Ferntree Gully: From ‘derelict’ to an ideal family home

3 Stockton Ave, Ferntree Gully, is for sale for the first time in almost three decades.

Andrea and Darrel North are preparing to farewell the Ferntree Gully house they transformed from a rundown residence into a beloved family home.

The couple purchased 3 Stockton Ave while living in a unit located directly behind the property, almost three decades ago.

After extensively renovating and extending the house, they are now selling with plans to buy a smaller place and travel.

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Three bidders attended Saturday’s auction for the abode, but it ended up passing in on a $1.45m bid.

@realty principal Luciano Marcuzzi said that in addition to negotiating with a buyer who is waiting upon finance, he and his vendors would likely either list the home for private sale or set another auction date.

“The house would suit a family with two or three kids who like nature and want a commute to the city or to use the area’s public transport,” he said.

A Falcon double oven, made in the UK, and a Miele dishwasher feature in the kitchen.

Darrel and Andrea North bought the house almost 30 years ago, and have given it an extensive makeover since then.

An 8m by 4m concrete pool with fitted LED lights.

The Norths bought the home after their first son Justin was born.

Ms North said that although the abode was “pretty derelict”, the 1069sq m block and potential they saw in the circa-1950s house won them over.

“We went, ‘It suits all our needs, and it’s exactly where we live and we love where we live’,” she said.

Not long after moving in, Ms North discovered she was pregnant with their future daughter, Megan.

Nowadays, the husband and wife live at the home with their third child, Cody, 22.

An open fireplace in one of the three living areas.

There’s plenty of room to play in the garden.

A bathtub and shower in one of the two bathrooms.

Much of their renovation work was completed by Ms North’s sister Narelle and builder brother-in-law Chris, who run Frerker Homes in Lysterfield.

Once, while painting the house, five-year-old Justin decided he want to help.

“I gave him a bucket of water mixed with glitter and a paintbrush,” Mr North said.

“He painted the dog kennel and the front gate for me, in his little blue Thomas the Tank Engine jumper and his gumboots and he was having a ball.”

The Norths have hosted plenty of birthdays, engagements and family events on their undercover deck.

The home from before it was renovated and extended.

Today, the five-bedroom house features three living areas, two bathrooms and a UK-manufactured Falcon double oven in the kitchen, a room that was renovated two years ago.

An outdoor pool, barbecue and undercover deck with motorised blinds proved the ideal spot to host 120 guests for Megan’s 21st birthday.

“I spend lots of time cooking, and you can sit out there in the courtyard with a beer and look at the kids in the pool, and it’s just a great space,” Mr North said.

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