BELLS BEAUTY UP FOR GRABS

A SLICE of Victorian-era heritage transplanted to the coast sets the scene for a swell sea and tree-change in the Bells Beach hinterland.

The 4.05ha haven at 175 Addiscott Road is listed for sale only moments from one of Victoria’s best-known surf breaks.

Waking up to visiting kangaroos, birdlife and the rumble of the ocean is a daily joy for vendor Kate Johnstone and her family.

But it was the property’s circa 1890 weatherboard house, originally relocated from Belmont, that first drew her to the place.

Ms Johnstone had long admired the three-bedroom character home and several years ago plucked up the courage to ask the previous owners if they were interested in selling.

“I left a note in their door because it was just perfect at the time for what we were looking for,” she said.

“We had started looking further away from the coast for land and I thought, ‘I’m going to have one last go at this dream’.

“I did yoga on this road and I thought I would love to do the house up. It’s just so beautiful and the garden is amazing.”

Behind the scenes the house has been replumbed and rewired, with the original Baltic pine floorboards and 3.6m ceilings restored.

Hardwood floors reclaimed from the ballroom of Lorne’s Grand Pacific Hotel found a second home in the rustic kitchen, which has a communal island bench and garden views.

Outside there’s an oak walk, a collection of quince and crab apples trees, heritage roses and a large kitchen garden featuring old Geelong bricks the family found lying around the property.

“The front of the property is a conservation zone and in winter and spring there’s a sprinkling of Indigenous orchids,” Ms Johnstone said.

One Agency Torquay agent Shaun O’Callaghan has listed the property with a $2.25m-$2.35m price guide.

He said it would make a great haven that, in addition to the old Victorian home, offered lots of other space to play with.

“Only a handful of properties are fortunate to have Bells Beach as their suburb so the scarcity and significance of an opportunity like 175 Addiscott Road is unmistakeable,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

“Add to that the visiting kangaroos and wildlife and the quantity of Indigenous and native tress and plants that provide such a unique and tranquil backdrop to this magical property.”