Heidelberg's heritage trophy home, Banyule sells for $5.2 million

Heidelberg's heritage trophy home, Banyule sells for $5.2 million
Jonathan ChancellorMay 15, 2015

The Gothic Revival Banyule at Heidelberg has been sold for $5.2 million, having failed to sell last year when listed with a $5.5 million asking price.

The heritage-protected 1840s homestead - one of the oldest remaining residences in Victoria - once sat on a 266 hectare holding. 

The eight bedroom, four bathroom mansion had been listed by Prue Jones at RT Edgar who expected $5 million plus.

The Buckingham Drive homestead now on a 9,085 square metre holding was designed by architect John Gill for the English-born pioneer Joseph Hawdon in 1846 whose family retained the home until the 1860s.

The Gothic style was unusual for Melbourne, but more popular in Sydney.

Built before the discovery of gold, there are a handful of other buildings in Melbourne of this age, but many were originally small cottages that were extended later to become large homes.

In 1974 Banyule Homestead was purchased from the Simpson family for a below valuation $190,000 price by the Hamer state government, then opened as an annex by the National Gallery of Victoria.

The homestead was sold by the Kennett state government in 1995 for $815,000 to the current vendors.

Jonathan Chancellor

Jonathan Chancellor is one of Australia's most respected property journalists, having been at the top of the game since the early 1980s. Jonathan co-founded the property industry website Property Observer and has written for national and international publications.

Editor's Picks

First home buyers jump at Victoriana apartments on Melbourne's Albert Park
Sekisui House Australia approved for Dawn, the latest stage at $5 billion Melrose Park masterplan
Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown
Aurora On Depper, St Lucia: Construction Update
R.Iconic: A Lifestyle-First Masterpiece in Melbourne