Ain't It Grand

The Age

Saturday June 21, 2008

Paul Edwards

A stately mansion on prime farmland may set a price record, writes Paul Edwards.

BERWICK

Melrose, 137 Harkaway Road

around $2.8million

Expressions of interest

Agent Frank Facey, 9707 6000

Melway 109 C12

IF, AS local observers predict, this stately property sells for $2.8million, it will probably set a new record for Berwick.

Melrose has been a local landmark since 1875, when it was built for John Deeble, on land sliced from the original Berwick Run squatted by Robert Gardiner.

For half a century it was a private home, then in 1938 it became the Try Boys' Home - a training farm for disadvantaged youth. The boys grew their own vegetables, raised stock and made the place virtually self-supporting.

It served this purpose for about 20 years before being used as a horse stud and then reverting to a private home. The owners at that time were Noel and Marlene Gould, who made a habit of restoring landmark Berwick homes - this was their third, with the help of architects Whiteman and Peck.

The big house on the hill has far-reaching views towards Port Phillip and Western Port Bay, and at night the lights of Melbourne twinkle in the distance.

Selling agent Graeme Curtis knows the property better than most; he has sold it several times.

"There are a number of historic Victorian mansions in and around Berwick, but none is better than this," he says. "Its location is outstanding - more than eight hectares of prime farming land with a long history of careful husbandry.

"The grounds are a picture; you'd definitely describe them as a botanic park. Away from the home the land is divided into 12 paddocks with laneways, 10 loose boxes and all the sheds you'd ever want."

There's a clear wow factor with this home - a classical Victorian facade with gabled roofline, wraparound verandas and a fairytale two-storey tower surmounting a staircase and porte-cochere.

There are four bedrooms, two bathrooms, four-metre ceilings and impressive carpentry in doors and windows.

The long central hallway leads to striking formal and informal reception rooms, which have some of the home's five fireplaces. Some floors are covered with high-quality carpets; others have polished boards.

The kitchen is vast, with a polished timber floor, timber cupboards, dark, glossy splashbacks and modern appliances.

The bullnosed verandas, wide enough to house a major party, look out on to rolling lawns, specimen trees and many shrubs. Nearby is an immaculate, well-fenced tennis court and pool with roll-out cover.

There's a separate cottage which can serve as guest accommodation and a shed big enough for indoor cricket - thus saving wear and tear on the hallway.

"Really, there's not a thing to be done or a cent to be spent," says Mr Curtis. "If I had more listings like this I'd be a very happy little real estate agent."

ABOUT BERWICK

The little town is about 50 kilometres from the CBD via the M1 (Monash) Freeway.

It was the home of our first Olympian, Edwin Flack, who won the 800 and 1500-metre events at the first modern Olympics and also competed in tennis and the marathon. His statue is in the town's wide main street, in front of the venerable hotel.

Berwick has a railway station, many lively restaurants and two supermarkets. There's a hospital and numerous medical support facilities. A major regional shopping centre - Fountain Gate - is at nearby Narre Warren.

Real-estate values are holding well in the high and low price brackets but the market is softening in the middle sector.

Median house price is $397,500, up from $340,000 (16.9%) the previous year.

© 2008 The Age

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