"Cranlana Mansion" Home of the Myer family (Greater Melbourne)

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The Cranlana mansion, which sits on one of the biggest residential blocks in Toorak, was built in 1903 – but substantially extended and remodelled around 1929, after it was bought by businessman and philanthropist Sidney Myer and his wife Dame Merlyn Myer.

In 1932, additional land on the northern boundary of the estate was purchased by Mr Myer, which enabled the construction of a sunken formal garden. The massive property is hidden behind grand wrought iron gates.

The garden, considered to be one of the finest in Victoria, includes vast lawns and open spaces, deciduous and evergreen specimen trees, colourful shrubs, clipped conifers and hedges, rows of Italian Cypress, water features, statues, ornaments and a Pin Oak tree lined driveway.

Russian-born Myer, who founded the Myer department store chain lived in the mansion until his death in 1934, leaving his wife Dame Merlyn Myer sole proprietor until her death 48 years later in 1982. Cranlana continues to be owned, maintained – and occasionally opened to the public - by the still philanthropic Myer family.