Perth Voice Interactive

As I unlocked the gate to the sprawling front garden of this Mt Lawley home, the enchantment of reading The Secret Garden swept over me.

I was Mary Lennox (again) discovering a secluded, walled garden overrun by weeds, where roses riot over archways, soaring trees reach skywards and terraced garden beds promise much.

Stepping up the stone steps to this gorgeous 1912 federation Queen Anne style home, its name Amberley emblazoned on the rich-red brick walls, reminded me of Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca and the amazing Manderley.

A gorgeous brick-arched entry guards the front door of this grand dame and its beautiful stained glass surround.

Unlike other homes of its vintage, you step into an entry vestibule, rather than a long hall.

In either direction there are delights to be discovered, although you may need to be an Indiana Jones to discover some, such as mellow jarrah floors, currently carpeted over—and the dark wall paper will simply have to go.

Ceiling roses abound, along with fireplaces, and the ceilings soar 4.2 metres overhead (14 feet in the old currency).

The main bedroom of this four-bedroom home is a huge space, where you can step through a door-sized sash window onto the wrap-around verandah to partake of views across to the casino to hills. Or curl up in the lovely bay window and enjoy a good book.

A stately and cavernous lounge is central, with a gorgeous art deco fire place and sash windows to access the verandah for an after-dinner port perhaps.

The rear of the home is made up of three rooms, including the kitchen and a dining area with an interesting brick, arched fireplace, with doors to an enclosed verandah.

While the timber kitchen is perfectly functional, I’d be ripping out walls, refurbishing the kitchen and turning this interesting space into a colossal open-plan living area.

Sitting on a whopping 1189sqm the rear garden is even more commodious than the front, with plenty of fruit trees and a fantastic fountain, where water trickles over three tiers, to splash across a trio of swans at the base.

Former brick stables have been converted into an office and sheds.

They’re in need of work, but would make a fantastic studio apartment.

Less than 3km from Perth’s CBD, walking distance to the river and close to an endless variety of shops and cafes there is plenty to love about this home.

And fully restored to its former glory it would be even more of a landmark mansion from a bygone age.

by JENNY D’ANGER

59 Guildford Road, Mt Lawley
EOI from $1.049 million
Carlos Lehn 0416 206 736
Toby Baldwin 0418 914 926
Acton Mt Lawley 9272 2488