MAUREEN and Darryl Strong searched far and wide to find the perfect materials to build their home.
Twelve years ago they bought 5.59ha of land just 3.5km from Heathcote, and three years later, began building their dream federation-style home.
- HEATHCOTE, VICTORIA
- Property: lifestyle
- Size: 5.59ha
- Price: $550,000
- Agent: Landmark, Heathcote
- Contact: (03) 5433 2200
They transported materials and several sections of different houses from across Melbourne and combined them to create a magnificent five-bedroom home.
The home has a long central hallway, spacious formal lounge with bay window and wood heater, formal dining room and a large bathroom with an old-fashioned deep-claw bath.
The country-style kitchen has many cupboards and bench space, a large walk-in pantry and a slow combustion stove.
High ceilings and good insulation throughout makes air conditioning unnecessary.
"We really tried hard to keep this place true to its era," Darryl said.
"There's new plumbing, we've re-wired and re-plastered it completely.
"We searched far and wide to make it perfect. We wanted to make sure it was done correctly."
The property has an abundant supply of water, being connected to town water, while also having a dam and two big water tanks.
Darryl said the roof of the house was so big the tanks were always full because of the amount of water the roof caught when it rained.
"Because the roof is so big, it fills the tanks very quickly," Daryl said.
"We've never had to tap into the town water, but it's good to know it's there."
The house is on long stumps and it's big enough that you can walk under the house and use it as a storage area.
But the additional storage space is hardly needed as a large three-bay shed provides ample storage.
Darryl and Maureen have spent hours building up their once-barren garden and are now proud of the luscious plants and lawns that surround their home.
A 3m-wide veranda surrounds the house and looks out to the gardens.
"It's nice to have breakfast in the morning and look off the veranda at the surrounds," Maureen said.
Selling agent Leigh Freeman described the property as magnificent.
"Few properties of this size still have possession of town water," she said. "It's centrally located ... it's right in the middle of three other vibrant towns (Shepparton, Bendigo and Kyabram)."
