88 Mills Road, Harcourt, Vic 3453

A short drive off the Calder Highway and through the pretty township of Harcourt, with a turn down a country road, one arrives at this charming two-bedroom period cottage set within a private oasis, an unexpected find within the countryside of orchards and farmland. Private and quiet, with a view of ancient gums in the landscape and of Mount Alexander in the distance, this property on 1670sqm provides an ideal escape to the country.

An L-shaped verandah overlooks the surrounding countryside, a perfect spot for a morning coffee, before leading into a central hall and to the living room with a solid wood heater set within period brick surround and adjoining dining with an open fireplace with period brick surround. On the other side of the hall is the generous main bedroom with a bay window, a bathroom with a clawfoot bath with an overhead shower, toilet and vanity and a second bedroom currently used as a dining room. At the rear of the home is a country-style kitchen with a gas cooktop, an under-mount oven, exterior access to the verandah and a Scandia wood stove cooker set into a period fireplace. A north-facing sunroom with laundry facilities and double doors leading to a spacious private deck overlooking the garden and with views of Mount Alexander complete the floorplan. Additional details include a split system and ceiling fans, with period features including floorboards, high ceilings, ornate plasterwork, timber dado and double-hung windows. This property has a 6Kw solar system that is battery-ready and is on tank water and bottled gas.

The established and much-loved dry climate and Mediterranean-style landscaped garden provide private sitting areas, meandering pathways, established trees, a stunning loquat shaped so you can walk within its canopy, a spring-fed dam that's always full, with a walkway around it and shedding. An oasis within a countryside of gold and orchards, this property is not what you expect down a country road, but once you arrive, you won't want to leave your private oasis.