The historic two-bedroom house at 266 Latrobe Terrace, Newtown is up for sale after being restored and renovated.
Paul Vandenberg’s family thought he was mad when he first revealed plans to renovate one of Geelong’s oldest surviving dwellings.
The circa 1854 Victorian Gothic villa had no running water or electricity and no functional kitchen or bathroom when he purchased it back in 2018.
Thankfully those deficiencies have been rectified during a top-to-bottom renovation that the landscape designer hopes will preserve 266 Latrobe Tce, Newtown for another 170 years.
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Exposed brick and original timber floors feature in the revamped kitchen and dining area.
Plantation windows shutters have been throughout the home.
“I wanted to see the house basically be saved. It is heritage listed, but you see a lot of these places that fall into disrepair, they are not loved,” Mr Vandenberg said.
“It needed love and I gave it lots and lots of love. I do still love it but it’s just not working for me as I’m in Melbourne a lot so it’s time for someone else to love it.”
He hopes a new custodian will step forward for the two-bedroom residence when it goes to auction through Jellis Craig Geelong agent Greg Matheson on May 16.
Honouring the rich history of the property was integral to Mr Vandenberg’s vision for the two-storey villa, which is listed for $850,000-$935,000.
Vendor Paul Vandenberg inside the house in 2018 before starting renovations. Picture: Glenn Ferguson
The first floor living room has city and bay views.
Old and new blend beautifully in the custom kitchen.
The residence is part of a duplex built by architect John Matthews as a spec home during a Victorian gold rush era housing shortage.
It later rose to prominence as the home of Geelong’s first female medical doctor, Mary De Garis, who lobbied for Geelong Hospital’s first maternity ward to be built in the 1920s.
Mr Vandenberg said the lath and plaster had already been stripped out when the bought the villa, making it easy to envisage how the rooms could be used.
As well as signature gothic elements such as steeply pitched rooflines and timber fretwork, he’s retained exposed brickwork, fireplaces and timber lined ceilings alongside sympathetic updates.
An existing fireplace is incorporated into the spacious family bathroom.
The vendor, who owns Landscape Discoveries, designed the heritage-style garden.
Hydronic heating features throughout the house, which has been rewired, replumbed and restumped.
A custom kitchen featuring a French Rosieres double oven range is now the centrepiece of the ground floor, sitting alongside a front lounge and new family bathroom.
Upstairs, a second living space connects two bedrooms, including a main suite.
“It’s a beautiful home to live in and it’s an extremely practical home considering its age,” he said.
“To the original builder’s credit, the house has not moved.’
Constructing a heritage-style front garden and courtyard to complement the villa was a particular passion project for the professional landscaper.
There is also a permit and endorsed plan to convert the old double-storey stables at the rear into a one-bedroom apartment, should the new owners wish to do so.
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