“Arranmoore”, 1876 Glenelg Highway, Wannon.
Price $440,000.
Contact Darren Groves at Groves Real Estate, Gray and Brown Streets, Hamilton on 0419 735228.

I am delighted this week to report on an historic property that I have admired for years with it’s inherent picturesque charm accentuated with a steeply gabled roof line and delightful small pane windows.

The property, “Arranmore” was first noticed by me when it stood as the gatehouse to Murndal homestead, one of the oldest and best developed squatting runs in the Western District.

Since relocation in the early 1970’s “Arranmore” has since settled nicely into the landscape at Wannon, a short ten-minute drive to the west of Hamilton.

The home is described in the Victorian Heritage Database as being a “single storey weatherboard house with an attic story in the front wing.

Consciously picturesque with an asymmetrical plan, irregular form and domestic Gothic details”. The report suggest that the architect may have been the same as was employed to remodel the Murndal library in 1891 or the extensions to the property in 1906.

It is likely the carpenter constructing the home was Patrick Aylmer, employed at Murndal at the time and having worked for both architects.

The property has clearly been extended when you look at the original pictures at the Murndal gate but it retains a wonderful cottage feel set on 6 acres among mature and, some much older trees.

The cottage style of this property is continued inside but for all that it has four bedrooms, two living areas and two bathrooms. A far cry from what might have been provided for the original inhabitants.

Inside the home there is a central brick paved hub off which most of the rooms radiate. If you enter from the rear door there is a good sized family laundry and separate toilet off to the left before a step up to the normal floor level of the home.

The fourth bedroom is off to the left and it is in a narrow bunk room style which would delight younger members of the family with it quirky nature. Ahead is a very spacious and carpeted formal living room which would easily cater for both living and formal dining.

It has an exposed brick open fireplace and guests could enter this room from a front door off a brick paved forecourt. It has a split system to supplement the charm of the open fire and this engaging room has good natural light through one boxed front window and another set in a V shape as are a number of other windows throughout the home.

The kitchen has the necessary modern fittings with an excellent electric stove in the original chimney breast and a large walk in country style pantry. The kitchen opens to a sympathetic extension with room for dining and family living opening through double doors to a second paved outdoor living on the north side.

The area is warmed by a fabulous wood heater placed in the corner making it most homely and comfortable at this time of year. bathroom with walk in shower and vanity and this is adjacent to the third bedroom which is also carpeted.

A passage then runs the length of the rear of the house and off the passage is the second bedroom, a good sized double. Past a further set of double doors to the outside the passage enters the master bedroom having a good sized walk in wardrobe and attractive ensuite bathroom. The bedrooms has its own split system for year round comfort.

There are many options for the layout of this home by any new owners as the current occupants have had plans prepared for two additional bedrooms and living/office space to be built within the current roof space.

The balance of this holding comprises a good sized galvanised iron shed with concrete floor and power, a large double carport, a number of raised vegetable beds the garden.

There is ample water as the property has a 6000 cubic metre spring fed dam and provision for holding 100,000 litres of fresh water in a number of tanks attached to the house and sheds.

If that was never enough there is also a bore which is presently not required. The roof of this home was renewed in 2014 and the whole of the external hardwood weather board has been repainted recently.

There is nothing to do except sit back and enjoy the relaxed The property is open for inspection at 11 am on Saturday 25 July. If you are interested in pursuing rural life in an historic and most interesting home you should have a look.