Top chef splurges up to $17m on prestige pad

One of Melbourne‘s most prestigious homes has been sold off to well-known  restauranteur Andrew McConnell.

The 55-year-old chef bought the four bedroom, two bathroom property with his wife Jo McGann for an undisclosed sum earlier this month.

Designed by famed Australian architect Robin Boyd in 1955, the ultra-chic Toorak pad was listed with an eye-watering price guide of $15.9million-$17million.

Still, the Herald Sun reported on Thursday that the sprawling split level home only lasted on the market a mere 27 days before it went under the hammer on June 6.

The buyers purchased the heritage listed home from jewellery designer Karen Liberman, whose ex-husband Josh Liberman, hails from one of Australia’s wealthiest families.

The Liberman’s originally bought the lavish 1373 square metre block in 1996 for $1.18million.

Karen told the Financial Review last month she decided to sell off the home, which she has lived in for 28-years, so she could down size.

The property boasts a main dwelling and second residence, which was built in 1982.

Karen Liberman splashed out on a renovation created by architect Stephen Jolson to upgrade the home. 

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Built over a dry creek bed and surrounded by lush gardens, the luxury home features spacious interiors, wooden finishes and an ultra modern design.

Highlights include floor-to-ceiling windows through out, a cellar, and a pool.

There’s also an enormous BBQ and entertainment area paved in limestone. 

Other highlights include a private ‘sitting room’, a media room, a gym and a studio.

McConnell and McGann are prominent in Melbourne’s A-list for their Trader House brand of restaurants which include top nosh eateries such as the lavish Gimlet in Melbourne.