Melbourne council buys century old estate
A Melbourne council is spending c$12 million on a century old home covering nearly an acre of established gardens, it is speculated, for a park.
The 3934 square metre Glen Iris holding at 9 Scott Grove, at the T-intersection of Hilary, is being acquired by the City of Stonnington after being offered for the first time since it was built, late last year.
Zoned Growth Residential, the parcel was marketed for its potential to make way for apartments or townhouses; elevated, it offers city skyline views.
An original four bedroom home on the block is not protected by an overlay.
Marshall White’s Marcus Chiminello and Jack Nicol were the agents.
The deal, agreed in mid-December, but yet to settle, continues a string of local councils buying properties to repurpose for public space.
Last February, Merri-Bek City Council outlaid $18m for a 6634 sqm Pascoe Vale South amalgamation once permitted for a major apartment and townhouse project, for a park (story continues below).
In the four years prior, it spent another c$35m on assets for this purpose, part of its A Park Close to Home initiative.
In 2022 meanwhile, Yarra Ranges Shire bought Kilsyth’s ex-Pembroke Secondary College – again for a garden.
Closer to the CBD, the City of Melbourne acquired sites on the north side of Hawke St, West Melbourne, for a linear park, approved last May.
Properties in suburbs like City of Yarra’s Fitzroy and Brunswick (with Merri-Bek council) have also in recent years been bought for community use, often using levies paid by developers behind local projects.
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