Enter another world when you pass through the gates of “Moola”, one of the original cottages nestled in the iconic Bickleigh Vale village. Designed and built by Edna Walling in 1934 fulfilling her vision of an English cottage set in the tranquility of a rambling country garden. As all cottages do, “Moola” has grown over time incorporating six bedrooms, four bathrooms and four living areas across a delightful character filled layout.
Purchased by Clifford Bottomley, a war photographer and friend of Edna Walling’s, in 1944 as a holiday home, the one room cottage (still present as the kitchen) underwent its first extension including a slate lined bathroom complete with Royal Doulton bathtub. The charm of the cottage has inspired a further two additions, keeping the heritage feel alive, as the needs of the current family have evolved over the past forty years.
Versatile and engaging, the home lends itself to multi-generational households and the many ages and stages of family life, having seen many a get-together, children’s birthday celebration, Christmas dinner around the dining table and pool parties and barbecues in the warmer months. Make memories of children enjoying games of hide and seek in the house and garden and open French doors in the fully lined, oversize double garage and host a horde. No need for holidays when every day brings private resort style living with generous guest accommodation.
Forming the heart and soul of the home complete with Thermalux wood stove and blazing fireplace, enjoy cosy family meals and decadent dinner parties in the country style eat in kitchen. Character features, there when the home was built, have been maintained along with modern updates and appliances including Bosch dishwasher and walk in pantry. Original kitchen benches have been retained with the addition of drawers for storage, while the warmth of authentic Montrose Fire Brick Co floors enhance this charming room.
Four living areas provide spaces for family to gather or retreat in privacy, while the entertainment credentials of the home are undeniable. Sun washed atop Kanmantoo bluestone floors, also flowing from the portico into the entrance hall and laundry with granite surfaces and timber cabinetry, the main living room enjoys a serene outlook through a broad bay window to stone surrounded inground pool and brick paved entertaining area. In fact, the rhythm of the seasons can be enjoyed with garden views from all windows.
Set the mood with a crackling fire in the rendered fireplace in your own “English Pub”. Complete with wet bar, oregon posts and beams and French doors to the garden, this room is ideal as a pool room or formal lounge. An open timber staircase leads to two cottage style bedrooms and bathrooms beneath exposed beams. This wing of the home provides a range of options including separate living space for older children or relatives and offers the option of running a b&b (STCA) with separate entry to this part of the home.
A third living area found on the upper level at the other end of the home, serves a further three robe appointed bedrooms and family bathroom with granite vanity and Italian floor and wall tiles. Built beneath the eaves, all three bedrooms feature quirky roofline and additional cubby like cupboard, where each child can discover their own Narnia behind the wardrobe door. This entire addition along with most of the home, features beautiful timber doors and dado paneling along with access to a Kanmantoo bluestone paved balcony from two bedrooms.
Privately placed with the potential as ground floor accommodation for an older relative, and opening to a serene courtyard through French doors, the sumptuous master suite offers a dream escape complete with parent’s retreat. This indulgent room includes the luxury of a spa ensuite showcasing double granite topped timber vanity and Italian wall and floor tiles along with fitted walk-in robe.
Dubbed a forest by visiting neighborhood children on account of the established trees, some planted at the time the home was built, and magical Edna Walling garden feel on a substantial half acre block (approx.), discover stone edging and rambling gravel and brick pathways passing beds filled with camelias and the laughter of kookaburras. There’s a chook run, two 9000lt water tanks, electric front gates leading to oversize double garage, an additional single garage and three bay carport along with gated secondary access off Pembroke Road offering secure parking, ideal for a tradie.
A very special lifestyle and a rare opportunity to secure a residence in Bickleigh Vale village, the location is serene and privately placed yet moments by foot from esteemed Billanook College and Mooroolbark East Primary School with the convenience of Gray Court Pre-school and local shopping strip just a short stroll away and minutes from central Mooroolbark shopping and train station.
Disclaimer: The information contained herein has been supplied to us and is to be used as a guide only. No information in this report is to be relied on for financial or legal purposes. Although every care has been taken in the preparation of the above information, we stress that particulars herein are for information only and do not constitute representation by the Owners or Agent.
