Grand Newtown mansion unveiled after five-year restoration

11 Aphrasia St, Newtown, is on the market for $3.9m to $4.2m.

History has repeated at a magnificent Newtown mansion where an impeccable new renovation continues a long legacy of transformative additions.

The two-storey double-brick dichromatic residence known as ‘Kelvin’ was first erected on a much larger plot overlooking Corio Bay in 1873 but the home almost doubled in size with an equally grand extension two decades later.

Now vendor Ian Critchley has again added to the evolution of the historic five-bedroom home set among 1020sq m of English-style gardens.

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A nine-month renovation blew out to five years thanks to Covid interruptions, but has been worth the wait. Mr Critchley’s passion for older homes shines through in his respect for period detail and quality imported fittings.

He said most of 11 Aphrasia St, Newtown, had not been touched since a 1980s restoration and was in need of a refresh when he bought it in 2019.

The biggest change is at the rear, where the old kitchen lean-to has been demolished and replaced with a new open-plan kitchen and dining area and adjoining conservatory.

Builder Andrew Murphy, of Murphy Built, installed five sets of French doors to connect the extension to enchanting gardens, designed by landscape architect Bethany Williamson, that now wrap around all sides of the house.

The gardens have a country English estate feel.

A coffee station sits behind transparent double doors in the kitchen.

The renovation remains true to the home’s original style.

“You can sit there in summer when it’s not cold but not super hot with all the doors open and it’s fabulous,” Mr Critchley said. “It feels like you’re living in the garden.”

Like any old house, Kelvin threw up a few surprises, including the discovery of a fireplace when the old kitchen was dismantled. It now sits in the conservatory.

The vendor says all the original features – from cornices to archways and bay windows – have been retained, alongside modern luxuries like new travertine flagstone flooring and a French Lacanche four-oven gas range cooker and hood.

The study with its original bookcase and fireplace is Mr Critchley’s favourite room.

Decorative wallpaper features throughout the house.

A glassed greenhouse and outdoor entertainment areas are surrounded by lawn and floral garden beds.

The house is hidden 50m back off the street so it feels like a private estate.

Mr Critchley said a hardware merchant first built a slab hut there, which was later replaced by the first section of the grand home overlooking the bay. The later 1890 addition, on the right-hand side, explains the home’s distinctive facade.

“When it was extended in the 1890s they added another bit on but they couldn’t do it exactly like the first because the Geelong sandstone had run out so it’s done in a more Hawthorn brick look,” he said.

“It’s a very eclectic design. They thought that rather than make something that looked like a poor copy, they would make it completely different.”

Jellis Craig Geelong agent Marcus Falconer is calling for expressions of interest in 11 Aphrasia St, Newtown by December 17 at noon.

Price hopes are $3.9m to $4.2m.

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