Lithium boss drops another $40m in Toorak
Six months after paying Barbara Walker $61 million for the Toorak mansion, Huntingfield, she built with late husband, Ron, then $12 million for a home next door, Phoenix Lithium chief executive officer and horse trainer Nick Wakim has quietly snapped up a home up the road for his son, Alexander.
The 3669 square metre pile, 2 Myoora Road (image, top, Google Street View) and 54 Albany, is speculated to be costing about $40 million following an off-market deal by Forbes’ Michael Gibson.
Dion and Sandra (or Sandy), Abrahams were the vendors; the property includes a contemporary dwelling with pool and tennis court, on the western boundary.
An almost-rectangle 1074 sqm tract to the east, with 31.8 metres fronting Albany Rd, added in c2008, was unsuccessfully marketed for sale in 2015 and 2017.
The estate is opposite Lindsay and Paula Fox’s Eulinya, which covers over 7000 sqm at the south east corner of Irving Rd, also facing Ottawa.
The Munz family, of horse training fame, are also neighbours, securing 56 Albany Rd from the Cannon family for $8.05m in 2016.
Mr Gibson, who also brokered that deal, declined to comment about 2 Myoora and 54 Albany Rd.
Wakims double down in Toorak’s best street
With it likely the estate won’t be subdivided, Alexander Wakim is expected to adopt the Albany Rd address – the row is considered Melbourne’s most exclusive.
Amongst the residents are Chadstone Shopping Centre co-owner, John Gandel, Jayco Caravan founder Gerry Ryan – who also owns racehorses – and Jonathan Deague (story continues below).
Rosie Lew, the ex-wife of billionaire businessman Solomon, calls the road home too, in the landmark Whernside.
Also a neighbour is Ausvest’s David Wu who last year sold a vacant St Georges Rd, Toorak, property, for years dubbed the ghost house, for $88m including GST to stake co-founder, Ed Craven, who recently razed it for a new build.
Wakim spending spree passes $145m
Nick Wakim’s Albany Rd pile includes the Huntingfield mansion built in the 1990s by the Walkers on 3291 sqm at the south west corner of Kenley Court.
The neighbouring dwelling, #59 Albany Rd, on 867 sqm, was picked up following an off-market deal brokered by Mr Gibson.
Those vendors, the Wibowo family, outlaid $2.175m, in mid-2006.
It is rumoured Mr Wakim will replace the entire site with something new, though Huntingfield’s front façade could also work – in fact it would become more symmetrical – if extended into #59.
The executive, also a member of the Melbourne, Moonee Valley and Victorian racing clubs, has extended his recent spending spree to outside of 3142 – last year picking up 1233ha Goulburn Valley estates near Seymour: Allanvane for $30m, and the 73ha Hilldene Farm, for $2.85m, in mid-2021.
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