The Toorak residence bought by Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann off of Karen Liberman.
Karen Liberman of Melbourne’s ultra wealthy Liberman family has sold her striking Toorak residence to high-profile restaurant couple Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann.
The home was originally designed by celebrated architect Robin Boyd, who was one of Victoria’s most home designers with his properties still highly sought-after 53 years after he passed away.
Mr McConnell is no stranger to Boyd residences, with his Fitzroy restaurant Cutler & Co. having partnered with Robin Boyd Foundation to serve up gastronomic delights at another Boyd residence on Walsh St, South Yarra.
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Along with partner Jo McGann he runs Trader House collective of restaurants, including Gimlet, Supernormal, the Builders Arms Hotel, Cumulus Inc. and the Meatsmith butcher.
The pair have paid an undisclosed sum for the Toorak property which was updated by contemporary architect Stephen Jolson.
But it was listed for sale via Marcus Chiminello at Marshall White for $15.9m-$17m.
Mr Chiminello could not be reached for comment, but the listing has now been removed from the internet and documents show a caveat was placed on the property on June 6.
![The Australian Hot 50 Restaurant Awards 2012: Jo McGann and Andrew McConnell](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 720"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Jo McGann and Andrew McConnell at the The Australian Hot 50 Restaurant Awards in 2012.
With the home first listed for sale on May 10, it is one of the faster turnarounds for an eight-figure residence in the suburb this year at under a month.
Toorak real estate insider and Morrell and Koren buyer’s agent Matthew Cleverdon was not aware of particulars relating to the sale, but noted that it was among a handful of homes to turn over in the space of about four weeks at that price this year.
“Things have definitely changed a little bit since the (state and federal) budgets, there’s been a bit of a bounce in top end property,” Mr Cleverdon said.
The couple’s new home was designed with its green views in mind.
Marshall White sales director John Bongiorno said the top end of Melbourne’s housing market, as well as lower tiers, had consistently achieved strong results this year — for good properties.
However, Mr Bongiorno noted there would be fewer illustrious listings in the next two months until a pipeline of an August listings began to hit the market.
“I think it’s all headed to a pretty good spring,” he said.
The luxe address in Toorak has been home to Ms Liberman since 1996, when records show she paid $1.18m for it.
Open-plan design makes the most of natural light throughout the home.
Also a jeweller, she is best known as a member of the family that has ranked among Australia’s richest for generations since patriarch Jack Liberman migrated to Australia and commenced investing in commercial property after World War II.
Today the family run businesses including Monark Property Partners, Lumir Ventures and Small Giants Australia.
Surrounded by trees, the 1373sq m property was conceived to make the most of its green views when Boyd designed it in 1955.
The home’s impressive interiors come with plenty of visual appeal.
It’s impressive interiors blend travertine stone and oak timber floors, while a Cheminee Philippe designer fireplace warms the main living room.
Other standout features include a temperature-controlled wine cellar, cocktail cabinet, teppanyaki grill and a gym.
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