MELBOURNE CUP Race

Racehorse owner and high-profile businessman Lloyd Williams celebrates after Rekindling’s win at the 2017 Melbourne Cup. Picture: Stuart McEvoy.

Seven-time Melbourne Cup winning owner Lloyd Williams has farewelled his luxury city penthouse for $17.7m.

Mr Williams holds the record as the horse owner to have won the most Melbourne Cups, including with Twilight Payment in 2020.

His other thoroughbreds also galloped to victory in the race that stops a nation in 1981, 1985, 2007, 2012, 2016 and 2017.

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In 1994, the billionaire businessman established Crown Casino.

He later sold the majority of his interests in the site to his friend, the late media tycoon Kerry Packer and his son James Packer.

Mr Williams put his one-and-a-half-floor Melbourne residence featuring marble floors and custom-made panelled walls on the market with a $20m-$22m range in March.

Public records show the property in an Albert Rd complex nicknamed the “Tower of Power”, due the number of richlisters and business bigwigs who have called it home, fetched a sum just below $18m.

The penthouse offers views across Melbourne.

Melbourne Cup Winners Press Conference

Lloyd Williams, his grandson Frank, strapper MJ Doran and trainer Joseph O’Brien pose with Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling at Werribee Racecourse in 2017. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images.

Kay & Burton chairman Gerald Delany, who had the listing alongside colleague Oliver Booth, declined to comment on the owner or purchaser.

But Mr Delany said the 1280sq m penthouse boasting a main bedroom with a two walk-in wardrobes and an ensuite, a wine storage area and views across Melbourne, had attracted inquiries from both local and overseas buyers.

“I had broad interest, the campaign wasn’t very long,” he said.

“To have an apartment like this is a rarity, a penthouse that’s at the top – or among the top one-and-a-half floors of a building, and that’s why I had the interest I did – there’s probably only two or three others like it in Melbourne.”

The property’s lower level has its own balcony as well as a granite-fitted kitchenette and wine storage.

There’s plenty of space to store clothing and accessories in the walk-in wardrobe.

The new owner, who is based internationally, flew in to Australia to inspect the abode.

Mr Delany said many of the potential buyers were amazed by the residence’s views which take in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake and Port Phillip Bay.

He added Melbourne’s prestige market was starting to warm up as spring approached.

“The top end of the market is seeing good strength in buying demand,” he said.

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