The new owners of the Cockatoo mansion, Ben and Shwi Nomtekhala, and the work of a trusted home improvement artist. Left photo: Ian Currie, right photo: Serge@Tomic Design, @cockatoomansion.
The new owners of a once-abandoned mansion in Melbourne’s south-east have revealed exciting plans for the future transformation of the Toorak home.
Betty and Ben Pop got the keys to Cockatoo’s abandoned and boarded-up house in January.
When it was put on the market in 2024, the circa-1960s home on Woori Yallock Rd became Australia’s most viewed residence of the year on realestate.com.au.
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Ms Pop fell in love with the 5.3ha property after seeing its online listing, despite its neglected state, with broken windows, a green interior and a lack of working toilets.
Ranges First National Real Estate Belgrave and Cockatoo director Mick Dolphin and partner Anthony Iorlano said they received up to 1000 inquiries from buyers about the mansion before it was sold for $900,000.
Speaking to the Herald Sun newspaper following their purchase, Mr Pop said he and his wife hoped to transform the home into a “Toorak mansion in the bush” while retaining its original character.
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The mansion was previously vacant for almost ten years.
Ben and Shwi Nomtekhala inside a house with distinctive green walls. Photo: Ian Currie.
An artist’s rendering of how the mansion might look after renovations have been completed. Photo: Serge@Tomic Design, @cockatoomansion.
The couple expects to spend up to seven figures on the massive transformation project, which they estimate could take 2.5 years to complete.
The Pops have been sharing their vision for the future of the house with the Cockatoo Mansion Renovation Project Instagram account with tens of thousands of followers, @cockatoomansion.
Artist renderings and videos of the final design of the building, which will be subject to council approval, show an infinity pool and a vine-encircled roof garden with a water feature.
Pops has removed the grass from the house since this photo was taken in January 2026. Photo: Ian Currie.
What the facade of the mansion will look like following its renovation. Photo: Serge@Tomic Design, @cockatoomansion.
Ms Pop said they were yet to confirm the number of bedrooms the finished house would have, but the mid-level would likely have four bedrooms each with an ensuite and a walk-in wardrobe.
And he intends to paint the mansion a light color and plant red roses and jasmine to climb the outer walls.
Repeating or keeping some graffiti around the house is also on the cards.
An artist’s rendering of the future roof garden. Photo: Serge@Tomic Design, @cockatoomansion.
The house was built by a couple of Romanian origin in the 1960s. Photo: Ian Currie.
Ms. Pop said her first reaction to seeing the artist’s renderings, including those from Berwick Tomic Design, was one of disbelief.
“I was like, ‘This doesn’t even feel like my home, because it’s so amazing’,” she said.
Together with her husband, she plans to submit their planning application for the renovation of the mansion to Cardinia Shire Council this week.
Once the council approves the plan, they will begin construction.
Artist’s impression of a futuristic infinity pool. Photo: Serge@Tomic Design, @cockatoomansion.
When the property was listed for sale a decade ago, before the Pops bought it, several motorcycle groups scouted it in hopes of turning it into a clubhouse. Photo: Ian Currie.
Meanwhile, he and Mr. Pop have been busy clearing overgrown vegetation and debris from their land to make it safe for commercial people to access.
Mrs. Pop said that they have run out of public enthusiasm for their plans to build this mansion.
“Social media is really crazy and the fact that we haven’t even started things yet, and we’re close to 40,000 followers on Instagram alone blows my mind,” she said.
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