This restored Griffith home is the perfect mix of old and new

It is time for “Canberra classic” to take its place in the dictionary of fine architectural styles, with no better example than 1 Durville Crescent, a four-bedroom, period beauty in a tree-lined, old-world precinct of Griffith.

The elevated home offers a masterclass in contemporary renewal, following a meticulous three-year rebuild completed about five years ago. 

The original, 1955 ruby-brick facade was retained and restored, and everything beyond is new, carrying a polished European flair. 

So flawless is the integration of then and now, some prospective buyers believe the walls have stood for several decades. 

“It’s a Canberra classic, brought up to date for a 2025 lifestyle,” says agent Mario Sanfrancesco of Blackshaw Manuka. “The house is effectively a new build in a heritage precinct.

“You can tell it’s such a brilliant job, because I’ve had the odd buyer walk through and say, ‘It was quite a large home in its day,’ but little do they know.”

The house is understood to be the only heritage home in Australia with an 8.6-star energy rating. The eco-friendly efficiencies have been added with an understated hand, so the historic character shines.

These include triple-glazed, imported meranti hardwood windows and doors, ensuring the interior temperature is comfortable and consistent no matter the weather outside.

Full-height windows in the meals and family area frame the solar-heated plunge pool in the entertainer’s terrace.

The exterior is crafted from 12,000 Canberra red bricks – an iconic component of the capital city’s historic architecture. They were produced for 60 years by Yarralumla Brickworks, which ceased operation in 1976, and were used to build the Old Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia and the Royal Australian Mint, among others.

The owners looked far and wide for first-rate fixtures and fittings.

They selected 100-year-old oak Herringbone flooring from England, imported brass bathroom lighting by US designer Kelly Wearstler, handmade Moroccan tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms and Concordia marble for the main bathroom.

There’s also breccia nera marble for the main bedroom’s en suite, and a bespoke jewellery armoire in the opulent dressing room by US lifestyle brand Aerin.

“You don’t see this level of finish unless budget is not an issue and you’re doing it for yourself,” Sanfrancesco says. “It has so many beautiful features, but one that stands out to me is the en suite – the combination of the stone and the finishes, you’d think you’re in a luxury hotel.”

Vintage English charm is a signature throughout the home, from the deep farmhouse sinks in the butler’s pantry and laundry, to the claw-foot bath in the central bathroom and the barn doors on the four-car garage.

The al fresco areas have been just as carefully calibrated as the interiors. The chic, country-style kitchen flows onto the outdoor dining area, which is fitted with a pizza oven and a barbecue. 

Sanfrancesco says buyers put a high value on well-resolved outdoor spaces.

“There is a lifestyle element that the home offers, so you can have your family or friends around in the living area and, when the weather’s lovely, that spills out to the outdoors,” he says. “It’s been a drawcard for prospective buyers.”

Car collectors will relish the clever use of space in the garage. Double electric autostackers that hold four cars beneath the cathedral roof were added at a cost of $12,000 each.

The property is a short walk from the Manuka village, in a pocket that is so highly sought after that Sanfrancesco has seen buyers move only a few streets to be closer to some of Canberra’s best cafes and restaurants.

The buyer will find plenty of time to fill their diary with table bookings. 

“Because the house is quite new, you can buy with confidence, knowing that for the next decade or two, you will have very little to do,” Sanfrancesco says.

By negotiation

1 Durville Crescent, Griffith ACT 2603

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