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The former Geelong Glass Works will become an internal feature of The Bottleworks development in Fitzroy St, Geelong.

A residential development of Geelong’s Big Shed will unearth a historic factory building hidden from view for decades.

The former Geelong Glass Works operated in the 1920s on the Fitzroy Street site, before a range of businesses, including woolbrokers Dennys Lascelles Ltd expanded the warehouse that was ultimately used as a furniture store for several decades.

Hygge Property director Adam Davidson said The Bottleworks would create 33 architect-designed two-, three- and four-bedroom townhouses surrounding the heritage building.

Artists renders show how the external facade would look on Fitzroy St at The Bottleworks development in Geelong.

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Chamberlain Architects worked closely with Hygge Property, Niche Planning Studios and City of Greater Geelong to create the site’s masterplan that involves restoring the two-storey warehouse.

It will be revealed at the heart of a central garden area that will be a focal point for the surrounding two-storey townhouses.

Once restored, it will be converted to provide seven apartments.

Internal renders show a living area in The Bottleworks development at Geelong.

The surrounding warehouse will be demolished, but the skillion roofs, colours and building form of the two-storey townhouses will echo the history of the site, Mr Davidson said.

“If we had been able to flatten the site and put houses and streets right through it more tightly, it just wouldn’t have been as appealing,” he said.

“In some ways the heritage building is a constraint, but it is also a blessing.

“That design ensures that all the future residents can have views towards the heritage building. “There is a footpath that goes right through the site that will be open to the public as well.”

Two-bedroom homes will be available from $589,000, up to $809,000 for a four-bedroom townhouse.

Internal artists renders show a kitchen in The Bottleworks development in Geelong.

Interior designs will reflect the industrial past will have engineered timber floors and brushed brass tapware.

Mr Davidson said he expected the project would attract professionals and second-home buyers who would enjoy the position close to South Geelong train station, central Geelong and Little Creatures brewery.

“This is one of the lat sites in central Geelong surrounded by existing homes and infrastructure, so we’re very pleased to deliver a project that is deserving of the setting,” he said.

Artists renders showing a bedroom in The Bottleworks development in Geelong.

“Part of what makes The Bottleworks special is we only have two-storey dwellings.

“We didn’t do any three-storey homes — even the apartments are within an existing two-storey building — and that was because we wanted to try and make it more family oriented.

“That’s where the market is slightly different, they have a little but more money but want something more customised and boutique designed homes and can still get into the centre of town but equally can walk over to Little Creatures as well.”

Internal renders of The Bottleworks development in Geelong showing a bathroom.

Work is scheduled to start on the site later this year.

Glenvill Homes has been appointed to build the new homes. Construction is scheduled to finish mid-2022.

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The post The Bottleworks: Heritage factory conversion to take centre stage in Geelong’s Big Shed redevelopment appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The iconic Forresters Beach home of architect Matt Thitchener has sold for $3.5m.

A breathtaking Central Coast property has claimed one of the highest sale prices in Forresters Beach after selling for $3.5m.

The landmark home of prominent architect Matt Thitchener and wife Jenny, came after only two weeks on the market with Belle Property Killcare’s Baraka Leporte.

CoreLogic confirms the property is the second most expensive home to ever sell in Forresters Beach after the $3.95m sale of 10 South Scenic Road in 2016, and the highest recorded price since 2018.

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The sleek contemporary home was purchased by a buyer from Sydney.

It is also substantially more than the $2.9m-$3.1m guide quoted on the property at the beginning of the year by another agency, according to CoreLogic.

The buyers are a Sydney family who had never heard of Forresters Beach before being shown the property by Mr Leporte. They plan to use the designer residence as a weekender after edging out a local and another Sydneysider for the keys.

The home had direct access to the beach via the national park.

The gym has a sauna.

The stellar result comes as the Central Coast market continues to go from strength to strength. CoreLogic figures released on Tuesday showed Central Coast was only region in Sydney to record positive price growth over the past three months — up by 0.5 per cent. This compares to a decline of 2.1 per cent for the rest of Sydney.

Mr Leporte said Sydneysiders with money to spend were driving growth as more people look to take advantage of flexible working arrangements.

The sleek kitchen has a breakfast bar and gas appliances.

“The Bunker” has the capacity to park four cars.

“COVID-19 is seeing people wanting to get out of the city into lifestyle locations like the Central Coast,” he said.

“Buyers who were looking for a weekender here, are now wanting to make it permanent, and therefore have bigger budgets to spend.”

The Forresters Beach home is an area icon with three glass-wrapped levels for living and entertaining. It was designed by Mr Thitchener after he acquired the landholding 13 years ago for $675,000.

The main bedroom has a courtyard, deck and high ceilings.

The ensuite has a frameless shower and a bathtub.

With spectacular views stretching across Forresters Beach to Terrigal, the four-bedroom home includes a games room, gym, multiple living rooms and is built to withstand a category five cyclone.

Other features include a Caesarstone kitchen, integrated sound system, underfloor heating, wine cellar and a main bedroom with a frameless shower and a courtyard. There is also two double garages joined by an undercover passage dubbed “The Bunker”, which offers parking for another four cars.

The property also has direct beach access via Wyrrabalong National Park

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The post Architect Matt Thitchener sells landmark Forresters Beach home for 2020 suburb high appeared first on realestate.com.au.

2 Morris Road, Woodend is known as Wildwood for its impressive gardens.

A high-profile horticulturist family are selling the Woodend home they describe as their fairytale address evoking The Wind in the Willows.

And despite their agent dubbing the home known as Wildwood “a bloody wonderland”, there’s a chance buyers could give it the axe.

The 5300sq m property named Wildwood at 2 Morris Road was home to former Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne director and a National Garden Scheme trustee Richard Barley.

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He was also Open Gardens Australia chief executive, but has relocated to London in the UK for a post as The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew horticulture director.

Anita, his wife, is a celebrated botanical illustrator — including being appointed the first illustrator at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne in 90 years. Her work has been exhibited across Australia and the globe.

The house peaks out between 100-year-old trees and floral gardens.

The leafy 5300sq m estate has enchanted buyers from afar.

The pair are selling the 1920s-built home that Mr Barley said had always made them think of Kenneth Grahame’s beloved children’s book The Wind in the Willows.

“The garden of Wildwood has always had the feeling of a leafy sanctuary for us, so the association with Wind in the Willows seemed to fit very well,” Mr Barley said.

“The fairytale came true for us, and we loved living there until the opportunity to move to the UK arose.”

The home has been decorated with botanical artworks by Anita Barley over the journey.

Scarlet oaks and other European and North American trees turn myriad colours in autumn.

He said the relaxed garden with 100-year-old trees often had a romantic feel and would soon enjoy a profusion of daffodils and other bulbs appearing in the gardens, while rhododendrons, wisteria and roses would flower as spring warmed.

Jellis Craig’s Tom May is handling the $1.1-$1.2m listing and said it had attracted significant interest from Melbourne, mostly from families enchanted by its gardens — despite some having grown a little wilder than normal in the owners’ absence.

The home has been aptly named.

The home’s kitchen comes with plenty of rustic charm.

“It’s like a bloody wonderland, the garden,” Mr May said.

“It would be a great space to be a kid.”

Despite the green appeal, most buyers had noted the property is spread over three crown allotments and could be subdivided.

“Most people looking at it love the garden and would have trouble coming to that conclusion, but there’s no heritage overlays, so you can,” Mr May said.

The home’s windows frame leafy views from every angle.

Productive fruit trees provide fresh apples among other delights.

The house itself also needs “an injection of money”, but its character-filled floorplan includes three fireplaces across its lounge room, dining room and kitchen. Two bedrooms include one with an ensuite, while a sitting room could serve as a third.

Timber floors, leadlight windows and decorative cornices complete the period charm.

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The post Wildwood: Woodend’s enchanting Wind in the Willows home appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Dream garage – 50 Flinders Ave, St Ives.

If you are still wondering what to give dad this Father’s Day, here is an idea right out of the box.

It will especially suit the dad who’s hard to buy for – although it will cost more than a pair of socks or jocks.

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Meet 50 Flinders Ave, St Ives. A standout home, with just about every feature you could ever need – and then some you didn’t even know you wanted.

Like the showroom-style, five-car garage with luxury man cave that would be right up there as one of the best Father’s Day gifts ever.

There is room for all the toys and a stylish side room ideal for a couple of lounges and a big TV – or turn it into an up-market workshop.

And that’s just the beginning at this one-year-old Homestead Homes-built property.

More showroom than garage.

The man cave.

A remote-controlled lift takes you from the garage to each of the home’s two upper levels.

Set on the high side of the road with a north-to-rear aspect, the home has impressive street appeal and easy access.

James Levy, of Ray White Upper North Shore, said the home was exceptional in every way, from the design to the level of luxury finishes throughout.

Street appeal.

Summer ready.

Soaring ceilings and open plan living and dining areas enhance the feeling of space, and walls of bifolds and sliders stack away to bring the outside in.

The home accommodates every season with ease – a gas fireplace in the family room keeps the winter out, and the outdoor living spaces, level lawn and tiled pool bring the summer in.

Another great feature of the home are the two main bedrooms – one on each floor.

Outdoor living.

Indoor living.

Mr Levy said this was creating plenty of interest from families looking for enough space for multi-generational living.

“This is a very unique home, not only from the accommodation point of view,” he said.

“It’s also one of the best streets in St Ives and close to everything.

“This is not a standard home, it’s not a home you’re going to walk into have seen anywhere before. It’s a standout.”

The property is scheduled to go to auction on September 19, with a price guide of $4.5 million to $4.95 million.

For more details, contact Mr Levy or David Walker, also of Ray White Upper North Shore.

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THE latest addition to the Hope Island waterfront has culminated this month with the topping out of Anchorage Apartments’ $46 million fourth stage.

The project, on Sheehan Ave, has attracted strong sales interest with 65 per cent of stock already sold.

Anchorage Apartments.

The 10-story building includes 42 two, three and three-bedroom plus study apartments ranging from 140 to 280 sqm.

Anchorage Apartments’ Rick Sheida said interest in the project was surging and they looked forward to welcoming potential buyers through the building from September.

“To have already sold 65 per cent of the fourth stage by the topping out is incredibly exciting and a testament to the strong buyer proposition this development offers in terms of its waterfront location, generous apartment size, luxury finishes and amenities and spectacular views,” Mr Sheida said.

“Many of our buyers are already familiar with the lifestyle and luxury of life at Anchorage having purchased into the fourth stage after living in an apartment in one of our other buildings. We look forward to showing future residents through the building in September ahead of welcoming them to their new home later this year.”

Anchorage Apartments.

The residences feature a butler’s pantry, wine fridge, limited double lockup garages, electric car charging stations and 30 sqm balconies.

Resident facilities include a gym and Seychelles-style resort pool. The waterfront apartments have 15m private marina berths with direct access to the Coomera River, Broadwater and beyond.

Prices in the fourth stage start at $700,000.

The post Sales surging at Gold Coast development Anchorage Apartments appeared first on realestate.com.au.