North Warrandyte windmill house sells

A 6m-tall tribute to Holland in North Warrandyte is an eccentric inclusion for the buyers of this family home and local icon that has been its Dutch seller’s home for more than 50 years.

George Vlek outside his North Warrandyte home where he built a 6m windmill as a homage to his Dutch heritage. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

After living in his North Warrandyte property for more than 50 years, George Vlek has passed the keys to the clinker brick home – and its 6m windmill – to a new family.

His four-bedroom house at 15 Valias Street sold for $800,000 after just 10 days on the market with a $760,000-$820,000 price guide.

The vendor built the towering windmill structure in the early ‘70s as a proud nod to his Dutch heritage, despite having almost no construction knowledge at the time.

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The clinker brick facade and wrought iron gates, which feature Mr Vlek’s initials.

The grand windmill with moving sails was a hideaway for Mr Vlek’s children.

You can view the windmill from the kitchen.

“It took around 12 months to build, just doing it on the weekends myself,” Mr Vlek said.

With moving sails, a ladder and substantial room inside, he said the windmill wasn’t “just a small playhouse”.

“When my children were growing up they often enjoyed playing inside with other local kids. It’s been quite a feature in the neighbourhood,” he added.

Born in Rotterdam, Mr Vlek and his family immigrated to Melbourne in the 1950s.

“My parents loved the windmill. They were very touched when they first saw it,” he said.

One of the living spaces.

Plenty of spots to take in the leafy surrounds.

One of the cosy bedrooms.

But the windmill isn’t the only highlight of the property, which also features an above ground pool, a water feature, extensive gardens and views of Warrandyte State Park.

Mr Vlek’s initials, “GV”, appear in the home’s white gates, after a neighbour – who was an ironworker – decided the property needed new gates and added the letters in.

“I said the new owners can either cut them out, or say that GV stands for ‘great value’,” Mr Vlek said.

A tranquil water feature.

One of the bathrooms.

The home also has space for a gym or an office.

The backyard is complete with an above ground pool.

The sale was a family affair, with Mr Vlek’s son, iTrack Real Estate agent Anthony Vlek, presenting the listing of his childhood home.

“I was the most knowledgeable agent you could ever find,” Anthony said.

“The buyers thought it was a perfect long-term family home. There’s a lot of love in the house and it definitely shows.”

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Originally published as North Warrandyte windmill house sells