Sam Gance, the multimillionaire owner of the Chemist Warehouse discount pharmacy chain, is the mysterious local businessman who dropped about $43 million on a Toorak trophy home this week, according to property sources.
Gance, who is the partner of Real Housewives of Melbourne star Janet Roach, is said to have bought the five-bedroom mansion at 47 Lansell Road in a private auction against one other bidder on Monday. Unlike his high-profile partner Roach, who is appearing in a new season of the reality TV franchise, Gance is loath to appear before the cameras.
The property occupies 3330 square metres near the Yarra River end of Lansell Road.Credit:
The sale makes the property the most expensive home sold at auction in Australia.
The five-bedroom, four-bathroom, six-car grand entertainer is set on 3330 square metres of gardens by leading designer Paul Bangay at the Yarra River end of Lansell Road, on the crest of a hill. Features include a cinema room, outdoor leisure centre and entertainment rooms, including one with an adjacent kitchen with wood-fired pizza oven, built-in chicken rotisserie and teppanyaki grill. An adjoining service wing contains a laundry, powder room, mud room and housekeeper’s room.
Businessman Mark Healey, who founded British renewable energy infrastructure provider Blue Energy, and his Melburnian wife Kelly – who is listed as the vendor – had wanted $37 million for the Toorak mansion, which they bought off-market in 2015 for about $20 million and spent about $15 million upgrading with Britain’s Helen Green Design Studio and Carr Design architects.
International designers collaborated on the renovation of 47 Lansell Road in Toorak.Credit:Image Factory
Kay & Burton agent Michael Gibson and Marshall White agent Marcus Chiminello shared the sales honours. Kay & Burton’s Andrew Sahhar declined to say if Gance was the buyer.
The property is in the same road as a trophy home that chef Shannon Bennett bought in 2018 with his wife, one-time Neighbours star Madeleine West, for $16 million. The mansion had a caveat placed on it in last month, indicating a potential sale. The couple, who are separated, declined the comment.
The property has set a national auction record.Credit:
Chemist Warehouse owner Sam Gance buys $43m Toorak mansion
Source: Philippines Alive
