2 St James Place, Toorak

Lovingly enjoyed by the same family for more than 60 years, this circa-1937 residence offers the rare opportunity to create a landmark home in one of Toorak’s most exclusive locations. Set on a 743 sqm (approx) landholding in a prestigious cul-de-sac, the existing double-storey house was designed by the renowned Melbourne architect Leighton Irwin as his own home and was celebrated in Home Beautiful magazine for its pioneering design and elegant, light-filled spaces. Privately positioned behind a secure wall and tranquil front garden, the house retains a wealth of Art Deco detail, including an original statement fireplace in the formal sitting room, elegant porthole windows and a sweeping staircase that evokes the grandeur of its era. A sympathetic mid-century extension introduces a light-filled kitchen and informal living and dining domain, opening to a verdant rear courtyard garden and pool. Accommodation comprises three upstairs bedrooms with built-in robes and a generous family bathroom, while a fourth bedroom or study is positioned on the ground floor. With expansive, mature gardens and no heritage overlay, the property offers exceptional scope to renovate and extend with architectural distinction, or alternatively start from scratch and create a contemporary masterpiece (STCA) befitting its prestigious surroundings. Peacefully situated close to Loreto Mandeville Hall and Lauriston Girls School, Malvern Road trams, Toorak Station and Beatty Avenue shops, with Hawksburn and Toorak Villages, High Street, Armadale and other elite schools within easy reach, 2 St James Place offers a generational opportunity in one of Toorak’s most liveable and tightly-held pockets.