58 Banksia Court, Castella, Vic 3777

With an elevated position on a quiet country road, this unique timber frame house with corrugated iron fascia was designed and built 10 years ago for this site. Its efficient design maximises cross ventilation in each room, cooling the house in summer, and two strategically placed wood burning stoves heat the separate sections of the house in cooler months, without need for additional heating. The rooms are generously proportioned with soaring 9ft ceilings and clean, square set cornicing, painted feature walls, stunning bamboo floors and entire walls of glass sliding doors. Thoughtfully positioned windows afford tranquil views of trees and sky and a spacious deck looks out over the property to the tall trees and giant ferns down to the gully where the spring fed creek runs through the block. Surrounded by large acreage properties, and with a State Forest and riding trails on your doorstep, this property is in a sought after rural location just 15 minutes drive from Yarra Glen.

A stylish driveway of Castella stone leads down to a double carport which provides a tremendous covered walkway, connecting the large shed to the main house, with stone-wall garden beds and steps down to the sloping lawn area and chook shed/kennel. At 14x7m, the impressive shed could easily be turned into a spacious teenager’s retreat/separate accommodation. On a concrete slab, with Whirlybird ceiling ventilation, it has a bathroom with shower and WC, sink in the kitchen area, plumbing for laundry, a separate bedroom/office, good insulation, power and windows; ideal for a home business or additional parking with its double roller door access.

In the main house, from the generous hallway, sliding timber doors open into a spacious open plan split-level lounge with wood burning stove on a raised tiled hearth and a wall of glass sliding doors leading out to the deck. From the lounge, wide hardwood stairs lead down to a huge kitchen/dining room, with considerable storage including pantry and appliance cupboards, Ilve oven and rangehood, Westinghouse inbench cooktop, breakfast bar benchtop, Dishlex dishwasher, corner double sink and dual aspect views of greenery and sky.

A good size family bathroom has a compact bath, separate shower and semi enclosed WC, with two-way access into a bedroom featuring a WIR and study area. A spacious laundry/mudroom has a trough, benchtops and plentiful cupboards. Linking the remaining bedrooms, a generous light-filled corridor benefits from quadruple windows that provide cross ventilation to the bedrooms and provide views out over the grounds. Two identical large bedrooms both with BIRs could be used as an additional lounge or media room. Away from the entertaining areas, at the end of the house, the impressive master bedroom enjoys the morning sun and has glass sliding glass doors out to the deck. A delightful wood burning stove heats this whole section of the house in winter and a broad feature window situated high up, looks out to birds, trees and sky from your bed! An extensive WIR and shower room featuring a double vanity, walk in shower and semi enclosed WC, complete the master suite.

Practical under house storage includes a fully insulated wine cellar - ideal with so many Yarra Valley wineries on your doorstep. Outside, the property perimeter is fully fenced and the lawn slopes down to a double woodshed with a lovely selection of trees including acacias, gums, tea tree, ferns and a towering pine tree (complete with your own crop of pine mushrooms). A bush block like this attracts abundant bird/wildlife and the peaceful fresh mountain air makes this country living at its best. With 54,000L in water tanks, 8 solar panels and a gas boosted evacuated tube solar hot water system, this property is efficient and economical to run.

Just a short drive to Yarra Glen, this incredibly well designed property is beautifully private yet still near to town.