9 Gillies Street S

Alfredton VIC 3350

The house is situated on a 1016sqm corner block in a prime location, with dual-street car access, which could also make it ideal for redeveloping as a medical practice or subdividing into four quality, 2-storey townhouses with north-facing rear courtyard gardens (STCA). Apart from a two-car garage and driveway parking, there is also extensive off-street angle-parking in a tree-lined side street.

Situated Minutes from Lake Wendouree
The property is 75 metres from Sturt Street and just two street blocks from Lake Wendouree (with its 6-kilometre lake-side walking and cycling paths, resident black swans, cafes and restaurants, farmer's market, international rowing courses, boat sheds, and Lake View Hotel). The property is 300 metres from the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.

Victoria Park
The property is opposite Victoria Park, a 19th century recreational park set across 130-hectares. The park has a diverse selection of towering century-old exotic European trees encompassed within 4 kilometres of walking and cycling trails. There are extensive fields within the park where dogs can run and play off-leash. Dressage rings and jumping courses are in place at the southern end of the park and the park is home to the Ballarat Equestrian Centre and the Ballarat Pony Club. In recent years, an extensive inclusive playspace for children has been built at the north-eastern corner of Victoria park. This has proven to be popular with children and parents alike.

Schools
Loreto College private girls school is a short 250-metre walk through Victoria Park while Ballarat Clarendon College (co-educational) and St Patricks Boys College are a little further along in Sturt Street.

Gardens
The property's gardens wrap around all four sides of the house, with garden views from all rooms and windows. The front of the house features English-style gardens with mature rhododendrons, tree peonies, roses, magnolia, camellia bush, quince tree and cottage garden plants. A strategically placed sandstone-paved sitting area - surrounded by garden beds - is nestled beside a high picket fence in the front garden, with a gate opening to the southern garden.

The southern garden features a large Japanese maple shading a stone bench seat and small contemplation setting. This area has a mature pink-and-white rhododendron, camellia, ruby smoke bush, golden Robinia and hydrangeas.

The rear garden is divided into two areas: one area has been set aside for fruit trees and vegetable beds, while the other larger area has a Santa Ana couch lawn and brick-paved area bordered by Capital ornamental pear trees. A weeping cherry stands beside a small timber garden shed with lemon and lime trees on the far side of the shed. A feature of the rear garden is the filtered sunsets visible through the ornamental pear trees and the red glow of brick pavers in the late afternoon sun. This rear garden area is a corridor for a variety of birds including rosellas, finches, lorrikeets, magpies, currawongs and wattle birds.

The northern side of the house is mostly brick-paved and is also bordered by Capital pear trees. At the rear of the garage - under a shade sail - is a rock pond with a waterfall set amongst small Japanese maples and other greenery. This side of the house is on the flight path for flocks of large water birds that come and go to Lake Wendouree. It is one of the delights of living here to look up and constantly see the big birds passing overhead in formation.

Drought-proof
A drip-water irrigation system has been installed around the perimeter of the block and the garden made drought-proof through the installation of a 60-metre-deep bore (200-feet).

The Original House
The 130-year-old house is comprised of the original section of the house and a modern extension at the rear. The entire house has been updated with a comprehensive hydronic heating system with heating panels in all living and dining areas, kitchen, bedrooms, hallway, bathrooms and laundry. The two main living areas each have two large panels fitted.

The original (main) section of the house has many period features intact and comprises a long wide hallway with high, sculptured skirting boards and 3.4m-high ceilings. Original red flash glass appears in panels either side of the front door. Four bedrooms and a large dining room/lounge room lead off the hall. All rooms in the original section of the house have 3.4m-high ceilings and tall, wide Victorian sash windows. The four bedrooms all feature ceilings lined with Baltic-pine boards - a feature of the period. Three of the bedrooms are of large proportions while a smaller fourth bedroom is currently used as a study. There are open fireplaces in three bedrooms and built-in robes in two, including the master bedroom. The master bedroom also has an en suite with bath.

A standout feature of the original part of the house is a huge formal dining/lounge room (9m x 4m), also with a 3.4m ceiling. Ceiling rosettes, a plaster arch and an open fireplace are among its many features. A modern gas heater is installed in the fireplace with tall built-in bookcases either side.

A main feature of the original part of the house is that all windows are tall Victorian sash windows that look out onto the different garden areas. From anywhere in the house there is the feeling of being surrounded by gardens and greenery.

The Modern Extension
Internal French doors open from the dining/lounge room of the original part of the house to a modern extension at the rear. This extension has been