61 Francis Road Lockwood South VIC 3551

- Picturesque and private locale: 20 minutes to Bendigo and Castlemaine; 15 minutes to Maldon; close to primary school and community hall
- Exceptional unique detail throughout including custom stonework in buildings, fencing and paving
- Large shed including 3 x open bays (1 x tandem) and separate shed/workshop space with concrete flooring
- Mud brick studio
- Separate timber and stone cottage with kitchen, bathroom, loft bedroom, snug lounge with open fire, and balcony with views

You will never want to leave this peaceful and charming hideaway. A private and restful sanctuary from the outside world, this unique property sits on 30 acres (approx.) of stunning native bushland. With extensive views across to Ravenswood at the entrance, the sweeping driveway leads through the forest, past a large dam, with the tranquil residence at its heart. Nestled amongst the trees, this idyllic escape, surrounded by stunning natural beauty, is the perfect retreat for a buyer seeking a one-of-a-kind property. Handcrafted by an expert stonemason, the main house is surrounded by a lush established garden with meandering paths leading to secret spaces to sit and enjoy the birdsong. At the top of the garden is a mudbrick studio with veranda, as well as a separate cottage with kitchen, lounge, bathroom and loft bedroom – the perfect set up for guests. A large shed provides an additional workshop space and undercover parking for cars, caravans, boats or trailers. Just 20 minutes to Bendigo and Castlemaine, and 15 minutes to Maldon, amenities are within easy reach.

The main house – a two-story home, with timber accents blending with the stone detail – enjoys a flexible floorplan. Downstairs, a circular lounge with open fireplace is ideal for entertaining and French doors open out to a courtyard and outdoor fire and stove at the rear. The kitchen-diner is a cosy space with solid fuel heating and marble feature workspace. A laundry, separate toilet, and family bathroom separate the kitchen area from the first bedroom – a lovely and spacious area with dual aspect windows. Upstairs are two further bedrooms – both with built-in robes and dormer windows; a separate toilet; and one of the bedrooms features French doors opening out to a sizeable balcony with a beautiful vista. The extensive garden features an abundance of variety including mature palms and succulents. A vegetable garden with raised beds is ready to be planted, and serviced by a pretty stone potting shed.

Additional features:
- Solid fuel heating in kitchen diner
- Open fireplaces in main lounge
- Ceiling fans throughout
- Stove with separate grill and four-burner gas cooktop in kitchen
- Marble worktop in kitchen
- Water tanks x 2
- Dam (with pump)
- Bore
- Irrigated garden beds
- Veggie garden with raised beds
- Stone potting shed
- Stone pond
- Security doors throughout
- Courtyard with shade sails and outdoor fire/oven
- Established garden with natives, succulents and fruit trees (peach, citrus, olive)

A note from the owner:
“What I love about this home is that it has been created with love and care. It feels so solid, like it will be around for hundreds of years.

Michael is a renowned stonemason, and he built this home for us carefully and meticulously. It took 8 years from conception to completion to build it.

The forest is mesmerising in its wild beauty and the further you walk up the hill the bigger and bigger the views become.

We both really loved our garden, it has been a labour of love for decades. Some plants are over 40 years-old and coming into their mature beauty. It is a green oasis in the middle of the bush which is home to a huge variety of birds. There are eagles and hawks that soar over the hills, whilst robins, Firetail finches and grey thrush dart around the safety of the garden and provide beautiful songs.

I hope that the next custodian of this special home will love and enjoy it as much as we have.”