Federation style home bucks the ‘boxy’ brick trend in Craigieburn

A FEDERATION-STYLE home in Melbourne’s north offers a chance for buyers to embrace a slice of history in the area.

The home at Eagleview Way has been built true to original Federation style. Pictures supplied.

DRIVE around Craigieburn in Melbourne’s fast growing northern corridor and most homes are standard brick properties.

But Melbourne homeowners still have a fascination with period properties, with buyers willing to go the extra mile and pay additional dollars to renovate and replicate the charm of the past (see below).

And now history is even creeping into Craigieburn, with a period homefor sale in the suburb.

While the charming Federation-style house at 46 Eagleview Way was built in about 2000, the home’s owner-builder constructed it using high quality fixtures and fittings.

With features including an L-shaped front veranda, timber fretwork, corrugated iron roofs, a dormer window and stained glass windows, the yellow weatherboard home attracts plenty of attention from passers-by.

Within the home, the charm continues with ceiling roses, decorative breezeways, intricate cornicing, an open fireplace and recycled Tasmanian oak hardwood floors.

The rear living room leads straight out onto decking.

Tiling and period fittings complete the picture in one of the two bathrooms.

Stain-glassed windows complete the picture.

A dormer window adds space and light to a bedroom.

An open fireplace warms the large living room at 46 Eagleview Way, Craigieburn.

The Australian Institute of Architects’ Victorian president, Vanessa Bird, said Federation and Edwardian homes were valued for their construction quality and proportions.

“There is an admiration of lost crafts like solid timber joinery and detailing, and diminishing skills like slate roofing,” Ms Bird said.

Vendor Sharon Spiteri fell in love with the Eagleview Way home the moment she saw it and is reluctant to leave it after living there for about eight years.

“The demographic in Craigieburn is for very boxy modern homes so this house blew me away — it’s so picturesque and it’s perfectly me,” she said.

Ms Spiteri believes the builder constructed a Federation home in memory of rural upbringing and insists it isn’t a reproduction or “cookie cutter” period home but has stayed true to original Federation style.

“The builder has used very high quality materials and no expense has been spared on them,” she said.

“These types of fixtures and fittings are also very hard to get.

“The house really is from a bygone era.

“It’s been beautifully designed and every side and angle is beautiful.”

Professionals Craigieburn director Con Pedis said while the home was definitely not a box, it was something out of the box.

“When people see it, they say, ‘Wow, I have to have another look at it!’” he said.

“The taste for these homes is coming back so I think we will see more of them and it will go down well in the area.”

TRADITIONAL APPRECIATION FOR QUALITY AND PROPORTION

The Australian Institute of Architects’ Victorian president, Vanessa Bird, said inner city period homes had been undergoing renovations for at least 15 years, mainly in the City of Yarra, particularly Fitzroy and Richmond, and the City of Port Phillip, including Middle Park, Albert Park and St Kilda.

“Most properties (in the inner city) are covered by heritage overlays so they can’t be demolished,” she said.

“People are also choosing to pay more for a smaller house in a well serviced location such as the inner and middle ring suburbs where period houses are.”

Heritage Victoria executive director Tim Smith agreed period homes offered a unique character and ambience.

“People appreciate the lives that have been lived in (these) homes,” he said.

“They also add a point of difference to housing stock and the streetscape.

“There’s nothing like a 100-year-old home with a layered history that has been lived in and loved.”

Mr Smith said heritage listing wasn’t a negative in terms of resale value, with value often increasing because of this listing.

Maintenance of period homes also didn’t have to be a liability.

“If you keep up the maintenance of these homes, they can contribute for decades to the character of the area,” he said.

Having renovated plenty of period homes, from weatherboard Victorians to brick Edwardians, Renovation One director Sean Kiley agreed such homes could have a high resale value.

“If they’re renovated and maintained well, with attention to detail, these homes can be a winner,” he said.

“Period homes have old world charm and a traditional feeling that has stood the test of time.

“However, there is more interest in the outer suburbs in modular homes, as they are cheaper to build.”