Grand Drumcondra house built for the namesake of Baxter House, listed for sale – realestate.com.au

A sense of history runs deep within this Grade II listed bayfront property which was the first residence to be built on the prestigious Drumcondra Estate.

The grand Federation-era house was originally built in 1912 for prominent Geelong benefactor and namesake of Baxter House, John Percy Baxter.

A century later, 5 Glenleith Ave, Drumcondra, remains one of the jewels in the suburb’s crown, with a large 1205 sqm corner block just 150 meters from Corio Bay.

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Although it is on a main road, the seller says the family home exudes an air of mystery as much of it is hidden from the public behind established ornamental gardens.

Beyond the rear veranda lies a series of well-proportioned rooms with 11-foot ceilings, intricate ornamental work, stained glass windows and ornate period fireplaces.

When the sellers moved into the property, the previous owners had already added their own extension to the rear, but now that it was dated, they saw a golden opportunity for a fresh renovation.

With that dream yet to be realized, the opportunity now lies with the new buyers.

The formal living room is rich in historic details.

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You can see the bay window through the bay window at the front.

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An extension from the late 1990s at the rear has parquet floors and a well-equipped kitchen.

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“We wanted to secure one of the largest blocks in Drumcondra, approximately 150 meters from the water’s edge, but also with the understanding that the house was genuinely habitable, but that the space to renovate was and is there,” he says.

“We’re huge on history and character and it was actually very similar to the house I grew up in.”

The corner block and enormous roof cavity create great flexibility to expand in almost any direction or add a swimming pool.

Currently, the kitchen and informal living area, with stainless steel appliances and a large island bench, overlook the north-facing rear garden, where terraces and a custom pizza oven provide the backdrop for outdoor entertaining among mature trees and a vegetable garden.

Here you will also find a double garage, accessed via Beach Pde, and a self-contained one-bedroom studio allowing the seller’s mother-in-law to live independently on site.

The north-facing rear deck overlooks a large garden with the possibility of expansion.

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The house has hydronic heating and extensive solar panels with battery storage.

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The dining room overlooks the building’s original greenhouse.

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Other highlights include a formal dining room with views of the original greenhouse and the water glimpses that have emerged from the living room since the block directly across the street was cleared.

“My favorite would have to be the living room. The porch comes in and when you look out the window you see the bay window, plus the fireplace,” says the seller.

As well as the quick commute to the CBD, the family has also enjoyed living so close to the waterfront and the revamped Rippleside Park.

“In the summer we would bike to Eastern Beach because you could never get to a park there, swim and ride back,” he says. “We would walk to the roundabout and watch the fireworks on New Year’s Eve, and if it was raining or thundering heavily, we would sit on the porch and watch.”

Gartland, Geelong agent Michael De Stefano will auction 5 Glenleith Ave, Drumcondra, on October 30 at 6.50pm.

Price expectations are $1.6 million to $1.76 million.