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The Palace of Versailles Meets the Louvre – in Melbourne

The Parisian-inspired manse is set in an exclusive beachfront suburb

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Listing of the Day

Location: Melbourne, AustraliaPrice: A$15.5 million (about $11.46 million)

The Palace of Versailles meets the Louvre, with a splash of sea, sand and sunshine thrown in. This French château-style mansion is within walking distance of one of Australia’s most famous beaches, which is dotted with colorful beach huts.

Designed by the seller, built over a three-year period, and influenced entirely by 18th-century Parisian architecture, this five-bedroom house boasts grand proportions, light-filled rooms, sweeping staircases and antique furniture — along with state-of-the-art appliances.

The Stats

The mansion has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and room to park up to five cars. Even the garage is glitzy, with gilt-framed artwork and chandeliers.

Design Pedigree

“The design features of this Parisian palace take you on a trip through France,” says listing agent Robert Marden of Melbourne Sotheby’s International Realty.

The owner requested the house be built from limestone, with a carved gable and portico. “Limestone is an extremely soft material and we have very few artisans in Australia willing to carve such detail,” says Sandra Traviati of Chateau Couture, the architectural firm that designed the home. Inside, natural stone flooring covers the whole house – with the exception of the plush, carpeted bedrooms.

“It is the city of Versailles that inspired the talented designers, Chateau Couture, to embellish the internal doors with cartouches and finish with an aged patina,” Marden says.

Amenities

Perhaps the home’s most striking feature is the indoor pool — long, slim and ideal for swimming laps. The pool is visible from the kitchen and the alfresco dining room, which includes barbecue facilities. There’s a library, too, and in the basement, a home theater, gym, laundry room and catering kitchen.

Neighborhood Notes

Brighton is one of Melbourne’s most exclusive suburbs, and Glyndon Avenue one of its most prestigious streets. The home is just a short stroll from the beach and shopping on Church Street. The neighborhood offers some of the best schools in Melbourne, making it an ideal family home, Marden says.

Agents: Robert Marden and David Colbran of Melbourne Sotheby’s International Realty

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