Victoria’s amazing renovation opportunities

Opportunity knocks in Victoria – but be aware of what might be waiting for you when the door opens.

If you’ve ever seen a great renovation on a brilliant old property and thought, “why didn’t I do that?” or watched The Block thinking, “I could do that”, then one of these properties might be for you.

They are historic gems, hidden in Melbourne’s finest streets or tucked away in regional towns, just waiting for a makeover to bring them back to life.

“I think nearly everyone dreams about renovating a property like that,” says interior architect Mairead Murphy. 

“There’s something so romantic about finding that old building and returning it back to its former granduer.”

But even if you find a bargain, Ms Murphy warns you should always expect the unexpected with old buildings.

“Have some fat in the budget,” she says. “There will be layers of surprises waiting for you.”

We take a look at 11 of the best renovator’s dreams from around the state.

300 Beaconsfield Parade, Middle Park

On one of Melbourne’s most prestigious streets, ‘Bellamy’ boasts uninterrupted bay views. The property was recently home to two generations of artists but is now up for grabs. 

There is no heritage overlay, but buyers could cash in on the historic facade with a renovation to the sprawling floorplan.

71 Victoria Street, Ballarat

This one certainly needs a bit of work. A fire ripped through the guts of the building last year, but the old coach house is apparently still structurally sound.

The property once housed a hairdressing salon in the coach house, a silver service restaurant and upstairs art gallery.

164 Spensley Street, Clifton Hill

“Mountjoy” sits on 820 square-metre of land in one of Melbourne’s most sought-after family pockets.

There’s plenty of original details a renovator can restore to their former glory, including tuck-pointed brickwork, gas wall lamps and etched glass windows.

3 Malmsbury Street, Kew

A guest house in desperate need of a makeover, the land component alone in Kew will undoubtedly set you back a pretty penny. But “Ivy Grange'”might be well worth it, with 360-degree views of the city skyline from the top tower.

The property was built in 1864 by architect Charles Vickers, who also designed the Richmond Town Hall. Original features include etched and hand-painted windows, marble fireplaces, servants’ bells and cellars.

11 Esplanade, Williamstown

Talk about a blank canvas. This one has all the bones for a modern facelift, with an open fireplace, polished boards and classic arched windows.

Found directly across from the water and metres from the Williamstown Botanical Gardens, a prettied-up version of this home would be a hot commodity. The price guide is $2.4 million to $2.5 million, which could be a bargain if you consider the final product.

3 Berwyn Crescent, Templestowe

A massive 4066 square-metre block is the setting of this once-loved palazzo.

All offers are being considered on the property, so buyers may only be restrained by imagination.

65 Leveson Street, North Melbourne

If you want to start out small with your renovation handiwork, why not try 96 square-metres?

A planning permit for a three-level residence has been approved, but buyers could still try their hand at renovating the classic Melbourne terrace, just a short walk from the Queen Victoria Market. The price guide is $480,000-$530,000, so even first-time renovators could have a crack.

32 Church, Majorca

This one is a little out of the way, but who wouldn’t want to renovate a church? Just over 170 kilometres north west of Melbourne, and a 12-minute drive from Maryborough, the nearest larger town, Majorca will offer you a peaceful lifestyle at an affordable price. In fact, thew going price for this little gem is just $365,000.

The church has already been converted into a home, but there’s plenty of room for a modern makeover.

25 Dent Street, Glen Iris

A huge block of land in one of Melbourne’s hottest suburbs, this Glen Iris tudor-style home will likely see developers and keen investors out in force at this weekend’s auction. A modest villa unit sold recently for $1.37 million the area, so don’t expect to land a bargain.

But those with an eye on the future market might see the potential in the clinker brick bones, high ceilings and period features of the property.

12 Right Hand Branch Road, Walhalla

Those with business in mind might consider doing a makeover on “Windsor House”, built in 1878. The property functions as accommodation for those wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle. Walhalla is 182 kilometres east of Melbourne, but attracts large numbers of tourists.

The residence has already been largely restored, but could do with a spruce up here and there to bring all of the period charm to life. The vendors are looking for $1.2 to $1.4 million.

24 Ballan Road, Werribee

A local landmark, this large bluestone house on the Ballan Road marks the entrance to Werribee. It was originally built and owned by the Scott family, an important farming ancestry from the area, in the late 1800’s.

The heritage listed home sits on a massive 1500 square-metre property and has everything from 13 foot ceilings with intricate cornices to marble fireplaces.