Domain Review Bayside & Port Phillip - May 24, 2023

IN BALANCE WHY CO-WORKING IS HERE TO STAY

MOVABLE FEAST TOP CHEFS MAKE OUR CITY HOME RISE UP WINTER FESTIVAL RISING RETURNS

ROBYN LAWLEY

NO FILTER, NO APOLOGIES

Erskine Bed & Frame Bedroom designed by Justin Hutchinson for Kett

Beauty and body image. As a mum of two girls, this topic actually scares me. Striking the right chord in both what I say to my girls, and how I model the relationship I have with my own body, is really tricky. It’s something our cover star, model and activist Robyn Lawley knows well. Statuesque and lean by most people’s standards, she is considered “curvy” and even “plus-sized” in the fashion industry. Lawley has been long been an advocate for body positivity, and she continues to inspire women –young and old – to love themselves and the body they’re in. I hope her story inspires you, too. ●

Compiled by HAILEY COULES

SEE THROUGH \ Australian design brand Marmoset Found has released a handcrafted and textured glassware collection. Find them in rich hues of rose, coffee, green and grey. ● marmosetfound.com.au

SEASONAL CHANGE \ “We love lunch. We love seafood. And we really love grower champagne,” says Etta owner Hannah Green, who has launched On Saturdays We Lunch – $70. ● ettadining.com.au

THE EDIT

Things we love about Melbourne

OUR COVER \ Robyn Lawley

Photographed by Steven Chee

MORE TO LOVE ONLINE

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Editorial producer \ Hailey Coules

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NIGHT OUT \ ARIA-winning singer-songwriter Adrian Eagle will be the headline act at the next run of NGV’s Friday Nights (June 9 to October 7). Guests get entry to the Pierre Bonnard exhibition. ● ngv.vic.gov.au

SMOKE SHOW \ A Sydney culinary scene fave has opened in South Yarra. Yan, best known for its Asian approach to American barbecue-style cooking, has a coveted chef’s hat. ● yanmelbourne.com.au

ANNIKA KAFCALOUDIS

ARIANNA HARRY PHOTOGRAPHY

MICHAEL PHAM

Working wonders

The conundrum of where to work has plagued employees and companies since strict COVID-19 isolation rules turned the working world upside down.

Should people be forced to return to their old offices or be allowed to work solely from home? The new norm for many is a hybrid of both.

But another contender has entered the market in the form of co-working spaces. According to commercial real estate company JLL’s 2022 Future of Work survey, 43 per cent of the more than 1000 organisations surveyed globally plan to ramp up investment in flexible workspaces by 2025.

These boutique workspaces present a unique opportunity for individuals and businesses to rework the traditional model.

Businesses benefit from the reduced overheads of large, sometimes soulless office buildings, in favour of spaces that offer extras like gourmet catering, advanced technology, breakout zones, gyms and designer interiors.

Many employees initially enjoyed the freedom of working from home, but are now discovering the downsides. Co-working spaces offer a sense

of community and networking opportunities, in locations close to home, with a slew of perks.

We have found some of the most popular and emerging co-working spaces in Melbourne.

The Commons

The Commons was one of the early adopters, opening its first co-working space in Collingwood in 2016 and now operating nine sites across Australia (six of them in Melbourne).

Co-founder and managing director Cliff Ho says companies such as PayPal, Shameless Media, Piping Hot, Riparide and Who Gives a Crap work from its beautifully designed spaces.

“The drive towards co-working spaces is increasing, with tenants considering alternatives to traditional models and demand for office spaces that provide comprehensive amenities without longterm commitments,” Ho says.

“Our spaces are designed with meticulous attention to detail and the belief that good design is essential to improving wellbeing and productivity.”

● thecommons.com.au

Words KIM WILSON

The days of the soulless office are numbered. Enter co-working spaces.

The Commons Wellington Street.

“Our spaces are designed with meticulous attention to detail and the belief that good design is essential to improving wellbeing and productivity.” CLIFF HO

Eclat

Eclat is a world-class, members-only workspace boasting architect-designed offices, sleek lounges and high-end hospitality.

Eclat director and chief executive Nick Maxwell says the 2700-square-metre development in Hawthorn East stands out from its co-working competitors because of its elevated and uniquely curated spaces with furniture designed by Forme Design. The space also features first-class concierge services and a hospitality offering called Parlor, where members can have a working lunch in sophisticated surroundings.

“We are neither simply a flexible workspace nor a serviced office provider,” he says.

“Eclat stands alone in the global market as a collaborative co-working environment with a focus on design, comfort and culture.

“This unique inner-east location offers an upscale alternative to crowded city venues with their cookie-cutter fit-outs and lack of privacy.”

● eclat.com

Kings Club

Kings Club is co-working with a hotel feel, set on a full block in South Melbourne.

From freelancers and start-ups to established organisations, workers can enjoy facilities in an area the size of six tennis courts.

These include gardens, an outdoor putting green, bocce court, barbecue pavilion, private gym and on-site massage.

Laura Knipe, group marketing manager for Deague Group, which owns Kings Club, says hot-desking has become the new normal, and committing to long-term leases is more daunting than ever for businesses.

“As office workers continue to opt for hybrid or entirely remote working models, we have seen businesses struggle to build a positive and engaging office culture,” she says.

“Co-working spaces offer a new level of amenity and facilitate the building of a positive work environment.”

● kingsclub.com.au

CreativeCubes.Co

There are five CreativeCubes.Co co-working sites across inner Melbourne, each with its own distinctive style, but all with a focus on creating a vibrant culture that fosters creativity, collaboration and inclusion.

There’s even a dedicated “Happiness Team” to ensure members are contented, engaged and supported.

Chief executive Tobi Skovron says its co-working locations have been carefully selected with several factors in mind.

“We recognised that people prioritise lifestyle and prefer to work, live, and play close to home,” Skovron says. “By offering convenient locations, we aim to enhance our members’ work-life balance.

“We also understand that community is the new currency and sought out areas that foster a sense of belonging and connection among residents.”

The spaces are located in South Melbourne, Richmond, Hawthorn, Carlton and Collingwood.

● creativecubes.co

CreativeCubes.Co Collingwood.

Skin in the game

As a 16-year-old aspiring model, Robyn Lawley felt pressured to look like the other, very thin women in the industry.

“When you’re in that teenage phase, unfortunately, you listen. Unfortunately, you’re so gullible. I had people telling me to starve,” Lawley says.

Now 33, the Australian supermodel is a vocal advocate for body positivity – something she began talking about long before it hit the zeitgeist.

“I love that it is a trending topic because that’s where I come from,” she says. “Only 10 or 15 years ago it was just so in the corner, where no one wanted to even look at it.”

Robyn Lawley is the face of vegan, cruelty-free cosmetic brand Inika.

Best known for her cover of Vogue Italia’s June 2011 issue, Lawley was also the first plus-size model to be shot for Vogue Australia in 2012 and the first curvy model to appear in the iconic Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition in 2015.

She also headlined the first dedicated curve show at Australian Fashion Week in May last year.

“I’m thrilled, but at the same time, it’s so stupid because we’re just representing what everyday women are, and we’re the buyers of the clothes,” Lawley says.

That’s particularly relevant for her now, as a mother to her eight-year-old daughter, Ripley.

“She’s going to be a big girl like me,” she says. “She’s going to be really tall and really curvy and so I had to be a voice for her.”

Not only is Lawley a voice for women, but she is also a passionate animal-rights advocate and is now the face of Inika – a vegan, cruelty-free cosmetic brand that aligns with her activism.

What’s more, she has ditched being retouched in the campaign photos – instead presenting herself with flaws and all – refusing to conform to the beauty industry’s usual obsession with perfection.

“I have been in the business long enough to see the products I don’t want to use on my body and face,” Lawley says.

“Inika works for me because it’s something I would use. There is no point promoting things I don’t. There’s no alcohol or chemicals in Inika ingredients.

“The products are as organic as you can get. I can sleep in it and won’t be affected by the product.

“I love it when a product does what it says it is meant to do.”

Inika has launched a $10,000 grant program called People With Purpose, open to Australian residents doing incredible things, whether that be protecting the environment, fighting for animal rights or helping create a more sustainable future.

“I just thought it was such a good initiative and I’m trying to do it with my own life,” Lawley says.

Lawley was a vegan in her teens, but then she swung the other way – eating meat because it was an easy habit to fall into when her work schedules went into overdrive.

That all changed in 2015, after she was diagnosed with lupus while pregnant with Ripley, and suffered two strokes as a result of the autoimmune illness.

“I decided I had nothing to lose to go back to veganism and really focus on what I was putting in my body,” Lawley says.

“I had continued to watch more animal rights videos, visited farms and saw slaughterhouses. I was done with meat.

“I also don’t think people realise that, environmentally, you can cut your carbon emissions by half if you go vegan today. Everybody should be doing it.

“If every single human on this planet eats meat twice a day, every day, we can’t sustain our planet. The world has to shift – it’s starting, but more needs to be done.”

Lawley’s husband, lawyer Everest Schmidt is also vegan – the pair met through mutual friends when she was 21.

“We declared our love to one another within a few weeks of meeting,” she recalls.

“Everest went vegan of his own accord when I did, and I love listening to him speak passionately about our environment. There is nothing sexier to me than seeing him care about mother nature.”

Her no-holds-barred passion has had the potential to negatively impact upon her international modelling career, but Lawley continues to fight for the things she believes in.

“They don’t want you to care at all as a model,” she says. “They just want you to shut up and put

anything on. When you start caring, they don’t want you to talk. It’s a fine line and it’s about trying to tread carefully, but at the same time I’m very vocal and you can’t shut me up, unfortunately.”

In 2018, Lawley started a global petition ahead of the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, asking women to boycott the label over its lack of inclusivity.

She now hosts a podcast called Every Body, where she talks to people of all shapes, sizes, colours and abilities about “surviving and thriving in a bodyshaming world”.

Lawley admits to succumbing to traditional perceptions of beauty as a teenager, spiralling through diets in an unachievable bid to conform to accepted norms.

It wasn’t until her manager, Chelsea Bonner, genuinely celebrated her natural beauty that she began to appreciate her curves.

“I could still cry to this day when I think about that,” Lawley says. “It really impacted [upon] me because I was for so long getting told to just do this and just do that and just change this.

“It was just refreshing to hear Chelsea say, ‘Stay exactly as you are.’ She helped me become a trailblazer.” ●

● inikaorganic.com

Model, activist and body positivity advocate Robyn Lawley keeps it real for a new beauty campaign.

“They don’t want you to care at all as a model. They just want you to shut up and put anything on.”

Words JANE ROCCA & KIM WILSON

ROBYN LAWLEY FOR INIKA

Rise & shine

EVENT  Winter arts festival Rising will ignite Melbourne’s CBD in June, with local and international live music, exhibitions and visual art.

Words JANE ROCCA

Witch and The Damned

The Forum, Friday, June 9

RVG: Iceage and Batrider

The Forum, Wednesday, June 14

Best known for his slacker act Dinosaur Jr, frontman J Mascis swaps shoe-gazing guitar work for a spot behind the drum kit with his stoner doom outfit Witch.

“Playing drums was the first thing I wanted to do as a kid and I would still be doing it if I found some guys around my town I wanted to play with,” J Mascis says.

“I couldn’t, so I switched to guitar with Dinosaur Jr, but drumming has always been a primal instinct for me.

“I try to make my style between three drummers I love – Charlie Watts [The Rolling Stones], Jon Bonham [Led Zepplin] and Ian Paice [Deep Purple].”

It’s been a while between album releases, and yes, there’s a new album that was recorded last year, but vocalist Kyle Thomson needs to sign off on it.

Witch joins the original UK punks The Damned on a double bill that will throttle between stoner soundscapes and bleeding hardcore for the ultimate die-hard fans of the ’70s.

The gig will ultimately be a tribute to the Witch bandmates’ obsession with Black Sabbath.

Melbourne band RVG are touring their latest album, Brain Worms –a lush symphony of synths and brittle romanticism.

“This album is my attempt to make sense of the last few years,” says frontwoman Romy Vager.

“It’s partly about technology that’s rotting our brains, but the central theme of it is about obsession and what it does to people.”

The film clip for their single Nothing Really Changes was filmed at Ripponlea – with Vager channelling a possessed Mariah Carey as she dragged a body across the floor in the name of visual art.

“We had tour guides passing through as we were filming; they must have thought I was mad,” she says.

This by David Woods and collaborators

Former Richmond Power Station, June 9-18

A story about rage created by 30 angry and quite funny people that descends into a mud pit – complete with wrestling. Staged in a decommissioned power station, you’ve been warned to not turn up wearing white!

Night Trade

St Paul’s Cathedral car park, June 7-18

sized marionettes and [make] realitybending constructions from found objects,” festival director Hannah Fox says.

Shadow Spirit

Flinders Street Station, June 7-July 30

A free festival hub will be at St Paul’s Cathedral car park – a place to meet friends between events or simply hang out for the night. Expect pop-up performances and DJ sets. The space will be transformed by Puerto Rican twin brothers and artists Poncili Creacion.

“They’re known to create mindmelting apparitions, control crane-

An exhibition of First Peoples contemporary artists curated by Kimberley Moulton is on show in the abandoned rooms of Flinders Street Station.

“Thematically it’s connected by First Peoples’ spirit worlds, and the works within it are an experiential mix of traditional cultural practice, contemporary and political work, and pop culture,” says Fox. ●

RISING FESTIVAL \ June 7-18

● rising.melbourne

EUGENE HYLAND

IZZIE AUSTIN

SHADOW SPIRIT

FOOD

Words DONNA DEMAIO

Melbourne has long been known as Australia’s foodie capital. Our streets are dedicated to cuisines from around the world, thanks to the immigrants who moved here in the early 20th century bringing with them neverbefore seen dishes, ingredients and techniques.

We spoke to three incredibly passionate and talented chefs who’ve travelled from afar to share their unique take on cuisines we love; Italian, Indian and Modern Australian.

Anthony Dispensa, Ronnie’s

Years of nagging by friend and restaurateur Matthew Butcher enticed New York chef Anthony Dispensa to head Down Under.

He desperately misses his hometown pizza by the slice but is enamoured with Melbourne’s vibrant food scene and our sense of humour.

At Ronnie’s at Rialto Piazza, he’s concocting pork and sage lasagne with a parmesan-infused bechamel twist and serving his childhood favourite – creamy polenta and mushroom ragu.

Butcher’s encouragement and support has reenergised Dispensa, who fondly recalls working with Butcher and Gordon Ramsay in Los Angeles. He’s also enjoying the local Asian food scene, while exploring our inner city.

And what’s impressed him the most in the first months? “I love the focus on sustainable food practices. It’s a big passion of mine too, so it is great to see the hospitality scene tackling this head-on.” ● ronnies.melbourne

Melting pot

Manpreet Sekhon, Elchi & Masti

Restaurateur Manpreet Sekhon first dreamed of changing the world’s view of Indian cuisine while whipping up traditional curries at five-star hotels in the Punjab.

To accomplish her goal, “The Curry Queen” (a moniker she wears proudly) felt compelled to move overseas – and her heart was set on Australia.

She’s now running three eateries – Eastern Spice in Geelong, Masti in Fitzroy and, most recently, Elchi at the old Press Club site in the CBD.

Determined not to open “just another Indian restaurant”, she infuses signature flair into authentic flavours. “People think that Indian cuisine is just red, yellow and green curries and I wanted to change people’s perceptions; that it can be something else as well.”

She says Melbourne finally has its spark back. “People had been sitting at home for so long. It’s a happening city. It’s buzzy. And very welcoming.”

During rare downtime, Sekhon frequents her favourite haunts – Nomad for a burrata with fennel seed, or Maha for a Middle Eastern feast.

● elchirestaurant.com.au

● eatdrinkmasti.com

Alejandro Saravia,Farmer’s Daughters & Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters

Mov ing to Victoria put Alejandro Saravia in the best place to expand his career, says the man credited with bringing Peruvian cuisine to our shores.

“It made a lot of sense to come

to Melbourne, the gastronomical capital of Australia,” Saravia says.

In 2014, he became the director of Peruvian restaurant Pastuso before making the move in 2021 to open Farmer’s Daughters in the 80 Collins building.

Before migrating from Peru, he “consumed a lot of cable TV”, hooked on the Curtis Stone-led cooking show Surfing the Menu.

“I went to Europe. I worked in Paris and met a lot of Australians and everyone was talking about how beautiful it is,” he says.

After a Sydney stint, and following many trips to the Queen Victoria Market, he opted to become a Melburnian.

And, with the move, he noticed something special. “All this beautiful food, restaurants, laneways, cafes and bars – the hospitality industry was developing in such an innovative way.”

His latest eatery, Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters in Federation Square, is about “bringing a glimpse of our state’s food, people and art into one place”, Saravia says. “Also, [it’s] a gateway to start understanding what people should expect when they venture out to our regions.”

Saravia also ventures beyond his own eateries for a bite and a tipple. The iconic City Wine Shop is where he likes to people-watch. And he’s a repeat customer at Parcs, where sustainable dining is informed by fermentation and where the flavours are “very punchy, adventurous and different”.

Perhaps Saravia speaks for all three of these chefs when he says, “I’m so grateful that I can actually call Melbourne home.”

● farmersdaughters.com.au

● victoriarestaurant.com.au

MANPREET SEKHON

These top chefs from around the globe have brought their marvellous menus to Melbourne.

ANTHONY DISPENSA

PETE DILLON

TRISTAN JUD

ALEJANDRO SARAVIA

A celebration of continuing success

In the 125 years since Shelford welcomed its first students, the independent girl’s school has nurtured generations of intelligent, determined and compassionate young women. While the world that students enter after Shelford has changed, key elements of the school have endured.

“Our strong sense of community has never wavered, and each student is still known, valued and supported in their learning and their development as a person,” says Katrina Brennan, Shelford’s 11th principal.

“We have always been a school where families work hard to send their girls here, and we are a school without pretension. Our focus is on our people, the programs and the students wanting to do well and lifting each other.”

Every Shelford principal has been female, which Brennan says has been a natural evolution.

“It is important for our students to see women in leadership positions, and women hold many senior positions at Shelford,” she says.

“We’ve benefited from 125 years of strong female leaders who have been innovative and inspiring and who educated young women beyond the norms of the day so they could have adventurous lives.

“That spirit of innovation and the empowerment of women still prevails.”

Shelford has always excelled academically. In 2022, the school’s median ATAR score was 90.95, with 15 per cent of students receiving an ATAR score above 98, and 40 per cent above 95.

“We have a strong academic program and high standards,” Brennan says. “Our students want to do well, and our parents are very engaged and motivated to support their daughters in their learning. We have always had an outstanding learning culture.”

In the past few years, the school has developed a growing partnership with Swinburne University of Technology that sees students take part in STEM

challenges, learn about entrepreneurship and attend a day that supports the transition to university life.

“The partnership gives students an opportunity to use amazing facilities, get a taste of university life, and explore possibilities for their own future after school,” Brennan says.

This year, Shelford will hold a series of events to celebrate its history. A Founder’s Day assembly on May 25 will be attended by alumni from different eras as well as past board members and teachers, and current members of the Shelford community.

“Alumni will speak about their memories of Shelford, we will cut a birthday cake, and students will each receive a cupcake decorated with the Shelford crest,” Brennan says. “Later we will have an afternoon tea and a careers event with alumni speaking to current students about their lives and career paths.

“There will also be a historical walk with lots of photographs and items from our archives on display. The day will be an opportunity for our community to connect and to celebrate our history, the work of past principals and our humble beginnings.”

Later in the year, the school will also mark the 125-year anniversary at its annual dinner with current and former students, families and staff.

“I’ve met alumni across the generations who all say that, when they were at Shelford, they felt a true sense of community and belonging,” Brennan says.

“They felt it was safe to give things a go, and they always felt known and believed in.

“Many of them are still close to people they went to Shelford with,” she adds. “The bonds created at Shelford last a lifetime.” ●

This year, Shelford Girls’ Grammar recognises 125 years of female leadership, empowerment and innovation.

Words SARAH MARINOS

A STRONG SCHOOL HERITAGE

SPIRIT OF INNOVATION

Highett Common is a new 9.3-hectare bayside village designed for contemporary living in the heart of Highett, moments from the station and retail. Developer Sunkin Property Group has collaborated with architects ClarkeHopkinsClarke (CHC) and landscape architects Tract to transform a former CSIRO facility into Victoria’s first net-zero community.

The $500 million precinct includes three hectares of conserved grassy woodlands and a new onehectare public park designed by Tract. Nearly half of the precinct is dedicated to green space, including a broad, landscaped pedestrian lane linking residences to parklands and Highett and Bay roads.

The new community features diverse townhouses and apartments oriented to optimise leafy outlooks across the conservation reserve and park. A series of carefully curated amenities includes a gym, two pools and spaces for residents to entertain.

Highett Common’s first release, Park House, offers one, two and three-bedroom apartments from $415,000. When completed, the new village will comprise 1000 residences.

●  LIZ McLACHLAN

HOME & ARCHITECTURE

DESIGN

CHC has designed Highett Common’s diverse mix of townhouses and apartments to appeal to a range of residents, from singles and couples to families and rightsizers. Embraced by greenery and thoughtfully composed gardens, the residences and landscapes complement the nature reserve and park that define the precinct.

SHARED AMENITIES

For exercise and connection, residents have a fully equipped gym, wellness spaces for yoga and group fitness, and indoor and outdoor pools. Private dining rooms and expansive lounge areas enable residents to host friends and family for larger social events. Also on the doorstep are the new Highett Library and the reserve’s nature trails.

HIGHETT COMMON

» highettcommon.com.au

37 Graham Road, Highett

● Developer \ Sunkin

Property Group

● Architect & interior designer \ ClarkeHopkinsClarke

● Landscape designer \ Tract

Sales \ CBRE, Andrew Leoncelli 0405 523 451

PRICING GUIDE \Park House

One-bedroom from $415,000

Two-bedroom from $593,000

Three-bedroom from $1.195m

Hover your camera phone over app code to view the listing

LOCATION \ A two-minute walk to the supermarket, eateries and the library, five minutes to Highett station and 15 minutes (or one train station) to Southland. Four kilometres from Sandringham beach. ●

HIGHETT COMMON \ BAYSIDE’S NEW NET-ZERO PARKLAND VILLAGE

FEATURE HOUSE

ST KILDA \ PENTHOUSE/34 FITZROY STREET

If there is one building that reminds us of the changing fortunes and the storied history of St Kilda, it is the Gatwick Hotel. Built in 1937 in the heart of Fitzroy Street, it was originally a stylish upmarket hotel. During World War II, it provided accommodation for servicemen and afterwards evolved into basic accommodation for some of the suburb’s more vulnerable people.

In 2018, The Gatwick was closed and boarded up, but with its superb location and attractive facade, the hotel wasn’t going to just fade away. Channel 9 paid $10 million for the building, and it was converted into luxury apartments in the popular renovation show, The Block

The building is now glamorous like never before, and the penthouse is the most elegant of all.

Decorated in soft grey and white with herringbone parquetry floor, marble finishes and banks of black-framed, double-glazed windows, it provides a superb backdrop for a stylish urban life and combines indoor and outdoor living in a way that takes full advantage of its bayside locale.

The palatial living, dining and kitchen area runs the full length of the apartment and opens to a grand wraparound balcony incorporating an undercover deck, a lawn and an outdoor kitchen with a mains-gas barbecue. In the corner of the living room, a suspended gas log fireplace above a marble hearth adds a cosy spot.

The entertainment possibilities are limitless here. At the other end of the living area, the marble kitchen has three Neff ovens, Bosch appliances and a large butler’s pantry.  Bedrooms are ranged down the north-western side of the floor plan. The main suite is sumptuous and luxurious, and its en suite has a twin shower and twin basins. The wardrobes are beautifully fitted, and the arrangement includes a desk. The bedroom opens to the lawn, where city views add another dimension.

The penthouse has climate control, storage in the secure carport, and a Euro laundry. The beach, parks, restaurants, bars, cafes, entertainment venues and everything that makes St Kilda one of Melbourne’s best-loved and most dynamic suburbs are on the doorstep. ●

BEVERLEY JOHANSON property@domain.com.au

Agent: Marshall White, David Barber 0437 980 091

Price: $3 million-$3.3 million

Auction: 11.30am, June 3

FINAL WORD

“THE PENTHOUSE HAS FOUR-METRE CEILINGS AND A TERRACE WITH 270 DEGREES OF MELBOURNE VIEWS. THIS IS A HOUSE IN THE SKY.” DAVID BARBER – AGENT

Hover your camera over the code to see Domain listings in St Kilda

When this agent sold this property to the present owner about seven years ago, he thought a total rebuild was likely. Thanks to that owner being an experienced builder, what, in fact, occurred was an immaculate revival. Working in sympathy with its 1950s bones, the house has been extended and renovated to provide for modern living, and the backyard fitted out for socialising. Polished concrete walls, wormy chestnut floors and a soothing colour palette impart their charms. The four bedrooms at the

front of the single-level interior include a main with full trappings. Bringing up the rear, the capacious kitchen/meals/dining/ living hub connects with an L-shaped deck addressing the pool area and also opens to the protected patio, where a barbecue, fridge and television embellish entertainment options.

● KAY KEIGHERY

ST KILDA WEST \ 203 CANTERBURY ROAD

5 3 3

EAST MELBOURNE \

3 3 2

One of a historic run dating from 1855 and entitled Hepburn Terrace, this period princess has been made over with a regal eye. Behind the beautiful balconied facade, you get a ground floor given to ambient living spaces and a first floor flaunting a stupendous main bedroom (with fireplace, elegant en suite, palatial walk-in wardrobe and access to the front balcony), bathroom and cosy second bedroom. Interconnected lounge and dining rooms

Agent: Belle Property Sandringham, Andrew Solomon 0449 928 636

Price: $2.2 million-$2.4 million

Auction: 11am, June 3

Stained glass, a carved timber staircase with acorn newel posts, cedar tongueand-groove coffered ceilings, decorative fireplaces and an octagonal turret for sunset drinks and bay views combine to make this a beautiful and exciting home. One bedroom is on the ground floor, but the rest of the rooms on that level are formal and informal living areas with timber floors and large windows. Upstairs, the main bedroom suite includes his and

hers walk-in wardrobes, and there is an en suite and balcony. The remaining three bedrooms, which are of varying sizes, share the family bathroom. In the rear garden are two garages, one carport, two sheds and the laundry. The house is close to the beach and Middle Park village. ●

BEVERLEY JOHANSON

Agent: Belle Property Albert Park, David Wood 0418 315 114

Price: $5.3 million-$5.6 million

Expressions of interest: Close 5pm, May 31

with marble-mantled fireplaces branch off the entrance hall. Next up is a kitchen with an atrium-style meals area. Segue on for a large family room with a fireplace and glass doors to a slate-paved courtyard, beyond which the double garage hosts a second storey comprising a bathroom and studio or third bedroom. ● KAY KEIGHERY

SANDRINGHAM \ 194A

4 2 2

Agent: Abercrombys, Jock Langley 0419 530 008

Price: $4.65 million-$5 million

Auction: 11.30am, May 27

Encountering this property might have you wondering where you are in space and time. Enjoying country-like serenity due to strategic positioning on a large battleaxe block, the late mid-century abode displays sensitive modernisation while championing hallmarks of the original era (think exposed-brick walls, slate floors and light-enhancing glazing). There’s a fireplace in the lounge and a wood heater in the hub. Basking under a run of skylights, the

sunroom lives up to its name. As for decks ... you get one off the lounge, one adjoining the hub, and yet another accessible from the main bedroom. Upstairs, the fourth bedroom longs for company, subject to council approval. Buses pass the door, and you’ve got parklands, a golf course and the beach nearby. ● KAY

KEIGHERY

Agent: Buxton, Leanne Potter 0414 344 144

Price: $1.65 million-$1.75 million

Auction: 10.30am June 3

ASPENDALE 2/54 Nepean Highway

THE ULTIMATE IN BEACHFRONT LIVING

Boasting 40sq of refined sophistication with spectacular uninterrupted views across the bay from both levels and private beach access, on offer is a once-in-a-lifetime lifestyle opportunity amongst the 'Elite 440.' Comprising three bedrooms and two living zones, study + study nook and multiple indoor-outdoor spaces and framed by stunning bay views, expansive open plan living and dining enjoys a gas log fireplace and extends to a waterfront balcony, complemented by a first-class Miele kitchen with walk-in pantry. Within walking distance to cafes, parks and boutique shopping.

www.belleproperty.com/mentone

ST KILDA 2/49 Spenser Street

A BEACHSIDE HAVEN WITH PARK VIEWS

With Peanut Farm Reserve across the road as your family’s playground and the beach and Acland Street a block away, this tri-level home pairs modern design with the promise of endless recreation and relaxation. The floor plan reveals a living room with sunny verandah showcasing soothing park views, a spacious family/dining room extending onto a rear deck, a fully equipped stone-topped kitchen, main ensuite bedroom with balcony, second bedroom and bathroom and a whole-floor bedroom or home office with bay glimpses. More than a house, it’s a lifestyle.

belleproperty.com/62671

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ST KILDA WEST 203 Canterbury Road

LANDMARK PERIOD HOME WITH CHARM, SIZE AND POSITION

Elegant classic beauty and traditional style resonate throughout this exceptional residence that showcases all the period details of its era. Set on expansive land with rear laneway access, the early 1900s property makes an enticing prospect and is presented with well-preserved interiors enhanced by generous proportions and smart modern upgrades.

belleproperty.com/222P418955

ELWOOD 15 Byron Street

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ST KILDA 1/54 Blessington Street

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Embodying the era’s grandeur with soaring ornate ceilings and arches, the interior showcases living/ dining flowing seamlessly to an entertaining deck framed by the visual allure of a vertical garden. The home also features a culinary kitchen, main ensuite and the versatility of a study/4th bedroom.

Will Johnson 0449 131 648

John Manning 0416 101 201

Sam Inan 0433 076 999

VICTORIAN GRANDEUR REIMAGINED www.belleproperty.com/st-kilda

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST CLOSING Wed 31st May at 5pm

VIEW See website for details

PARKSIDE PARADISE WITH OVERSIZED GARDEN

This boutique apartment delivers an unmatched parkside location, complemented by an enormous courtyard. Ready for an update, the well-maintained interior offers an opportunity to personalise, including a living room with fireplace, kitchen/ meals, two bedrooms and central bathroom.

John Manning 0416 101 201

Will Johnson 0449 131 648 Costa Karabatsos 0404 046 631

www.belleproperty.com/st-kilda

AUCTION

Saturday June 3 at 10:30am

VIEW See website for details

Expressions

Proving the value of a collaborative approach, this unparalleled 5 bed and home-office, 4.5 bath home brings together the talents of KG Architecture, Double Complete Design and boutique suppliers under the patronage of a design-literate client.

Set in approx 791sqm north-rear grounds from Le Page Design and Starving Artist Landscaping, this 3-suite design (with 6 Star masterdomain) features a home-office and formal lounge with individual water-feature views, family and al fresco zones wrapping a glasstiled gas heated pool, and lofty 1st-floor living, plus a children’s retreat. This is a new Golden Triangle benchmark; 12 doors to the Red Bluff clifftops.

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