At home with heritage
A considered approach to renovating your heritage home.
- Heritage guidance
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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.
Case studies
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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