A Dramatic Conversion

The Age

Wednesday February 21, 2007

KATHERINE TOWNSEND

What could be the oldest Salvation Army Hall gets a modern makeover, Katherine Townsend reports.

A FORMER church hall that also served as a wartime dance hall probably warrants a bishop and a showgirl joke, but as religion and the foxtrot are both long-gone from this castellated former Salvation Army Hall, it's probably better to focus on its current charms.

Bought by the vendors in 1999 and converted to residential accommodation over two years this former church hall, built in 1891, is undeniably unique.

Austere from the street with a towering north-facing castellated facade, the building (believed to be the oldest remaining Salvation Army Hall in Victoria) has a sheltered portico-style entrance with a solid brick wall on the footpath boundary.

Large light-timber double doors open directly into a massive formal lounge and dining area that could just as easily be a gallery or music room. At nearly 10 metres wide, with the original church hall's high timber ceilings way above, it is a dramatic space.

Stairs rise to the upper area from the left of this large room and take visitors to a large landing upstairs that overlooks the void to the massive room below.

Upstairs there are four bedrooms, including the main suite that has a large walk-in wardrobe and a granite ensuite. The real feature of the upstairs area, however, is the extremely clever and charming way the renovation has managed to install windows into the original timber ceilings.

Clever white-painted timber pairs of triangular windows have been added to all the rooms and add a charming Mary Poppins quality to upstairs. All the bedrooms are large and light but are cosy.

Downstairs again, moving past the front living area, the house takes a more modern turn. The rear of downstairs has a large casual living area opening on to a rose-lined paved courtyard area. The living area has high white ceilings with downlights and is separated from the hallway by a large built-in (and remaining after the sale) fish tank.

It is set into a red feature wall.

This room adjoins a large spacious jarrah and granite kitchen that is made for entertaining. There is another formal dining room off to the left and it has a yellow feature wall.

All the service rooms downstairs - laundry, third bathroom and study - are large and well fitted.

Double white timber doors near the pantry open to reveal steps leading to a large teenage retreat, playroom or office above the double garage downstairs. This room has a large west-facing balcony and you'd hardly know it was there.

The house is only metres from the Plenty Road tram - and a perfect position it would've been in its heyday and still is in its residential reincarnation.

61 David Street, Preston

Agent's quote $700,000-plus

Auction Noon, March 3, through Nelson Alexander, Preston, 9478 5000

Inspect as advertised

Melway 30 H1

© 2007 The Age

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