An untouched mid-century time capsule which the original owner’s family pitched in to finish while he was away overseas is selling for the first time in Highton.
Fans of Modernist design are making a beeline to inspect the custom 1964 house designed by local architect Walter Hodgson, who was also responsible for Belmont’s Buena Vista motel.
The beautifully preserved interior of 66 Reigate Rd, Highton, avoids artificial materials, instead showcasing natural raw materials such a pressed straw ceiling, solid blackwood internal doors and alpine ash walls.
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The original pressed straw ceiling at 66 Reigate Rd, Highton, adds a textural element and provides in-built insulation.
There’s a three-car garage, plus a double carport at the rear.
The owner’s son said the house was a labour of love for his engineer father who spent several months working in Mexico during the build but stayed intensively involved through long, detailed letters.
“All the family was involved in the landscaping the garden and the large block enabled outside pursuits such as backyard cricket,” he said.
“Five generations of the Perkins family have lived in the house over time and met regularly for social gatherings.”
He said his parents were attracted to the elevated site’s panoramic views over Geelong and the opportunity to incorporate a large garage space where they could restore vintage cars.
Photos at the time of construction show there were no other dwellings between the house and the Barwon River, with only a handful of others being built.
The original kitchen cabinetry is winning over potential buyers.
The hardwood timber lining has secret nails.
While the surrounding landscape may have changed, time has stood still inside, where the original kitchen with ceiling-mounted cabinetry and floor-to-ceiling windows across both the front and back of the house remain.
The family member said a carport had been added for ease of access but nothing had changed inside apart from the hardwood floors now being carpeted.
“We think the clean lines and open-plan indoor/outdoor living of a mid-century house like this was ahead of its time,” he said.
“It made the most of the Australian climate and way of life and has never gone out of fashion.”
He singled out the views, private sundeck and the suspended display cabinet as his favourite features.
The front bedroom has a panoramic view over Geelong.
The family has enjoyed many get-togethers on the private patio.
A separate shower room adjoins the bathroom.
McGrath, Geelong listing agent Tom Harrison said almost 100 people had already inspected the 721sq m property ahead of its auction on Saturday.
While nearby Montpellier Primary School is an attraction for young families, it’s the chance to sympathetically renovate the mid-century gem that driving the interest.
Most people are not talking about large scale changes, rather updating the kitchen appliances and knocking out the wall between the separate bath and shower rooms to create a larger bathroom.
“We are attracting people that would just love the opportunity to try and buy and scrape all the money they have to try and get it,” Mr Harrison said.
“Then there’s second lot of people, at the other end of the spectrum, where they have got $1.5m to spend but they want to renovate something because they love mid-century homes.
“This style is the opposite of the market. I had five opens on the weekend, three of them had one or two groups and then you go to this one and there’s 30 to 40 people.”
Price hopes are $780,000 to $850,000.
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