A unique opportunity to purchase a rare piece of history in the Victorian Goldfields – a short drive to Castlemaine and surrounding tourist hot spots, and an easy commute to Melbourne, Bendigo, Ballarat & Daylesford. Two historic buildings are positioned on a generous 5670m2 of land, with peaceful surroundings and a quiet living environment which lends itself as a charming weekend getaway, short stay accommodation, or of course – a place to call home. The brick Old Methodist Church was built in 1861 in a Victorian Early English Gothic style and is also one of the earliest Wesleyan chapels to have been erected in the Goldfields area. The open plan layout highlights typical features of the era with exposed timber beams, steeply-pitched ceiling, original hardwood floorboards, and pointed windows and door openings with vertical-boarded doors. Modern additions include the kitchen with island bench, sink, oven & cooktop, laundry/bathroom complete with shower, claw foot bath under the arch windows, along with a wood combustion heater and ceiling fan. The adjacent prefabricated wooden Courthouse was transported from England in the 1850s and was used for courthouses and gold warden's offices in the Goldfields in the 1870’s and is the most intact and unaltered of the few remaining examples of this building type (one of only 3 now in existence). This building is also used as a dwelling with a compact kitchen, modern shower room, and bed/living room with split system and wood heater. Outside is a paved pathway to a sitting area, mature olive trees, water tank and garden shed, with large native shade trees and gentle rolling hills to complete the bush retreat. Well positioned within the local village, with an alternate access road (rear of property) and connected to mains power and water within the Township Zone. With its surrounding historic towns and tourist routes, including nearby wineries, places of interest and sought after dining experiences, this is truly one of a kind. Opportunities of this type don’t come around often, call Chris for further details and to arrange an inspection.
