24 High Street

There are properties, and then there are places. This property is firmly the latter, a considered, quietly remarkable residence set on approx 5.2 acres, where the only interruption to the silence is birdsong and the rustle of ancient poplars that have been standing since the Goldrush days. Corrugated iron-clad and solar passive by design, the residence sits private from the street, north-facing to capture every measure of natural warmth. Double-glazed throughout (except two south-facing windows) and anchored in thermal mass mud brick construction, this is a home built with intention. Concrete floors finished in a deep ochre patina glow bronze in the afternoon light. A second living room with a soaring approx 4.4-metre raked ceiling draws the eye upward to north-facing clerestory windows. Bespoke timber detailing, a feature tree beam in the dining space, and a central wall with timber louvres for cross-ventilation give the home authenticity that cannot be manufactured. External access from this space flows directly to the rear garden, blurring the line between inside and out. The kitchen and dining flow openly together, a wall opening creating a casual servery for shared meals, an electric cooktop and integrated storage making the space as practical as it is pleasurable. Both bedrooms enjoy external access to an east-facing patio and are fitted with built-in robes. The second bedroom features a high raked ceiling, north-facing clerestory windows, and a striking feature tree beam. The generous bathroom offers a walk-in shower, toilet, basin, laundry facilities, and its own external access to the rear garden. An integrated solar system and solar hot water ensure running costs remain as gentle as the landscape itself. Outside, the property delivers in every direction. The grounds are parklike, sweeping native gums, established plantings, and the unhurried passage of kangaroos moving through as though the land has always been theirs. A productive, fully fenced vegetable, herb garden and orchard await the serious grower. A small vineyard. Fenced paddocks ready for animals. A studio. A storage shed. A carport. And tucked into the landscape, an external sauna, the perfect place to exhale at the end of a long day, surrounded by nothing but trees and quiet. All of this, just 13 minutes (approx) from the colour and culture of Castlemaine.