RESCUE mission

This stately hill station home has transformed from tragedy to triumph for a family that has owned the property for 100 years.

- Judy Pascoe

When an historic Edwardian hill station home in the Macedon Ranges burnt down in 2018, the fire took more than 100 years of memories, heirlooms, furniture and artworks. For the nonagenarian owner, who had moved there from Melbourne as a three-year-old with her family to escape the Spanish flu, it was heartbreaking. But the story has a happy ending as the home was rebuilt on the same footprint and the owner was able to enjoy a final Christmas there with her extended family, aged 99.

The two-storey six-bedroom home with multiple bathrooms and living spaces and set in magnificent gardens reimagined by Paul Bangay now acts as a weekender and holiday retreat for the four offspring and their families that include 13 great-grandchildren. Rebuilt to a design by architect Stephen Akehurst, the house is faithful to the original – though now with larger bathrooms, a contemporary kitchen and living area and underfloor heating.

“The vision I had was to keep the design of the new house within the same footprint and similar volume, recreate the sitting and dining rooms in the original scale and location, and have the remainder of the house feel like it has been renovated to accommodate modern multi-generational living,” says Stephen.

With the front door knocker – the only item salvaged from the fire – reinstated in its rightful position, Melbourne interior designer Charlotte Coote was tasked with providing the interior decoration. She has delivered a scheme that is redolent of the past while also offering contemporary style. Fortunately, Charlotte was able to repurpose and reinvent some pieces from the owner’s Melbourne home as well as some significant artworks.