Maroondah, 177 Kooyong Road Toorak, saved by Stonnington Council heritage overlay

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This is the latest property to become ensnared in the controversy surrounding heritage protection in Melbourne’s wealthy inner-east.

• A string of high-profile mansion demolitions have made headlines recently, with pressure mounting on local councils and the state government to introduce tougher heritage regulations.
• Since 2015, Stonnington Council has tried to prevent a repeat of the controversial demolition of an iconic Toorak property that was bulldozed after a failed heritage protection bid.
   Amendment C225 (Individual HO Control) – was gazetted in May 2017, replacing the interim with permanent HO controls for one place at 177 Kooyong Road, Toorak; and introducing permanent HO controls to three places at 179 and 181 Toorak Road and 63 Albany Street, Toorak.^[1]

This rundown Toorak house ‘Maroondah’ sold for more than $5.8 million, a heavy discount, after it passed in at auction. Photo: RT Edgar

Stonnington Council has tried to prevent a repeat of the controversial demolition of an iconic Toorak that was bulldozed after a failed heritage protection bid.

• Earlier this year, 177 Kooyong Road, Toorak, sold for less than what the vendors had paid for it after Stonnington Council slapped a heritage overlay on the house.

The six-bedroom house at 177 Kooyong Road was bought for $6.19 million in 2010 but sold for slightly more than $5.8 million seven years later on 13 May 2017.

‘Maroondah’ 177 Kooyong Road Toorak, Vic 3142- sold for $5.8 million

Toorak house on the market for four years sells for more than $5.8 million

• by CHRISTINA ZHOU DOMAIN REPORTER MAY 13, 2017

177 Kooyong Road, Toorak, has been vacant for the past seven years. Photo: RT Edgar

A rundown Toorak house that struggled to sell for about four years has fetched more than $5.8 million — less than what the vendors paid for it seven years ago.

• Only one would-be buyer made a bid for the six-bedroom Victorian Federation house at 177 Kooyong Road on Saturday, and it was passed in at $5.8 million. A young family secured the keys for an undisclosed price just above that figure.
• The vendors re-employed the services of RT Edgar auctioneer Jeremy Fox, after he sold them the 1482-square metre block seven years ago.
• Back in 2010 — before Stonnington council slapped a heritage overlay on the house — it sold for $6.19 million, Domain Group data shows.
• But with the imposed limitations, it only appeals to buyers who are looking to restore the house, rather than developers.
• So while house prices have more than doubled across the city over the past decade, time has stood still for this (beautiful Federation) home.

“Preserve this stunning (Federation) family residence with excellent floorplan retaining many original features including

• large main rooms,
  

  Ornate cornices at Maroondah, 177 Kooyong Road Toorak

• high ceilings, cornices,
  

  Ornate entrance, Maroondah, 177 Kooyong Road Toorak VIC

• marble fire surrounds,
• timber floorboards and
• perfectly sited on land to allow a large kitchen family extension and pool overlooking private west facing rear garden. Land size 1482m2.

Maroondah, 177 Kooyong Road Toorak

Comprising huge formal lounge separate dining, 6 large bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and off street parking for 5 cars.

Rear view of Maroondah, 177 Kooyong Road Toorak

Floor plan of Maroondah, 177 Kooyong Road Toorak

Heritage of 177 Kooyong Road

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STONNINGTON PLANNING SCHEME: AMENDMENT C225

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The most likely architect for Nos. 177, 179 and 181 Kooyong Road is Samuel Edward Bindley, initially a friend and later brother-in-law of Walter Murray Buntine.^[2]

• Stonnington Council Amendment C225 (Individual HO Control) – was gazetted in May 2017, replacing the interim with permanent HO controls for one place at 177 Kooyong Road, Toorak; and introducing permanent HO controls to three places at 179 and 181 Toorak Road and 63 Albany Street, Toorak.
• The current stage of Council’s Heritage Strategy focuses on individual buildings not currently included within the HO with the Federation Houses Study in progress. The goal is to seek heritage controls for all A1 graded buildings and select A2 graded buildings (meeting or exceeding the threshold of local significance).^[3]

Description & Integrity

No. 177 Kooyong Road is essentially square in plan and with a projecting rear wing and a detached garage at the rear located to the north side and accessed by a concrete driveway.^[4]

• The entrance is at the west end of the verandah on the north side and gives onto a wide vestibule which leads to a hallway running north-south. There are eight rooms in the main wing comprising three reception rooms, a study, and four bedrooms. The main bathroom remains in the same location as shown on the MMBW plan as does the rear bathroom.
• The rear wing contains an L-shaped meals area with direct access outside to the south. The wall running north-south from the kitchen has probably been demolished given the location of the doors.
• There is also a kitchen, a bedroom probably originally for a maid, a laundry, WC and a store. Steps which appear to lead down to a cellar are also shown. All of the main rooms including the entrance vestibule have chimney breasts/open fireplaces and the rear hall contains cupboards and two stores.
  
• From the plan form the dwelling appears almost completely intact. The dwelling was inspected from the street in December, 2015.
• It is a single storey red brick house, which has been overpainted at the front but not at the rear, at east, and is in a style which could be described as Edwardian, and which contains some Federation detailing typical of houses constructed c. 1890s -1914.
• It appears to be set on a bluestone plinth. The front roof is L-shaped in plan, clad in slate and with galvanised steel cappings and flashings, presumed galvanised steel gutters and with a large gable above a bay window at the north-east corner and a small similar gablet at the south-east corner of the façade.
• Above it is another gablet set just below the ridge. Visible chimneys have moulded caps and terracotta pots and most likely stuccoed detailing partly obscured by the white paint.
• The façade is asymmetrical, having a gabled bay window from what was the original drawing room, now lounge, at the north-east corner and which serves to emphasise the plan form within, and which is flanked by a timber-framed integral verandah to the south running parallel with the façade and another timber-framed verandah running along the north side which is divided into three bays.
• The roof main roof continues down over the verandah. The gable has a pinnacle through the fascia and the ends of the fascias are supported on moulded timber brackets. . The top portion of the gable is infilled with half-timbering (diagonal timber strapwork) extending out fanlike from a centre strap and the spaces are infilled with stucco.
• Beneath are a large moulded timber transom and four more rectangular-shaped and stuccoed panels. Beneath those is another transom, slightly “gabled” along the top and with the underside supported on five dentil-like brackets beneath (jettied) which is a moulded stuccoed string course. These elements create the impression of a slight oversail of the wall below. Another stucco stringcourse is at the springing point of the main bay window below.
  

  Ornate asymmetric frontage of Maroondah, 177 Kooyong Road Toorak

• The bay window is infilled with a group of four-timber-framed casements set below a heavy moulded transom above which is a central leadlight highlight and two sidelight windows all set within a flat segmented arched head which has a stucco moulding and a keystone.
• Plan of No. 177 Kooyong Road, Toorak. (Source: R T Edgar.)
• The north elevation contains a small high arched window with a large sill either side of the chimney. West of the northern verandah and entrance is another projecting wing and bay window to the dining room which expresses the plan form externally. This window is general similar to the bay window in the façade and includes leadlight in the highlight.
• A similar arched window, but lacking the highlights, is located on the south verandah. Immediately south is a single leaf door with a glazed highlight and another partially visible window.
• The verandah floor may have tessellated tiles. The edging and step appear to be bluestone. Both verandahs are supported on turned timber posts. The northern verandah has a small section of timber lattice infill at the east end and a pair of decorative, moulded timber brackets. Windows in the rear wing appear to be typical timber-framed, double-hung sash windows.
• Related: Government urged to fund heritage protection
• Related: Iconic mansion site remains ‘ugly paddock’
• Related: Developer demolishes Kew Federation home

The $18.5 million mansion at 16 St Georges Road was demolished in 2015.

References

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• Youtube – 177 Kooyong Road Toorak
• Sale listing and photographs
• Stonnington Council issues last-ditch heritage protection, wiping estimated $2m off house’s value
  ALLISON WORRALL, REPORTER AUG 26, 2017
• Toorak house on the market for four years sells for more than $5.8 million
  CHRISTINA ZHOU DOMAIN REPORTER MAY 13, 2017
• Heritage of ‘Maroondah’, Address 177 Kooyong Toad, Toorak Heritage Report for City of Stonnington

Toorak house on the market for four years sells for more than $5.8 million

CHRISTINA ZHOUTWITTERDOMAIN REPORTERMAY 13, 2017facebooktwitterpinterest
A rundown Toorak house that struggled to sell for about four years has fetched more than $5.8 million — less than what the vendors paid for it seven years ago.
Only one would-be buyer made a bid for the six-bedroom Victorian house at 177 Kooyong Road on Saturday, and it was passed in at $5.8 million. A young family secured the keys for an undisclosed price just above that figure.

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1. ^ http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/council/meeting-minutes-and-agendas/2017/10-july-2017/cl_10072017_agn.pdf
2. ^ http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/vision/strategic-planning/planning-scheme-amendments/c225-documents/attachment-1-177-kooyong-road-toorak-citation.pdf
3. ^ http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/council/meeting-minutes-and-agendas/2017/10-july-2017/cl_10072017_agn.pdf
4. ^ http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/vision/strategic-planning/planning-scheme-amendments/c225-documents/attachment-1-177-kooyong-road-toorak-citation.pdf