21-05-2025
Melbourne businessman Ali Ali's Shrublands mansion in Canterbury gets $6m price cut
Melbourne businessman Ali Ali is making a fourth attempt to sell the Shrublands mansion and estate, after a $6m price cut.
A low-key, but successful company director, Mr Ali made headlines when he bought the historic residence at 16 Balwyn Rd, Canterbury, for the then suburb record of $29m in 2021.
He's since put it back onto the market in 2022, 2023 and again last year, with a neighbouring property included in the listing for a combined $48.8m.
The 6500sq m property with 10 bedrooms and even more bathrooms returned to online listings via Marshall White top-end specialist Marcus Chiminello on Tuesday this week.
It is now priced at $31m-$34m — about $6m below what it was listed for in 2023, without the neighbouring address.
The 1863-built property is being marketed as one of Australia's finest homes, and is surrounded by manicured gardens, a tennis court, water fountain, a pool set into its own pavilion and a caretaker's apartment.
The mansion also has sheltered parking for 10 cars, and a sprawling three-level floorplan with a dizzying array of features.
In the basement there is a billiards room, wine cellar, gym and home cinema — with black and white photography from old movies, and a shot of Marilyn Monroe, adorning the exposed brick walls.
The ground level hosts formal dining room with its own butler's pantry, living and sitting rooms, a family room, central kitchen with its own walk-in pantry, and a grand dining hall that opens to a heated courtyard and to a further living room with its own commercial kitchen.
A home office, and a boardroom wrap up the floor where rooms are adorned with gilt ceiling ornamentation and chandeliers.
Upstairs, a there are five bedrooms, most with ensuites or walk-in wardrobes, complemented by a library, another living area, and a balcony.
There's also a guest wing with its own lobby, a further two bedrooms to either side of an additional living zone, two more bathrooms and a sauna.
And, with two staircases to access it, a further sprawling main suite comes with its own sitting room, living area, dining zone, dressing room, bathroom and a massage room.
As the listing puts it: 'very few original mansions of this calibre still exist in Australia'.
Mr Chiminello has the home listed for private inspection.
