Pepperstone's Owen Kerr to buy in South Yarra as Besen home to sell in Toorak

Two significant deals have emerged in Melbourne’s exclusive inner east, with buyers snapping up homes previously held by some of Australia’s richest families.

In South Yarra, entrepreneur Owen Kerr has slapped a caveat on a Marne Street mansion once owned by the Baillieu family.

Industry sources speculated the deal had been done for a price in the mid-$30 millions although the figure has not yet been disclosed.

Public records show the current owner of the property is Edward Blythe, understood to be related to former Spotless chairman Brian Blythe.

The residence previously changed hands for $4.25 million in 2000 when it was sold by Elizabeth Baillieu.

In 2002, Brian Blythe sold his former Italianate-style residence Coonac on Clendon Road, Toorak to investment banker Jane Hansen, married to logistics boss Paul Little, for $14.5 million.

The deal was concluded quietly off-market through Kay & Burton chairman Gerald Delany, who declined to comment when contacted by Domain.

Mr Kerr, 34, co-founded foreign exchange broking company Pepperstone in 2010 and his wealth was most recently valued at $459 million on The Australian Financial Review Rich List.

Mr Kerr currently owns another home nearby in South Yarra purchased for $3.51 million in 2017.

A spokesperson for Pepperstone said the company does not provide personal details to external parties.

Mr Blythe did not return calls to his landline by deadline on Thursday.

Meanwhile, another prestige home in Toorak has found a buyer for about $14 million, records show.

The five-bedroom residence at 14-16 Hopetoun Road was listed for sale by Deborah Dadon, chair of the Besen Family Foundation and whose parents are retail billionaires Marc and Eva Besen.

A caveat was lodged by Tangtang Tian, who records show is the director of three private companies based in Balwyn.

The agents on the deal were Ross Savas, Grant Samuel and Jamie Mi, each of whom declined to comment when contacted by Domain.

The two-storey residence on about 1800 square metres features a swimming pool, floodlit tennis court, gym and sauna.

Prices for the broader Melbourne market have tumbled in recent years amid a broader housing market downturn, but ultra-top end homes continue to set records as wealthy buyers are often able to purchase without a mortgage.

Mystery buyer Qi Yang purchased an expansive Toorak block in 2017 for $38 million, while tech rich-lister Ruslan Kogan paid about $38.8 million for a pad in the same suburb.