Year-long search ends in the heritage renovation of a Melbourne couple's dreams

 It took only three months for Nathan and Anna Dallas to sell in Malvern East, buy their (then) unrenovated period home in 2012 and get married.

“After years of dreaming of finding a Victorian terrace in Albert Park and having only missed out on purchasing one in the same line of terraces six months earlier, as you can imagine we were quick to purchase our stunning four-bedroom home (when we found it),” says mother-of-two Anna, whose professional background includes interior design and styling.

“We had been actively looking for a year, always wanting to live on Merton Street because we loved its proximity to the village and its heritage appeal.”

The couple intended to buy a home they could renovate. It also had to be close to the beach, the central business district, Albert Park Lake and schools, public transport and South Melbourne’s buzzing food scene.

“(It had to have the) ability to be renovated and enhanced to our design style with scope to add a double garage to the rear, highly sought after in Albert Park,” Nathan says.

The couple found just that, set on 194 square metres. They completed their extensive renovation in 2016, including polishing blackbutt floors and installing a gourmet kitchen with stone benches and Miele appliances, and a generous open-plan living and dining room opening to a granite-paved private courtyard.

The impressive period home’s main bedroom now boasts a full-width balcony with en suite and freestanding bath.

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They installed keyless/mobile app entry, a surround-sound system and underfloor heating in both bathrooms.

“It is just a brilliant home situated in the longest line of double-storey terraces in Melbourne so we wanted to create a high-end home taking design inspiration from our travels while being sensitive to the building’s heritage,” Anna says.

“(That is why) items like the original handmade bricks that form the entire facade were kept and cleaned, the original staircase was restored and heritage tessellated tiles relaid at the entrance.

“An image of the front facade in the 1950s was sourced from archives at the State Library of Victoria to adorn the bifold garage doors. We are besotted with the result.”

Nathan and Anna are busy working parents to their two young children Phoenix, 3, and 10-month-old Avianna.

It is hardly surprising one of their favourite parts of the property is their luxurious main bedroom wing on the first floor.

“It includes our master bedroom with doors opening to a private terrace with views of the street, a walk-in-robe and bathroom with indulgent tub, walk-in shower, toilet and double vanity,” Nathan says. “It is like a retreat for us.”

The couple are now looking to move closer to family who are based in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

“Our family has obviously grown since we moved in as newlyweds. We have welcomed the arrival of our children and that has prompted our decision.”

25 Merton Street, Albert Park is for sale for $3.75 million through Oliver Bruce Of Marshall White Port Phillip.

See more photos of the property at Domain here or start the search for your dream home by downloading the Domain app