Old Fitzroy army barracks hits market with multimillion-dollar price tag

Behind the hedge of this old army barracks lies a magnificent modern home – complete with a library, resort-style bathrooms, a luxury kitchen and a sprawling rooftop terrace

  • A former army barracks converted into a luxury home has hit the market with a multimillion dollar price tag
  • Once home to the ADF, Fitzroy’s military drill was snapped up by fashion designer Piero Gesualdi in the 1980s
  • The acclaimed creative breathed new life into the 1930s building with a lavish renovation
  • It now boasts five bedrooms, four bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen, a library, and a sprawling rooftop terrace
  • A tour of the house was once described as ‘walking through history’

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A historic army barracks converted into a spectacular luxury home is back on the market with a multimillion-dollar price tag.

Once home to the Australian Defence Forces, the military drill in Fitzroy, 2.5km north of Melbourne CBD, became the residence of the city’s artistic elite when it was snapped up by fashion designer, Piero Gesualdi, in the 1980s.

The acclaimed creative, who founded the iconic Masons stores in Melbourne and Sydney in the 1970s, breathed new life into the 1930s barracks with a lavish renovation that perfectly preserved its finest heritage features. 

The five-bedroom on leafy George Street looked set to smash a suburb record when it first hit the market in November 2019 for $8.5m (AUD), but the campaign was pulled after it failed to sell, according to CoreLogic.

An old army barracks converted into a sprawling luxury home is back on the market with a multimillion-dollar price tag

Once home to the Australian Defence Forces, the military drill in Fitzroy, 2.5km north of Melbourne CBD, became the residence of the city's artistic elite when it was snapped up by fashion designer, Piero Gesualdi, in the 1980s

The acclaimed creative, who founded the iconic Masons stores in Melbourne and Sydney in the 1970s, breathed new life into the 1930s barracks with a lavish renovation while preserving its finest heritage features

Once home to the Australian Defence Forces, the military drill in Fitzroy, 2.5km north of Melbourne CBD, became the residence of the city’s artistic elite when it was snapped up by fashion designer, Piero Gesualdi, in the 1980s

The five-bedroom on leafy George Street looked set to smash a suburb record when it first hit the market in November 2019 for $8.5m (AUD), but the campaign was pulled after it failed to sell

The five-bedroom on leafy George Street looked set to smash a suburb record when it first hit the market in November 2019 for $8.5m (AUD), but the campaign was pulled after it failed to sell

The one-off home has now been relisted with top Melbourne real estate agent Arch Staver for $5m-$5.5m –  substantially less than the $5.8m the vendor paid for it back in 2017.

‘Someone’s going to bag themselves a real bargain with this,’ Mr Staver, who is overseeing the sale for Nelson Alexander, told Daily Mail Australia.

Tucked privately behind tall hedges, the barracks has been transformed into a unique three-storey home complete with multiple living areas, two open-plan kitchens, four resort-style bathrooms and rooftop terrace.

The front gate opens to a courtyard which leads to an entrance hall flanked by a library on one side and a formal lounge room on the other. 

The one-off home has now been relisted with top Melbourne real estate agent Arch Staver for $5m-$5.5m

The asking price is substantially less than the $5.8m the vendor paid for it back in 2017

The one-off home has now been relisted with top Melbourne real estate agent Arch Staver for $5m-$5.5m – substantially less than the $5.8m the vendor paid for it back in 2017

Mr Staver said whoever is lucky enough to buy the house will be bagging themselves a 'real bargain'

Mr Staver said whoever is lucky enough to buy the house will be bagging themselves a ‘real bargain’

Tucked privately behind tall hedges, the barracks has been transformed into a unique three-storey home

Tucked privately behind tall hedges, the barracks has been transformed into a unique three-storey home

The conversion contains multiple living areas, two open-plan kitchens, four resort-style bathrooms and rooftop terrace

The front gate opens to a courtyard which leads to an entrance hall flanked by a library on one side and a formal lounge room on the other

The conversion contains multiple living areas, two open-plan kitchens, four resort-style bathrooms and rooftop terrace

This is just one of the many formal living spaces

This is just one of the many formal living spaces

The library which flanks the grand entraceway

The library which flanks the grand entraceway

There’s a boot-scraper at the door that was used by soldiers and officers preparing to go to war, while the barracks’ former armoury is now a pantry in the ground-floor kitchen.  

When it was last up for sale, former listing agent Tim Smith of Watermark Real Estate told the Herald Sun walking around the house was like ‘walking through a piece of history’.

A second kitchen is on the first floor as well as a spacious living and dining space connected to two separate terraces on either side of the building.

When it was last up for sale, former listing agent Tim Smith of Watermark Real Estate told the Herald Sun walking around the house was like 'walking through a piece of history'

Each of the bedrooms is queen-sized and flooded with natural light

When it was last up for sale, former listing agent Tim Smith of Watermark Real Estate told the Herald Sun walking around the house was like ‘walking through a piece of history’

Mr Staver described the house as 'an exceptionally interesting building in a high-end, artistic location'

Mr Staver described the house as ‘an exceptionally interesting building in a high-end, artistic location’

The house is set to sell under the hammer at 1pm on Saturday, November 6

The house is set to sell under the hammer at 1pm on Saturday, November 6

The master bedroom occupies the entire top floor, which has a clear glass ceiling and a large terrace that captures views of the landmark St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Mr Staver described it as ‘an exceptionally interesting building in a high-end, artistic location’ with a single downside: no off-street parking.

The house is set to sell under the hammer at 1pm on Saturday, November 6.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk