Art deco townhouse in a tiny Albert Park street

68 Little Page Street, Albert Park
$1.3 million-$1.4 million
3 bedrooms 1 bathroom
Auction 11am, September 26
Inspect TBA Saturday 
Chisholm & Gamon, 9646 4444, Joseph Allan, 0413 247 525 

Little Page Street is a bluestone cobbled lane with tiny (but expensive) cottages on one side and a mixture of townhouses and small houses from many eras on the other.  It’s a part of Albert Park easily overlooked. 

This double-storey art deco townhouse is one of several on the southern side of the lane – and it sits on a mere 154 square metres of land. Townhouses in Essendon or Mooroolbark​ probably sit on plots two or three times that size but Albert Park is the land of tiny but expensive properties and this charming townhouse has everything you need and a few things more. 

The double-fronted townhouse has a little north-facing front garden – with a mature jacaranda. No one needs a jacaranda tree but it adds to the beauty and greenery in a way that landscaping in new dwellings struggle to do. These are the little things that prompt people to search for established homes in infrastructure-rich suburbs such as Albert Park. 

Inside the painted timber and glass front door, the entrance hall has a door to the right leading to the living room. Here we see the first of the changes that have shifted the townhouse from the 1930s to now – double glass doors have been added to open the room to the back garden. It makes the room immeasurably lighter without altering the classic facade with its original windows. The living room’s fireplace and timber floors are a classic look and the room’s proportions are attractive. 

Back in the hallway and past the timber staircase there is an updated kitchen to the left – which has a cute mini table and stools under the window. There are plenty of cupboards, a stainless-steel stove and a dishwasher. Next door is a powder room/laundry and beyond is the townhouse’s surprise – a large curved wall living room. It was probably added in the 1990s and is simple and lovely. A wall of curved glass includes double doors opening to the backyard which, like the front yard, has synthetic lawn and is edged with trees. 

Upstairs, there are three bedrooms, a shared bathroom and a beautiful curved timber bannister. All bedrooms are a good size with polished timber floorboards and tall built-in wardrobes. The bathroom is compact but with art-deco style tile highlights. 

Cafes, trams and beach are walking distance and the townhouse is on the Middle Park border. 

Room for improvement: The exterior could do with freshening up. It doesn’t do the interior justice. 

Need to know: Built in the 1930s.  Last traded August 2005, for $646,000. Highest priced apartment in Albert Park 4/156 Beaconsfield Parade, March 2015, $1.67 million. 
Recent sales: 40/156 Beaconsfield Parade, July 2015, $930,000; 4/78 Kerferd Road, May 2015, $650,000; 8/227 Bridport Street West, May 2015, $537,000.