George Calombaris to sell lavish Toorak mansion amid collapse of food empire
The embattled MasterChef judge has quietly listed his lavish Toorak home for a hefty $4.1 million as his restaurant empire sits on the brink of collapse.
Calombaris’ MaDE Establishment risking going into administration with around 500 staff at 18 restaurants currently employed.
The celebrity chef first made headlines in 2019 for underpaying staff of up to $7.83 million.
"My thoughts and concerns would be for all of the employees of his company," Victorian Jobs Minister Martin Pakula said on Monday.
"In that regard, I would hope that any conversations that are had with bankers and administrators are such that those people are able to keep their jobs."
Calombaris has quietly listed his and his partner Natalie Tricarico’s impressive Toorak mansion weeks after selling his Safety Beach holiday house in January.
The couple bought the home, held in Tricarico’s name, in 2013 for $4.75 million.
The spacious home boasts a generous five bedrooms as well as has bathrooms and five car spots, a swimming pool and an indoor space that can be converted into a gym or theatre.
It also features marble kitchen benches fit for a talented chef, according to the 2013 listing of the home.
The family faced an intense lashing from locals while they lived at the house after adding a gym to the backyard.
Neighbour Helen Elsworth previously told the Herald Sun the addition was a “hideous black box” and Calombaris was “the worst neighbour I’ve had in my life”.
Kay & Burton South Yarra managing director Ross Savas has confirmed Calombaris had listed the property and was in discussions with the family about the upcoming sale.
Pursuit Property buyer’s advocate Brad Willmott said the family would likely make “capital gains” from the five-bedroom house.
“It’s in a small court off Lansdowne Rd, so it’s going to appeal to business people and families downsizing from larger properties in the area,” Mr Willmott said.
“It used to have a whole bunch of trees in the backyard, but those have been replaced with some new additions.”
Scroll through the gallery to see the Toorak mansion.