Airlie Mansion

The prominent Airlie Mansion at 452 St Kilda Road was designed by architect Anketell Henderson and sits on the north-west corner of Arthur Street. It was once home to prime minister Stanley Bruce, whose National-Country coalition governed the country between 1923 and 1929. Built in 1891, Airlie Mansion was eminent during when St Kilda Road was revered as the address of Melbourne’s wealthiest aristocrats and where some of the city’s most grandiose residential real estate was developed.

The building is a good example of a late 1880s “boom” Italianate style design as to both its interior and exterior aspects. Airlie Mansion is one of the last surviving Victorian period mansions of St Kilda Road which from the late 1870s became renowned for its large residences along a major entrance to the city. The building is of architectural and historic significance for its important Victorian period interior and exterior detailing, including the cast iron fence, statuary, encaustic tiles, stained glass windows, mosaic tiles and other elements.

Other than restoring and making good the original elements to their former glory, the refurbishment included a new kitchen with butler pantry, laundry, bathrooms, en-suites, floor finishes, roof tiles, insulation, plumbing and electrical, heating and cooling, waterproofing and landscaping.