Craft queen and TV host Tonia Todman and husband Michael Dowding selling in Gisborne

News.com.au

08-05-2025

Australia's queen of craft Tonia Todman and her husband Michael Dowding are selling their 'magical' Gisborne property following a large-scale renovation.
The couple have put their four-bedroom house on the market with a $1.89m-$2.049m asking range.
Ms Todman spent two decades at Channel 10 where she appeared on shows such as Making It Australia, Rove Live, Healthy, Wealthy and Wise, Good Morning Australia and Creative Living.
In addition to writing 28 books written on cooking, crafting, home decorating and DIY, she has worked as an Australian Vogue and Australian Women's Weekly journalist and previously served as the national creative consultant and face of Lincraft.
Mr Dowding and Ms Todman moved to Gisborne after selling their former Kyneton residence, a historic bluestone farmhouse named Highbank, in 2022.
The DIY pioneer said they fell in love with the 2727sq m Gisborne property's views thanks to its elevated location near farmland and Bunjil Creek.
'We look straight across to the Macedon Ranges and to the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross on the hill and look down onto Gisborne, so it's a pretty magical spot,' Ms Todman said.
The house, that dates back to the 1980s, was 'very dated but beautifully built' with wooden floors and high ceilings – while the garden was planted with fruit trees and a grapevine trellis.
Both Ms Todman and Mr Dowding, a retired builder, were heavily involved in the renovation.
They recruited stonemason Phil Mangion, who worked on Highbank, to fit-out their new home's kitchen.
It's equipped with marble benches, an island bench and Falcon double cooker with a gas cooktop.
The dining room and outdoor entertaining area both look out to Mount Macedon.
A set of 1840s-era doors imported from France feature in the entry hall, while an Australian cedar front door from Highbank has been installed in the house too.
Other highlights include a freestanding wood burner in the living room, while the main bedroom has an ensuite and a walk-in wardrobe.
Mr Dowding created a 'garden room' in the backyard and built a potting shed that Ms Todman describes as looking similar to a small church.
The couple's dogs, Irish setter Bella, miniature fox terriers Roxy and Lilly and springer spaniel Bonnie, love running around outside where there's also a barn and vegetables growing.
Ms Todman said they were selling with plans to move closer to their grandchildren, on the Mornington Peninsula.
Elders Kyneton's Jodie Alcaraz said the house was located in a quiet street near central Gisborne.
'It has got a really rural feel but you've got all the conveniences close by and it's only a 45-minute drive to Melbourne's CBD,' Ms Alcaraz said.
Expressions of interest close at 4pm on June 6.