Best of coast and country

13 Selby Aura Road, Selby
About $2 million 
5 bedrooms 4 bathrooms 4 car spaces

When people build their dream retreat, they tend to throw in everything they’ve ever wanted and that’s the case here. The four-hectare property has a pool, a tennis court, a guest house, a huge conservatory for orchids, lush gardens and a great sense of privacy. Within easy reach of the city, via Wellington Road and the South Eastern Freeway, the property is also close to some of the Dandenongs’ key tourist centres. The house has a huge irregularly shaped living room with a vast stone-fronted open fire in the centre. An angle-walled rumpus room is on the lower ground floor. Two huge bedrooms, including the main, are on the first level, with another smaller bedroom on the ground floor. A sweet guest house has two more bedrooms. 

Kay & Burton,  9820 1111, Darren Lewenberg, 0412 555 556

2081 Ballan-Meredith Road, Ballan 
$1.3 million-plus
4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms

Only an hour from Melbourne, this  57-hectare property offers much appeal and potential. The historic weatherboard homestead has a classic double-fronted facade with a welcoming shady verandah. A recent renovation and extension has created a smart contemporary interior with plenty of space. There is a formal living room and separate formal dining room, a smart country-style kitchen and a clever enclosed sunroom. The house is built around a courtyard, the central feature of which is a solar-heated pool, enclosed by a hedge. The gardens are a key feature here; there’s an orchard, rose garden, formal hedged gardens and plenty of established trees. Beyond the home garden, there are nine main paddocks with smaller paddocks. A huge dam provides water for stock and there’s a small shearing shed. It all adds up to the possibility of many agricultural activities, as well as a very comfortable lifestyle 15 kilometres south of Ballan. 

Auction noon, November 7, PRH, 9866 5588, Peter Hawkins,  0418 317 440

79 Woolamai Beach Road, Cape Woolamai
$360,000-$390,000
4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms 2 car spaces

Buyers get a lot of bang for their buck on Phillip Island and here there is a low-maintenance but spacious four-bedroom house near the water. An established native garden works well with the muted exterior colours and there’s plenty of room for kids to run around on the large block. Inside, the house is well zoned for families. Downstairs, there are two bedrooms, a laundry and a bathroom, as well as a huge bay-windowed living room. Upstairs, the open-plan kitchen, living and dining room has sliding doors to a deck. The main bedroom adjoins the large family bathroom and the smaller fourth bedroom is next to the bathroom. 

Auction 2pm, Saturday, Judith Wright Stockdale and Leggo​, 5952 5100, Josh Dunstan, 0407 558 933

2 Scott Wynd, Blairgowrie
$1.5 million-plus
4 bedrooms 3 bathrooms 2 car spaces

Metres from the beach and the yacht squadron, this modern house has that airy, beachy feel people seek when they’re on holiday. There are living areas upstairs and down. Bedrooms are well separated for either different ages or for different families visiting and there are enough flexible spaces to allow for a few more to stay over if necessary. Upstairs, there is a huge, flowing open-plan kitchen, living and dining room with sliding doors opening to a large rectangular balcony with sea views. There is also a study and a large main bedroom, with walk-in wardrobe and en suite upstairs. The 1195-square-metre block leaves plenty of space and storage room for boats. 

Auction noon, Sunday, RT Edgar 5984 4500, Lloyd Robinson, 0414 441 880