Chemist Warehouse boss leads billionaire Melb home buys

The 6340sq m Toorak property which Chemist Warehouse co-founder Jack Gance and wife Evelynne bought for about $80m.

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Billionaires and their families were among the richlisters making massive moves across Melbourne’s real estate market in the past 12 months.

A circa-$80m Toorak deal inked by Chemist Warehouse co-founder Jack Gance has taken the crown as Victoria’s priciest property transaction of the 2025-26 financial year.

Other big names attached to the state’s priciest home transactions include cryptocurrency mogul Jordan Fish, former JB Hi Fi boss Richard Bouris and the most successful Melbourne Cup winning horse owner of all time, Lloyd Williams.

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Even a celebrity couple consisting of an Australian-Taiwanese model Hannah Quinlivan and Taiwanese pop superstar Jay Chou have been linked to an about $45m Toorak deal.

Pharmacy boss Mr Gance and wife Evelynne topped the list when they snapped up a pair of neighbouring Lansell Rd properties spanning 6340sq m in November, with the deal brokered by Kay & Burton’s Ross Savas and Nick Kenyon.

Along with his brother and fellow Chemist Warehouse co-founder Sam, Mr Gance is worth a combined $10.19bn.

Chemist Warehouse co-founders Jack (pictured) and Sam Gance started the company in Reservoir, in 1972. It has since merged with Sigma Healthcare and grown to more than 600 outlets. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian.

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This seven-bedroom Toorak mansion featuring a pool, nine bathrooms and a reception hall fetched circa-$45m, in 2026.

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Star couple Hannah Quinlivan and Jay Chou. It’s believed Ms Quinlivan’s father Patrick placed a caveat over a Toorak home in April. Picture: Supplied/Instagram.

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Victoria’s second most expensive residence of the past 12 months was a Mediterranean Revival-style Toorak mansion sold for roughly $45m, according to industry sources.

The house had a caveat placed on it under the name of Patrick Quinlivan, in April.

Mr Quinlivan is believed to be the father of actor and Vogue model Hannah Quinlivan, the wife of the “King of Mandopop” and Hollywood star Jay Chou who has sold more 30 million records worldwide.

The property was listed through Melbourne Sotheby’s International Realty Antoinette Nido and Max Ruttner, who declined to comment on the sale.

However, Ms Nido said she had noticed a “real uptick in buyer optimism” recently despite interest rate rises and Melbourne’s auction clearance rate gradually decreasing since spring 2025.

“I think at the moment we’re in a cycle, property cycles aren’t new, and I think smart money is taking advantage of significant buying opportunities,” she said.

This character-filled Brighton residence changed hands for more than $30m.

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British cryptocurrency entrepreneur Jordan Fish, also known as Cobie, secured a Hawthorn mansion in the first half of 2026. Picture: X@cobie

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This Kinane St, Brighton, mansion sold for circa-$25m. The impressive home boasts a pool and spa, tennis court, outdoor kitchen, gym, steam room and a 1200-bottle wine cellar.

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A $32.8m Brighton sale, $31.75m Portsea deal and $30m Hawthorn transaction round out the state’s costliest property purchases since July 1, 2025.

Kay & Burton’s Scott Patterson declined to comment on the Hawthorn home industry insiders said was bought by British cryptocurrency entrepreneur Jordan Fish, also known as Cobie.

The top five Victorian home sales of the last financial year added up to more than $219m combined.

This sum could purchase 220 median-priced Melbourne houses, with PropTrack data showing the city’s typical house price hit $995,000 in May.

In April, former JB Hi-Fi joint managing director Richard Bouris sold his house in Shandford Ave, Brighton. Picture: Jake Nowakowski.

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Mr Bouris with his daughter Michelle Greene, who is co-founder of Bec Judd’s JAGGAD clothing label. Picture: Michelle Green/Instagram.

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This Docklands penthouse was the subject of a $20.5m deal. It’s located within the 1 Hotel & Homes development, that’s part of developer Riverlee’s $600m Seafarers mixed-use project.

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Another high-flying businessman, ex-JB Hi Fi boss Richard Bouris, farewelled his Brighton pad for a figure north of $25m via JP Dixon director Jonathan Dixon in April.

The month before, Regis Healthcare co-founder Bryan Dorman sold a Toorak home for circa-$20m through Marshall White’s Marcus Chiminello and Mandy Zhu.

In addition, seven-time Melbourne Cup winning horse owner and Crown Casino founder, billionaire Lloyd Williams, bid goodbye to his Melbourne penthouse for $17.7m in a deal managed by Kay & Burton’s Gerald Delany and Oliver Booth.

Lloyd Williams at the 2017 Melbourne Cup after thoroughbred Rekindling, in whom he is a part owner, placed first in the race that stops a nation. Picture: Michael Klein.

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Mr Williams farewelled his Melbourne penthouse for more than $17m, in August 2025.

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Other billionaire property moves from the past year include businessman Rodney Smorgon and wife Anne, from the richlister Smorgan family, who offloaded a Mornington Peninsula estate for $11m before Christmas.

The heir to famous German shoe brand Birkenstock, billionaire Alex Birkenstock, purchased a Brighton house for $8m in December.

As well, prominent billionaire couple John and Pauline Gandel who have a 50 per cent stake in Chadstone shopping centre, listed a 7.78ha Mornington Peninsula for $3.75m-$4.125m.

The pair also bought a 20.48ha land parcel, near their Pt. Leo Estate Sculpture Park, in December.

Records show the Gandels paid $16.75m for the site which was purchased under a company name linked to them.

And Visy heiressHeloise Pratt put a Toorak estate on the market for a whopping $60m.

Located in Montrose Court, Toorak, this mansion traded for circa-$20m. It features a rose garden, pool and spa with a poolside bathroom, temperature-controlled wine cellar and gym.

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Pauline and John Gandel are selling a 7.78ha Mornington Peninsula estate with $3.75m-$4.125m price hopes. Mr Gandel, whose parents founded the Sussan clothing chain, made much of wealth in his commercial real estate and shopping centres.

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This Flinders property, with a 900-tree olive grove, was sold by Rodney Smorgon and his wife Anne in 2025, after being listed with Forbes’ Mike Gibson and Robert Fletcher.

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Marshall White group sales director John Bongiorno said that for Melbourne buyers with deep pockets, a home’s position and quality were often the main criteria for purchasing with

suburbs such as Toorak, Brighton and Middle Park leading the pack.

Morrell and Koren buyer’s advocate to the city’s top end, Matthew Cleverdon, said unique homes which widely appealed to well-heeled buyers were not regularly listed – but were sought-after when they did pop up.

“When Melbourne’s elite and wealthy are looking for a great home, they’re a bit harder to come by than people think,” Mr Cleverdon said.

“But when they do come up, people make a move.”

An artist’s render of the Como Toorak complex, where three penthouses have been sold off the plan.

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Actors Jay Chou and Seth Rogen in a scene from the 2011 film The Green Hornet.

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VICTORIA’S TOP SALES OF THE PAST 12 MONTHS

Source: Realestate.com.au, CoreLogic RP Data.

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