Striking contemporary design in this historic Port Melbourne home

Ironically, for a street whose name means “bow-legged”, Cruikshank Street has been home to many fine, upstanding citizens.

One was Thomas McCormack, the Cricketers’ Arms’ publican whom we can thank for the street lighting; he petitioned for it in 1876. Another was police constable Myles Dare, who lived in this house 100 years ago. PC Dare’s intrepid pursuit of hoodlums, which made thrilling reading in The Argus, must have ensured him a good night’s sleep in what was then a cosy little cottage.

Today, his place still looks dainty. It is, in fact, two storeys of striking contemporary design, with a panoramic view north to the old Port Melbourne Town Hall.

Three double bedrooms, including a first-floor main suite with a nursery or fourth bedroom, give it awesome flex appeal to a growing family. Kids and grown-ups will love the dining, kitchen and living area, which takes up half the ground floor and opens to a decked, courtyard garden.

PC Dare would still recognise the lace-trimmed weatherboard facade, which is set well back, behind a landscaped lawn with a weeping cherry tree.

The leadlight entry leads to a side hall with ash floor boards and matt-black pendants to bounce the light around. Two carpeted bedrooms, beautifully restored, have fireplaces, wardrobes and ceiling roses. The second bedroom looks into a lightwell courtyard. The central bathroom-laundry, fully tiled, has a shower above the bath next to the lightwell.

The white stone kitchen has Smeg appliances and a waterfall island. French and multi-fold doors link the living area to the courtyard; at the far end, the garage and workshop have rollerdoor access to the lane.

Take the timber and glass staircase to the main bedroom suite, a carpeted sanctuary with its own living room and attic-style study-cum-nursery. The two-way en suite leads to the bedroom, sunny and spacious with a built-in wardrobe and a private, frosted-glass balcony.

The property has security, in-roof storage, 16 solar panels and split-system climate control.

Address: 157 Cruikshank Street, Port Melbourne

Agent: Marshall White, Justin Holod 0411 669 161

Price: $1.8 million-$1.95 million

Auction: 1.30pm, July 21