Inside Toorak’s $15m+ French chateau-style estate

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1 Greenknowe Court, Toorak - for herald sun real estate

A slice of French style at 1 Greenknowe Court, Toorak.

A tres bien Toorak estate reminiscent of a grand French manor is ready for a $15m-$16.5m sale.

The 870sq m property at 1 Greenknowe Court was created as a tribute to classical 19th-century French design, from the hand-picked chandeliers to parterre gardens by famous landscape designer Paul Bangay.

The three-bedroom house’s owners even travelled to France with their interior decorator John Coote to research and find era-appropriate features and fittings.

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However, there’s also plenty of modern features such as the six-car garage with a lift, wine cellar, powder room and combined bedroom and study.

Marshall White director Marcus Chiminello, who has the listing alongside colleagues Nicole French and Mandy Zhu, said the jaw-dropping home had attracted interest from interstate buyers within a few days of being listed.

“A buyer is planning to fly in from Sydney to inspect this week,” Mr Chiminello said.

The home’s owners, who had previously lived nearby, bought the address in 1996.

They built the French-inspired abode to downsize into, moving in across 1999 to 2000.

Prahran-based architect Robert Mills designed the house while antique curator Graham Geddes worked on the project as well.

The study and library features custom-made shelving, a marble fireplace and patterned carpet.

The six-car garage can be accessed by a lift.

Acclaimed landscape designer Paul Bangay designed the parterre gardens, a formally-designed outdoor area with hallmarks emphasising symmetry, patterns and geometric shapes.

Mr Chiminello said stepping into the elegant pad was similar to walking into a French chateau.

While Melbourne is home to many French-style houses, No. 1 Greenknowe Court “has been done with absolute care and authenticity”.

“The owners loved France and had a real passion for it – it was a real passion project,” Mr Chiminello

Located in a cul-de-sac off St Georges Rd, the residence features a triple-brick facade, wide hallways, marble fireplaces and formal and informal living spaces.

The kitchen is fitted with Miele appliances and a granite-topped island bench.

A granite-topped island anchors the kitchen space.

It might look like the entry way to a historic European home but it’s actually in Toorak, Australia.

An open-plan living and dining zone, warmed by a sandstone fireplace, has multiple French doors which open to a north-facing paved courtyard with sculpted hedges and high walls.

The main bedroom suite offers a vine-draped terrace, dressing room and marble-fitted bathroom.

A second bedroom features an ensuite, walk-in wardrobes and a linen cupboard.

Mr Chiminello said the “moody” library and study boasting rich timber panelling, a fireplace and extensive shelving was one of his favourite rooms.

“I would describe the house as a very luxurious, sophisticated and considered home that has been flawlessly executed,” he said.

In the living and dining area, French doors open to the leafy rear courtyard.

Two marble-fitted ensuites feature in the house.

But there’s also a sense of functionality and homeliness throughout, he added.

“It’s not just all show and no go, it is very well put together,” Mr Chiminello said.

“If someone was to try and replicate some of the qualities of the build today, you would barely have change from $7m.”

This figure does not include the land itself which the owners purchased for $1.2m in 1996, records show.

Mr Chiminello said he anticipated Melbourne’s top end was in for a busy spring.

“It’s very quiet on an inventory front, which I think will only fuel demand,” he said.