hallmark of his business”.
The businessman, by then known as AV, employed architectural student Ed Gurney to design his projects.
Mr Gurney penned 8 Melcolme Road to be the family home of Mr Jennings.
The three-bedroom dwelling is part of a duplex with the neighbouring property (#6) originally fit out as an AV Jennings sales office.
Now a family home, 6 Melcolme Road sold last year for $1.2 million, following a campaign by Jellis Craig’s Josh Saunders and Kieran Whaley.
The same brokers are taking #8 to auction on September 7.
Beaumont occupies a 431 square metre parcel.
“The home graciously blends modern day comforts with utmost respect to heritage elegance, providing lifestyle excellent only moments from blue-ribbon Ivanhoe amenity,” the agents said.
The residence includes an entrance hall with high ceilings, Rimu floors in the lounge and dining room and period features throughout.
Outside, there is a Kanmantoo bluestone paved patio and pond water feature.
Upstairs, the dwelling offers 180 degree views over the suburb, which is about 10 kilometres north east of the Melbourne CBD.
The Ivanhoe Village and Ivahoe train station is walking distance, the agents said.
The Brunswick born Sir Albert was knighted in 1969 and retired in 1972. It is claimed his company had built 80,000 dwellings nationally by 1980.
A park in Willetton, south of Perth, is also named after the company founder.
Last May, Sir Albert was inducted into the Property Council of Australia’s Hall of Fame – an award accepted by his grandson Dr Iain Jennings.
“It’s virtually impossible to measure the legacy of Sir Albert Jennings,” Dr Jennings said. “He was the instigator of high volume residential housing that offered Australians quality homes that included modern conveniences at no extra cost”.
“Many of his innovations are still used by the industry today, including display homes and cul-de-sacs.
“Our Company is delighted to endorse this wonderful recognition for a property pioneer and we continue to dedicate ourselves to his original vision of developing great communities”.
