Mick Gatto returns home to his Mt Martha house after it was raided by police. Picture: Jason Edwards.
The about $3m fortress-like compound of Mick Gatto that was raided by police this week is the neighbourhoods best guarded address.
Behind an imposing gate topped with sharpened protrusions and adorned with multiple security cameras, and also hosting a sizeable german shepherd, it’s the kind of place where you see people coming from a long way off — with the neighbourhood at the apex of Mount Martha.
There’s more cameras and sensors along the front of the residence, as well as a series of floodlight-style security lights that cover much of the front yard, and even a metres tall chain-link fence surrounding a sports court in the front yard with half of the block further protected by extensive spiked plants in front of the fenceline.
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Up until the police search earlier this week, there was also a “toothpick” that could have come in handy in a pinch.
Only a handful of the homes in the rest of the street even have a front fence, with most leaving boats and cars parked in the driveways of open yards.
With views as far as Melbourne’s CBD and Port Phillip Bay in addition to at least half a dozen cameras, Gatto certainly would have had the opportunity to see police coming on Wednesday this week when they raided the home early in the morning and arrested him over what he has described as a “speeding fine”.
The police’s visit allegedly also uncovered a knife at the property, which Gatto has told journalists was a “toothpick”.
The colourful identity was released without charge after the raid by Victoria Police’s Taskforce Hawk that is targeting criminality in the building industry.
Spiked fencing and security cameras, welcome to Mick Gatto’s place. Picture: Jason Edwards.
Real estate photos from 2009 show the home’s incredible view. Picture: Cotality.
A double-sided fireplace separates the home’s main living area from the main bedroom.
But it would be hard for the police to catch him by surprise if they made a second visit.
The street he lives in is a dead end on one side, while the only way to access it is another little used road.
Gatto bought the address that has one of the suburb’s highest vantages and some of its best views for $1.7m back in 2009.
It was an absolute steal by today’s prices, with the home’s value now estimated closer to $2.91m — and potentially as much as $3.7m, depending on what he’s done since moving in.
Locals note that hilltop homes nearby can be worth as much as $4m, but the latest sale in the street, two doors down the road in 2024, made just $2.85m.
It’s also the kind of neighbourhood where the only people around are there for a reason, with no through traffic in the cul-de-sac.
What is known is that the original home’s pool, built alongside the house in 2007, got replaced in 2019 with the current infinity edge water feature.
A home theatre with a bar and room for a drumkit featured in the property in 2009. Picture: Cotality.
Cameras and security lights along the facade of the home cover the front yard. Picture: Jason Edwards.
A fireplace keeps the home’s main bedroom cosy.
Planning and title documents indicate the 1533sq m property is in Cheryl’s name and that the pair spent about $75,000, and took out a loan to cover its renewal — with the dimensions of the space where works were completed listed as 88sq m, bigger than most apartments.
It replaced an about $50,000 pool and spa space from 2007-2008 that had a Tahitian-style thatched bungalow built next to it.
Today there’s a pizza oven with a hanging bracket for a pizza paddle against a modest outbuilding in the bungalow’s old space.
Back then, a terrace with bay views stepped down to the pool, but with its now raised status it’s possible the water feature also has a water view today.
In addition to the security intended to deter people, there’s also a pair of fake birds of prey in high vantages to ward off wildlife.
He’s also added a modest sports court at the front of the home, but hidden from view by extensive trees along the front boundary.
At the rear there’s room for an impressive playground for the grandkids, and what appears to be more security cameras on the rear of the residence.
The home’s kitchen in 2009 had plenty space for cooking. Image: Cotality.
Images from the home’s old pool set up show a much less security conscious front yard that used to be present at the house. Image: Cotality.
Other changes are less clear, but when they moved in the home was a 52 square giant that had brought in materials from around the world including walls of quartz that were imported from China, and lava stone benchtops in the kitchen — which are often sourced from Italy and France.
In 2009 the six-bedroom floorplan included a home theatre with its own bar, an upstairs balcony that had views stretching as far as Melbourne’s CBD, a guest’s bedroom suite, three bathrooms, two more powder rooms and a workshop at the rear of the double garage.
Also on the list of inclusions were a double-sided gas fireplace that separates the main bedroom from the main living area, surround sound audio systems, a coffee machine
But the sale of the Lower Plenty address the pair used to call home might give some hints as to what changes they might have made.
So far the front gates of their new digs haven’t been updated to match their old ones, which were substantially bigger and showcased a Versace medusa’s head at the centre.
The gate at the Gatto family’s former residence in Lower Plenty.
Their old home also used to come with a boxing gym.
A luxurious interior included framed homages to gangster films including Goodfellas.
Listing photos at the time of the 2009 sale also showed the home came with its own boxing gym, complete with a ring, punching bags and even an almost life-size portrait of Mick on the wall.
There’s no permit for that at his new place, but with a sprawling floorplan — he might have been able to squeeze it in without too much work.
His old home also showed off his love of gangster films, with a framed Goodfellas display among those seen on the walls at the time.
Photos of former friends were also seen throughout the old residence, including underworld figure Graham “the Munster” Kinniburgh who was slain at his Kew home.
Past luxuries favoured by the Gattos included chandeliers, an impressive pool and spa flanked by an outdoor barbecue zone, a sprawling kitchen with an octagon island bench in the centre and space for a pool table.
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