A converted historic post office is seeking a modern-day stamp of approval as an unusual residential home in the heart of Portarlington.
The landmark circa 1888 polychrome brick building, now a four-bedroom house, has hit the market with a $1.9m to $2.09m price tag.
Barry Plant, Geelong listing agent Stan Buzza said early indications were that 1 Harding St’s appeal as private residence would be the main drawcard ahead of its December 14 auction.
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Portarlington’s former post office is one of the few elaborate buildings constructed on the Bellarine Peninsula in the 1800s.
Take in views of the Portarlington foreshore from the main bedroom and first floor balcony.
However, the 434sq m property’s commercial zoning also opens the door to potential business ventures.
The former post office occupies a prime position on the corner of Newcombe St, Portarlington’s main shopping strip, and is less than 200m from the town’s pier and harbour.
Bay views are a highlight of the first floor main bedroom suite that form part of a sympathetic weatherboard extension to the original building.
“It is one of the most prominent buildings on the main street, the Grand Hotel Portarlington and the post office are certainly synonymous with that main street and you look at it when you drive in,” Mr Buzza said.
“It has had a change of ownership over the years and as that change has taken place the building has evolved as well so you’ve got the extension on the back with all the contemporary upgrades that provides and you’ve got the got the original construction that’s been upkept and upheld to the highest degree over time.”
Heritage features are still on display in the formal lounge and dining room.
The kitchen has modern cooking appliances and a dishwasher.
Three of the bedrooms have open fireplaces.
The Victorian Tudor style facade of the former post office, later a telephone exchange, has recently been tuckpointed, while the interior retains many original features including Baltic pine floors, open fireplaces and a cellar.
The older part of the house has a formal lounge and dining room and three bedrooms, all with marble mantels adorning their fireplaces.
The floorplan steps down to a modern-day extension where a sympathetically styled kitchen and open-plan meals and living area link to a northwest facing deck.
Upstairs, the main bedroom has its own balcony, taking in panoramic views of the Portarlington foreshore, as well an ensuite with stone benchtops and his and hers vanities.
The ensuite has a stone topped vanity.
The main living room flows out to an outdoor entertainment area.
Mr Buzza said the property offered low-maintenance living in a great lifestyle location, with the Melbourne to Portarlington ferry at the bottom of the street.
“You could roll a marble down Harding St and it would end up at the safety harbour,” he said.
“You could throw a tennis ball at the bakery and you’re right near the Grand Hotel.
“The inquiry thus far has been from people wanting to use the residential component because it’s such a unique concept and it’s low maintenance and people that buy in that inner hub of Portarlington they want something that doesn’t require a great amount of external upkeep.”
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