17 Burnett Road

Set back from one of Castlemaine's most sought-after streets, surrounded by established gums and well removed from the noise of daily life, this architect-designed three-bedroom home was built to Passive Haus principles and oriented due north. The result is a residence that earns its quiet confidence, warm in winter, cool in summer, considered at every turn. Spotted Gum cladding weathers beautifully in the bush setting. Inside, the palette is soft and muted throughout, concrete floors, ply-clad cove ceilings, Blackbutt double-glazed windows and doors, with deliberate pops of pink, yellow and green arriving in the wet areas, where bold colour finds exactly the right home. The open-plan kitchen, dining and living space runs north, pulling in winter sun across polished concrete. The kitchen is plywood throughout, with stainless steel benchtops, a Smeg freestanding induction cooktop and oven, an Asko dishwasher and an island bench that anchors the room. A Paul Agnew solid wood heater sits at the heart of the living zone; built-in open shelving defines the boundary between the living and the bedroom wing beyond. A split system provides additional climate control. The main bedroom looks out to the rear garden, borrowing the bush as its backdrop, with built-in robes and a quiet connection to the landscape. Two further bedrooms each have built-in robes; the front bedroom makes a natural home office, positioned away from the living zones. The bathroom is soft pink wall tile with soft green terrazzo tiles underfoot, underfloor heating, a bath, a walk-in shower and a vanity. The laundry carries the same warmth, yellow wall tiles, terrazzo floor, external access, and a separate toilet sits behind a deep green door. Outside, a north-facing pergola is planted with kiwifruit. A substantial three-bay carport (approx 10.6m x 5.9m), two water tanks of approximately 20,000 litres each (for use in the garden and toilet), and a fire pit set into the bush complete a property designed to be lived in fully. Glimpses of Mount Alexander sit in the distance. On approximately 4718sqm, a short walk to the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens and around five minutes to the centre of town, this property offers the kind of quiet that is increasingly hard to find, on a prestigious street, in a home built with genuine intention.