The house at 7 Wellington Street, Brighton has been through some things.
A grand Brighton residence that was built for a former mayor, and survived being hit by a cyclone a century ago, has emerged as a rare buying opportunity.
The 1863 house on a substantial 1177sq m corner block at 7 Wellington Street has hit the market for the first time in two decades, with a $7-$7.7m price guide.
Vendor Gill, who asked that her surname not be published, said a Brighton Historical Society profile of her longtime home had revealed its first owner was Thomas Crisp, who served as the suburb’s mayor in the 1860s.
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Dark timber features prominently.
A formal dining room.
She said the residence’s landholding stretched “all the way down to the West Brighton Club (on Park Street) at the time”, but portions had since been sold off.
In 1918, a cyclone that tore through Wellington Street “took the top of the house off”, knocking one of the then-owner’s daughters down the staircase and breaking her leg.
Gill said the five-bedroom house then lay vacant for a few years before the next owner renovated it to a Spanish Mission design.
“As a result, you’ve got that beautiful Victorian downstairs with wood panelling and an original staircase with the rest of the house in 1920s Spanish Mission style,” she said.
A spacious bathroom.
One of five bedrooms.
Cosy by the fire.
Gill and her family refreshed the floors during their first year there in 1999, and then a decade ago, carried out “a big renovation” that involved adding new bathrooms, removing walls to open up the house, and installing a large deck with a built-in barbecue and wine fridge.
They then repainted last year.
Highlights of the “timeless design” include a stone-topped kitchen with an island bench and Smeg appliances, a palatial main bedroom with a balcony and twin ensuite, and a mix of formal and casual living and dining spaces.
The family had loved having “the beach at the end of the street”, and Church Street’s shops and eateries also within walking distance.
“As a family, we’ll often walk up to the movies at the (Palace) Dendy, and to Church Street for dinner,” Gill said.
Brandy and some cabaret.
The kitchen is swish and modern.
A high-end touch on entry.
The family is selling to downsize.
Selling agent Nick Johnstone, of Nick Johnstone Real Estate, said the property faced north at the rear and occupied “one of the best streets in Brighton”, while the house itself boasted “big rooms and high ceilings”.
He said he’d managed to show a handful of interested buyers through the residence before stage four restrictions banning on-site inspections kicked in.
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