Landmark 1851 ‘trophy home' Newtown Brae commands top dollar
The downsizing owner of Newtown Brae is selling the extraordinary four-bedroom house originally built for former convict turned prominent publican Joseph Lewis at 15 Stephen St, Newtown.
The front cottage was constructed in 1851, making it one of the city's oldest surviving homes, with the substantial two-storey Italianate extension designed by notable architect Alexander Hamilton added in 1885.
It occupies an elevated 3407sq m block with treetop views across Geelong, the You Yangs and the bay.
Kay & Burton agent Peter Kudelka has set price hopes from $6.5m to $6.95m for the property, calling for expressions of interest by May 27.
If it achieves this price, the landmark home would eclipse the suburb record set by fellow 19th century mansion Raith.
Mr Kudelka said he expected strong interest in the 'trophy property' as so few of similar calibre existed.
'It was built in 1851 and renovated and extended in 1885 by a guy called Alexander Hamilton who is quite famous in the area,' he said.
'It has been in this family for 20 years and they are just at the stage now where they are scaling down.'
He said the owners had made sympathetic improvements to the heritage-listed home but there was still scope for new owners to make further changes internally.
'They added the front veranda in the early stages and they have just done some renovation work internally to bring it up to speed,' he said.
'Downstairs, for example, could be fully self-contained. It's got a little kitchenette, a bedroom and a living room so it gives you that flexibility but it's actually a comfortable family home.'
The bluestone lower level is also home to a library and a rustic cellar, a stark contrast from the stately reception rooms upstairs which display original decorative features such as marble fireplaces, ceiling roses, plasterwork and crystal chandeliers.
Mr Kudelka said two old posts on the expansive back lawn once held the net for a tennis court that could be reinstated.
Newtown Brae's original owner Joseph Lewis was transported to Van Diemen's Land for counterfeit offences and later became a successful publican in Geelong at the Shearer's Arms, Royal Mail and Victoria hotels.
When he advertised the three-bedroom cottage, then known as Woolmers, for rent in 1852, it was set on 1.6ha of garden with 400 fruit trees, vines and a gardener's house.
The Victorian Heritage Database citation shows Western District grazier James Alexander acquired the property in 1884, changing its name and engaging Colac architect Alexander Hamilton to extend it.
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