How two city-slickers fell for a 1910 Tudor home in the Dandenong Ranges

Shrouded in greenery and tucked beneath the main thoroughfare to the Dandenong Ranges, you could easily drive past the home of James Bryce and Sidd Sainty without a second glance.

But behind its unassuming exterior lies a rambling gem of a property. Built in 1910, it’s a labyrinth of interconnected intimate spaces and Tudor charm, with a few contemporary creature comforts.

The instantly enchanting kitchen greets guests upon arrival. It’s kitted out with French provincial cabinetry and an 18th-century-style Belfast sink, along with modern appliances and an adjoining terrace that catches morning light.

“The kitchen was the thing that took my breath away – bright, light, pitched roof, centre island, French provincial farmhouse vibe,” says Sainty of the first time he saw it. “I could imagine dinner parties, Christmas … the kitchen got me.”

The purchase might seem serendipitous now, but it almost didn’t happen.

When the pair started planning their home together a few years ago, they each envisaged a very different outcome. They were living in Melbourne’s bayside, and Bryce, a born-and-bred inner-city loyalist, had his sights firmly set on somewhere central.

Sainty, on the other hand, craved a quieter life in Melbourne’s leafy outskirts – specifically, in the Dandenong Ranges.

Despite Bryce’s reservations, Sainty had been tracking properties in the area, hoping he could sway his partner to make the move. After a year or so of searching, this one came up for sale and Sainty convinced Bryce to take a look – purely out of curiosity, he says.

They went to the inspection and immediately fell in love. Bryce couldn’t deny its charm and gorgeous features, softening the fear of moving away from the city.

“Once I saw the house, it was unlike any other house I’d been into,” he says. “It’s not a perfect or glossy mansion, more like a comfy slipper – a cosy home. There’s something quirky and beautiful about it.”

But the pair hadn’t so much as thought about putting their existing apartments up for sale, nor applied for pre-approval, so they had no idea whether the property was within reach.

“People also loved telling us ‘no’ – family, friends, building inspectors, and everyone in between, asking us why we’d buy an old home on a block that’s largely covered in rainforest,” says Bryce. “Everyone had their opinion on what could go wrong.”

Thankfully, they were able to sell their apartments and secure financing relatively quickly. The move happened soon after.

The pair couldn’t be happier with their purchase and plan to retain the property’s heritage – and have recently repainted it in its original Tudor colours. However, they have added one contemporary inclusion.

“We have a barrel sauna with a beautiful view over the forest. It’s down a little path, nestled in the garden, completely private,” says Sainty. “You can run down there in the nude, sit in 80-degree heat on a crisp two-degree morning and take in the surroundings.”

Although the classic Tudor design appears seamless from floor to ceiling, it was actually pieced together over several decades.

It’s believed the top part of the property was shipped over from England in 1910 as a flat-pack kit home – a relatively common practice back then due to the lack of materials and skilled tradespeople in Australia. The downstairs spaces were later added by subsequent owners.

“We love the experience of moving between different zones, from the subterranean downstairs room, up the kooky staircase and landing, into the dark and moody living-dining room, through to the sun-drenched library looking out onto the forest,” says Bryce.

“It makes the home feel large and adventurous and cosy at the same time.”

Given the property’s age, it naturally comes with a few quirks. It’s only connected to a septic tank, and its enclosed design and hillside positioning mean natural light can be in short supply.

However, the trade-offs make living here worthwhile.

“The safe option isn’t always the best option. I remember telling a building inspector, if I wanted a cookie-cutter brand-new home on a flat block, I’d go buy one,” says Bryce.

“To us, this home is perfectly imperfect, and we love its uniqueness.”