A city penthouse described as Melbourne’s most opulent could approach the record apartment price once offers close next month.
But the marketing campaign to sell the former home of recruitment entrepreneur Bob Biddle at The Melburnian on St Kilda Road for more than $10 million is almost as extravagant as the property itself.
Three top chefs, including celebrity masterchef George Calombaris, will tonight make use of its twin kitchens to cook for a VIP launch.
About 50 guests will watch the sunset from the lawn of its private roof garden, which has a heated lap pool, observation deck and views from Port Phillip Bay to the Dandenongs.
Among them will be the girlfriend of footballer Lance Franklin, model Kasia Zachwieja, who starred in one of two YouTube films made to promote the sale.
Ms Zachwieja will wear a fuchsia gown for tonight’s launch, but in case of emergency, the apartment’s dressing room is stocked with spare Chanel clothes and Manolo Blahnik shoes.
Real estate agent Kay and Burton is investing in the kind of campaign that has not been seen since the caviar and string quartets that accompanied the sale of luxury property during the 2007 property boom.
The global financial downturn hit the top end of the residential market hardest and sales are still comparatively quiet, with the lack of activity reflecting decreased demand and vendors’ unwillingness to put quality stock on the market.
But house prices in Melbourne’s most expensive suburbs made a major comeback in the June quarter to recover most of the value lost in last year’s slump and drive overall price growth, according to Australian Property Monitors.
Some agents see the apartment’s listing for sale as a symbol of returned confidence in the upper end.
The Melburnian, on the site of the former Prince Henry Hospital, has been among the city’s best-performing buildings for capital growth since it was completed in mid-2002, according to RP Data.
Designed by the architects of Federation Square, it has been home to some of Melbourne’s rich and famous, including footballer Matthew Lloyd, former chairman of the IT group Senetas, Francis Galbally, and a member of Melbourne’s judiciary.
Mr Biddle, who founded nursing agency Origin Healthcare, paid a record $5 million when he purchased off the plan in 2000.
Victoria’s record for an apartment is believed to be $18.2 million, paid late last year by a mystery buyer for the sub-penthouse at Salta’s redevelopment of the old Mercy Hospital in East Melbourne, which is due to open next month.
The historic Fairmont San Francisco’s legendary penthouse suite will receive approximately $1.8 million worth of renovations during the next few weeks.
Restoration work on the 6,000-square-foot suite will “bring back the original essence of the design,” Samara Diapolous, Fairmont San Francisco’s public relations consultant, said.
“The crown jewel of the suite is the billiard room, which is covered in turquoise tiles and a beautiful etched glass ceiling,” Diapolous said.
The restoration process includes extensive work on the 18,000 etched glass pieces in the billiard room. Each tile will be individually removed, cleaned, restored and put back in place.
“That’s the kind of attention to detail that we try to preserve,” Tom Klein, regional vice president of operations and general manager of Fairmont San Francisco, said.
The hotel is working with designer Champalimaud for the project.
“They have an understanding of how to update a historical suite to make sure it is still timeless for the guests,” Klein said.
The budget will be approximately $1.8 million, according to Klein.
“One still has to plan in a difficult time,” Klein said when asked about undergoing a restoration during an economic downturn. “The customer today still wants a product representative of that level. We still have a high demand for that suite. This is unquestionably the finest suite in San Francisco, if not the United States.”
Restoration on the suite began Aug. 2 and is expected to be completed in mid-September. Guests in the hotel should not be affected by the restoration, Klein said.
Brooke Hogan, yes the daughter of ex-wrestler Hulk Hogan has apparently bought “ahem” herself and brand new penthouse & according to this youtube post http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpHZXP1eODM , the video below is the exact Penthouse the young starlet is moving into.
Nightlife blog Matador Nights has a great post regarding the 9 Best-Designed Hotels in the world. Of course, this is open to opinion & discussion – but nevertheless it addresses some of the finest which I have personally every come across. Visit the site for full details, but the full list is below for your perusal.
1. Burj Al Arab (Dubai)
2. Hotel Marqués de Riscal (Spain)
3. Park Hyatt Tokyo (Japan)
4. Wynn Hotel (Las Vegas USA)
5. Phinda Getty House (South Africa)
6. Inn at Price Tower (Oklahoma, USA)
7. The Four Seasons Hotel, NYC (New York USA)
8. Shanghai’s St. Regis (China)
9. Le Meriden Lingotto (Italy)
and I would personally have to add The 41 in London, voted the 2nd best hotel in the UK but that aside, it has class beyond words.
Aug - 26 | 
