Walker family sell Toorak’s Huntingfield
In a boost for Melbourne’s top end residential sector, the priciest of two mansions recently listed in Toorak’s Albany Road – considered the city’s best street – sold to an as yet undisclosed buyer on Monday, six days after the close of an expressions of interest campaign.
Huntingfield, at #55, was offered by Barbara Walker, the wife of lord mayor and businessman, Ron, who died in 2018.
Between $55-$60 million was expected when it hit the market in April; Kay & Burton’s Gowan Stubbings, Gerald Delany and Jamie Mi ran the campaign.
The result is understood to have come in at just over that range – making it Victoria’s third most valuable residential transaction following deals last year: 27-29 St Georges Rd, which Ed Craven acquired for just over $80m, and Blair House, also on that street, which collected $74.5m from Message Media founder Grant Rule.
Prior to then, Malvern’s Stonington mansion – the state’s former government house – held the title as Melbourne’s priciest home earning art dealer Rod Menzies $52.5m in early 2018.
Mr Walker, who also held positions as liberal party treasurer and Grand Prix Australia chairman, died following a six year battle with cancer, aged 78.
The family retains a Sorrento home which, in his will, the businessman said hopes remains owned by loved ones for generations, as well as Queensland properties at Noosa and Noosa Heads.
Next chapter for Huntingfield
Constructed by the Walkers in the 1990s, Huntingfield contains six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and an eight car garage.
With Colonial cues, the home is renovated – differentiating it from another mansion in the street, a c1941 Geoffrey Sommers at #35-39, which the family of late businessman David Hains also offered last quarter, with a $39-$42.5m-plus guide (story continues below).
That dwelling occupies a 3611 sqm plot.
Huntingfield by comparison spreads 3300 sqm.
Being on the south west corner of Kenley Court, the Walker property is also an easier prospect to subdivide and sell down with at least two sizeable family homes, each with street access, or even townhouses, able to replace a tennis court and pool.
Mr Stubbings said several offers came in from local and offshore suitors.
His deal comes a month since the Lourdenadin family offered Carinya, in the suburb’s Clendon Rd, with $42m-plus price hopes.
Earlier this year, meanwhile, the Alfasi family banked $34m for their contemporary Whernside Avenue mansion.
More to come.
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