Wealthy developer and sports mogul Ross Pelligra is punting his jaw-dropping Moonee Ponds mansion with a $13m-$14m range.
The figure is higher than the suburb’s existing $12.5m house price record and would likely cause the area’s famous housewife, Dame Edna Everage, to faint in shock.
The dame, late comedian Barry Humphries’ alter ego, would no doubt be dazzled by the museum-like home’s features such as ceilings handpainted to replicate those painted by Michelangelo at Vatican City’s Sistine Chapel.
And the foyer’s gold Calacatta Marble floor, an outdoor fountain imported from Scotland and a glass-roofed wellness retreat complete with a pool, bathroom, sauna and spa would also impress her.
WhiteFox’s Paddy Tilli, who has the listing alongside colleague Dylan Francis, declined to comment on the property’s owner – but public documents show the residence is held in the name of a company of which Mr Pelligra is director.
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The ornate entry way, complete with handpainted ceilings, welcomes guests.
There’s a marble feature wall next to the indoor pool.
The interiors hark back to the charm of the 1870s.
Pelligra Group has completed more than 1200 Australian and international development projects.
The business also owns the soccer club Perth Glory, Italian soccer club Catania, baseball team Adelaide Giants, basketball team Adelaide Lightning Women’s and the Cice hockey teams Canberra Braves and Adelaide Adrenaline.
In 2019, the group purchased the former Ford sites in Broadmeadows and Geelong.
The company later announced plans to deliver a $500m mixed-use industrial precinct at Geelong in partnership with real estate fund manager Qualitas.
There’s a dedicated piano room.
Adelaide Lightnings’ player Brooke Basham with Pelligra Group chairman Ross Pelligra. Picture: Mark Brake.
Enjoy a game of pool or grab a drink from the bar.
Other significant deals inked by the Pelligra Group include acquiring a 16-storey Spring St building for $130m and the Dandenong Plaza for $145m, both in 2022.
The heritage-listed, circa-1873 Moonee Ponds house, named Edenhope, served as a wedding reception venue for decades before it became a private home.
Visitors are greeted by pillars, ornate plasterwork and chandeliers, plus dedicated piano and formal lounge rooms.
“It’s an iconic piece of real estate in the north, it’s over 2400sq m,” Mr Tilli said.
“I went to a Venice museum months ago, it’s got elements and traits of that.”
The owners, who bought six years ago, have invested millions in restoring Edenhope and even flew in specialist painters from Europe for the project.
… or enjoy a film in the home cinema.
The dining room could double as a ballroom.
Mr Tilli said the house was full of period charm, demonstrated by an iron spiral staircase leading to a tower.
The main bedroom suite showcases a dressing room and bathroom with a basin and claw foot bath, each cast from single marble slabs.
A rumpus area with a bar, fully-fitted cinema room, sausage and wine cellars, and both a main and commercial kitchen complete the package.
The backyard contains pizza ovens, a barbecue kitchen and separate studio.
Mr Tilli said the two garages could hold 10 cars, but for up to 20 vehicles to be parked at Edenhope.
Moonee Ponds’ current $12.5m house price benchmark, set by a six-bedroom house at 54 Park St, was listed with Mr Tilli and Mr Francis in 2025.
Ross Pelligra of the Pelligra Group, which has developed projects in Australia, the Philippines and China. Picture: Matt Turner.
There’s five bathrooms at Edenhope.
Rickdale Real Estate Moonee Ponds’ Abdel Elagaty had the listing for Edenhope when it last sold, alongside Steve Koutsantonis who worked for RT Edgar then but is now with The Agency.
Mr Elagaty said at the time, inspections were “pretty hectic” with a flurry of interest from Moonee Ponds and surrounds’ residents.
He noted the previous owned had also extensively renovated the four-bedroom house, which features a chandelier from Pakistan.
“It’s like going to a museum,” Mr Elagaty said.
The house and garden span a total 2424sq m.
A curling iron spiral staircase leads to this epic bedroom.
Matthews Agency director John Matthews said sold a house on Maribyrnong Rd, the same street that Edenhope is on, for $2.5m last year.
He noted that a handful of other houses in the area had fetched $6m-plus sums in the past five years.
“There’s certainly been significant sales in Moonee Ponds and it’s good to see it go to the next level,” Mr Matthews said.
In October 2025, the Pelligra Group broke ground on the Playford Commercial Hub in Adelaide. The eight-story commercial development is slated for completion in 2027. Mr Ross Pelligra is pictured with Playford mayor Glenn Docherty.
Even the kitchen has a chandelier.
Jellis Craig Moonee Valley and Kensington director John Morello said there was solid demand for homes priced from $5m to $10m in Melbourne’s inner north west, especially from purchasers wanting to upgrade to a turnkey home.
Mr Morello managed the marketing campaign for an Art Deco-style mansion at 106 Eglington St, Moonee Ponds, which sold for more than $8m in November.
Expressions of interest close at 5pm on February 16.
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