PHOTO: The Albany Road home that sold for close to $17 million, as seen on the latest update to Google Street View six years ago. Photo: Google Maps, 2013.

Melbourne’s prestige housing market is starting to bloom this spring, with a Toorak mansion changing hands for close to $17 million in a secretive off-market deal.

The residence on Albany Road, one of the exclusive enclave’s most sought-after streets, is set on an oversized land parcel of 1710 square metres.

A member of Melbourne’s wealthy Deague family snapped up the home, according to one person with knowledge of the deal but not authorised to speak publicly.

The family runs property development company Deague Group and made headlines for selling its Art Series hotel chain to hotel operator Mantra Group for $52.5 million two years ago.

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