53A Berkeley Street, Castlemaine, Vic 3450

Located steps from Kalimna Park and a short stroll into the hub of Castlemaine for retail, restaurants, the train station, the Mill Complex and the Botanical Gardens, this pretty double-fronted two-bedroom Victorian cottage greets you with a big wave and a welcome surprise to the back of the property.

Greeted with the quintessential white picket fence and an immaculately clipped hedge, the cottage makes for the ideal weekend retreat, short-stay accommodation or a home base. The front verandah leads directly into the living room with its statement period brick open fireplace and a high cove timber-clad ceiling. The front-facing main bedroom has built-in robes and double doors open to a light-filled east-facing sunroom overlooking the side garden, making for a perfect spot in the morning, and double doors from the sunroom lead out onto the side garden. A second bedroom overlooks the back garden, servicing the cottage is a bathroom with a bath, a shower, a toilet, a vanity and a Euro-style laundry. Adjoining the living is the north-facing kitchen and dining, with a sliding door that leads to a 5.5m x 3.7m entertaining deck and its statement rusted iron pergola, creating a statement piece together with protection and privacy. The kitchen provides a gas cooktop, an under-mount oven, a dishwasher, timber benchtops and a period brick fireplace. Period details include timber cladding, high cove timber ceilings, timber flooring, and double-hung windows. Internal details include ducted heating, a wall air conditioner, and honeycomb blinds.

Steps from the deck lead to an octagonal studio/ summer house/ or guest bedroom. A driveway offers off-street parking, and a low-maintenance established garden provides brick pathways, a water tank, a magnificent smoke bush, fruit trees, roses and hedging. Making waves, this pretty cottage on a manageable 374sqm (approx) offers a country escape with a big hello!