New owner for rundown Toorak mansion with a wild history

The formerly-grand mansion at 611 Toorak Rd, Toorak.

A dilapidated Toorak mansion with a colourful history has fetched more than $5m.

Named Cloyne, the circa-1926 Georgian Revival house at 611 Toorak Rd was scheduled to go under the hammer on Saturday.

But due to a high level of interest from buyers, a boardroom auction for the property was held on Thursday.

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Jellis Craig Stonnington director Nathan Waterson declined to comment on the sold price but industry insiders indicated the five-bedroom home changed hands for a figure above the $4.75m-$5.225m asking range.

The abode featuring a ballroom and a pool flanked by lion statues was previously owned by Louis Nelken, who was reportedly a butler to King George VI.

In 1935, newspapers covered a reception that Mr Nelken and his wife Lesley held for guests to meet the then-political candidate for the seat of Fawkner, Harold Holt.

Mr Holt later became the Australian Prime Minister and disappeared while swimming near Portsea in 1967.

The Nelken’s parties often made the gossip columns including a 1948 Melbourne Cup eve soiree they hosted for 300 people.

The mansion has been vacant for some years, with half-renovated rooms throughout.

Prime Minister Harold Holt served in Australia’s top political role from 1966 until his disappearance and presumed death in 1967.

The pool as it looks today …

… and a photo from about a decade earlier.

Two years later, thieves broke into Cloyne and stole £5500 worth of jewellery, drank a bottle of Mr Nelken’s beer and smoked his cigarettes.

In the 1960s, Melbourne playboy and pilot Don Busch owned Cloyne before it was sold to hotelier William Drever.

The mansion, which is protected under a heritage overlay, was designed by influential Australian architect Harold Desbrowe-Annear.

Its interior has been subject to partial renovations across past years and requires significant work to restore its former glory.

A spiral staircase in the entrance hallway and a gallery-style landing.

The first floor ballroom can be accessed directly from the garden.

Three bidders contested the auction for Cloyne including one Canberra-based buyer, although the house was bought by a Melbourne family.

“I would say that all parties were there due to the architectural heritage of the home, the Harold Desbrowe-Annear design was a drawcard for a lot of people,” Mr Waterson said.

According to PropTrack, Victoria recorded a preliminary 68.4 per cent clearance rate from 250 early auction results this week.

About 1058 homes are expected to go under the hammer across the state next week.

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