The private rooftop’s entertaining pavilion at penthouse/51 Ormond Esplanade, Elwood.
An Elwood party penthouse where 80 guests have enjoyed the rooftop pool and basketball hoop is set to become one of the suburb’s most expensive homes.
Located within the heritage-listed St Kiernan Flats, the three-level stunner is for sale with a $10m-$11m asking range after the owners spent about $1m fitting it out in homage to its art deco roots.
Only four Elwood homes – all of them houses – have ever sold for $10m or above, according to CoreLogic.
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Hogan Developments director Josh Hoogendoorn and interior designer wife Slavica purchased St Kiernan in 2016, won over by its uninterrupted 360-degree bay and Melbourne CBD views and address 20m from the beach.
They bought the site from a woman aged in her 90s who had played “property monopoly” and spent decades buying up St Kiernan’s six two-bedroom pads.
Located at 51 Ormond Esplanade, the circa-1939 building was designed by architect James Henry Esmond Dorney, the brains behind Tasmania’s celebrated Young House and Dorney House.
![Penthouse, 51 Ormond Esplanade, Elwood - for herald sun real estate](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 720"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
There’s 300sq m of outdoor space at the penthouse.
Mr Hoogendoorn, whose company has completed several Melbourne residential developments across the past 25 years, transformed St Kiernan into a 13-apartment complex with the aim of keeping its period character intact.
Overall, the approval and development process took four years.
He and Slavica converted the top three floors into a 800sq m five-bedroom penthouse, where they have lived with their sons, who are big fans of the private rooftop’s basketball hoop.
The view from the infinity pool.
The St Kiernan complex was designed circa-1939 by architect James Henry Esmond Dorney.
There’s a padded acoustic underlay on the roof so the ball bouncing sounds don’t carry indoors, while surrounding netting can be fixed in place so the ball doesn’t stray from the sports area or off the roof itself.
Accessed by a lift, the rooftop includes an entertaining pavilion containing a kitchenette and powder room which can be closed off with steel-framed glass panels during cold weather.
The marble-fitted kitchen is equipped with an integrated fridge and freezer, WOLF appliances and a walk-in pantry.
Sunbathing is another rooftop activity.
And the infinity pool and spa has sea views.
“Sitting in the infinity pool with a glass of champagne and the heater going isn’t a bad place to be,” Mr Hoogendoorn said.
Up to 80 family members has visited for rooftop events.
“We just love entertaining, everyone comes over and their jaws just drop to the floor,” Mr Hoogendoorn said.
But it’s not just the roof space which has wow factor.
Gold-coloured terrazzo tiles decorate a fireplace.
Netting can be fixed around the basketball area so the ball doesn’t bounce out of bounds.
Mr Hoogendoorn estimated he and Slavica, who runs Loeke Interior Design, spent about $1m fitting out the penthouse’s interior, aside from construction costs.
Slavica sourced marble for the foyer and bathroom terrazzo tiles from Italy, the foyer chandelier from New York and handmade carpets from Switzerland.
The marble-fitted kitchen is equipped with an integrated fridge and freezer; WOLF appliances including a steam oven and gas and induction cooktops; and a walk-in pantry.
At the home’s rear, a north-facing living domain with a gas fireplace opens to a terrace.
The interior pays tribute to its art deco roots.
It also features a built-in marble bar with an integrated fridge and twin Miele wine fridges.
The main bedroom suite has twin walk-in wardrobes and an ensuite.
Two studies and a private three-car garage, plus two additional parking spaces, complete the package.
Mr Hoogendoorn said he and wife were selling with plans to renovate a new home.
Views of Melbourne’s CBD.
RT Edgar Toorak director Sarah Case said the penthouse was so large it felt more like a house.
“It’s a customised apartment, it’s one of a kind, if you miss this there’s not another one like it around the corner,” Ms Case added.
The residence has attracted interstate interest with a Sydney-based buyer planning to fly in and inspect it.
Offers close at 5pm on June 12.
One of the six bathrooms.
Ms Case also has the listing for a seven-bedroom house at 367 Beaconsfield Pde, St Kilda West, being sold by billionaire Computershare founder Chris Morris’ daughter, Hayley, with a $14m-$15m price tag.
Sitting on 800 sqm, the 1880-built terrace was renovated by architect Stephen Akehurst.
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