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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