Retro rooftop pool sets this central Canberra house apart

Canberra may not be an old city in comparison to other Australian capitals and townships but over time it has accumulated its share of unique homes.

Some, such as the charming residence at 3 Key Street, Campbell, provide a liveable gateway to another era. 

Built more than 60 years ago, the five-bedroom home offers an insight into what may well have been “on-trend” in residential design in the 1960s.

Features include a sloping gable tile roof, a large open fireplace, well-proportioned rooms to allow sunlight to stream inside and the crowning touch, an elevated rooftop pool positioned over the garage.

Selling agent Louise Harget of Belle Property Canberra says the two-storey home as it stands today has been renovated to a pristine condition, with attention paid to balancing an authentic restoration with modern comfort. 

“This was a considered project, with years of bespoke workmanship to bring back elements such as the original cast metalwork and the rooftop pool,” she says.

“It’s a fabulous spot for watching the fireworks and ceremonial flypasts over the Australian War Memorial.”

Externally, the home’s rendered double-brick facade provides a solid street presence while, indoors, Harget says the generous floor plan is cosy yet “incredibly practical”. 

“Your options are four or five bedrooms with built-in wardrobes, plus a separate study,” she says. “Homes with such large bedrooms are very unusual, as are the spectacular bushland views from every single room.”

Restored timber floors float throughout the entryway, kitchen and a downstairs bedroom, with plush wool carpets throughout the spacious dining-living area and upstairs bedrooms.

The contemporary kitchen offers an appealing palette of bright white stone benchtops, matching cabinets and stainless steel appliances. 

Boosting the home’s energy-efficiency rating are new German-made UPVC double-glazed multi-lock windows and doors, as well as ceiling and under-house insulation, and customised external automated blinds.

Ducted gas heating and reverse-cycle heating and cooling will ensure optimal ambient temperatures year-round.

Outside, you’ll delight in the terraces surrounded by low-maintenance gardens.

Plant varieties that will promise to change hues throughout the seasons are set among mature Japanese maples, camellias, azaleas, roses and burgundy crepe myrtles.

The home, which has a price guide of $2.15 million-$2.25 million, is due to go to auction on July 6.

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