Set within 350 metres of Belgrave village, the station and the Puffing Billy Railway, this little weatherboard cottage sits close enough to the famous old train to become part of the home’s atmosphere.
“You can sometimes see the train through the trees,” vendor Stewart said. “But you can definitely see the smoke, and you can smell the rail and the steam.”
26A Monbulk Road, Belgrave is on the market for $585,000 - $625,000. Picture: realestate.com.au
On weekends, hearing it puff and choo-choo through the hills “makes you feel like you’re really part of something,” he said.
Listed with a price guide of $585,000 to $625,000, the two bedroom cottage at 26A Monbulk Road, Belgrave sits on a 944 square metre block, feeling like a leafy sanctuary within walking distance of town.
For Stewart, who has lived in the Dandenong Ranges for 16 years, the cottage offered something small, character-filled and close to mountain life.
He bought it in 2023 and says it was charming but tired.
“It was such a cute little place, but it was run down and needed a lot of TLC,” he said.
Located 350m from Belgrave train station and the Puffing Billy Railway. Picture: realestate.com.au
Over time, he brought it back to life, insulating the roof, installing new heating, repainting, improving the attic space and making the cottage warmer and more liveable.
That also meant evicting a few uninvited residents.
“I had to kick out the possums!” he said.
The famous Puffing Billy steam train was built in the early 1900's. Picture: Getty
Stewart describes the home as an old worker’s cottage, attached historically to the main residence at No.26 and carrying the make-do spirit of the hills.
“I didn’t want to make it perfect,” he said. For Stewart, its visible history is part of the charm. “I wanted to make it pretty, but keep its character.”
The location adds another layer. Stewart did the Melbourne commute himself, with the cottage a short walk to the train and about an hour by rail into the city. In the other direction are pubs, a gin distillery and Sherbrooke Forest, with walking tracks and “forest bathing” appeal.
Nestled in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, Belgrave is connected by train to Melbourne. Picture: realestate.com.au
Each winter, Belgrave also marks the shortest day of the year with its annual Lantern Festival, capturing the village spirit Stewart loves.
Belgrave has become popular with buyers wanting a hills lifestyle without cutting the cord to Melbourne, but its appeal is also in the mix of people it attracts.
“You get city people, country people, builders, all sort of mashed together,” he said. “You’ll see Teslas next to Ford Rangers.”
The old workers cottage has been tastefully renovated. Picture: realestate.com.au
He sees the property appealing to first-home buyers, downsizers, tree-changers or investors looking for a weekender or short-stay opportunity, which Stewart says was “always an option” for the cottage.
“You’re in the community,” Stewart says. “You can walk to things, but then you can close yourself off and just relax.”
Inside, the cottage has an open-plan lounge with balcony, a modern kitchen with leafy views through sash windows, a ground-floor bedroom, compact study and bathroom with soaking tub and tessellated tiles.
The two bedroom cottage has a versatile loft. Picture: realestate.com.au
Upstairs, the loft has two skylights, timber floors and a snug retreat-like feel. Stewart used it as extra living space, but says it could just as easily become a bedroom, studio or feature space for short-stay accommodation.
“It’s super quirky,” he said. “It’s small, but there are lots of little living spaces, quirky little nooks.”
Some details carry the railway mood inside. The bathroom doors came from a rail carriage, while collected signs add to the cottage’s train-side character.
“It’s got a bit of a rail vibe to it,” he said.
A garden shed offers further potential. Picture: realestate.com.au
There is still room for the next owner to add their own layer. The block backs toward the Puffing Billy corridor, with fern trees, rhododendrons, a garden shed and a creek running beyond the title, giving the property a sense of borrowed landscape. Stewart said there is scope for chickens, animals or an outdoor retreat.
He had imagined turning the shed into a spa-house retreat linked by deck, but said it could also become a studio or compact home office.
Blending cottage charm with modern updates. Picture: realestate.com.au
For Stewart, the cottage belongs to the broader magic of the Dandenong Ranges, where summer houses, workers’ cottages, European gardens and “Hills houses” sit among villages that each have their quirks - and where small homes like this one are part of the charm.
“It’s not just some vanilla four-by-two,” he said.
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