Friday 29th July

Charles Dickens' home for sale

Bleak House, a favourite holiday home of Charles Dickens and his family, is for sale for £2 million.

Located in the English town of Kent, the property is believed to have been built in around 1801 and was previously known as Fort House. The house was used by the Dickens family between 1837 and 1859, and it was here that Dickens completed ‘David Copperfield’ in 1851. 
 
The house is also believed to have served as the inspiration behind the novel, ‘Bleak House’, although the property itself was only renamed Bleak House many years after the novel had been published.
 
Now providing extensive and well-presented family accommodation arranged over four floors, the property comprises a principal bedroom suite with ensuite bathroom and dressing room, five further bedrooms, three bathrooms, drawing room, dining room and music room. 
 
Dickens’ study looking out towards the sea is still preserved, as well as extensive cellars, which were used as a museum.
 
The Grade II listed property also benefits from private parking and a raised terrace running along the southern elevation of the house, with steps down to the sweeping lawn and formal gardens.
 
“Bleak House is one of only a few properties in the world to be lived in by Charles Dickens, one of the world’s most famous authors, and this naturally gives the house scarcity value,” says James Grillo, Associate Director at Chesterton Humberts’ Country Department.
  
Chesterton Humberts in-house House Historian, Melaine Backe-Hansen has revealed that Bleak House was very important to Dickens as he often stayed there on his frequent visits to Broadstairs. According to John Forster, a friend and official biographer of Dickens, Bleak House was the residence he most desired. His daughter, Mamie Dickens, also said that Bleak House was the one on which he had always set his affections.
 
“This is a property that could be seen as an antique, and there are a number of buyers who buy properties with this sort of provenance because they just relish the opportunity of being a custodian of such a historic house,” says James Grillo.
 
The property is situated in the historic seaside town of Broadstairs, renowned for its quaint squares of fisherman’s cottages and blue-flag award sandy beaches. 

The Otway Ranges meets the coast

A prized piece of land that Restauranteur, Donlevy Fitzpatrick, once treasured has been put on the market.

Located in Wye River on Victorias famous coast, the 500 acres is situated close to The Great Ocean Road, and is to be offered in 7 separate parcels or as a whole.

The late Donlevy Fitzpatrick, who was a central figure in Melbourne hospitality, developed St Kilda's Dog's Bar and The George, now the Melbourne Wine Room. Most notably, he was the force behind overturning the state's licensing laws and pioneered the casual, European-style dining that Melbourne is now world-famous for.
 
"[Donlevys] vision for the landholdings at Wye River and Separation Creek was to ensure the bulk of the hinterland between the Otway Ranges and the Coastal Villages were protected, and that only some low density, environmentally sensitive development, such as Eco friendly tourism and residential development, occurred," says friend Neil Radcliff.
 
For further information, find it on Millionplus.

 

Bridge Point: Distinctive and Enduring

Luxury lakefront homes are now selling at Bridge Point on Canberra’s only residential island starting from $2.2 million. With an uncompromising design ethos, Bridge Point residences are without question the new benchmark for executive living in the Capital.

These breathtaking two-storey lakefront homes are another quality Doma Group development that has been designed in conjunction with Colin Stewart Architects and KRM interior designers. This is the third time these three companies have come together to deliver a high quality development distinctive and enduring in design. 
 
The Bridge Point island site is the best residential site in Canberra and will be one of the most exclusive waterfront properties released with unparalleled northerly views of Lake Burley Griffin and beyond.
 
The bespoke residences are designed to complement the Lake and surrounds. The island precinct is set apart not only by its exceptional location but also by the guarantees of limited development, ensuring uninterrupted views and optimum privacy.
 
There are only seven luxury lakeside residences for sale, all with generous and thoughtful floor plans ranging from 213sq m to 316sq m. Offering a study, up to five bathrooms, cellar and secure parking for four vehicles, they are designed to optimise light and views. Some span an enormous 10m wide and have 6m ceilings.
 
Features of the lakefront homes include a secluded courtyard to every front entry, expansive lake views and stone, timber and marble finishes. With exquisite fixtures and fittings and carefully considered surrounds, each option maximises prestige and personal appeal.
 
Taking full advantage of the island location and celebrating its water frontage, open space, and the lake itself, Bridge Point brings together lifestyle, elegance and quiet.
 
For further information, find it in the new development section of Thehomepage.

Noosa heats up with $14m sale

The luxury end of the market heated up over the weekend with the sale of two full floor beachfront apartments in the ‘Sandpiper’ development on Noosa's Main Beach.

The developer commenced a buy out of this site approximately six years ago. The site currently consists of six one bedroom apartments and two shops. After engaging local architect Richard Forster, plans were submitted and subsequently approved for the construction of three full floor apartments and two boutique retail outlets.
 
“Three bedroom beachfront apartments on Noosa Main Beach are in extremely short supply with only twenty six true three bedroom apartments available to the market," says Peter Butt, Director of Richardson & Wrench, Noosa.
 
The ground floor apartment was originally priced at $9 million, and the mid floor priced at $10 million, however these prices were discounted back to $14 million in total for both apartments.
 
Noosa Beachfront is absolute prime real estate which is recognised internationally as one of the most desirable locations in the world. These sales together with the $5 million sale of 20 Bayview Road Little Cove, have signaled a strong resurgence in top end Noosa property. 
 
Richardson & Wrench are optimistic that this spring will hold a major turn around for the Noosa market and are planning a number of targeted marketing campaigns to launch a number of other properties into the spring and summer markets.
 
For further information, find it on Millionplus.