265 Donkey Gully Road

Yapeen VIC 3451

THE MAIN HOUSE is 400sqm in area with 3m ceilings and it sits on its own rocky ridge overlooking the dam and the valley below. It is surrounded by landscaped courtyards, has an energy-efficient design, super insulation, substantial internal thermal mass, 10.5kW of solar panels, two sunrooms and a living room with polished concrete floors. It has stainless steel laundry benches, a gorgeous kitchen and a large earth-cooled walk-in storage pantry as well as a day pantry and there is undercover access from the rear of the large double garage and workshop directly to the kitchen/dining area. The house is built to BAL19 Fire Requirements and has beautiful views from every room through double-glazed toughened glass windows and doors.

The Main house will sleep up to 10 people (including the owners) and is zoned into areas that have different purposes. It has:

(a) a "Core" zone consisting of the kitchen, pantry, dining/living room and study. This zone is the main living area of the house and it can be heated and cooled independently from, or in conjunction with, each other zone. This control of the areas being heated saves considerable energy.

(b) a "Buffer and Heat Collecter" zone protecting the "Core" from the extremes of outside weather and controlling solar heat collection. This zone includes the Entrance foyer North and East sunrooms and the wet area entrance and laundry.

(c) a "Master wing" consisting of the large master bedroom, walk-in robe behind the bedhead and ensuite with a separate toilet. This wing is the owners' private retreat.

(d) an "East wing" consisting of two bedrooms sleeping up to four, a bathroom with a separate toilet and a sunroom with a kitchenette. Because this area is relatively private and can use a separate entrance this wing is also used occasionally for Airbnb accommodation.

(e) an "Upstairs wing" consisting of a large bed-sitting room with double and single beds sleeping up to four with a lounge/sitting/TV area and its own ensuite. Great for overnight visitors with children.

Heating and cooling are provided by the two-way wood-fired heater (fuelled by wood from the property woodlot), two air-conditioners (one upstairs and one downstairs) for quick spot-heating and cooling as well as heat shifter ducting to transfer heat from the Collector zones either to the living areas or to outside as appropriate. With the substantial thermal mass inside the house to hold heat and release it slowly and with the ability to cool the house quickly with crossflow ventilation, internal temperatures are maintained at a comfortable level all year at a very low cost.

THE VINEYARD RETREAT is a 67sqm character-filled converted shed providing two-bedroom, independent accommodation sleeping up to four people. It has a double garage and the rear bedroom has views overlooking the vineyard straight down the valley. The kitchen/living area has reverse cycle heating and cooling and there is a large verandah area and firepit for outside living, with views over the dam. The Vineyard Retreat is currently leased and produces regular income but it could provide accommodation for extended family or a cottage for a manager.

THE POOLROOM & STUDIO BUILDING is a 167sqm building with a large outside deck built next to, and in the same style as, the main house. It contains a 7.4m indoor heated freshwater swimming pool (heated by roof coils and a large heat pump powered by solar panels), has a separate four-person spa and has its own change room and bathroom facilities. This building also houses an adjoining, fully-equipped textile studio and dye room both with roofed decks. There is a connecting door between the poolroom and the studio and it has been suggested that, in addition to its current use it would also be suitable for a home business that could combine the use of the pool and the studio space e.g. massage or physiotherapy and water therapy, or gymnasium with water aerobics.

Firetail Ridge is a "one-off". It is a sustainable retreat from the hectic pace of the cities and has energy and water-saving features and control systems that need to be seen to be believed. You are unlikely to ever find another property like it.

To fully appreciate the specific features and the value of this property, request more information from the Firetail Ridge e-brochure or the Firetail Ridge website link available from Elouise Dale, our PRD Real Estate selling agent. Appointments for visits to the property and inspections can also be arranged through her.