New era dawns for landmark Geelong home opposite Pevensey Park
The grand, six-bedroom, six-bathroom Pevensey House is poised to fetch $5.95m after a painstaking restoration by the current owners.
They added an open-plan extension to the rear of the two-storey home several years after buying it in 2007 and have returned its original Federation Queen Ann features to their former glory.
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A distinctive, octagonal tower is the crowning glory of the residence, which occupies a prominent 1136sq m corner site at 17 Pevensey Cres, Geelong.
McGrath, Geelong agent David Cortous said the lookout offered views right across Geelong and the nearby botanic gardens.
He said the house, originally built in 1891 for Geelong businessman Robert Scott, an ironmonger and importer, was extraordinary.
'It has quite a history over the years, it has been a bed and breakfast, I think it was two dwellings at one point before these guys bought it and did the renovation on it,' Mr Cortous said.
'It's an incredible house – the condition of it is just remarkable.
'For the size of the home, let alone the land it sits on, in this day and age you wouldn't be able to built it for that price. For what it is, it shows exceptional value. If that property was sitting in Melbourne it would be $20m.'
Nine decorative fireplaces, extraordinary leadlight windows and an entrance hall showcasing archways, marble floors and a grand mahogany staircase are among restored features that contribute to Pevensey House's standing as one of Victoria's finest heritage residences.
A music room, a dining room with a built-in bar and a formal lounge with a bay window overlooking Pevensey Park are among the traditional highlights.
They're complemented by a newer open-plan living zone at the rear where custom steel-framed windows take in the pool and immaculate gardens.
Park views are also a highlight of the first floor main bedroom suite, which Mr Cortous said was more like a private wing incorporating a sitting room, home office, bathroom and balcony.
He said it could be accessed either via the grand main staircase, the commercial, hotel-style lift or second private internal staircase.
'It's got a separate self-contained unit there as well. They don't Airbnb it, it's for private use only, but there is an opportunity there if you want to get an income from the property,' he said.
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