'Taj Mahal on the Swan' site fails to sell

The huge block of land that was once home to the incomplete "Taj Mahal on the Swan" in Perth has been passed-in at auction.

The massive block of land that once housed the derelict mansion dubbed the "Taj Mahal on the Swan" in Perth's ritziest suburb has failed to sell at auction.

Auctioneer Mack Hall told AAP on Sunday the owners had been seeking $19 million for the Peppermint Grove property but the highest bid was just $15.6 million.

Three people were bidding at different stages over about half-an-hour on Saturday and Mr Hall said he had never experienced an auction like it.

Negotiations are continuing with two people interested in the property.

It is possible the 6582sqm block may be divided into six lots, subject to Shire approval.

Indian businessman Pankaj Oswal and his wife Radhika had intended to build a $70 million mansion boasting six bedrooms, a temple, observatory with revolving roof, and parking for 17 cars.

But they abandoned the project in 2011, a year after their Burrup Fertilisers empire collapsed and they left Australia as the ANZ Bank called in more than $US500 million in loans.

The graffiti-daubed mansion, which had long attracted anti-social behaviour and was considered an eyesore, was knocked down in 2016.

The Oswals settled a lawsuit with the ANZ over the sale of the Burrup business in 2016, bringing to an end one of the nation's biggest civil cases.

The couple also settled with the Australian Taxation Office and left Australia after a travel ban was lifted.


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Source: AAP


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