House of the Week: Effortless style in blue-ribbon Toorak

9 Hill Street, Toorak
$13 million-plus
6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 2 car spaces
Expressions of interest  close at 5pm, on Tuesday February 28
Inspect on Saturday, from noon-12.30pm
Kay & Burton, Michael Gibson 0418 530 392

There is Melbourne, and then, there is Toorak. Plenty of places around our town have their own charm, either gritty or gleaming, but precious few of even our blue-ribbon suburbs have as many grand piles per square kilometre.

Houses like this are so sublimely relaxed, so effortlessly stylish, they have an almost otherworldly feel – languid, assured, elegant – welcome to 9 Hill Street.

The American oak parquetry flooring beyond the arched facade could hardly be more exquisite and the wide foyer shows it to its best advantage.

A splendid stair swirls up, but before that, the ground floor holds very many fine sights.

Immediately to the left is a powder room preceding the brilliant, broad cinema room. Bank east from here and you’ll be on a passage that has a clever direct line from the garage to the working rooms of the butler’s pantry and laundry.

Jagging back to the northern central section there’s the deeply impressive open plan area. Set to the rear, the superb, smooth kitchen with Calacatta marble benches is offset by acres of taupe-toned cabinetry. In front, the informal meals and family room is simply stunning – the floor-to-ceiling glass, the stone surrounds of the fireplace, the heartbreakingly gorgeous view over the gardens.

Breaking further north you’ll find the formal living and dining rooms – elegant beauties both, as well as a fine study with French door access to the front garden.

Out in the verdant expanses of the rear garden there are all manner of delights, from the sparkling, private swimming pool to the full-size north/south tennis court. Our favourite though has to be the little open pool house with bathroom, barbie and a covered day bed set deep into the garden. Bliss.

Back inside and up those lovely stairs there are six very beautiful bedrooms, all have study areas, fabulous storage and two at the front access the divine terrace. Two sharp limestone bathrooms service these rooms.

The main suite is something to behold. Measuring the size of a small European principality it boasts an incredible skylit walk in robe and ensuite. But that’s not the best of it. Beyond the bedroom proper there is the most seriously glorious covered balcony overlooking the rear garden.

Go up again to the attic where you’ll find a retreat/rumpus room with balcony boasting city views so good you feel like you could reach out and touch them. Ah Toorak, be still my beating heart!

Need to know: Last traded for $1.8 million in May 1996. Highest recorded house price in Toorak (last 12 months) $26,250,000 for 9 Towers Road in December 2016.