Robyn Boyd House II in South Yarra Saved

Robin Boyd House II, the family home of the prominent Melbourne based architect, was to have sold last Saturday – but the scheduled auction was cancelled at the eleventh hour.

Bennison Mackinnon selling agent Oliver Bruce told Secret Agent several parties are in negotiations to work with the home’s current owner the National Trust, and the State Government – ways to buy the Walsh Street home, yet still retain it for public use.

“There are a number of interested parties looking at different terms, different prices and intentions,” he said.

Regardless, it looks like 290 Walsh Street has been spared the fate of the Stonington mansion in Malvern, which is expected to be sold to the highest private bidder later this year.

When the National Trust bought Boyd’s unique property off his wife Patricia about two years ago, it had intended to redevelop it into a headquarters for the Robin Boyd Foundation, which would promote Boyd’s design legacy.

Before too long however, high costs associated with maintaining the property – including mortgage repayments of around $200,000 per annum – forced the Trust to put the property on the market. It was expected to sell for around $3 million.

Mr Bruce was tight lipped about prospective purchasers, saying he expects an announcement to be made about its sale within the next couple of weeks.

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Marc Pallisco

A former property analyst and print journalist, Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au.