Kilmore prisoner-built barracks lists for $1.85m

2 days ago 4

The former Kilmore Police Barracks at 6-8 Powlett St was built in 1891 and features 13 restored fireplaces across a 1,023sq m allotment.

A derelict bluestone landmark built by Irish prisoners and left “uninhabitable” for 15 years has hit the market for $1.85m, nearly triple Kilmore’s median house price.
The former Kilmore Police Barracks features 13 working fireplaces and one of the town’s most ambitious residential price tags.

Built from triple-brick in 1891, owners say historical records show the Police Barracks at 6-8 Powlett St, Kilmore, was constructed by Irish prisoners and operated as both a police station and residence.
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After more than a century of service, the landmark was converted to professional offices, then briefly operated as the music wing of Kilmore International School before falling into decline and sitting abandoned for 15 years.

The property was purchased five years ago by Anne and Mark Bonnici, who took on the extensive renovation.

“When we bought it was uninhabitable, there were holes in the roof, ceiling and floor but my husband always believed it had good bones,” Mrs Bonnici said.

The restored grand staircase has become a focal point of the home’s revival, retaining original character within the bluestone landmark.

The kitchen blends modern functionality with heritage detailing, framed by ornate archways and original period features.

The scale of the restoration is most evident in the revival of all 13 fireplaces, alongside repaired hardwood floors, rebuilt ornate archways and a fully repointed bluestone exterior with renewed chimneys and gutters.

The 130-year-old residence now has a fireplace in almost every room, while original stained glass windows remain a feature throughout the home.

Upstairs there are four bedrooms, all with fireplaces and three with built-in robes, while a cellar beneath the home provides additional storage and flexibility for a workshop or gym space.

Mrs Bonnici said the substantial roof cavity also offered scope for further conversion, subject to approvals.

One of multiple living areas showcases high ceilings, restored hardwood floors and one of the home’s 13 working fireplaces.

The Bonnicis are now selling after Anne was diagnosed with Polymyalgia rheumatica, a condition that causes aches, pain and stiffness in her muscles, making it difficult for her to move around.

Despite the $1.85m guide sitting well above the suburb’s typical sale price, the scale of the building and its restoration place it firmly in one-off territory within the Kilmore market.

Contemporary bathroom finishes sit within the home’s 130-year-old shell, combining heritage scale with modern comfort.

Upstairs bedrooms retain original fireplaces, with four bedrooms featuring working hearths throughout the home.

Ray White Craigieburn’s Shayla Spiteri said the home’s defining feature was its fireplaces.

“It’s the 13 fireplaces,” Ms Spiteri said.

“It’s amazing to walk through and the fact that there’s a fireplace in every single room.
“It’s incredible, like where else would you ever get that?”

Beyond its residential appeal, the former Police Barracks also presents potential for boutique accommodation or Airbnb potential, subject to council approval.