Abandoned Cockatoo mansion ready for Grand Designs style makeover – realestate.com.au

An abandoned, graffiti-covered eyesore on the outskirts of Melbourne, almost sold to cyclists as a clubhouse, is about to become a ‘Toorak mansion in the bush’.

The new owners plan to breathe new life into the dilapidated house with an infinity pool and a roof garden, yet make a permanent feature of illegal artwork sprayed throughout the house during a decade of neglect, which has left every door smashed to pieces and no functioning toilets left.

Betty and Ben Pop bought the Cockatoo house this year, despite the property having been largely vacant for at least a decade, during which time it had been targeted by vandals and damaged by disuse.

RELATED: Gippsland: Abandoned $165,000 unit attracts interstate interest

Frankston house too dangerous to inspect sold after 30 years abandoned

Abandoned house in Geelong West exceeds price expectations at auction

The couple expect to spend up to seven figures to bring the 1960s icon back to life and have revealed they will retain some of the lime green interiors as a tribute to the property’s colorful past – and have contacted producers at Grand Designs about their plans.

Set on a 5.3 hectare site, the eight-bedroom house with tower-like external stairs has become a local landmark thanks to its prominent position on Woori Yallock Rd, one of the busiest arteries in the area.

It is believed that the mansion was originally built by a couple with a Romanian background who wanted a large family but never had children.

In 2015, the incomplete address was sold, but remained empty.

After being put on the market in 2024, it became Australia’s most viewed property this year on realestate.com.au – with dozens of commentators labeling it an eyesore on social media.

The circa 1960 mansion on Woori Yallock Rd, Cockatoo, is often photographed by passers-by for social media.

---

Ben and Betty enter the house where the distinctive lime green walls have been covered in graffiti over the years. Photo: Ian Currie.

---

The country house when it was previously for sale, in 2015.

---

Ranges First National Real Estate Belgrave and Cockatoo director Mick Dolphin and colleague Anthony Iorlano said they had received up to 1,000 inquiries from buyers about the mansion.

When Mr Dolphin had the listing a decade ago, several motorcycle gangs inspected the property in the hope of turning it into a clubhouse.

A laser tag company also held a demonstration event there.

Ms Pop, who has a mortgage company, BettyLee Finance, said she fell in love with the mansion at first sight, despite its dilapidated state, and printed a photo to stick on the wall as her dream home.

Mr. Pop was initially resistant to buying a property that was listed for $900,000-$950,000, with broken windows and knee-high grass, but his wife eventually convinced him that they should do so.

Listing agents, First National Real Estate Belgrave and Cockatoo’s Anthony Iorlano (far left) and Mick Dolphin (far right), with new owners Ben and Betty Pop. Photo: Ian Currie.

---

Mr and Mrs Pop will document the mansion’s transformation on social media at @cockatoomansion on Instagram, @cockatoo.mansion on TikTok and Cockatoo Mansion on Facebook. Photo: Ian Currie.

---

The husband and wife, who run a concrete grinding business, will tackle the house as their fifth renovation together, but on a much larger scale than their previous efforts.

“Ben said at the beginning, ‘Do you know how much work there is to do?’” Ms. Pop said.

“My family thought we were crazy.”

Their estimated renovation budget is $800,000 to $1 million and they hope it will take 18 months to complete the renovation with their team of builders and other professionals once planning approval is approved.

The Pops hope to incorporate street art into their makeover of the mansion with a feature wall and replicas of some existing works throughout the house. Photo: Ian Currie.

---

A view over the surrounding greenery from the top floor of the country house. Photo: Ian Currie.

---

Mrs Pop said she and her 18-year-old husband were “just regular people” with the aim of creating a great home.

She started working at 16 and later took three jobs to pay for their first house, while Mr. Pop worked 24-hour shifts.

Describing the house as their future ‘Toorak mansion in the bush’, Mr Pop said they hoped to include a lift, a roof garden and bar, an infinity pool and replicas of the street art surrounding the house today.

Mr and Mrs Pop have previously renovated four houses together, but the Cockatoo mansion will be their biggest undertaking yet. Photo: Ian Currie.

---

The property has previously hosted a laser tag demonstration and was even inspected by motorcycle gangs when it was for sale in 2015. Photo: Ian Currie.

---

The pair, both from Romanian backgrounds, want to create a home where they can host special events with their extended families.

Although Mrs. Pop loves the mansion, it took her months to work up the courage to explore the somewhat creepy, unlit lower level that was once used as a basement.

The couple are keen to share their renovation journey with the community via social media and less than a month after it began, their Cockatoo Mansion Instagram account has gained more than 12,000 followers.

As for those who think the house is an eyesore or should be bulldozed, Ms Pop said demolishing the mansion had never crossed her mind.

“I think what is an eyesore to them is also beautiful to me, I see the potential in it,” she said.

“If you have a building like this from 1965, why would you demolish something with so much history and so much potential?”

Sign up for the Herald Sun weekly property update. Click here to receive the latest news from the Victorian property market straight to your inbox.

MORE: Asbestos bomb stops Channel 7’s reno gamble

Iconic Melbourne film house Malcolm listed for more than $3 million

Wow: A look inside Jack Nicholson’s $153 million real estate portfolio