Nestled on the doorstep of the Yarra Valley, this mid-century three bedroom home is surrounded by lush gardens and ranges views – while still being within an hour’s drive from Melbourne. Making a striking first impression with its double-storey window wall facade, the home is in perfect knick from its debut in 1956.
If the home’s modernist features seem familiar, it might be because the home is an original Robyn Boyd design. One of the true greats of Australian architecture, Boyd’s exuberance and practicality are both on show here, as the home embraces its green surroundings while cutting a powerful structural figure.
AGENT Jellis Craig
Called ‘The Blott House’, the home was designed by Boyd in 1956 and features many of his core ideas (and those of modernism) with open plan layouts, big windows, site-responsive orientation and indoor/outdoor connectedness. Enriched with the gorgeous sweeping gardens surrounding the home, the home is orientated so the window-wall catches the northern light and most comprehensive views, while the rear of the building features more of the expansive gardens.
Boyd’s modernist aesthetic has been carefully preserved over the years, with the polished timber ceilings and floors, open fireplace and mid-century cabinetry and wood panelling evoking a Mad Men style that still feels uniquely Australian. And while the aesthetic is going to excite any local design enthusiast, the home’s history never overwhelms its function – the bedrooms are all well-sized and well-lit, the living areas open and adaptive and subtle updates to the home’s appliances and window furnishings balance out the preserved features.
The sprawling gardens were inspired by another past great of Australian homes, landscape architect Ellis Stones. Over the block’s massive 1,965 square metre size, the gardens include a wisteria-fringed alfresco entertainment terrace so you can live out all your summer hosting dreams without the sweat and sunburn.
Located less than an hour from Melbourne in Chirnside Park, the home is nicely placed for a reasonable daily commute and all kinds of weekend activities – the myriad of wineries just past Lilydale are an quick Sunday drive, while trips to Healesville and the Dandenong Ranges are also at the doorstep. This is both a piece of Australian design history and a grounding lifestyle opportunity – our kind of combo!
Elegant wood panelling throughout the floors and walls of the home is contrasted with large windows and white walls and roof, breaking up the modernist elements. Original inbuilt furniture has also been preserved to further evoke midcentury style.
The extensively landscaped gardens are predominantly trees, shrubbery and hardy plants like succulents, so while it might seem that there’s an enormous amount of garden to care for, it’s actually quite relaxed.
All inspection dates have now closed for this property.
For more information, contact Jellis Craig here.
