117 Drummond Street, Carlton, Vic 3053

The discreet plaque on the faade gives the name by which this historic residence is better-known - 'The Carlton Weather Bureau'. This is a misconception, which came about because of the elaborate weather vane surmounting its Gothic tower, an icon which proclaimed the profession of James Matthais, the barometer-maker for whom the house was built in the 1860s. The house has since then been variously a restaurant, a photographer's studio and the Weathercock Cider tavern. It has been meticulously and sympathetically restored to become luxurious city-fringe accommodation, or to serve a combination of residential and business use.The facade is in handsome colonial Georgian style, with symmetrical arched windows to the ground floor, and three full length first floor windows opening to a delicate and very unusual cantilevered cast-iron balcony. By contrast, the north side facing Drummond Lane is of bluestone, with windows in the pierced Gothic style on the stair wall and to all sides of the picturesque tower. A sunny entrance hall leads right to a well-equipped study with a marble fireplace and deep claret carpet. To the left there is a pair of elegantly proportioned reception rooms with fine mouldings and fireplaces; these are separated by ceiling height concertina doors. The second of these rooms leads to a vast informal living area, surmounted by a lantern-style gabled ceiling which looks up to the sky and the rear balcony; this impressive parquetry-floored space might be used as a boardroom. The remainder of the ground floor accommodation consists of a particularly large kitchen area, a powder room and laundry. A door leads to the laneway at the rear. A delicate Georgian style staircase sweeps up to the first floor under a pierced window. To the left is a bedroom overlooking the balcony. It shares Carlton views with the sitting room opposite, linked by a second set of concertina doors to a pleasant L-shaped room with gas-burning fireplace. This room, which like other areas of the house lends itself to a variety of uses, opens to a private balcony offering CBD views. There is a well-equipped bathroom with separate full-size bath and shower. A spacious bedroom has been cleverly built into the roof space, lit by a broad skylight. From here tiny stairs lead to that magical tower eyrie, which offers observatory views to all points of the city. The eclectic array of period design elements offered by this unique city-fringe property is complemented by Moorish style contemporary fittings and quality contemporary lighting and window treatments. Hydronic heating and climate-control air-conditioning have recently been installed.