A waiting room or lounge area comes with a central pole feature. No further explanation is provided in the listing.
The home of longstanding Richmond brothel, the Candy Club, has hit the market tipped for a sale north of $2m.
The knock-shop, complete with “booth” rooms, a waiting room with a pole and candy cane decorations mounted on the wall, also comes with a bizarre past — with prior operators including a NSW sex-empire mogul who became a witness in the murder trial of Melbourne mum Ellie Price in 2023.
Plying its trade for more than 30 years, the 392 Victoria St bordello’s freehold has been put up for grabs in a mortgagee sale.
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Agents working on the sale declined to comment on an expected price, but industry insiders have suggested north of $2m could be a feasible result for the property where the Candy Club has operated since licensing for such venues was legalised in Victoria in the 1994.
The floorplan has bedrooms equipped with showers, chandeliers and expansive mirrors.
It also features two rooms marked as “booth” and a “girls room” on the ground and first floors.
Sutherland Farrelly agents Grant and Paul Sutherland are handling inquiries and noted while the commercially zoned site that has scope for 24m height could be developed in the future, they were expecting interest from investors — including potentially from interstate.
“We’re expecting a few interested parties,” Grant Farrelly said.
392 Victoria St, Richmond, is listed for a mortgagee sale that will end the same family’s almost 40-year ownership of the building.
The property’s interior comes with a distinctive decor designed to set a particular mood.
A sale will end an almost 40-year ownership of the building by the Rowell family who have held it under the company name Torbeckin Pty Ltd, initially established by Rodney Rowell – before being transferred to his son Jeremy Rowell in 2022, according to Supreme Court documents and sales records.
The Candy Club brothel business is not owned by the Rowell family, just the premise from which it operates.
Torbeckin Pty Ltd was put into liquidation in 2023, with Anthony Cull and Timothy James Bradd of Pitcher Partners listed as liquidators, according to ASIC notifications from December, 2023.
The mortgagee sale follows a prior attempt to sell the property for $3.6m in 2022.
In 2013 the Candy Club brothel business was mentioned in a legal dispute between bordello owner and accountant Mark Gray and former Richmond brothel doorman Hugh Bond.
Not too many bedrooms feature a chandelier, shower and giant candy cane.
The floorplan for the property provides some unusual room titles.
At the time, Mr Bond was pursuing Mr Gray for a half share in the Harbour City’s then prominent sex spots The Golden Apple and Liaisons — citing assistance funding Mr Gray’s purchase of the Candy Club brothel business in Melbourne in the 1990s as a key step in Mr Gray establishing his brothel empire.
Mr Gray denied the claims, and that he received funds from Mr Bond.
In 2023, a Supreme Court trial for the murder of Ellie Price, which found Ricardo Barbaro guilty, heard testimony from Mr Gray who was named in court documents as Ms Price’s “sugar daddy”.
Police found Ms Price’s body in her South Melbourne apartment in May, 2020.
One of the bedrooms includes a substantial mirror along one wall, that helps make the space look … bigger.
The property comes with a courtyard or parking area at the rear.
Records show the property that hosts the Candy Club last sold for $288,000 in 1987.
The property is currently leased for five years to the brothel, but comes with the option for the current tenant to extend for another five.
The 418sq m block includes two buildings, the main business space and a separate two-storey component that functions as a garage and office storage.
A right of way on the east side of the building provides rear access to carparking and a courtyard at the rear.
A sign that forms part of the asset is also leased for 15 years, with a $20,723.29 a year return, and part of the sale.
The property, including the sign, is being sold via expressions of interest closing at 3pm on March 30.
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