Forrest house owned by knight and leased to British High Commission for sale

There are a just a handful of Canberra homes that could be considered fit for royalty. Here’s one that has been owned by a knight and leased to the British High Commission.

Number 18 Tennyson Crescent was built in 1936 for Sir Peter Heydon. The diplomat and secretary of immigration was a highly respected public servant and an advocate for skilled migration.

The house stayed in the Heydon family until the 1990s when it was completely renovated before being leased to the British High Commission.

For current owners, it was love at first sight when they inspected the property in 2009.

“It looked unassuming from the front but when I walked out to the balcony and went down the stairs I felt like royalty,” Sonja Milovic says.

With a few updates, they made the home their own. The carpets were replaced, wrought iron gates were installed and the jarrah floors were revamped.

But they also ensured the home’s original character remained intact.

“I like the character of an old home,” Milovic says.

“It’s been preloved and that comes through for me; it’s all about the feel of the home.”

There was no need for the family of four to go on holidays. The 2475-square-metre parcel provided their own private sanctuary.

“Our summer holiday was the backyard,” Milovic says.

“The pool, the sauna, the outdoor living – where would you want to go? It was a private resort.”

And in winter it was just as idyllic.

“Just reading a book and listening to the cracking of the fire; our day would unwind that way,” Milovic says.

“It sounds a little bit like a storybook and that’s just what it was.”

Auction: Sunday, June 4, at 2 pm, onsite. Inspect: Saturday, 12.45pm-1.30pm. Agent: Anthony McCormack and Anthony Weston, Luton Properties Woden, 0425 283 588 or 0439 282 508. 

18 Winser Crescent, Kambah
​$900,000-plus

After 20 years in peaceful Gleneagles, Steve and Joanne Scott are selling their four-bedroom family home.

They were among the first residents of the estate and built the solar-passive home on the 851-square-metre block.

“I designed it myself to enhance the winter sun and keep the sun at bay,” Steve says.

There’s lots of north-facing glass, which brings the outside in.”

The four-bedroom house includes three separate living areas, including an open-plan family room flowing from the kitchen, a formal split-level lounge room with picture windows, as well as a rumpus room.

An alfresco space area off the family room makes it an ideal entertainer.

“We really love it,” Steve says.

“We’re only selling it for two reasons: first that we’re moving out of Canberra to retire and second because the house is far too big for us.”

Just a minute’s walk to the sixth fairway of the Murrumbidgee Golf Course, the home enjoys a semi-rural setting.

The estate provides easy access to Drakeford Drive, leading to the city, Tuggeranong and Woden.

Inspect: Contact agents, Sandy Morris and Tahlia Davidson, One Agency, 0420 380 895 or 0401 534 105.