Oliphant house in Griffith filled with historic charm

6 Lockyer Street, Griffith
$1.65 million-plus
4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 parking space
Auction at 9am on Saturday, February 25, onsite
Inspect on Saturday, from 11am-11.45am and Tuesday,  from 5pm-5.30pm
Luton Properties Canberra City, James Carter 0413 974 912 

Buyers with an appreciation for Canberra’s architectural history will be drawn to this 1946 home, designed by Kenneth Oliphant, whose signature style can be found throughout the inner south.

Homeowner Dion Pitsilos says he and his wife, Sharyn, “fell in love” with the home when they first saw it in 1993.

“It’s just filled with so much charm and it was also surprisingly light and airy,” he says.

“We would become just its second owners.”

The classic homesits on a 1050-square-metre block and has been sympathetically extended. The property also features a self-contained studio.

Character features include high ceilings, original double hung windows, polished blue gum timber flooring and decorative cornices.  

Modern conveniences include LED lights in every room, ducted gas heating, superfast VDSL internet connection and TV aerial sockets throughout.

The upgraded master bedroom includes a luxury en suite with large shower, under-floor heating and heated towel rails. French doors lead from this retreat onto a private paved courtyard.

“The master bedroom is our favourite part of the house,” Dion says.

“It’s part of an extension, but the design is so in keeping with the overall design of the house that it’s hard to detect.

A detached studio is fitted with reverse-cycle heating and cooling, a ceiling mounted projector with a large 100″ screen, superfast VDSL Internet, LED zoned lighting and a motorised skylight.

“It’s a great space for a home office or extra accommodation for guests,” Dion says.

Established gardens surround the home that is, of course, conveniently close to schools, shops, cafes, restaurants and the CBD.

“You can easily walk to the attractions of Kingston and Manuka,” Dion says.

Off the grid

9 Rooth Place, Watson
$780,000-plus
4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 parking space
Auction on Saturday, February 18, 10.30am, onsite
Inspect on Saturday,  from 11am-11.30am
LJ Hooker Dickson, Nic Salter-Harding 0412 600 085

If there’s one topic that hits the hot buttons, it’s the dream of going “off-grid” and saying goodbye to escalating electricity prices.

There’s an opportunity to live that reality in this character Watson home that’s also the craft studio for the celebrated Tallaganda Pottery.

Homeowner and potter Garry Palecek says he originally rented the home after moving from Braidwood after 18 years.

“I was renting in Watson and looking around for a new place to buy when I realised I was living in it,” he says.

“I put an offer to the owners and here I am.”

Number 9 Rooth Place sits at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac and borders Mount Majura Nature Reserve.

It’s a home packed with charm – and a 3kW photovoltaic system and separate solar hot water heater.

“I get credits instead of electricity bills and they just about pay my annual rates,” Garry says.

The bathrooms and laundry have been renovated and the kitchen updated.

The pottery studio, once a garage, could be used for a a home business or as a self-contained apartment.