Coast and Country

29 Seahaze Avenue, Arthurs Seat
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 car spaces
$1.2 million-plus

Charming and rustic with colour and detail aplenty inside and out, Dovecote Cottage is from a time before minimalism pared back the world.

Large verandahs envelop two sides of the pretty green exterior and they overlook mature gardens. Inside, the house has three bedrooms and three living rooms on the ground level and the main bedroom, with en suite, walk-in wardrobe and parents’ retreat, upstairs.

The three downstairs living areas all have a different feel and two open to the garden or verandah. There are white-painted timber-panelled walls in some rooms, sandy-toned stone walls in others. It’s a great mix.

Kay & Burton 5989 1000, Meg Pell 0403 161 105

505 Mair Street, Ballarat
$1.28 million
6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 car spaces

Ballarat’s Congregational minister struck it lucky when he moved to Ballarat in the 1860s; a new manse built for him in the gold-rich town was a handsome and imposing brick building in Mair Street. One-hundred-and-fifty years later the house has been recently renovated including all the unseen work (wiring, plumbing) as well as a new kitchen. Most buyers, however, would be more interested in the large rooms and period features including marble fireplaces, timber staircases and stained -glass windows. The exterior is warm brick in an English bond layout (alternating patterns of rows) set atop bluestone foundations.

Paterson & Veal 5333 7293, Tim Veal 0419 561 915

26 Farnsworth Drive, Cape Schanck
3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 2 car spaces
$850,000-plus

On almost 1000 square metres within the Cape Schanck Resort, this house seems to just merge with the surrounding native bush. The bleached timber exterior adjoins large areas of decking, which has trees growing through it. It’s a great, relaxed look in a still wild part of the Mornington Peninsula. Timber also features heavily inside and this adds to the “as one with nature” feel. Downstairs, there is a large, almost-square living area with deck on three sides. One of the bedrooms, and a bathroom and laundry, is also downstairs and upstairs there are two more bedrooms and another living room.

RT Edgar 5989 0599, Lisa Fraser-Smith 0400 760 101