MasterChef judge George Calombaris has infuriated neighbours in the exclusive suburb of Toorak, Melbourne, after his wife built a ‘monstrous’ gym in their backyard.
Calombaris is embroiled in a bitter dispute with his 71-year-old neighbour Helen Elsworth, who claims the self-contained gym in the backyard of his mansion is robbing her of her privacy.
Speaking to A Current Affair on Monday, Ms Elsworth said her famous neighbour’s new gym ‘looks like a public toilet’.
MasterChef judge George Calombaris has infuriated neighbours in the exclusive suburb of Toorak, Melbourne, after his wife built a ‘monstrous’ gym in their backyard
Ms Elsworth said she could see the ‘monstrous’ building from her bedroom window.
‘I’ve got to keep the blinds closed day and night, well all day. Shocking,’ she said.
‘He’s the worst neighbour I’ve had in my life.
‘He should be living in Central Australia somewhere, where he can’t bother people, not in the suburbs.’
Ms Elsworth urged Calombaris to ‘demolish this terrible creation [so] we can all have a little bit of piece and privacy’.
Calombaris is embroiled in a bitter dispute with his 71-year-old neighbour Helen Elsworth, who claims the self-contained gym in the backyard of his mansion is robbing her of her privacy
Ms Elsworth said she could see the ‘monstrous’ building from her bedroom window. ‘I’ve got to keep the blinds closed day and night, well all day. Shocking,’ she said (view pictured)
Ms Elsworth has launched legal proceedings against the famous TV chef for allegedly breaching building regulations.
Ms Elsworth, who describes the structure as an ‘eyesore’, has lodged a complaint with the Victorian Building Authority.
Ms Elsworth said she knew very little about her neighbour, ‘Geroge what’s his name’.
‘I have heard it on good authority that he is a TV cook,’ she said.
Melbourne mansion: George snapped up the stunning residence in upmarket Toorak back in 2014 for the sum of $4.75million
Dispute between neighbours: Helen Elsworth told the Herald Sun she was not informed by George (pictured in September 2017) of the addition to his home
Calombaris’ wife Natalie Tricarico said she understood the need to keep neighbours informed, but assured the gym was constructed in accordance with permits.
She said the Stonnington Council approved the build in 2017.
This was disputed by the Stonnington Council, who told A Current Affair it had nothing to do with the construction.
The council claimed the build was handled by private surveyors.
George snapped up the residence in upmarket Toorak back in 2014 for the sum of $4.75million.
But only recently has the ‘hideous black box’ – which houses a private gym – appeared in the backyard of his home.
Back on screens: George will return for his 10th season of MasterChef Australia next week
Despite living in her residence for 33 years, Helen claims she was not informed by George of the addition to his home.
She did say that George’s wife Natalie Tricarico had spoken to her once about the building and that she invited her to paint the new fence if she wanted to brighten up the view from her window.
George Calombaris made headlines last year after it was revealed his restaurants had underpaid staff a whopping $2.6million in wages.
He also pleaded guilty to assaulting a teenager at an A-League grand final in 2017.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Network Ten for comment.
George will return for his 10th season of MasterChef Australia next week.