When this Strzelecki farmhouse last hit the market, it was exactly the opportunity Melbourne couple Shelley and Tom Banders were waiting for. They had been looking for the ideal property in South Gippsland where they could live out their regional dream with their two young kids, and found it at 1460 Korumburra-Warragul Road.
Named Ravensleigh, the 1890-built abode operated as part of a dairy farm before being subdivided and restored by a local family in the 50s. Luckily, the 1.5-acre block retained enough land around the house to create a rambling country garden – complete with its own fruit orchard featuring cherries, nectarines, apricots and more!
Since moving in, Shelly and Tom have found subtle ways to enhance the three-bedroom home. In addition to installing new pine floors, window furnishings and a total bathroom renovation, they also worked extensively on the surrounding land and gardens.
‘We’ve established ornamental gardens, a veggie patch, planted over 100 trees, and tipped down a weathered cypress tree windbreak,’ she says. ‘The cypress was then milled for use by a local furniture maker.’
Inside, high ceilings, pine floors and wide windows fill the abode with historic charm, and an ‘honest character’. But the ultimate highlight is the wrap-around veranda with vines hanging overhead, and the breathtaking green valley views.
‘It has an 100km view through a steep gully and beyond to Wilsons Promontory,’ Shelley says. ‘It has been magic.’
Ravensleigh has that idyllic sense of open space, ‘without the responsibilities that come with acreage,’ – making it the perfect first regional property for the Banders who have ‘fallen in love with the region even more’ and decided to move to Korumburra, just 10 minutes down the road.
Now that the home’s for sale, it’s someone else’s turn to make their dream treechange a reality!
1460 Korumburra-Warragul Road is listed for sale with Auddino First National Korumburra.
