Mount Eliza mansion's surprising tie to Hollywood's golden age of cinema

Glen Shian is a home fit for Hollywood royalty, with the history to prove it.

Actors Ava Gardner and Gregory Peck stayed at the elegant Mount Eliza mansion when they filmed the post-apocalyptic movie On the Beach in Melbourne in 1959, with much of the action taking place at Canadian Bay directly at the bottom of the hill.

Gardner was infamously (and erroneously) quoted as saying Melbourne was “the perfect place to make a film about the end of the world”, but there will be no deriding her temporary home at 67 Glen Shian Road, which has come onto the market with a price guide of $4.8 million to $5.2 million.

$4,800,000 - $5,200,000

67 Glen Shian Lane, Mount Eliza VIC 3930

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More recently, it must have been a dream to spend the pandemic holed up in this secluded hilltop estate of more than 2700 square metres, gazing at the ocean views that seem to emerge at every turn and having the occasional hit of tennis on the full-sized court or a dip in the tiled swimming pool.

Mount Eliza’s golden mile was just a glimmer in a developer’s eye when Glen Shian was constructed in around 1864. These days, it’s the grand dame of an exalted strip that seems the embodiment of the “quiet luxury” trend.

“It’s a piece of history – an absolutely breathtaking home that is the second-oldest in Mount Eliza,” says selling agent David Cowie of RT Edgar Mount Eliza.

“It’s one of the best parts of the Peninsula. The incredible location means you can see right down to Canadian Bay and across Port Phillip Bay.”

Privacy for Hollywood stars and mortals alike is assured by a curving brick driveway that snakes through secure gates past the triple garage to a grandly arched entry vestibule.

Tudor-style timbering graces the upper level, adding to the home’s decidedly English gravitas, while stepping inside reveals a sympathetic modernisation project that treats history with respect.

High, timber-lined ceilings and an ornate staircase segue to both formal and informal living spaces; with 15 rooms in total, there’s plenty of scope for both.

These spaces include a glass-walled conservatory that is tailor-made for staring at the ocean, and a bright modern living room that spills onto the pool deck.

The first floor amps up the water views even further, especially from another family room, the grand main-bedroom suite and a full-length balcony.

Wherever you venture, it’s easy to lose count of the crystal chandeliers, which are sprinkled liberally throughout, including the bedrooms and kitchen.

As Cowie points out, even the pool house has been converted from its original Cobb & Co. horse-drawn coach station for a seamless integration of old and new.

“It’s like a miniature version of the house, which is very cute,” he says. “There’s been such respect for this home. You might want to add some gentle modern updates, but it’s certainly a case of treading gently on such a spectacular location.”

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