189 Brunswick Road, Brunswick.

In 1854, during the Victorian gold-rush era, architect James Blackburn Jr built this Iron Cottage. Now this cottage stands as part of the world's only intact row of prefabricated, iron-clad buildings, further elevating the architectural and historical significance of the cottage. Since then, this lovingly purist, restored cottage has only had three owners the longest being John Glew, pioneer of the original Hoffmans Brickworks. In 2007, the current owners had landscape architect John Patrick (familiar to ABC Gardening Australia listeners), create a garden to reflect what the inner-city house would have looked like in the 1800s. The garden has fruit trees, old-fashioned plants, shrubs and grasses native to Merri Creek. The twisting and winding paths of the back garden, landscaped garden beds, a raised vegetable garden and lawn, a further red brick paved entertaining area, rustic wood and iron shed (with off street parking and access from a rear laneway) set the magical backdrop of this home on an extraordinary 799 sqm of land. A rarity in Brunswick. It is easy to see why the garden has been featured in the previous Open Gardens Australia scheme. Set quietly back from the landscaped front garden with tranquil veranda this picturesque Victorian home comprises three oversized double bedrooms all with period fireplaces, the master features a marble fireplace, original wide windows and high ceilings. The fourth bedroom also a double features dado panelling and a north facing garden aspect. A central Victorian bathroom with original wooden flooring, dado panelling and cast-iron bath with tin shower screen frames the room as does the picture perfect, north facing garden aspect. Original floorboards and paint colours have been restored in consultation with heritage Victoria. A bright airy north facing conservatory has been used as the expansive dining room with further timber panelling and north facing French doors bringing the outside in. An original laundry to the right side has ample space, a trough, restored Baltic pine floorboards with a period clothes drying pully suspended from the ceiling. The lounge room with original Baltic pine flooring and picture-perfect western garden aspect (previously the Victorian kitchen) features the largest fireplace in the home, once housing the original oven. The kitchen includes room for a meals area and features rustic reclaimed wooden cabinets and shelving, on trend colour scheme and north French doors to the paved original Glew brick outdoor meals area. The arbour with grapevine is the perfect shelter on the warmest summer night. Creature comforts include hydronic heating, traditional Falcon stove with three ovens and gas cooktop with wok burner, new Bosch dishwasher, solar panels, two large rain-water tanks and ceiling height hallway bookshelves. Set on the Princes Hill border moments to Princes Park, in between two tram lines to the CBD, Medical and University Precinct and importantly in the Princes Hill Primary and Secondary zone this is the perfect home for families looking for a backyard for children to roam on reminiscent of a country childhood. It has the peace and tranquillity of a country property with all the best of city and Brunswick amenities. Brunswick holds its own as one of Melbourne's most vibrant inner-city locations. This Iron Cottage is set between Sydney Road and Lygon Street, with an easywalk to Broadsheet featured cafes, restaurants, shops, and live music venues. Barkly Square is just around the corner for ultimate shopping centre convenience as is Jewell Station. This is a generational home. A once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a piece of Brunswick history and be the next custodians of the Iron Cottage and to write your own family history.