31 Arundel Street

UNDER OFFER BY CONNIE HANDCOCK, WHITEHOUSE PROPERTY PARTNERS. Elevated above an endearing character streetscape, right in the heart of bustling Freo, this is as good as it gets for lifestyle location. Century-old charm has been lovingly retained across two levels, while the history in its walls is just as iconic as the old portside city itself. Nestled between both Marine and South Terraces, there's little use for your car when you can walk to everything: the boat harbour, Esplanade Park, Bather's Beach, and an endless array of shops, cafés, bars, restaurants, museums, and live music venues to explore. One of a pair in Victorian-Georgian style, this home was originally built c.1888 by John Bateman, renowned as a notable contributor to the mercantile landscape of Fremantle. The west-facing veranda sits on high, perfect for taking in all the city sights and sounds, while inside, the past is beautifully reflected: generous bedrooms with decorative fireplaces, sweeping high ceilings, and gleaming honey-coloured New Zealand kauri pine floors timber steeped in its own maritime history. Two bedrooms span the long hallway, one with a ceiling fan, and the other embracing the elevation of its westerly outlook. A generous formal living, with its own electric fireplace, leads to a jarrah-floored passageway overlooking the rear courtyard complete with louvres for the crossflow of sea breezes, and a bathroom servicing this level. Below surprises with even more. A terracotta-tiled laundry sits adjacent to another bathroom, while out the back is a delightful stone-walled courtyard, pretty climbing vines and all. Secured by wrought-iron gates, private parking for two cars is accessed via the rear laneway, a rarity for this part of Freo. Retaining its quaint character, anchored by a lovely decorative fireplace, the single-galley kitchen features simple white cabinetry and a sleek Blanco induction cooktop. Two bedrooms, each with ceiling fans, finish this level, while the cellar or storeroom at the end of the hallway with stone walls, recycled bricks, and exterior access can be anything: home office, creative's workshop, or even another bathroom for the keen renovator. This is a home that has seen many reincarnations over its past: the private Bateman residence of importing and exporting firm J. W. Bateman and Sons, a family-run food and wine business serving Fremantle's Italian community, and even a boarding house. Ripe with possibilities, the opportunity to shape its next chapter is not to be missed. Property Features: - Century-old residence steeped in Freo history - Originally built c.1888 in Victorian-Georgian style by notable Fremantle resident John Bateman - Character features: generous bedrooms, decorative fireplaces, high ceilings & long hallways - Floors of jarrah & New Zealand kauri pine - Ceiling fans throughout, louvres for the cross flow of sea breezes - Four bedrooms plus cellar/storeroom with exterior access - Elevated, west-facing veranda - Formal living with electric fireplace - Stone-walled rear courtyard with wrought-iron gates - Two bathrooms, one on each level - Terracotta-tiled laundry - Private parking for two via rear laneway - Quaint single-galley kitchen with Blanco induction cooktop - Steps to shops, cafés, bars, beaches, live music venues, Esplanade Park & Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour - Exceptional walkable lifestyle to Freo's best, between both South and Marine Terraces - School catchment: Fremantle Primary School, Fremantle College Council Rates: $4,107.66 per annum (approx) Water Rates: $1,770.96 per annum (approx)