FROM KNOCKDOWN TO KNOCKOUT
A LANDMARK Ocean Grove property saved from the wrecker’s ball seven years ago has been listed for sale after a showstopping renovation.
Broome Cottage has been transformed into a classic stately home that is expected to fetch about $3.3 million.
The grand two-storey residence offers expansive views over the Barwon River estuary, Ocean Grove beach and the Surf Coast.
The renovation follows an unsuccessful application in 2013 to demolish the building.
The City of Greater Geelong knocked back the bid on the grounds the house was heritage listed and of historic significance.
A small cottage, known as Imbool, was originally built on the site, at 3 The Avenue, in the 1890s with the current larger dwelling added in the 1930s.
Bellarine Property, Barwon Heads, agent Ben Roberts said it was a significant home that attracted overseas inquiry within a day of hitting the market.
Mr Roberts said the five-bedroom, four-bathroom house on 1066sq m was in a league rarely seen on the Bellarine Peninsula.
“When you walk in the door, it has a great feeling and you feel the history of the home,” he said. “It is one of those houses, you might find a few of them in Geelong and maybe Queenscliff, but they are not necessarily on the coast.
“Here, if you are lucky enough, you can be in a premium street in old Ocean Grove, within walking distance of the shops.”
He said almost every room in the house, which has three living areas plus a bluestone paved sunroom, offered spectacular views towards Geelong and the Great Ocean Road.
Many original features, including the timber balustrade on the staircase, crystal cut glass door knobs, open fireplaces and decorative cornices, have been retained.
Luxe modern features include the open-plan living zone with parquetry floor and a designer kitchen.
The original cottage on the s site was built for Geelong merchant Thomas Hawkes and the property’s tennis court, which no longer exists, was frequently used by Davis Cup p player Jack Hawkes.
A Heritage Victoria citation states Gladys Bell, who donated the first boats to the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club, instigated construction of the current home in the 1930s.