Part of the back yard in Crowe’s new Toorak mansion.

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Grill’d burger chain tycoon Simon Crowe and wife Sophie have served up $22.675m for an Italianate Toorak mansion once owned by Gold Logie-winning comedian Steve Vizard.

The circa-1886 heritage-protected home boasting a tennis court, pool and pavilion was sold last year to a mystery buyer after being listed with a $22m-$24m price guide.

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Business documents reveal Mr Crowe as the purchaser, with public records showing the mansion listed in Sophie’s name.

In addition to founding Grill’d, Mr Crowe is also the managing director of the business and is worth an estimated $450 million.

Grill’d founder Simon Crowe. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

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The home’s tennis and basketball court.

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The Toorak mansion was originally built for Martin Blundell, a previous manager of the Melbourne branch of the Bank of Australasia.

Maltster William Barrett, secretary to Barret Bros, which operated the Richmond Maltings — home of the Nylex Clock – later had the mansion remodelled.

Actor, writer and lawyer Steve Vizard, famous for the television programs Fast Forward and Tonight Live With Steve Vizard, owned property for about five months in 1998.

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Room for all your clothes and then some.

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Marshall White’s Marcus Chiminello handled the six-bedroom home’s sale and last year said that the previous owners had “torn off” the back half of the house and “completely reworked” the interior to blend modern elements with a sympathetic update to the home’s heritage aspects, in a project overseen by specialist Thomas Hamel and architect Russel Casper.

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“When a home like this becomes available it draws out some of the most notable people, be they notable by fame or by fortune,” Mr Chiminello said at the time.

In addition to a tower boasting views of St Kilda to AAMI Stadium and the MCG, the home has a basement cellar and five living spaces and a games room.

Outside there are manicured gardens by Paul Bangay, a tennis court and basketball hoop.

The mod grass court was awarded Best Synthetic Court in Australia 2020 by the Sports and Play Industry Association.

Entry is through a reception hall with original tessellated tiles, soaring ceilings and leadlight windows.

A home office includes a “secret” door to the double garage and the former ballroom now serves as a sitting room.

Simon Crowe and Nick Kyrgios at the IMG House BBQ in Prahran in 2020. Photographer FIONA BYRNE

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Steve Vizard used to call the property home.

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A grand mahogany staircase lies beneath a vaulted leadlight window, from which hangs a 8m Milan-designed chandelier.

Mr Crowe and Sophie sold their South Yarra pad, previously owned by actor Madeleine West and her then-husband celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, earlier this year for a price believed to in the vicinity of $15m.

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A fine place to eat burgers.

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Set over 1250sq m of land, the property features a solar-heated pool, spa, gym, 3000-bottle temperature-controlled wine cellar and cinema room.

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