Phone Enquiry Property ID: 2836 (Quote when calling or texting)

A piece of Tuscany awaiting you in Faraday…

Built around 1860 from granite quarried on the property, this historic stone cottage is nestled in the valley below Mt Alexander. This 5 acre gem is just 5kms south of Harcourt, 100kms from Melbourne and close to the towns of Castlemaine, Kyneton and Bendigo. From the moment you arrive in the elegant circular drive, lined with standard roses, and take your first steps up onto the broad West facing front verandah, you will feel the historic gravitas and charm of this cottage’s 150 years.

Entering through the front door’s decorative flyscreens and leadlight will bring you to the main hallway, with large bedrooms to either side, both with original timber ceilings and open fireplaces. Deep recessed windows frame the idyllic vista of vineyard and roses. The hallway opens to an internal lounge, featuring an eastern window, skylight, and massive fireplace with a Lopi slow combustion fan forced heater. The lounge leads into the open plan dining and kitchen areas, with dramatic Axminster carpet featured in the dining area and hallway, and beautiful Flagstone flooring in the kitchen and lounge areas. Antique French doors lead out of the kitchen into a paved breakfast patio and garden. Exiting the kitchen to the north brings you to a sunroom capturing clear views of Mt Alexander, and leads on to the light filled laundry. The secluded office/study leads off the lounge on the north side, and connects to a small bedroom on the west, featuring floor boards, exposed raked ceiling, and a classic cottage window looking out onto the vineyard and garden. The large bathroom is located on the east side of the cottage, complete with antique basin, corner shower, and toilet, featuring terra cotta tiled flooring, pressed metal dado, and exposed timber ceilings. External walls approx 400mms thick, internal wall solid brick.

This property was one of the first dairys in the Goldfields, known then as ‘McMahons’s Farm’, supplying milk and dairy products to the emerging population of Castlemaine. Remenents, including foundations and stone flooring from the original dairy, have been incorporated into the landscape of the rear garden. Based around a circular lawn, the rear garden boasts established Chinese elms and two 120yr old peppercorn trees amidst the flowers of the cottage garden beds. A romantic outdoor pavillion with brick paving, overlooks the sunken courtyard, raised vegetable gardens, and leads into the original underground granite milk cellar, now used as a wine cellar and food larder. The property includes two small spring fed dams to the north, and a picturesque creek, including impressive granite revetment feature, which forms the southern boundary. In the front garden, beyond the circular drive and standard roses, is a 30 year old small scale chardonnay producing vineyard.

Underground water tank services all household needs. Coliban water pipepline along front (west) boundary, connection is possible, subject to Coliban approval.

Historic Brick Stables 4m x 6m ? solid brick walls with corrugated iron roof, cobblestone flooring, lend themselves to a cellar door or studio conversion, STCA.

Steel Machinery Shed 12m x 6m ? concrete floor, high walls ?5m, 1 bay fully enclosed with roller door, 1 bay 3 side enclosed 1 open, Large 25,000 litre water storage

Option to purchase surrounding blocks on application. Extensive vineyard and grazing land available; 6 adjoining parcels giving combined area of approximately 130Ha. See photo

freshwater creek, vineyard