Beechworth: Country house with a private lake, garden of paradise sails onto the market

A spectacular country retreat in a historic gold rush town offers a private lake and sprawling garden paradise for buyers wanting to escape city life.

Alesha Capone

2 min read

October 7, 2024 - 8:00AM

5 Meldrum St, Beechworth, is set on a 1.5ha block planted with mature trees and greenery.

In the historic Victorian town of Beechworth, a modern country house featuring a lakeside Garden of Eden is for sale with a $3.95m-$4.345m asking range.

Designed by Melbourne-based Bryant Allsop Architects, the four-bedroom home’s rammed earth walls, timber flooring and butterfly-style hallway make for a warm and welcoming environment.

First National Real Estate Bonnici & Associates’s Tony Stockdale, who has the 5 Meldrum St listing in conjunction with Kay & Burton’s Gowan Stubbings, says the “outstanding and individual” residence’s rammed earth walls boost sustainability.

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Provided by the Earth Structures Group, and made from quarry aggregates, cement and waterproofing materials, the walls’ thermal mass absorbs the sun’s warmth during the day and gradually releases it at night, helping to save energy.

Built in 2012 by the Albury-based Scott James Builder, which has received multiple Master Builders Association regional residential builder of the year awards, the house also features a butler’s pantry in the kitchen, a dining room, mud room, study, two main bedrooms with ensuites and walk-in wardrobes and spectacular views taking in the garden, Beechworth and surrounding mountain ranges.

“I love the north-facing aspect of the living area with deciduous vines letting the sun in during winter,” Stockdale says.

Designed by Bryant Allsop Architects, the home exudes warmth.

The sunrises and sunsets make for a stunning vista.

Many of the rooms look out to the garden and surrounding mountains.

Set on 1.5ha, the established garden, fed by the property’s spring, is the ideal place to host picnics, dinner parties or even weddings.

Stockdale describes the outdoor area as “your very own Garden of Eden”.

“It’s very easy to maintain and you get colour all your round,” he says.

“And it’s very private as well and there’s a private lake.”

A floating staircase leading from the lake to the house is the perfect spot to watch sunrises and sunsets above the body of water.

A floating staircase leads to the lake.

The rammed earth walls store heat.

Autumn colours light up the landscape.

Stockdale says the garden is a wonderland for local bird life including crimson rosellas, king parrots and blue wrens.

“There’s also plenty of frogs and plenty of ducks,” he adds.

A machinery shed and workshop, garage, bore, water tanks and rooftop sprinkler system are among the other highlights.

The abode is within walking distance to Beechworth’s main streets and close to walking and mountain bike trails, vineyards, Mt Hotham and Falls Creek.