Domain Review Bayside & Port Phillip - June 14, 2023

EAT THE BEST STEAK NIGHTS IN TOWN

DRINK OUR COFFEELOVING LEGACY

BARRY PEARL ACMI HOSTS THE GREASE STAR

JESS DEMPSEY

FASHION BLOGGER TO TV GURU

What are

The first time I came across the concept of “blogging” was some time in the early 2000s. I can remember thinking it was only for the kids who knew things about computers. Fastforward 10 years and it seemed everyone had a blog. Even me (don’t try to find it, please). But only some really took off and became go-to places for art, music and, yes, fashion. Our cover star Jess Dempsey is one of those fashion bloggers who turned it into a career. Now the What Would Karl Do? author is making the leap to TV with a wellness show on 7flix. She tells us about her long-held love of talking to an audience. ●

Compiled by HAILEY COULES

HANDS ON \ The NGV’s latest exhibition for littlies is Up, Down and All Around: Daniel Emma for Kids, an interactive space made to let their inner designer shine. It’s on until October 8. ● ngv.vic.gov.au

WITH LOVE \ Melbourne parents Irina and Andrei Maior wanted to look after their newborn’s precious skin, so they created Seven Sundays, an Australian-made, baby-friendly skincare line. ● sevensundays.com.au

THE EDIT

Things we love about Melbourne

OUR COVER \ Jess Dempsey

Dressed by Désordre

Photographed by Kristoffer Paulsen

MORE TO LOVE ONLINE

Go to domain.com.au/domain-review

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Editor \ Jemimah Clegg

Editorial producer \ Hailey Coules

Group picture editor \ Kylie Thomson

Senior designer \ Colleen Chin Quan

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OPEN ARMS \ Bergman & Co., the team behind the refurb of the Mount Erica and Orrong hotels, has just completed a refresh of the Mornington Peninsula’s T’Gallant Vineyard. Now open. ● tgallant.com.au

MORE IS MORE \ Busy kiddos? More the Label makes clothing for all your children’s needs. The pieces are designed locally in Melbourne and made in a six-star sustainably rated factory. ● morethelabel.com.au

LILLIE THOMPSON

KATE SHANASY

Sometimes midweek is the time to go out in Melbourne if you want a high-quality but much cheaper meal. Steak nights have long been a weekly tradition across the city, not only at pubs but also in restaurants. We checked out some of the best around the city.

NORTH PORT HOTEL \ PORT MELBOURNE

STEAK NIGHT: TUESDAY ● $27

A former 3AW pub of the year, The North Port Hotel has been running a popular steak night for a couple of years, with sirloin steak sourced from the famous Ralphs butcher at South Melbourne Market. Publicans Sean Beukes and Shaun Davies say the night is very popular with locals and – sometimes with 100 bookings on a Tuesday night – it’s also a great opportunity for staff to get shifts on a night that would normally be quiet. The steak is served with a traditional bearnaise sauce and a tasty side salad, and has a cult following with Port Melbourne locals. “We wanted to introduce the bearnaise sauce specifically to this night to give it a point of difference, and the sauce goes so well traditionally with steak,” Beukes says.

INES WINE BAR \ WINDSOR

STEAK NIGHT: WEDNESDAY ● $85 A COUPLE

Owner Matteo Bruno has not only created a steak night on Wednesdays, but a date night as well. For $85 a couple, diners get an appetiser of the day, a 300-gram Victorian eye fillet to share, duck-fat potatoes, bread and two glasses of wine. Bruno is the man behind The Meatball & Wine Bar in Flinders Lane and understands the importance of giving options to locals. “The night allows locals and regulars our premium offering at a reduced price mid-week,” he says. “It also is an easy option for couples to enjoy, knowing upfront what they will be getting and how much it will cost.” Ines is named after Bruno’s grandmother, who lives in northern Italy and turns 99 this year.

Playing for high steaks

FITZROY TOWN HALL HOTEL \ FITZROY

STEAK NIGHT: WEDNESDAY ● $24

With a stunning peppercorn sauce, a side of fries and a side salad, the Fitzroy Town Hall Hotel steak is delicious. The Wednesday steak night complements a diverse and popular menu, including a fantastic chocolate mousse which is perfect after the steak. Sean Donovan’s “Townie”, as the hotel is known, is the epitome of the inner-suburb gastro pub that Melbourne is famous for.

THE PRINCE \ ST KILDA

STEAK NIGHT: WEDNESDAY ● $27

The iconic St Kilda hotel at the bottom of Fitzroy Street has had a renovation in recent years and has fast become a favourite again. The steak is flame-grilled and served with chunky chips, a side salad and a red wine sauce. It’s also the perfect spot for a few wines on a cold Melbourne midweek winter night, or before heading to a gig in the band room upstairs.

MT ERICA HOTEL \ PRAHRAN

STEAK NIGHT: TUESDAY ● $24

One of the busiest pubs in Melbourne, the Mt Erica is always worth booking, including on steak night. Diners get a 250-gram cut of sirloin, chips on the side and a traditional bearnaise sauce. ●

Other delicious steak nights

Tall Boy and Moose \ Preston

Wednesday, $24

Estelle \ Northcote

Tuesday, $40 with a glass of wine

Arcadia Hotel \ South Yarra

Wednesday, $20

Mona Castle Hotel \ Seddon

Wednesday, $23

Henry & The Fox \ City

Monday and Wednesday, $34

Junction Hotel \ Newport

Wednesday, $23

Words LUKE DENNEHY

INES WINE BAR

NORTH PORT HOTEL

MY MELBOURNE From dive bars to dystopian plazas, this is Savage’s city.

Melbourne band Cash Savage and The Last Drinks have released their fifth studio album So This Is Love – and it’s about as autobiographical as it gets for the act’s enigmatic front woman who has come to terms with her marriage breakdown and the mental health aftermath that ensued.

There’s a post-punk grit to Savage’s purpose on the new album, plus a cathartic rebirth that saw her survive the toughest personal time as a queer artist. She shares her love of Melbourne and what keeps her grounded amid the chaos.

Bar

CAFE GUMMO, THORNBURY

This place has the vibe of a European dive bar. It’s where beers are cheap, and I go there for excellent pierogi. The staff are always in excellent form, and the bar has a wonderful community around it. It’s a wonderful, safe space for the queer community. They host gigs on the weekend, and there’s a great beer garden too. If you are around on a Thursday night, you might even be lucky to catch one of the members of Last Drinks or Carlson from Our Carlson “singing” at the loosest karaoke in Melbourne. ● cafegummo.com

To relax

SUNBURY ROAD, GREENVALE

I’ve always loved going to see all the planes fly around the back of Melbourne Airport. I love watching the giant passenger planes fly over me – it makes me feel insignificant –which helps me put perspective on

the problems in my life. Since having a child, a new layer of enjoyment has been added for me. I put her on the roof of the car and she whoops at the planes as they fly over. You can also grab a soft serve ice-cream if that takes your fancy.

Date spot

CAPERS, THORNBURY

I love Capers on a weeknight, it’s super chill. It’s also my number one place for app dates. The reasons

I love it here include: 1. Very few people recognise me. 2. They stock simple lagers and fancy cocktails.

3. The food tastes like someone just made you a home cooked meal.

Cash Savage

4. The religious painting on the wall looks like American Gothic by Grant Wood and I get a chuckle out of that.

5. There is a fantastic credenza in one of the bathrooms.

● 843 High Street Thornbury

Live music venue

THE OLD BAR, FITZROY

The Old Bar is still my favourite room to see a gig in Melbourne. It always sounds great. Plus, there really are not many venues that have live original bands on seven days a week. The owners continue to make it a safe space for the queer community.

● theoldbar.com.au

Baked daily

NORTHCOTE PLAZA

You’ll find the best banh mi place in Northcote Plaza. They taste great and are super cheap. I often grab one when I’m doing the shopping or if I’m a bit dusty on a weekend. I feel like they look after you if you pay cash, so bring your real money. I would also like to add Northcote Plaza to my list of honourable mentions. There is something about it that reminds me of an ’80s dystopian movie. Please don’t take this as a negative. I love ’80s dystopian movies.

● northcoteplaza.com

● cashsavage.com.au

Words JANE ROCCA

COVER STORY

Living a life of style

Jess Dempsey tells us how her life as a fashion stylist and blogger led to a gig as co-presenter on the new 7flix lifestyle show Holistic Living.

DOMAIN REVIEW

Jess dressed by Désordre

From fashion stylist and influencer to becoming a TV co-presenter on the new lifestyle show Holistic Living, which launches on 7flix in July, Melbourne-based Jess Dempsey proves that authenticity is the key to longevity in the ever-changing world of media.

The married mother of three started blogging at the age of 27 in 2010 with her hugely successful blog What Would Karl Do (inspired by her icon, Karl Lagerfeld). Dempsey was one of the first Aussie bloggers to be hyped internationally – long before Australian audiences clued into her fashion powers and knack for eclectic styling.

More than a decade on, she is finally reaping the rewards of her hard work and now taking on the TV role of a lifetime.

“This year is pivotal for me, with my 40th year of life around the corner, it’s made me even more aware of what that means,” Dempsey says.

“I feel I have been patient with my career and the journey it has taken me on.”

Dempsey was approached by MCW Productions for the hosting role at Holistic Living after they spotted her on the Instagram What’s In Store series.

“They approached my agent, and it led to me meeting the producer, Jason Kennedy,” Dempsey says. “I walked away feeling like we immediately clicked. I later found out Jason told my manager that I had the job, but not to tell me just yet!”

Holistic Living sees Dempsey cover everything from looking into the benefits of IV drips to farmto-plate dining at Levantine Hill.

There’s fashion and wellness rolled into one and she co-presents with Queensland spiritual healer Kayla Marie of Soul Journey Healings. There’s also a nutritionist on the show, plus plenty of beauty and mindfulness tips.

“I have always had a burning desire to do camera work and talk to an audience,” Dempsey says.

“And now I finally get to live that dream. When we film it’s 4am make-up calls and 7am shoots, but it’s so worth it.”

She enrolled in an acting course in her 20s and became friends with aspiring actress Jordy Lucas, who went on to star in Neighbours. That friendship led to styling celebrities for the Logies and AFI Awards, making her one of the first bloggers to foray from the web to red-carpet work.

“Jordy turned out to be my first celebrity client and my connection in the TV world because I was

Words JANE ROCCA ● Photo KRISTOFFER PAULSEN

one of the first bloggers to style for the Logies and AFI Awards at the time,” Dempsey says.

Always a step ahead of the media curve, Dempsey has time and again found a way for a purposeful reinvention and has never alienated her followers along the way.

Dempsey began as a visual merchandiser in the western suburbs with the Just Group (she started at Jay Jays) and now is the face of Malvern Central in the City of Stonnington, which she calls home. She might like collecting vintage Chanel pieces from secondhand stores, including Hawkeye Vintage, but she is right at home in her leisure wear and sneakers too.

In 2013, she went to Paris Fashion week and spent time behind the scenes at runway shows for Vanessa Bruno, Haider Ackermann and Issy Miyake. She returned home with a suitcase full of clothes and turned them into styling posts, showing how to curate looks with confidence.

“I remember being outside the original Chanel store in Paris and in awe that I was standing on the same road Chanel had walked on,” she says. “When I launched the blog, it really was an ode to my love of that city and her designs.”

Dempsey met model and actress Cara Delevingne backstage at Isabel Marant and, while walking back to her hotel, was stopped by Italian fashion journalist and editor at large for Vogue Japan, Anna Dello Russo, who commented on her outfit.

“They were both so surreal and unbelievable moments for me,” she says.

Melbourne is where most of Dempsey’s lucrative transactions take place. She works with retailers and brands for collaborative collections and never bites the hand that feeds.

“I grew up in the western suburbs and it made me who I am; I won’t shy from that,” she says.

“I began working at Werribee Plaza, and while I call Stonnington home, it’s a different community of women, but I feel connected to both because they both are part of my identity – and I am still in touch with old school friends, too.”

Dempsey’s happy place is her home in Armadale, where she lives with her husband and their three sons, Aston, 11, Will, 9 and Freddie, 5. The couple worked with interior architect and designer Cassandra to give the home a new lease of life.

“I was thrilled with how the renovation turned out,” Dempsey says. “We live in an Edwardian heritage home and added a contemporary modern extension at the back. There’s a sense of arches from the past with modern accents throughout.”

She is counting her blessings for coming this far, but says it’s her loyalty to her followers that has seen her social media influence grow in 13 years –she now has 58,500 followers. She did consider quitting social media and video content, but a hunch told her to keep going, that it would pay off one day.

Dempsey got a real taste for the camera when asked by boohoo.com to film a TV commercial. She has since collaborated with David Jones and Pacific Werribee via styling sessions, too. More recently, she has curated a Walnut shoe collection of four styles for busy mums with a penchant for the fashionable and functional.

She appeared on Channel 10’s lifestyle show Healthy Homes for two segments and always secretly hoped for more.

“I truly feel that my What’s In Store videos exposed me on a new platform and it became a stepping stone for what came next,” she says.

“I now have a designated room where I create video content and it’s great to have that separation from the family. I still like to be a hands-on-deck mum, so I do all the drop-off and pick-ups and work until 2.30pm from home.

“Then I switch hats – unless it’s a filming day. That’s when I rely on family or the school mum network to help me out. There’s no hiding. When the children are healthy and happy everything runs that little bit smoother, and makes life easier, but it’s not always happening the way you plan and you get better at the juggle but it’s never always perfect.” ●

“This year is pivotal for me, with my 40th year of life around the corner ... I feel I have been patient with my career and the journey it has taken me on.”

Bean counters

Words JANE ROCCA

Melbourne has long been known as the coffee-snob capital of Australia, but it’s no accident our country’s obsession with the roasted bean began in our city.

From the arrival of the Italian espresso machine in the 1950s – brewing cheerfully on Lygon Street, Carlton – to the Italian espresso bars that popped up in the city and inner suburbs thereafter, coffee culture became part of our DNA and still hits the roasted spot.

But another kind of coffee consumption is thriving in Melbourne, thanks to premium beans being made available through subscription services.

According to St. Ali chief executive Lachlan Ward, the pandemic changed Melbourne’s coffee consumption – instead of slowing down, we kicked the habit into overdrive.

“The key now is that consumers in Melbourne drink it a number of different ways and at different places,” he says.

“The cafe isn’t dead, it’s just that we saw an uptick in coffee subscriptions and online coffee purchases, especially to tie in with home set-ups. If you don’t live near a good coffee place, making a quality one from home appeals to a lot of people.”

Melbourne is St. Ali’s biggest coffee market, with more than 5000 regular subscribers who get beans weekly or fortnightly.

“A lot of Melburnians moved interstate, and that meant our subscribers also moved north,” Ward says.

“We are seeing a growth market in Queensland and the Gold Coast in the last 24 months.”

The latest to take the lead in Australia is Breville, whose coffee subscription service Beanz Australia has teamed with some of the country’s best roasters (including St. Ali) to make accessing beans all the easier.

COFFEE CONNOISSEUR

Which beans should you use in your coffee machine at home? At Beanz, the guesswork is removed. It curates coffee from some of the best Australian roasters, including Market Lane Coffee, Code Black Coffee Roasters, Padre Coffee and Veneziano.

Why is subscription better than supermarket? Coffee beans might sit on shelves for months on end, whereas receiving them directly from the makers means they are as fresh as it gets.

“The third wave of specialty coffee from home is a sign that consumers want premium, they want access to quality and they want to be a barista at home with freshly roasted varietals,” says Beanz Australia general manager Ziv Shalev. “The pandemic has forced us to make quality coffee at home. Everybody wants the best at their fingertips and we now offer that.”

Whether it’s a flat white, retro cappuccino or a classic short black, coffee machines have become so high-tech that you can not only personalise drinks but customise machines with the names of those in your household.

“Great coffee means different things to different people,” Ward says. “We stay ahead … by trying to break down the barriers that have existed in coffee.” ●

● stali.com.au

● beanz.com/au

Melburnians are waking up and smelling the coffee – at home.

ZIV SHALEV, BEANZ AUSTRALIA BEN MOYNIHAN

SUPPLY IN OVERDRIVE

Ditch the cliched haunts and see a different side to the city of angels.

Visitors to Los Angeles generally only visit Culver City for a Sony Pictures studio tour, but over the past few years, an influx of newmedia companies such as Amazon Studios, Apple and TikTok have had a flow-on effect, with more places to eat, drink and explore than ever before. Located between downtown LA (40 minutes by metro) and the beach (a 15-minute drive away), Culver City makes a relaxed but lively base from which to explore the bustling city of angels.

Indoors

Culver City is best known as the home of Sony Pictures, where behind-thescenes tours are available. But the neighbourhood is also home to quirky museums, such as The Wende Museum’s archive of the Cold War (with more than 75,000 objects from the former Eastern bloc) and The Museum of Jurassic Technology (which pays homage to other museums – how meta). Also explore the landmark Helms Bakery District , now a hub of restaurants and stores housed behind the historic 1930s facade. Art lovers should walk along La Cienega Boulevard , north of Washington Boulevard, and pop into independent galleries. In the evening, head to a show at the restored 1947 Kirk Douglas Theatre , or The Actor’s Gang for an unconventional play.

Another world

Caffeinated mornings

Super Domestic Coffee is geared at takeaway and has a bike-riding bent, though you don’t need to be on two wheels to enjoy a New Orleans cold brew made with chicory and a cheeky shot of vanilla bourbon. For a more relaxed morning, head to Village Well, a community-focused book and coffee store where the promise is to “feed the mind and body”. But the best spot for breakfast in Culver City is Destroyer – where the coffee is strong and the Scandi-style breakfasts are of fine-dining standard.

Boozy nights

This pocket of western LA has plenty of watering holes, if you know where to look. You might start at the Blind Barber, a dimly lit speakeasy hidden behind a barbershop with red leather booths. The Cinema Bar is a movieinspired dive bar with nightly free live music, an outdoor patio and woodenpanelled walls that have seen it all over more than 75 years. The Alley

has no signage, no doorman and a lounge area for sipping cocktails with names like Tasteful Nudes, plus it serves tacos from the attached cantina. For wine tastings and bottles to-go, try Stanley’s Wet Goods and Hi-Lo Liquor Market in downtown Culver City. Lillie’s Bistro & Garden offers a French bistro menu and classic cocktails to a soundtrack of live jazz and piano-bar tunes.

Food-hall frenzy

Citizen Public Market is in the middle of Culver City. Public seating areas are characterised by exposed beams, steel and brass. There’s also a rear patio and rooftop terrace. Enter via the grand archway and follow the monochrome marble-tiled floor past the goodboybob coffee shop and the Jolly Oyster sustainable seafood bar to the main dining area, where you can choose from Mexican dishes, burgers, fried chicken, tapas and pizzas from James Beard awardwinning chef, Nancy Silverton. ●

The Shay hotel

In October 2021, a car park completed its metamorphosis into The Shay, a boutique luxury hotel, where the amenities are sourced from small local businesses. It’s home to the Palm Springsthemed Canopy Club, Culver City’s only rooftop pool bar and restaurant, with views of Los Angeles. On the ground floor, Michelin-starred chef Dan Perretta runs Etta ●

The writer was a guest of The Shay.

THE SHAY HOTEL BY HYATT

RICK KNEIFL

SIERRA PRESCOTT

CANOPY CLUB

Words SOFIA LEVIN

CULVER CITY EATS

Doody is the word

Grease alumnus Barry Pearl is coming to Melbourne.

Words JANE ROCCA

Best known for his portrayal of Doody in the iconic teen film Grease, Barry Pearl is making his way to Melbourne to reminisce about an acting career that has taken him from the stage to the screen and TV with fond memories of working alongside the late Olivia Newton-John.

“Olivia had a heart as big as the outdoors,” says Pearl, 73, of working with her on set in the late ’70s.

“She had made a movie that didn’t go well before she came on the set to do Grease. She wanted to

GREASE , 1978

prove she could do the role of Sandy, and John Travolta really helped her with that because he really wanted her for the part. She was a delight to work with, and when I am in Australia, I will go to her wellness centre. We remained in contact over the years, and I sent her an email a week before she passed. She was one very special woman.”

Pearl recently co-directed the energetic musical Footloose alongside Michelle Elkin in Los Angeles and continues to give masterclasses and travel the world talking about life on the screen and stage.

He is speaking at ACMI as a part of its Cinemaniacs series, and attendees can expect lots of Grease nostalgia and autographs. He will also be doing lunch and dinner Q&A sessions with fans at Fonzies Diner in Kilsyth on June 21 and 22.

Pearl was 27 when he appeared in Grease, playing the tough T-Bird gang member and the boyfriend of Frenchie (Didi Conn). That role remains a career highlight – the role of a lifetime.

Pearl, who was raised by his mother Sarah and her three sisters and his maternal grandmother in Pennsylvania, started dancing and acting as a nineyear-old. He took tap-dancing classes and never looked back, encouraged by a strong maternal lineage. By the age of 12 he was starring in Oliver.

The first Broadway tour of Grease came through Pittsburgh in 1972. It featured John Travolta (he played the goofy Doody at the time, not Danny Zucco) and actor Michael Lembeck.

“A few Californian transfer students I knew at university said I looked a lot like Michael Lembeck,” Pearl says. “When I saw him walk on the stage in the show, I got on the phone to my agent right away.”

He graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1973, and joined the musical’s first national tour.

“I ended up flying to New York to audition and then got a call that Michael Lembeck [a house mate of Travolta’s at the time] had broken his ankle in the first act and they needed a replacement,” Pearl says. “Half my luck. I got the gig within two weeks of university finishing.”

Pearl moved to LA in 1976 and landed a spot on the TV sitcom C.P.O. Sharkey, appearing in 14 episodes. It wasn’t until his first feature film, Grease, that his career really took off, and he landed parts in ’80s sitcoms like Growing Pains, and ’90s TV shows Beverly Hills 90210 and Baywatch

“I’ve had a great career and still love what I do,” he says. “I love that people want to keep the spirit of Grease alive and that it means so much to so many people. We were very close as a cast.

“It was a special time,” Pearl adds. ●

AN EVENING WITH BARRY PEARL \ ACMI, June 19. Q&A with fans at Fonzies Diner, Kilsyth, as part of lunch and dinner sessions, June 21-22.

● acmi.net.au

“I love that people want to keep the spirit of Grease alive and that it means so much to so many people.”

BARRY PEARL

FEATURE HOUSE

Known as the Hannan House and featured in the book Beaumaris Modern 2, this landmark home is one of the suburb’s finest examples of mid-century architecture.

It was built in 1973 for artist and arts patron Shirley Hannan. She worked with architect Joe Palliser to create the beautiful modernist family home and large studio.

The L-shaped design brings the outdoors into every room with double-glazed floor-to-ceiling doors and windows looking out to the stunning garden. The shape also allows for clever zoning, with the living areas having easy access to the pool, the children’s bedrooms in their own wing, and the main bedroom suite located at the tranquil rear.

The house has been impeccably restored and is earthy, elegant and cohesive in its decor with an emphasis on natural materials, giving a warm, mellow atmosphere.

The main building material, inside and out, is Daniel Robertson brick in blended colours and textures. This is complemented by timber tongue-and-groove ceilings and timber joinery.

The living room and dining room are large and open to the garden on two sides, making entertaining effortless.

In the kitchen, which has the dining room on one side and the living area on the other, natural stone bench tops, timber cabinets and premium Gaggenau appliances create an inspiring place to work.

The main bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe and an exceptional en suite which glows with the colours of the house echoed in floor-to-ceiling mosaic tiles. Adjoining this room, with its stunning copper fittings, is a sunken showerspa-steam room.

The children’s bedrooms have built-in wardrobes and open to patios. This zone also includes a sauna with a Japanese cedar bath.

Designed over several levels, the garden includes a beautifully designed fish pond with a sculptured water feature against a background of bamboo.

The large garden studio has a powder room, kitchenette and heating and cooling.

The house has a security system and solar panels with batteries. It is 400 metres from the bay and close to schools and shops. ●

BEVERLEY JOHANSON property@domain.com.au

Agent: Kay & Burton, Christine Henderson 0415 854 122

Price: $4.9 million-$5.3 million

Expressions of interest: Close 5pm, June 27

FINAL WORD

Hover your camera over the code to see Domain listings in Beaumaris

“THIS IS MID-CENTURY DESIGN AT ITS FINEST.” CHRISTINE HENDERSON – AGENT

BRIGHTON \ 13 BIRDWOOD AVENUE

3 2 2

Set on around 612 square metres in a golden mile cul-de-sac, this Californian bungalow is just a few steps from the beach. Formal living and dining rooms, both with open fireplaces, are on the western side of the north-facing house, and the three bedrooms – the main with an en suite set in a deep bay window – are on the eastern side. The kitchen is at the heart of the house, and a meals and family room along the rear of the house also has a fireplace. Original features include picture

rails, strapped ceilings and stucco walls. The house has heating and cooling and is close to independent schools, cafes and shopping in Bay and Martin streets. ●

BEVERLEY JOHANSON

ST KILDA \ 1 LYNOTT STREET

BRIGHTON \ 388 BAY STREET

5 3 2

Named Salford, this property deserves its landmark status. With the facade of the sprawling Victorian dwelling weddingcake pretty and the stable now fit for business or separate occupancy, the premises have proudly hosted politicians, people of privilege and fortunate hoipolloi since the 1880s. Architect William Tibbets is responsible for the original and grand design. The current owners deserve accolades for sensitive updates and ultra-refined presentation. Enter through

Agent: Marshall White, Matthew Pillios 0408 145 982

Price: $4.5 million-$4.75 million

Auction: 10.30am, June 17

Kip&Co peddles arty indie stuff, so it’s no surprise the home of its founder, Alex McCabe, comes all styled up with signature aesthetics. However, look past the eye candy (herringbone floors, bespoke shelving, an indoor garden and splendid stone surfaces in the extraordinary, multihued kitchen), and some simple basics prove key in the residential pleasure here. The original Victorian sector is freestanding and double-fronted, hence advantaged for light. At the rear, the architect-designed

extension employs a raked ceiling and clerestory glazing to ditto effect. The hub in this extension connects broadly with an entertainment deck, the backyard fulfils the need for green space without requiring mollycoddling, and the location box is ticked by proximity to trams, parks and shops. Fashionistas are expected at the auction. ●

KAY KEIGHERY

Agent: Buxton, Rohan White 0408 504 448

Price: $1.4 million-$1.54 million

Auction: Noon, June 24

gardens and across the return verandah for four bedrooms and linked lounge and dining rooms branching off a central hall. Segue on for several more spaces, including a sitting room and kitchen and meals area, and step back out for a lovely rear garden addressing a comely stable with access from Male Street. ●

KAY KEIGHERY

Agent: Hodges, Julian Augustini 0418 558 408

Price: $4.25 million-$4.5 million

Expressions of interest: Close 3pm, June 20

SOUTH MELBOURNE \ 13

3 2 1

A parking space and a barbecue-friendly terrace give this abode extra brownie points. A two-storey Victorian of sound and solid character, it offers an easy air of welcome and plenty of scope for personalisation. You’ll find timber floors in the social spaces, soft carpet in the bedrooms and fresh paintwork throughout. The ground level is devoted to living. The first floor adds a neat, three-bedroom format. Greeting you upon entry is a

voluminous lounge room. Following that up is a well-equipped kitchen open to a dining-living area, This hub concludes with a glass wall set with double doors to the terrace. At the front of the first floor, the main bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe and an en suite. Two minors share a cute bathroom at the rear.

● KAY KEIGHERY

Agent: Cayzer, Simon Carruthers 0438 811 601

Price: $1.8 million-$1.9 million

Expressions of interest: Close 4pm, June 19

MIDDLE PARK 52/225 Beaconsfield Parade

ULTIMATE BAYSIDE LIVING

With breathtaking views and luxurious features, this stunning half-floor penthouse is situated at the top of Hobson's Bay Apartments and was designed to maximize natural light, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere. With three bedrooms including a lavish master suite, this residence offers a truly remarkable living experience from the highest point in Middle Park, with panoramic views of the bay, city skyline, and the picturesque Dandenong Ranges.

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