9 Pardalote Place

From the street, this home announces itself clearly. White weatherboard, white fence, a gabled roofline with a distinctive triangular clerestory window set into the peak, the design language is coastal, considered and immediately at odds with what you might expect to find in central Victoria. It is a house that has borrowed confidently from the coast and made it entirely its own. A sweeping driveway leads to the carport and garage. The lawns are open and generous, 1668 sqm (approx) of green, framed by native trees and wide country sky, with room to shape the garden on your own terms. Inside, the coastal palette deepens. An arched ceiling rises to 4.2 metres across the open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, a single soaring volume that holds the north-facing sun from morning to late afternoon. Skylights draw light deep into the space. The clerestory window visible from the street delivers sky and treetops directly into the living room, while floor-to-ceiling sheer drapes soften a wide glazed wall below. White walls, warm timber floors, and built-in cabinetry, the palette is simple and entirely calm. There is room for a large sectional sofa and a full dining arrangement, and still the sense that the space breathes around you. A solid wood heater with a sandstone surround anchors the room through winter. Ducted heating and cooling runs throughout, ensuring the home is comfortable in every season. The kitchen sits at the heart of it all. Stone benchtops, a large island bench for casual dining, a country-style sink looking directly out over the deck and pool, a freestanding gas cooktop and oven, dishwasher, and a walk-in pantry running approximately 6.5 metres, shelved and practical, with room to properly stock and organise a busy household. Step outside, and the deck opens across its full 5.8m by 12.2m. Covered and ceiling-fanned, it holds a full outdoor lounge at one end and a long dining table at the other, with the heated inground pool, 7m by 3.7m, glass-fenced, alongside, and open paddock and eucalyptus canopy stretching beyond. This is the view from the kitchen sink. This is where the family will spend the summer. Four bedrooms, each with a scallop Laminex feature wall that carries the coastal character into the private quarters. Three have built-in robes. The main bedroom is spacious and considered: walk-in robe, barn-style door to the ensuite, twin vanity basins, walk-in shower, separate toilet and floor-to-ceiling travertine-style tiles. The family bathroom offers a freestanding bath, shower, vanity, floor-to-ceiling travertine-style tiles and a separate toilet. A second living room, carpeted, quieter, works equally well as a rumpus or home office. A walk-in linen closet and a large laundry with external access add the storage and practicality a family home demands. Castlemaine’s shops, schools and dining are close. The countryside starts at the back fence.