There are very few places where the feeling of being completely removed from the world is matched by the sheer quality of what you find when you arrive. Rivendell is one of them. Set across ten acres at the top of the landscape, it feels almost suspended above the surrounding countryside, with extraordinary views stretching for miles and a home that embraces them from almost every room.
A beautifully considered driveway leads to a substantial double carport and the first glimpse of the property's extraordinary setting. Secure fencing surrounds the lawn immediately around the house, while wide verandas and generous covered decking create a succession of places to sit, entertain and simply take in the view.
Double front doors with screen doors beyond allow the breeze and outlook to become part of the arrival. To one side, a spectacular home office is finished with a full wall of hardwood shelving and cabinetry, timber-lined ceilings and slate floors, but it is the view that steals the show.
The formal lounge continues the theme with cathedral-height timber-lined ceilings, plush wool carpet, timber-panelled walls, a magnificent brick fireplace incorporating a wood heater and beautiful window furnishings. From here, the formal dining room opens towards the wraparound verandas and covered decking, creating a wonderful sequence of spaces for entertaining, with the landscape providing an ever-changing backdrop.
Further through, the casual family room opens directly to the covered deck and looks across the pool. Slate floors, a distinctive timber ceiling fan and abundant natural light give it a relaxed character, while the kitchen is a spectacular centrepiece in its own right.
Beautiful hardwood cabinetry, stone benchtops and an enormous island sit beneath a huge skylight, complemented by a Bosch gas cooktop, Bosch double oven and Bosch dishwasher. A wall of timber cabinetry incorporates generous storage and built-in wine storage, while the entire space looks across the pool and garden. The adjacent meals area is bright and sunny, with its own outlook to the lawn and a door opening to the rear veranda.
A long slate-floored hallway, with soaring timber-lined ceilings and two skylights, leads to the bedroom accommodation. The family bathroom features a beautiful timber double vanity and separate toilet, while a generous family bedroom overlooks the lawn.
The master suite is something altogether different. Those extraordinary views are framed from the bedroom itself, while an enormous dressing room leads to an ensuite that could hardly be more spectacular. A sunken spa sits directly before a massive picture window, creating an unforgettable place to unwind while taking in the landscape. A huge shower and double vanity complete a suite that is quite simply jaw-dropping.
A large laundry provides excellent storage, before the home opens into an enormous rumpus, billiard and living room. With polished hardwood floors, built-in timber wet bar, wood heater, lounge area, extensive under-stair storage and another spectacular outlook, it is a remarkable space for entertaining or giving a large family room to spread out.
A grand timber staircase rises to three further bedrooms, each generously proportioned with plush carpets, robes and ceiling fans. One captures those magnificent views, while the others look across the surrounding grounds. A fresh family bathroom with full-size bath and large shower completes this level.
Comfort is beautifully considered, with underfloor slab heating, evaporative cooling, two wood heaters and a series of skylights and ceiling fans bringing light and air throughout. Recent improvements include new skylights, new ceiling fans, new Laserlite roofing and decking, a newly built laundry and a new tennis court gazebo.
Outside, Rivendell becomes a genuine lifestyle compound. Crazy paving winds around a glorious salt-chlorinated inground pool framed by feature rockwork and thoughtful planting, while a path carved into the hillside leads upwards to a full-size floodlit synthetic-grass tennis court with spectator pavilion. A basketball ring adds another dimension to the recreational possibilities.
Ten acres of fully fenced land provide the ultimate backdrop, with approximately 100 metres of frontage and around 400 metres of depth encompassing natural bush, established grounds and abundant wildlife. Yet this is not an isolated existence. One of Rivendell's most special qualities is the community around it a close-knit group of like-minded families, older residents, teenagers and younger children who have grown up together riding horses and motorbikes, exploring the bush and forming friendships that have lasted for decades.
The property is equally well placed for everyday life. Kangaroo Ground Primary School is only a few kilometres away, whilst Christmas Hills, Panton Hill and Yarra Glen Primary provide further options. Eltham, Diamond Creek and Yarra Glen are only a short drive away, providing a broad choice for supermarket shopping, cafés, transport services and everyday needs.
This is country living, certainly but country living with connection, community and remarkable accessibility.
After more than two decades of being deeply loved, Rivendell is ready for its next chapter. For a family seeking a place where children can grow up with extraordinary freedom, for those dreaming of a private retreat, or simply for anyone who has ever imagined living somewhere that feels genuinely magical, this is an opportunity of rare character.
Rivendell doesn't merely offer a home in the country. It offers a world of its own.