517 Melton Road, Gisborne VIC 3437

INSPECT BY APPOINTMENT
'Koombahla' is a 1970s masterpiece of design by multi-award-winning architect Paul Couch. Just forty-five minutes from the CBD, and set in nineteen hectares of rolling country this hillside house gazes over a dam across the valley to Mt Blackwood. Created from local stone, set with large windows and paved with slate, it has a timeless, monumental air. Fully renovated in 2015, it boasts a true chef's kitchen; Miele, Tasmanian oak with stainless inlay, superb cabinetry in Polytec's Matt Legato, and Blum soft-close drawers. Adjoining the kitchen a large family room lit by morning sun and warmed by a Philippe Cheminee fireplace. The main bedroom has a generous ensuite. Three further bedrooms have built-in robes and desks and share a modern bathroom. Adjacent to this is a large office and wine cellar.

Overlooking the valley, the large living/dining room (7mtrs x 11 mtrs) is a symphony of stone and glass, picture windows invite the bush setting to flow inside and be warmed by the huge fireplace. All windows are double-glazed and the skylights triple-glazed. Power is assisted by a 28 panel rooftop solar system.

The cruciform design of the house creates sheltered courtyards protected by stone walls, as well as more open outdoor entertainment areas that imbibe the peerless scenery. In the parkland surrounding the house rock steps lead to a small orchard, a tennis court and a garage with a machinery shed attached. The dam fills naturally from runoff, and the four paddocks all have reticulated troughs. Additionally, tanks hold 115,000 litres of fresh water, meaning the property could be adapted to almost any rural pursuit.

'Koombahla' is a quintessentially Australian house, both modern and timeless, a house for the ages.