If You Could Walk To The Animals...

The Age

Wednesday September 5, 2007

Katherine Townsend

Close to the zoo and park, this large house retains many Edwardian features, writes Katherine Townsend.

FINDING a house in an inner-city oasis is tricky enough but finding one with access to public transport, freeways, emus and elephants is harder still.

Residents of the tiny residential pockets lining Royal Park know they are lucky in their location, with easy access to city, transport, park and zoo, which is why houses rarely come up for sale.

Bonnie Doon, as this beautiful Edwardian home is named, is near the south-west corner of Royal Park where Flemington Road meets Elliott Avenue. It has not changed hands for decades and is one of only a handful of houses in this quiet area. A short dead-end street opposite the house leads directly into the park.

Renovation is needed but the house comes with all its Edwardiana intact, a massive outer-suburban-sized block of 936 square metres and the bonus of extensive off-street parking from the charmingly named Emu Lane.

The house has a classic Edwardian facade of detailed fretwork, tuck-pointed brick, a slate roof and a beautifully tiled return veranda. Wisteria knotted around the veranda will be a summer bonus.

Inside are four large rooms flanking the timber-floored hallway. All retain beautiful period features - ornate and detailed fretwork above bay windows, coloured tiles around the fireplaces or, as in the front study-bedroom, a tall and beautifully ornate timber fireplace.

The large living-dining room down the hall is a room of stand-out elegance.

Roughly six by five metres, it faces west into a large bay window and also has a long stained-glass window overlooking the return veranda. A tall, mirrored timber fire surround sets off the room and the fireplace is lined with tiles decorated with beautiful poppies.

These front four rooms are large and well maintained and include a main bedroom with an ensuite, another smaller bedroom behind it and the large living-dining room as well as another bedroom or large study at the front.

Behind these original rooms, the house needs a substantial update, but there is plenty of accommodation and space.

There are two more bedrooms, a family bathroom, and laundry at the left.

To the right there's a kitchen-meals area and then, down some steps, a smallish family area. All of these back rooms were added or updated last in the 1980s.

In the enormous backyard are a solar-heated swimming pool, large spa, lawn area, a lemon tree and parking for at least six cars.

A renovation that opened up the back of the house more to the park-like backyard would give this elegant house a new burst of life.

Or if it's less life and more peace you're after, then Royal Park or the zoo are only a stroll away.

25 Manningham Street,

Parkville

Agent's quote $1.2 million-plus

Auction Noon, September 15, through Thomson, Carlton, 9347 1755

Melway 2A 1E

© 2007 The Age

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