Architect moves 100m to restore historic cottage

Herald Sun

13-07-2025

Architect David Nicholson, with his dogs Dot and Chewie, is selling the Collingwood house that he renovated. Picture: Jake Nowakowski.
David Nicholson's friends told him he was mad to sell his Fitzroy home and buy in Collingwood more than a decade ago.
But the Robert Nichol & Sons principal architect said the difference between the two suburbs' property prices at the time meant he could move just 100m away to get a larger abode for considerably less money.
His bold move has just been validated, as Melbourne's property market recovery added about $40,000 (3 per cent) to Collingwood's typical house value, helping it soar to almost $1.285m, between April and June 2025 – compared to the previous three months – according to PropTrack.
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Collingwood is now closing the gap with Fitzroy, where a more modest $20,000 (1 per cent) increase brought the figure to about $1.558m.
With a renovation and restoration conducted by himself as well as business partner and fellow architect Brett Robertson, Mr Nicholson is even further ahead.
Their efforts combined a run down 1850s-era timber cottage and another home dating back to the 1920s into a single three-bedroom house at 39-41 Oxford St.
While it had taken a lot of work to transform it, the result has been worth it.
'That was probably another reason people thought I was mad moving from a nice house in Fitzroy to a dump in Collingwood,' Mr Nicholson said.
The renovation added a rooftop terrace with views across Collingwood and Melbourne's CBD.
Mr Nicholson inside the house, which has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and is close to both the buzzing cultural hubs Gertrude St and Smith St. Picture: Jake Nowakowski.
The home has just been listed for sale with a $2.59m asking price by Nelson Alexander's Rick Daniel.
The property still has Crisp Cottage's period facade intact, but there's now an extra level and a rooftop terrace with Melbourne CBD views, a powder room and pergola.
Inside the home, the kitchen, dining and main living area are on the first floor.
'We put the living one floor up because in the inner city, it's one of the only ways to get light into your house is go up a level,' Mr Nicholson said.
'And that way we were able to get light from the east, the west and the north with skylights, it's beautiful.'
There's also a veranda and a green front door.
Reverse cycle airconditioning and hydronic heating are among the mod cons.
Green Japanese tiles in the ensuite.
Other features include raked ceilings, exposed beams, a Danish slow combustion fireplace and a staircase balustrade with custom-made steel joint steel pipe work by sculptor Fredrick White.
Downstairs, the open plan second living room opens out to a leafy rear courtyard, while the main bedroom has a full-height wardrobe and ensuite.
And having a second front door made it simple to lease out part of the house as short-term rental accommodation, a handy way to help pay the mortgage off.
Living in proximity to the city meant that Mr Nicholson does not need a car although the house has a secure parking space.
'Collingwood is certainly a suburb where you can make that lifestyle choice and say, 'Okay, I'm going to save $40,000-$50,000 a year on a car, and put that into where I'm going to live',' he said.
The renovation pays tribute to the house's heritage, in a contemporary form.
Renting part of the home out as short-term accommodation helped to pay the mortgage.
Although he has loved living at Crisp Cottage with his pet dogs, jack russell Dot and groodle Chewie, Mr Nicholson is selling ahead of plans to move into an apartment.
Mr Daniel said that said that downsizers and couples had been among the main buyers inquiring about the Collingwood house.
'I think it's perfect for those looking for low-maintenance, stylish, generous inner-city living,' Mr Daniel said.
'Certainly it also has the uniqueness of being an architect's own home that has been restored.'
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