54 The Promenade

Somers VIC 3927

A paved barbeque terrace, overlooking the gardens and mod-grass tennis court, offers a perfect spot to watch outdoor activities while enjoying a cool drink. Further including: ducted heating and cooling, large laundry, downstairs bathroom, outdoor shower, storage, workshop, kitchenette, double carport.
Walk directly onto the beach for a swim or simply relax and enjoy the superb ever changing views from this enviably located, well designed and beautifully maintained, substantial beachside property. Close to local wineries, restaurants, cafes and shops.
HISTORICAL HOUSE INFORMATION
Originally purchased by the Lane family in the early 1980's, today this family beach house is set across three blocks with views out to Western Port Bay and Philip Island. When the second two blocks were acquired in 1990, the family commissioned Young, Lehmann Architects to design a house that would sit within the sand dune landscape and provide living and entertaining areas for large family get-togethers. Completed in 1993, the waved roof connects these upstairs living areas, with interior decoration supervised by Murray Sheldrick. The low maintenance gardens and tennis court were completed by the landscape designer David Wood.
BOOK INFORMATION
A central design feature of the house is the display and storage of thousands of Penguin Books - books that once belonged to one of the founders of Penguin Books, Richard Lane. Richard, his wife Betty and daughter Elizabeth spent many summers on the NSW Central Coast. Wanting to replicate this in Victoria, they decided that Somers would be the perfect location in terms of ease of access from Melbourne and beauty of the surrounding area. Richard played an important roll in publishing in Melbourne in the 1950's and 60's, and before that, in 1923, he spent four years in Australia as a farm apprentice in what was to become known as The Barwell Scheme. His diaries from this time are to be published by The Lane Press in conjunction with Black Inc in March 2016, titled 'Outback Penguin, Richard Lane's Barwell Diaries'. Co-edited by Richard's daughter Elizabeth Lane, his granddaughter Louise Paton, and Fiona and Stuart Kells, artefacts of these early Australian adventures along with those from Stuart Kells' revisionist history 'Penguin and the Lane Brothers: The Untold Story of a Publishing Revolution' (Black Inc., September 2015) are dotted throughout the house; on the walls and in book shelf crannies. Elizabeth has maintained and added to the family collection over the years, and now this collection, along with diaries, working papers and other memorabilia, is soon to be gifted to the University of Melbourne Library.
In conjunction with Kay & Burton Flinders - Paul Armstrong