Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A True 'Aussie Battler' Overlooking the Yarra
It's been through generations of families, raging bushfires and a more recent renovation, but this 1870s home is still standing
Jude and Rob Dolan’s home has seen it all since Sea Captain Harvie built it in 1870. There’s an Irish legend supposedly hiding in the tower, it’s seen generations come and go, has been swept up in the ravaging bushfires of the 1960s and has been a Board of Works house. In 1991, it welcomed a teacher and a winemaker: Jude and Rob, who have since set about bringing it back to life and filling it with their own pieces of history.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jude and Rob Dolan
Location: Christmas Hill, Victoria
That’s interesting: Blarney Stone, which is also known as the stone of eloquence, from Castle Blarney in Ireland, is rumoured to be embedded at the top of the tower. The Irish legend suggests that kissing the stone gives you the ‘gift of the gab’.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jude and Rob Dolan
Location: Christmas Hill, Victoria
That’s interesting: Blarney Stone, which is also known as the stone of eloquence, from Castle Blarney in Ireland, is rumoured to be embedded at the top of the tower. The Irish legend suggests that kissing the stone gives you the ‘gift of the gab’.
The view from the couple’s upstairs bedroom.
The heritage of this home can be seen everywhere; from the original stonework tower, to the picturesque views of the surrounding wine country.
The heritage of this home can be seen everywhere; from the original stonework tower, to the picturesque views of the surrounding wine country.
The floors were kept in their original state as Jude decided it complemented the style of the antique furniture they brought with them.
The couple moved from Adelaide to Christmas Hill to be closer to Melbourne. They brought with them a collection of glorious keepsakes to make the home shine with personality.
Jude has a bundle of good shopping tips to share. One of which is to visit Maling Road, Canterbury. It’s an area she visits twice a year with her friend to find unique pieces and is where she found the unique lamp sitting on her table.
Jude has a bundle of good shopping tips to share. One of which is to visit Maling Road, Canterbury. It’s an area she visits twice a year with her friend to find unique pieces and is where she found the unique lamp sitting on her table.
The cosy living room boasts breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside and is the main hub of the home where Jude and Rob entertain guests and relax.
The decor is filled with collections of artwork and souvenirs from Jude’s exciting overseas travels to Laos, Vietnam and India, to name but a few. Jude also values works made by local and Australian artists, showing them proudly among her international acquisitions.
From Asian artworks that cover the walls to pure wool rugs from India on the floors, Jude seems to have adopted a ‘more is more’ philosophy of styling. She says: “I’m attracted to colour – colour drives my purchases and also the craftsmanship of an item.”
Jude’s favourite painting hanging on the wall is by Tran Trung Linh, which she picked up during a visit to Vietnam. The painting of the monk in the top right-hand corner takes Jude back to a pub in Hội An decorated with politically driven works. After making some inquiries, they found out the bar owner was the artist’s uncle. They were then invited the next day to view his art.
The large painting seen here was bought on a family trip to Bali. Jude says that her and Rob “don’t buy a lot of things when we travel but will always buy at least one painting.”
Jude loves the fact that this is a family home, and that’s exactly the kind of vibrancy and energy that you get upon entering. There is real warmth to her style – an invitation to curl up on the couch and enjoy a book from her collection and take in the surroundings.
“I’m a collector, but I only buy things with sentimental value and display them to remind me of good times,” she explains. “Our house is a total family home and everything has a story. I suppose I’m a sentimental decorator.”
“I’m a collector, but I only buy things with sentimental value and display them to remind me of good times,” she explains. “Our house is a total family home and everything has a story. I suppose I’m a sentimental decorator.”
When she’s not busy with her students, she enjoys knitting in her living room with the view of the valley and paintings to inspire her. “I really like the natural light that floods into the space,” she says.
After working with other wineries, it was in this home that Rob decided to launch his own wine label in 2010, traveling a short distance to and from his vineyard in Warrandyte.
Jude has plans to renovate the kitchen next year for an update, but describes it as functional and great for entertaining. "Rob and I always cook together in the kitchen. He's great at conjuring up sauces while I'm in charge of the salads. We've got it down to a fine art now," Jude says.
The bathroom hasn’t changed since the couple first renovated. The tessellated tiles were individually laid and have endured the years of raising three children.
In the main bedroom, a display of artwork makes a feature behind the bed, but doesn’t distract from the main event…
… each morning, they wake up and start their day with the stunning north-facing vista of the Yarra Valley. Opening the doors and letting in the fresh wine country air is a lovely way to enjoy a cuppa in bed in the morning.
Bedlinen: Adairs
Bedlinen: Adairs
Jude’s collection extends from art to scarves and jewellery, which she gives pride of place on her chest of drawers. Local Melbourne designs are her favourite.
Her passion for collecting jewellery stems from her Dutch heritage on her dad’s side. “It’s a Dutch tradition in my family. All the women are given jewellery for their birthdays,” she says.
Her passion for collecting jewellery stems from her Dutch heritage on her dad’s side. “It’s a Dutch tradition in my family. All the women are given jewellery for their birthdays,” she says.
The living room is to the left of the house and faces north. Directly above it on the second level is the main bedroom and its balcony, offering the best views of the surrounding rugged landscape.
Jude and Rob have taken this piece of Australian history and transformed it into the perfect cosy retreat to build new memories. They don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. “Once you’re in the Yarra Valley, it’s pretty hard to leave,” says Jude.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
When Rob and Jude purchased the home 14 years ago, it was being used as a Board of Works house and was quite run down and completely covered in ivy. Jude says she “wanted to maintain the actual feeling of the house” and avoided installing anything that would draw attention from the heritage of the building.
To do this, they sought the help of an acquaintance, Scott Shelton of Shelton Architects.
Shelton designed a plan that would preserve the original floor plan and as much of the stonework as possible, keeping it true to its original form. They stripped the structure back to the tower and front facade, and built a new house around it, adding a second level and finally rendering it in the light grey stucco you see above.