113 Victoria Street, Ballarat

Bedrooms: Four
Bathrooms: Four
Car spaces: Two
Asking price: $825,000

It’s appropriate that a grand home built in Victoria’s celebrated gold rush era (circa 1861) should have such a rich history.

The two-storey Ardenlee has been at various times a vicar’s residence, a training site for Catholic schoolteachers and a bed and breakfast business.

It was originally built to be a residence for the Church of England vicar, whose church was located in nearby Humffray Street.

By the 1960s the Catholics had taken over, with the Sisters of Mercy order purchasing it.

PRDnationwide sales agent Jim Bambridge says the sisters used the property to house and train student teachers.

“A school room and dormitories were squeezed into the land behind the grand house,’’ he says.

“Here the nuns taught and trained student teachers for the local Catholic schools. This was the origin of what is today the Aquinas campus of the Australian Catholic University.’’

When the college grew too large for the buildings on the 879sqm property it was sold to a local entrepreneur in 1999.

It played host to a number of businesses including a computer training centre and a travel agents school.

Ardenlee had been empty for a year when the current owner bought it in 2008, restoring it and adding modern comforts.

Mr Bambridge says the solid brick house was stripped back to a bare shell before serious restoration work began.
It now combines all the grandeur of years gone by with contemporary conveniences.

Yes, there are the period wallpapers, fireplaces, ceiling roses and wide Victorian cornices, but some more modern touches can be seen in the three upstairs bedrooms, each of which have luxurious ensuites.

Mr Bambridge says the downstairs communal living areas include an “intimate dining area’’ as well as a modern kitchen which makes the most of the space that it occupies.

Mr Bambridge says there has been strong interest in the home, which is located in what was once Ballarat’s main boulevard, host to an array of stately properties.

“There has been interest from people who want to carry it on as a bed and breakfast and someone who wants it as a grand house.
 It has been restored in the last 10 years, with ensuites added to every bedroom. It is close to Ballarat’s central business district and has easy access to Melbourne.

“It’s a gorgeous looking property that will suit a family or a couple looking for a business.’’

This story was brought to you by The New Daily using data and other information from its real estate content partner, realestateVIEW.com.au.
To download the new free realestateVIEW.com.au app click here!