Luxury 500sqm Victoria Square penthouse for sale
Marion Tropeano, of the family behind several prominent Adelaide hospitality businesses, is reluctantly selling her five-bedroom penthouse overlooking Victoria Square.
“I love living in the middle of the city, especially being right in front of Victoria Square,” Marion, 68, says of her top floor apartment.
“The view is stunning, and I’ve watched the city change over the years. We’ve got a few more buildings around, and at nighttime I see the lights twinkling in the Hills.”
Marion – whose family is known for running several popular hospitality and entertainment venues – is making the tough decision to downsize from the large penthouse.
“It’s a hard decision to sell, but I know it’s a move I need to do now.”
The first point of interest is a limited-edition Harley-Davidson which greets visitors in the foyer of the 11th floor.
“Every house we’ve lived in, the Harley has sat at the front entrance as an ornament,” Marion explains.
The apartment was previously office space. In 2000, Marion and her then-husband Tony Tropeano converted the entire floor into one large apartment.
It is the only residential floor in the building.
“I really wanted to live in the city,” Marion explains.
“So, we converted this office space into an apartment, and I’ve been here ever since. Twenty-six years have gone by so quickly.
“We have held lots of big family gatherings here. All eight of my grandchildren would come and sleep over, and we’d just have enough room for everyone.”
While Marion is retired, her son Antony is the CEO of the family business, running nightclubs and entertainment venues.
“He runs the businesses and does a fantastic job,” Marion says.
Given the area is mostly office buildings and hotels, this apartment is believed to be the only private residence that directly overlooks Victoria Square.
“There’s no garden so it’s so easy to just lock up and go. I feel safe here – safer than in a traditional house,” Marion says.
The apartment’s living and dining spaces feature rich French oak flooring, with a spacious kitchen appointed with four ovens and an oversized butler’s pantry.
You might like
The master suite is complete with an expansive walk-in robe and a spa ensuite.
“I see everything that goes on when there’s Tasting Australia, the big Christmas tree is built right in front, and the other big festivals are right here at my front doorstep,” Marion says.
“On Sundays, I hear the church bells from the [Saint Francis Xavier’s] cathedral.”
A cinema room has been converted into self-contained accommodation which Marion now operates as a popular Airbnb.
“After the kids moved out, I turned the room into an Airbnb. It pays for all my expenses, and I get to meet people from all over the world.
“The next owner could keep the Airbnb going, or they could turn it into something else.”
Subscribe for updates
For Marion, the property has provided a nostalgic link to her childhood when she would travel to Germany to visit her grandparents, whose apartment overlooked a main street in Krefeld.
“I spent so much time in the bay window of their lounge room, just looking at the street and seeing people walking around, and going into shops and the train station, and I just absolutely loved it,” Marion says.
“My grandma would send me down to buy fresh bread rolls and cheese for breakfast. I just absolutely loved city life.
“Even as a little girl, I loved that vibe of looking out and seeing people, having the tram go past, and I’ve still got a tram going past here on Victoria Square.”
Marion says city living has kept her feeling youthful – from walking to the nearby Adelaide Central Market to do her shopping, to catching the tram to Glenelg.
“I hardly ever use my car because I walk everywhere in the city.”
She would love to continue living here but has decided it is the perfect time to downsize and has purchased a smaller apartment.
“I’m still very fit, I walk two hours every morning and go to the gym, but I want to be settled into a smaller apartment by my 70s,” she says.
Having made many family memories here, Marion has enjoyed making the most of her time in one of Adelaide’s most unique apartments.
“When I signed the contract for my next apartment, I cried because I love this apartment so much.
“It is a hard decision, and all I know is that when I leave, I’ll need a box of tissues.”
Marion hopes the next owner will enjoy it as much as she has.
The sale is being handled by Victor Velgush and Ian Jesse of Refined Real Estate with viewing by appointment only.
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.