Abandoned Cockatoo mansion set for Grand Designs-style makeover

Ben and Betty Pop are the proud new owners of an abandoned Cockatoo mansion which was 2024’s most-viewed property at realestate.com.au. Picture: Ian Currie.

An abandoned, graffiti-covered eyesore on Melbourne’s outskirts almost sold to bikies as a club house is set to become a “Toorak mansion in the bush”.

Its new owners are planning to revive the derelict home with an infinity pool and rooftop garden, but still make a permanent feature of illegal artworks spray-painted across the home throughout a decade of neglect that has left it with every door smashed to pieces and no functioning toilets.

Betty and Ben Pop bought the Cockatoo home this year, despite the property sitting mostly empty for at least 10 years during which time it has been targeted by vandals and damaged by disuse.

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The couple are expecting to spend up to seven figures bringing the 1960s’ icon back to life and have revealed they will keep some of its lime green interiors as an homage to the property’s colourful past — and have contacted the producers of Grand Designs about their plans.

Set on 5.3ha, the eight-bedroom house featuring a turret-like external staircase has become a local landmark thanks to its prominent Woori Yallock Rd position, one of the area’s busiest thoroughfares.

It is believed the mansion was originally built by a couple from a Romanian background who wanted a large family, but never had children.

In 2015, the still incomplete address sold, but remained unoccupied.

After it was put on the market in 2024, it became Australia’s most-viewed property for the year on realestate.com.au — with dozens of commenters labelling it an eyesore on social media.

The circa-1960s mansion on Woori Yallock Rd, Cockatoo, is often photographed by passers-by for social media.

Ben and Betty Pop inside the house where the signature lime-green walls have been covered in graffiti across the years. Picture: Ian Currie.

The mansion when it was previously listed for sale, in 2015.

Ranges First National Real Estate Belgrave and Cockatoo director Mick Dolphin and colleague Anthony Iorlano said they had received up to 1000 buyer inquiries about the mansion.

When Mr Dolphin had the listing a decade ago, multiple motorcycle gangs inspected the property in the hopes of turning it into a clubhouse.

A laser tag company also held a demonstration event there.

Ms Pop, who has a mortgage-broking business, BettyLee Finance, said she fell in love with the mansion at first sight, despite its derelict condition, and printed off a photo to stick on the wall as her dream home.

Mr Pop was initially resistant to buying a property listed for $900,000-$950,000 with smashed windows and knee-high grass, but his wife eventually convinced him they should do so.

Listing agents, First National Real Estate Belgrave and Cockatoo’s Anthony Iorlano (far left) and Mick Dolphin (far right), with new owners Ben and Betty Pop. Picture: Ian Currie.

Mr and Ms Pop will document the mansion’s transformation on social media at @cockatoomansion on Instagram, @cockatoo.mansion on TikTok and Cockatoo Mansion on Facebook. Picture: Ian Currie.

The husband and wife, who run a concrete grinding business, will tackle the home as their fifth renovation together – however, on a much larger scale than their previous efforts.

“Ben said at the start, ‘Do you know how much work there is to do?’” Ms Pop said.

“My family thought we were crazy.”

Their estimated renovation budget is $800,000-$1m and they hope it will take 18 months to finish with their team of builders and other professionals, once planning approvals are in place.

The Pops are hoping to include street art in their makeover of the mansion with a feature wall, and replicas of some existing works throughout the home. Picture: Ian Currie.

A view across the surrounding greenery from the mansion’s upper level. Picture: Ian Currie.

Ms Pop said she and her husband of 18 years were “just ordinary people” with the goal of creating an amazing residence.

She started working at 16 and later took on three jobs to pay for their first home, while Mr Pop would work 24-hour shifts.

Mr Pop described the home as their future “Toorak mansion in the bush”, and said they hoped to include a lift, rooftop garden and bar, an infinity pool and replicas of the street art around the home today.

Mr and Ms Pop have previously renovated four homes together but the Cockatoo mansion will be their biggest undertaking yet. Picture: Ian Currie.

The property has previously hosted a laser tag demonstration and was even inspected by motorcycle gangs, when it was up for sale in 2015. Picture: Ian Currie.

The pair, both from Romanian backgrounds, want to create a home to host special events with their extended families.

While Ms Pop adores the mansion, it took her months to gather courage to explore the somewhat creepy, unlit lower level which was once used as a cellar.

The couple are keen to share their renovation journey with the community via social media and less than a month after it was started their Cockatoo Mansion Instagram account has gained more than 12,000 followers.

As for who think the home is an eyesore or should be bulldozed, Ms Pop said demolishing the mansion had never crossed her mind.

“I guess what’s an eyesore to them is beautiful to me, I can see the potential in it,” she said.

“When you have property like this from 1965, why would you knock down something with so much history and so much potential?”

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