Victoria’s best historic homes, as revealed in the Herald Sun’s Top 50 Homes.
Victoria, and particularly Melbourne, is brimming with a rich history that’s been preserved through some of the state’s best pieces of real estate.
From an estimated $100m mansion built in 1870, to a converted bluestone church, there’s no shortage of historic and heritage-listed homes across the state.
And with history, often comes a story to tell.
RELATED: VICTORIA’S TOP 50 HOMES FOR 2022 REVEALED
As revealed in the Herald Sun’s Top 50 Homes, properties dating back to as early as the 1800s come with a range of colourful past lives — including a 22-room Geelong mansion built for Captain Francis Ormond, and a remodelled apartment inside a former Gasworks building.
Below, you’ll find ten of the best historic and heritage homes across the state, as selected by the Herald Sun real estate team.
VICTORIA’S BEST HISTORIC & HERITAGE HOMES
10. GRANDVIEW
33 Grandview Grove, Prahran.
In a suburb known for modest worker’s cottages, this three-storey heritage mansion sticks out. On a 1670sq m allotment there’s a pool, tennis court and a double garage – not to mention the gorgeous gardens. But inside, it’s the home’s heritage that hits you.
Ornate floors are set beneath soaring decorative ceilings, while windows feature intricate leadlight designs.
Even the walls are adorned with arches and wainscoting.
A grand staircase in the entry hall, a library, formal living rooms and a 200-bottle wine cellar also speak to its past.
But a home theatre, gym and modern kitchen connect it with today.
9. GAS REGULATING HOUSE
The former North Melbourne Gasworks has been converted to a unique home that replaces internal walls with a steel-mesh curtain. Homeowners (L-R) Bonny Dixon and Kent Miller-Randle with dog Bella. Picture: Josie Hayden
Life without walls, or at least interior walls, awaits inside this piece of North Melbourne’s past.
Built in 1887 to house the area’s Gasworks, little has changed on the red-brick facade since.
But step inside and an architectural overhaul at the hands of Multiplicity has stripped out almost every interior wall and replaced them with stainless-steel fabric sheeting suspended from the roof.
Outside the cocoon you’ll find natural light cascading down through gantries to a polished concrete floor in the kitchen, and living spaces three-storeys down.
Inside, there are three bedrooms and a unique living room.
8. BLUE CAVE, WHITE NEST
4/183-185 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
Designed by award-winning firm Katsieris Origami, this unique sub-penthouse is currently the only residential apartment found in the heritage, 1924-built Toronto House building on Flinders Lane – home to various gallery spaces, architectural offices and textile firms.
The three-bedroom pad is defined by its soft curves and artistic flair, seen through the cylindrical ‘blue cave’ where two bedrooms lie, in addition to glossy, white joinery, curvaceous reading nooks, and mobile cupboards that convert to seats.
The vibrant space was also a finalist in House Magazine’s 2013 awards, with the design drawing cues from the works of American architect John Hejduk.
7. ELLERSLIE
16 Harcourt St, Hawthorn East.
This 131-year-old mansion formerly owned by late Autobarn co-founder Garry Dumbrell set a new Hawthorn East record price in September.
On 3340sq m of gardens, the mansion was designed by noted architect John Beswicke.
The home boasts six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a swimming pool, mod-grass tennis court, bar, stained glass windows, high ceilings and a tuck-pointed facade with a gothic-style tower.
Any Melbourne Great Gatsby’s out there could easily host parties of up to 500 guests.
6. FITZROY BLUESTONE CHURCH
1/124 Napier St, Fitzroy.
A historic bluestone church converted to a three-storey house offers a sanctuary from Fitzroy’s bustling streets.
The 443sq m of living space features spectacular stained glass windows, stone walls and a small mezzanine area accessed via a ladder.
The circa-1871 Presbyterian house of worship was remodelled by the owner and includes a small bridge leading to the private, north-facing rooftop terrace.
A lift takes visitors to all levels including the second floor where an open-plan, loft-style living and dining area boasts a sunken lounge and kitchen.
5. FAIRFIELD ESTATE
3210 Murray Valley Highway, Rutherglen.
This grand Rutherglen estate featuring an 1889-built Italianate mansion named Fairfield was once Australia’s largest vineyard and winery complex.
The 851.5ha property was established by former goldminer and general store owner George Morris in 1859 and was restored by his great granddaughter Melba Slamen-Morris in the 1970s.
As the nation’s largest vineyard in 1904, Fairfield’s cellars could store up to 1 million gallons of wine, according to The Victorian Heritage Database.
Featuring a lacework veranda and balcony, the mansion has rooms which were previously used for smoking and billiards, servant’s quarters, a nursery and ballroom, in addition to seven bedrooms.
4. INVERGOWRIE
21 Coppin Grove, Hawthorn.
Built in 1851, this remarkable house predates Victoria, but its history stretches back to when indigenous Australians used trees still growing at the property to craft canoes.
The bluestone house built for Sir James Palmer still features markings on materials sourced from convict labour.
It’s also got a tennis court, pool, super-sized spa, a guesthouse and stables.
It has been owned by luminaries from former Australia Post boss Ahmed Fahour to Globe International skateboarding company founder Peter Hill (who added a skate park).
Current owners Stephen and Anjelica Tomisich hope to unveil an update next year.
3. RANNOCH HOUSE
50B Skene St, Newtown.
One of Geelong’s best homes, Rannoch House has stood on Pakington St since 1851.
In the past 30 years the owners have returned the stunning Renaissance Revival residence, complete with balustraded parapets and timber loggia, to all its glory.
The 22-room mansion, reminiscent of the grand homes in Melbourne’s leafy inner eastern suburbs, was built for Captain Francis Ormond and its list of residents includes Geelong benefactor Alexander Miller.
But it’s hard to find a buyer at that price point in Geelong, with the property up for sale for a year now.
2. BLAIR HOUSE
17 St Georges Rd, Toorak.
One of Melbourne’s most significant estates, Blair House was pipped for the state’s residential record by a matter of days when 27 year old Stake.com founder Ed Craven splashed $80m on an unliveable mansion down St Georges Rd.
The mansion at No. 17 was designed by Melbourne architects Hughes and Orme and had not sold since the 1970s.
The incredible 7854sq m property features a tennis court, Victorian glasshouse, and separate guesthouse among its botanic gardens that are within the grounds of Toorak House, Melbourne’s former Government House, discreetly set well back from the street behind high walls and a sweeping driveway.
1. RAHEEN
94 Studley Park Road, Kew. Picture: Andrew Henshaw
Ask Melbourne’s elite what the city’s most expensive house is and they’ll probably say ‘Raheen’.
The property gets its name from an original, 1870-built Italianate mansion that became home to Melbourne’s Archbishop in 1917.
Its four-storey tower is all most people see of the property, that has been owned by the billionaire Pratt family since 1981.
They’ve since established new wings to the house and installed an amphitheatre for opera.
Its value has been estimated at as much as $100m.
In addition to all the luxury you might expect it also has its own security team.
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emily.holgate@news.com.au
