The fairytale-like house at 56 Upper Coonara Rd, Kallista, is on the market.
A fairytale-style Dandenong Ranges house which wouldn’t look out of place in a Harry Potter movie is ready to weave its magic over a new owner.
Set among hundreds of fruit and flower trees on a 1.42ha block, the home inspired by English Tudor-style architecture and American “gingerbread houses” is on the market with a $1.57m price tag.
The Kallista abode features intricate handcrafted timberwork, a blackwood staircase, leadlight windows, crystal chandeliers, a living room bar, a turret and multiple outdoor entertainers’ areas – including one with a barbecue named Bedrock in a tribute to The Flintstones, thanks to its carved wooden furniture.
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There’s even a man-made waterfall and waterwheel at the 56 Upper Coonara Rd property which lives up to its fairytale credentials thanks to the deer, wallabies and wombats who visit the garden.
Long-time owner Tony Van den Berg and wife Janette sold the three-bedroom house, named Fernhills, in 2019.
Mr Van den Berg, a former cabinet maker responsible for much of the residence’s wooden fittings, renovated the home where he had lived with his parents as a child after they immigrated from Holland to Australia.
The home wouldn’t be out of place in a fairytale such as Snow White, Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella – or, of course, the Harry Potter books or movies.
There’s even a turret.
3D-style wallpaper in one of the bedrooms.
Current owners Effie and Victor Leeman use the house as a retreat.
They also have it listed as a short-term holiday rental, making approximately $40,000 each year from the venture.
Mr Leeman said when they first saw Fernhills, they were “gobsmacked” by its beauty.
“It’s like something out of a fairytale,” Ms Leeman added.
“And there’s turrets on the house like a Harry Potter movie.”
The home’s former owner Tony Van den Berg, a cabinet maker, crafted the detailed wooden fittings throughout the residence, including the bar.
A barn provides a workshop, storage and accommodation options, complemented by a studio and workshop, greenhouse and woodsheds.
Her husband described the home as “a gem hidden away in the forest” with parrots who come to the front door to be fed.
Their treasured memories of Fernhill include a hosting a pre-party and photographs for one of their sons’ weddings, plus Christmases and Easters.
Before the Lemmans bought the home, the owners prior to them spent roughly $200,000 updating the house which included installing the chandeliers.
In the split-level kitchen there’s black-and-white floors, red gum cabinetry, and a breakfast bar overlooking a second lounge room.
Descend down the stairs while dressed in a gown and glass slippers, if that takes your fancy.
The dining room with a bay window looking out to the garden is the perfect spot for a high tea.
Feature tiles on the splashback showcase images of the village in Holland where Mr Van den Berg’s family came from.
The dining room is fitted with a bay window looking out to the garden while the main living area showcases both the bar and a Coonara fireplace.
Mr Leeman said he particularly loved the living room with the windows offering views of Fernhills’ magnificent fern and rhododendron gardens and towering deciduous trees.
The main bedroom offers a balcony and high ceiling with ornate skylights.
“I particularly love the master bedroom because it has a vaulted cathedral ceiling with 16 handcrafted headlight skylights and a handmade cloud light featuring over 200 built-in globes.” Ms Leeman said.
“The bedroom leads to a spa ensuite, a Juliette balcony and looks over a Harry Potter-style turret. The wall paper has a crystal-like surface adding to the magic feel.”
The previous owners installed a handcrafted, cloud-shaped light feature consisting of more than 200 globes, in the main bedroom.
Former owners Janette and Tony Van den Berg Kallista sold Fernhills in 2019. They’re pictured at the bar which is inset with foreign coins. Picture: Tony Gough.
Ms Leeman said he and his wife had been visited by Mr Van den Berg since buying the home, who explained his inspiration for the home included
there were more than 600 camellia trees on the property plus macadamia, walnut and hazelnut trees.
OBrien’s Robert Eierweis said the house would make an ideal retreat for a buyer “wanting to get away from it all” or an investor seeking successful short-term rental.
“With the ceilings and the bedrooms, it’s all pretty amazing just the way it has been fitted out and designed,” Mr Eierweis said.
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