Ex-church reno'd on Grand Designs Australia could be yours
Peter and Mary Riedel's journey to resurrect the property in South Gippsland was chronicled on the popular television show Grand Designs Australia.
Mr Riedel said after seeing an advertisement in The Weekly Times for parts of an 1876-era Anglican Church that had been taken apart, he and his wife bought them at a clearing sale in 2009.
It took two trucks to transport the ex-house of worship's various bits and pieces to an
8.34ha site at 25 Wirilda Way, Fish Creek, with frontage to Hoddle Creek.
Mr and Ms Riedel then embarked on a massive renovation project.
Before even starting on the house, their first task was to build a 600m-long switchback road to their address.
Outdoors, they put in 8000 native plants that have since grown into mature trees.
In resurrecting the church into a house, they aimed to retain its historic character.
As an engineer, Mr Riedel took inspiration from old photos of the religious building from before it was dismantled.
Named The Church House, the property nowadays features vaulted cedar ceilings, timber panelling, church windows, a ceiling that is 8m-high at the apex, multiple living zones, a sunroom that opens to a patio and four bedrooms with their own ensuites.
A self-contained upstairs suite has another bedroom plus an ensuite, kitchenette and sitting area.
A self-taught interior designer, Ms Riedel sourced the main front doors from a church in Lithuania.
Indoors, a pulpit serves as a bookcase, and a blacksmith created many of the light fittings.
The abode has views across South Gippsland's rolling hills and the Strzelecki Ranges.
Across the property, there's a wine cellar, orchard, vineyard, olive grove, dam and walking trails.
Although the house was originally designed to host the Riedels' six adult children and 16 grandchildren, in 2017 they decided to open it up as guest accommodation.
'Seventy per cent of our guests are international tourists with high occupancy between October and Easter – it's like having a dinner party every night, but you're cooking,' Mr Reidel said.
Wilsons Promontory National Park is a 20-minute drive from The Church House and Melbourne is a 2.5-hour drive away.
Castran director Lachlan Castran said buyers inquiring about the property included those who wanted it as a home or country retreat, while other people hope to continue operating the short-term accommodation while living on-site.
'I'm a bit of a sucker for the captivating views and also the absolute privacy that the property has,' Mr Castran said.
'With respect to the dwelling itself I think that the ceilings grab me and the sense of volume within the main room is amazing.'
He added that The Church House had retained its unique character thanks to the Riedel's painstaking renovation.
'The kitchen and open-plan living and dining area is quite superb, and I think it's very sympathetic as well to the overall design,' Mr Castran said.
The Church House is being sold via expressions of interest.
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News.com.au
5 days ago
- News.com.au
Ex-church reno'd on Grand Designs Australia could be yours
A couple who rescued an abandoned, dismantled Melbourne church and transformed it into a jaw-dropping house are selling their divine creation with $2.2m-$2.4m price hopes. Peter and Mary Riedel's journey to resurrect the property in South Gippsland was chronicled on the popular television show Grand Designs Australia. Mr Riedel said after seeing an advertisement in The Weekly Times for parts of an 1876-era Anglican Church that had been taken apart, he and his wife bought them at a clearing sale in 2009. It took two trucks to transport the ex-house of worship's various bits and pieces to an 8.34ha site at 25 Wirilda Way, Fish Creek, with frontage to Hoddle Creek. Mr and Ms Riedel then embarked on a massive renovation project. Before even starting on the house, their first task was to build a 600m-long switchback road to their address. Outdoors, they put in 8000 native plants that have since grown into mature trees. In resurrecting the church into a house, they aimed to retain its historic character. As an engineer, Mr Riedel took inspiration from old photos of the religious building from before it was dismantled. Named The Church House, the property nowadays features vaulted cedar ceilings, timber panelling, church windows, a ceiling that is 8m-high at the apex, multiple living zones, a sunroom that opens to a patio and four bedrooms with their own ensuites. A self-contained upstairs suite has another bedroom plus an ensuite, kitchenette and sitting area. A self-taught interior designer, Ms Riedel sourced the main front doors from a church in Lithuania. Indoors, a pulpit serves as a bookcase, and a blacksmith created many of the light fittings. The abode has views across South Gippsland's rolling hills and the Strzelecki Ranges. Across the property, there's a wine cellar, orchard, vineyard, olive grove, dam and walking trails. Although the house was originally designed to host the Riedels' six adult children and 16 grandchildren, in 2017 they decided to open it up as guest accommodation. 'Seventy per cent of our guests are international tourists with high occupancy between October and Easter – it's like having a dinner party every night, but you're cooking,' Mr Reidel said. Wilsons Promontory National Park is a 20-minute drive from The Church House and Melbourne is a 2.5-hour drive away. Castran director Lachlan Castran said buyers inquiring about the property included those who wanted it as a home or country retreat, while other people hope to continue operating the short-term accommodation while living on-site. 'I'm a bit of a sucker for the captivating views and also the absolute privacy that the property has,' Mr Castran said. 'With respect to the dwelling itself I think that the ceilings grab me and the sense of volume within the main room is amazing.' He added that The Church House had retained its unique character thanks to the Riedel's painstaking renovation. 'The kitchen and open-plan living and dining area is quite superb, and I think it's very sympathetic as well to the overall design,' Mr Castran said. The Church House is being sold via expressions of interest.
News.com.au
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- News.com.au
Mystery shopping CEO lists home with converted train carriage
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Sydney Morning Herald
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The 10 best homes for sale in Victoria right now
We've rounded up the best properties on the market right now to help you choose. 25 Wirilda Way, Fish Creek If you think the only sanctuary in Fish Creek is the famous art deco pub, lift your eyes up to the gorgeous Gippsland hills and the singularly spectacular Church House. Not many once-abandoned chapels can say that their restoration and reincarnation have featured on Grand Designs Australia, like this impressive one has. Today, the divine luxury accommodation destination sits on high, framed by bucolic countryside and a garden that includes an orchard, olive grove and tinkling creek. Agent Lachlan Castran says there's really nothing quite like 25 Wirilda Way. 'The thing that sets it apart is that it's completely ready to go as a business, but you'd just as easily have it as a country retreat,' he says. 'It's quite beautiful.' Under epic vaulted ceilings, the generous internal space spreads out to accommodate a living and dining room, a large kitchen and a sunroom. Smooth travertine floors sweep across an area where we're pretty sure we spied a pulpit, too.
