Behind a facade of quiet restraint, 32-40 Avila Road reveals itself slowly. On the surface it is concrete, glass and iron, beautifully understated. Beyond it lies a place made for a full existence, with the thought and amenity to match.
Set across more than five acres at Curlewis, the property takes in an uninterrupted, north-facing 180-degree view across Port Phillip, with the Melbourne skyline on the horizon. Broad lawns and a well-surfaced boat trail run down to the sandy beach and private jetty, where the water stays shallow a long way out. It's warm, calm, safe and a lovely turquoise.
On land, life is just as entertaining. There's tennis by the sea on a floodlit championship court, and a protected three-hole golf course in the grounds behind the home. Set flush to the house, the infinity pool is a shaded sanctuary with a mesmerising ocean outlook.
The architecture, by the acclaimed NMBW Architecture Studio, lets the setting lead. Large glass walls and windows open fully to the grounds and to a central courtyard that draws light deep into the home, frames the water beyond and becomes the gathering place, day and night. Formal and informal living spaces balance intimacy with scale, equally suited to quiet family life and large gatherings, with a wine room beside the entry.
The layout is as considered as it is generous. At ground level, a wing with its own living space gives children or guests privacy. Upstairs, a fourth bedroom sits beside the main retreat, which opens to its own deck and sea views. An office with several workstations and a lift between levels make for enduring liveability, and a private desalination plant waters the grounds and course. There is ample storage for cars and boats.
And for all that it offers, it's remarkably easy to reach. Central Geelong is just 16 kilometres away, Melbourne is well under 90 minutes, and Avalon Airport is under an hour. Still, time spent here tends to lead the mind to wonder less about how to get here, and more about how to stay.
