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public notices will no longer be published in The Age. All notices will be available on the Victorian Public Notices website at https://www.vic.gov.au/public-notices

public notices will no longer be published in The Age. All notices will be available on the Victorian Public Notices website at https://www.vic.gov.au/public-notices

At home with heritage

A considered approach to renovating your heritage home.

  • Heritage guidance
Dark timber cottage set within a leafy garden, with pitched roof and multi‑pane windows.

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Renovating a heritage house can be both exciting and daunting. Whether you’re preserving the charm of an old Victorian terrace or modernising a mid-century gem, our guide is here to help you navigate this rewarding journey.

We created this guide to assist homeowners in harmonising the old with the new. Alongside 12 inspiring case studies, it shows how thoughtful design and cultural heritage awareness can enhance the value and liveability of your heritage house. 

At home with heritage offers a practical starting point. This guide:  

  • explains the concepts of heritage value and significance  

  • outlines the opportunities and challenges you might face 

  • poses the design questions you'll need to consider 

It also gives a brief overview of the heritage processes and procedures in Victoria, ensuring you understand the necessary steps. 

The 12 case studies show how others have renovated heritage homes with different levels of protection. These examples will inspire you, showing what might be possible when managing changes to heritage properties. 

Not sure where to begin? This guide will point the way. 

Supporting resources

  • What house is that?

    Learn to identify houses from early Victorian to modern styles.

    Download PDF (2mb)

Case studies

  • Exterior view of Arnold Street House showing a two‑storey rendered terrace with arched verandah openings, decorative parapet detailing, and a wrought‑iron front fence.

    Arnold Street House, Princes Hill

    The Arnold Street House combines careful restoration with elegant new elements. It has been revived through detailed research, aiming to maintain the house's spirit.

    Download PDF (1mb)
    • Exterior view of the former Bank at Vaughan showing a red brick building with modern additions and a timber fence, set within a rural streetscape.

      Bank at Vaughan, Shire of Mount Alexander

      The Bank at Vaughan project restored a Victorian goldfields bank, blending historic finishes with modern amenities. It now serves as a home and studio, showcasing the village's heritage.

      Download PDF (2mb)
      • Exterior view of Bustle House showing a heritage masonry building with a contemporary timber addition and boundary wall along a residential street.

        Bustle House, Northcote

        The Bustle House adds a unique extension to a late 19th century Northcote home, inspired by Victorian-era clothing. Its design reflects memory, beauty and aging, connecting strongly to the street.

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        • Contemporary terrace house courtyard with outdoor seating.

          Carlton Terrace, Carlton North

          This small house, part of a long terrace of ten, has been skilfully extended. The new design increases living space and overall appeal while keeping the terrace's unified look.

          Download PDF (642kb)
          • Exterior view of the Former Salter House showing a low‑scale modernist dwelling with a shallow roof, white façade, and paved courtyard set among mature trees.

            Former Salter House, Toorak

            The Former Salter House, a Knitlock home, is highly valued in Australian architecture. The owners carefully restored it, updating amenity spaces and integrating new technology.

            Download PDF (3mb)
            • Dark timber cottage set within a leafy garden, with pitched roof and multi‑pane windows.

              Hurst at Bickleigh Vale, Bickleigh Vale

              Hurst is a cottage designed by renowned landscape architect Edna Walling. It has been extended to match the original house and keep its harmony with the garden and landscape.

              Download PDF (2mb)
              • Exterior view of a single‑storey brick dwelling with a gabled roof, front verandah, and low brick fence along a residential street.

                Jewel Box House, South Yarra

                A tired South Yarra bungalow was revived with a restored Arts and Crafts façade. The modern design of the extension, built on the site of the old garage and storage area, adds to the streetscape without overpowering the heritage house.

                Download PDF (4mb)
                • Exterior view of Kagan House showing a raised modern dwelling with large windows set among mature trees on a sloping site.

                  Kagan House, Kew

                  The Kagan House, a modest postwar home in Studley Park, was renovated for a modern family, blending 1950s charm with contemporary colour, texture, and materials.

                  Download PDF (1mb)
                  • Cottage set behind a garden path with dense planting.

                    Kell Cottage, Port Fairy

                    Kell Cottage in Port Fairy, listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, was revived with modern additions. The renovation preserved the cottage’s charm and character.

                    Download PDF (3mb)
                    • Interior view of the Kia Ora Apartment with a living area featuring a sofa, rug, timber flooring, and soft natural light from curtained windows.

                      Kia Ora Apartment, Melbourne

                      This delicate renovation of a Streamline Moderne apartment in inner Melbourne respects its heritage. It creates beautiful new spaces for daily life.

                      Download PDF (3mb)
                      • Exterior view low‑scale contemporary dwelling set behind trees with a grassy park frontage.

                        Park Life, Williamstown North

                        Park Life, in the 1940s Champion Road Estate, preserves the estate’s heritage while enhancing the house and garden with creative, Garden City-inspired additions.

                        Download PDF (5mb)
                        • Exterior view of Philpot House showing a modern residential structure opening onto a landscaped garden courtyard.

                          Philpot House, Beaumaris

                          Designed by John Baird and completed in 1960, the Philpot House has undergone many renovations but still retains its heritage values and postwar optimism.

                          Download PDF (2mb)

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