South Gippsland: Versace Castle, aka Villa Versace, hits the market – armoury and all

Versace Castle, in the South Gippsland town of Woorarra West, was built by owner Fabio Versace — who has also crafted pieces of armour and decorative weapons.

South Gippsland’s medieval-style Versace Castle is ready for a new king or queen after hitting the market with $1.4m-$1.6m price expectations.

Set on 27.5ha amid the rolling hills of Woorarra West, near Foster in South Gippsland, owners Fabio Versace and Louise Martin-Versace have put their old world-esque house up for sale.

Mr Versace built the home – also known as Villa Versace – featuring its own armoury, Italian stone floors, antique furniture, tapestries and art, much of which will be included in the sale.

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There’s even a suit of armour that Mr Versace crafted across several years.

The 67-year-old said that he grew up “dreaming of Robin Hood, King Arthur and sword fighting” and has been known to greet visitors while wearing a helmet and carrying a sword.

A former wedding singer, Mr Versace was inspired by European castles and Eltham’s Montsalvat when creating his own citadel.

Mostly self-taught and also an artist, Mr Versace handcrafted the castle’s doors, windows and chandeliers, among other items.

Completing a panelbeating apprenticeship as a teenager equipped him with the skills to make the armour and decorative weapons, including a sword, mace and battle-axe, that adorn the residence’s walls.

Owner Fabio Versace built an Oregon timber dining table that can sit 10 people for the dining room, also called the grand room.

The castle is set on 27.5ha of rolling hills and fields.

Fabio Versace wearing the suit of armour he crafted.

He painstakingly applied six coats of paint and used a sea sponge to blend fake cracks into the rendered walls to give them an authentic old-world look.

“For all intents and purposes, the house looks like it was built 200 or 300 years ago,” Mr Versace said.

He and Ms Martin-Versace found a vacant block and started planning the castle in 2002.

At the time, he was working as a wedding singer and his wife as a celebrant.

Their busy lives meant they visited the castle, which they moved into six years ago, to work on it when they could.

Decorative weapons and armour, handmade by Mr Versace, are displayed throughout the castle, along with tapestries and art.

The views are pretty spectacular.

There’s medieval charm and modern comforts throughout like one of the kitchens that’s fitted with Euromaid and Smeg appliances.

In 2008, television show Grand Designs wanted to feature the project, but asked to pause the build to fit in with filming schedules.

The couple reluctantly declined as they only had a two-year building permit.

A winding tree-lined driveway leads to the abode that boasts 3.9m-high ceilings, two living and dining spaces, two kitchens, two bathrooms and a European laundry.

The two bedrooms feature hand-carved beds dating from the 1700s, bought at auctions.

A pair of lion statues weighing 300kg each stand guard at the castle.

The suit of armour made by Mr Versace.

Arched windows and doors provide green views.

Hand-carved beds dating from the 1700s feature in the bedrooms.

There’s also a cobblestone courtyard, three dams, remnant bushland and a concrete-floored workshop with two-phase power.

Electricians and carpenters signed off on the castle’s build.

Ms Martin-Versace said it would be hard to give up the castle, but they were selling due to Mr Versace’s fast-declining Parkinson’s disease.

Ray White Foster director Peter Bellingham said Castle Versace would make an excellent home to be enjoyed or short-term rental accommodation, with its potential for dual occupancy.

“I just think it’s amazing, Fabio is very, very talented,” Mr Bellingham said.

Knights, ladies-in-waiting and other courtly types could have a ball at Versace Castle.

The old-world character continues in the bathrooms.

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