Old Is New Again

The Age

Saturday November 29, 2008

Katherine Townsend

Katherine Townsend visits two mansion makeovers.

AFTER a complex and occasionally fraught consultation and planning process, the housing development surrounding Malvern's Stonington mansion has been released for sale, with half of the first stage selling within four weeks.

Ashington's $150 million project, "Stonington Malvern", offers apartments, terraces and townhouses on the sloping 1.7-hectare site in a mix of classical and contemporary designs. The firm's executive director, Craig Minahan, says all the housing types have sold well - mostly to locals. "Many of our buyers come from between one and three kilometres away," he says.

The development's top-of-the-range accommodation faces Somers Street, with five mansion-style homes that have within them 12 luxurious single-level residences from 254 square metres to 376 square metres.

Designed by Demaine Partnership in a style that echoes surrounding architecture, the mansion homes have white brickwork and grey roofs.

Priced from $2.9 million to $3.65million, they are luxurious and large, with three bedrooms plus study. Some also have an attic. All have north-facing outdoor areas.

The four-storey Mansion Garden Apartments building sits between the mansion and the original stables block and will have 12 apartments and two penthouses in a curved, light-filled design.

These apartments are also aimed at the empty-nester market and range from 165 square metres to 297 square metres, with two or three bedrooms and a study.

Both the Somers Street residences and the Mansion Garden Apartments will have luxurious finishes. Prices for the apartments range from $2.1 million to $3.8 million.

Behind the mansion, there will also be 31 contemporary-styled terraces designed by Rothe Lowman and aimed at younger buyers.

To be built over two or three levels, these terraces will have a leafy outlook with views of the mansion, the Dandenong Ranges or the extensive gardens. Prices range from $780,000 to $1 million.

A display suite is open in the stables each afternoon from Saturday to Wednesday.

Maysbury Mansions

Address: 1 Maysbury Avenue, Elsternwick

Price: $429,000-$699,000

Private sale

Agent: Whiting & Co Real Estate, StKilda, 95348014

Melway: 67 G3

The refurbishment and the internal subdivision of a 120-year-old Italianate mansion into one and two-bedroom apartments offers buyers a taste of the once-grand life.

There are 13 apartments and townhouses that retain many of the 1880s mansion's features.

The project is the work of a builder/developer who has added two townhouses in the grounds.

Half of the development remains for sale, and floor plans vary widely, from a small one-bedroom apartment to split-level apartments of grand proportions.

Whiting and Co marketing agent Dannie Corr says owner-occupiers have been drawn by the proximity to Glen Huntly Road and the beautiful contemporary finishes among the period features.

"All of them are different, but the developer's done a great job. He's done this work before and it takes a lot of time and commitment."

-- KATHERINE TOWNSEND

Stonington

Address: cnr Glenferrie Road and Somers Street, Malvern

Price: $780,000-$3.8 million

Private sale: Ashington, 1800005980

Melway: 59 C6

© 2008 The Age

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