Old Fitzroy Army Barracks Hits Market With Million Dollar Price Tag
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A historic army barracks converted into a spectacular luxury home is back on the market with a multi-million dollar price tag.
Once home to the Australian Armed Forces, the military exercise at Fitzroy, 1.5 miles north of Melbourne CBD, became the residence of the city’s artistic elite when it was captured 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 refurbishment that perfectly preserved the finest features of the heritage.
The five-bedroom on leafy George Street appeared to break a suburban record when it first hit the market for $8.5 million (AUD) in November 2019, but the campaign was halted 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 multi-million dollar price tag


Once home to the Australian Armed Forces, the military exercise at Fitzroy, 1.5 miles north of Melbourne CBD, became the residence of the city’s artistic elite when it was captured by fashion designer Piero Gesualdi in the 1980s.

The five-bedroom on leafy George Street looked to break a suburban record when it first hit the market in November 2019 for $8.5 million (AUD), but the campaign was halted after it failed to sell.
The one-off home has now been relisted with Melbourne’s top real estate agent Arch Staver for $5 million – $5.5 million – significantly less than the $5.8 million the seller paid for it in 2017.
“Someone is going to get a real bargain with this,” Mr Staver, who oversees the sale of Nelson Alexander, told the Daily Mail Australia.
The barracks, tucked privately behind high hedges, has been transformed into a unique three-storey home complete with multiple living areas, two open kitchens, four resort-style bathrooms and a roof terrace.
The front gate opens into a courtyard leading to an entrance hall flanked by a library on one side and a formal lounge on the other.


The one-off home has now been relisted with Melbourne’s top real estate agent Arch Staver for $5 million – $5.5 million – significantly less than the $5.8 million the seller paid for it in 2017.

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

Privately hidden behind high hedges, the barracks has been transformed into a unique three-storey house


The renovation includes multiple living areas, two open kitchens, four resort-style bathrooms and a roof terrace

This is just one of many formal living spaces

The library flanking the grand entrance
There is a shoe scraper by the door that was used by soldiers and officers preparing for war, while the barracks’ former armory is now a pantry in the ground floor kitchen.
When it was last up for sale, former Watermark Real Estate listing agent Tim Smith told the Herald Sun that walking around the house was like “walking through a piece of history.”
A second kitchen is located on the first floor, as well as a spacious living and dining area connected to two separate terraces on either side of the building.


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

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

The house will be sold under the hammer on Saturday November 6 at 1 pm
The master bedroom occupies the entire top floor, which has a clear glass ceiling and a large terrace overlooking the emblematic St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Mr Staver described it as ‘an extremely interesting building in a high-end, artistic location’ with one drawback: no street parking.
The house will be sold under the hammer on Saturday, November 6 at 1 p.m.