Natural Spirit

The Age

Saturday June 14, 2008

Karin Derkley

This 1960s architect-designed house has a close tie with its environment, writes Karin Derkley.

EILDON

Centre Avenue

$395,000

Private Sale

Agent RT Edgar 97275300

VicRoads 331 03 or 62 G5

GROWING up in a Robin Boyd house in Vermont, Markus Neilson says he developed an early and lasting passion for mid-century architecture.

"I'm obsessed with the way architecture and building relates to the environment, and I find that architecture from the '50s and the '60s has an almost spiritual connection with nature."

When Mr Neilson first saw the internet listing for the James Earle-designed house in Eildon, its style immediately reminded him of his childhood home. When he visited it, he was struck by how modern it was. "I was blown away with its contemporaneity," he says. "It could have been built today."

The property was, in fact, built in 1965 for local property developer Reg Harrison, who also built the Golden Trout Hotel and the local shopping centre. James Earle was clearly heavily influenced by Boyd and the house on Centre Avenue has all the hallmarks of Boyd's design - the use of natural materials such as stone and timber, the connection between the interior and the landscape, and the open-plan living area that was revolutionary for the time.

The design is stunningly simple - a-lean-to-skillion roof with floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides and end walls of riverstone. The connection with the surrounding landscape is striking - there are views from the open-plan living area as well as from the three bedrooms.

The 0.4hectare property is perched on a hill above the small town of Eildon and from the front of the house it's possible to ignore the houses sprinkled below as the view sweeps across Lake Eildon to the national park and the mountains beyond.

"You can sit in the lounge room and look out over the mountains on one side and back towards the state park behind," Mr Neilson says.

It's a great place from which to watch the weather coming in through the valley, he says. During winter Mount Torbreck is often covered in snow. "In the mornings you get this incredible fog that lies there in the valley, and then suddenly it will lift to a beautiful clear sky."

Mr Neilson has mostly used the house as a weekender, but with three very comfortably appointed bedrooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom and gas heating, it's perfectly possible to spend extended periods there. "I've stayed here for weeks at a time when I've been consulting," he says. "It's a great place to hole up."

A balcony runs the length of the front of the house and a barbecue area has its own fabulous view. There's also a swimming pool that's operational but could do with refurbishing.

For those keen to do more than admire the stunning architecture and the scenery through the windows, Eildon and its environs offer plenty of outdoor activity.

There is rock-climbing and mountain biking and, of course, water-based activities. The lake is currently down to 15% of its capacity, but it's still an enormous body of water that is up to 79metres deep in parts and five times bigger than Sydney Harbour.

About Eildon

Eildon is about 140 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, a drive of about 13/4 hours via the Eastern Freeway, Warrandyte and Yarra Glen.

The town was built in the 1950s to house workers building the dam that is Lake Eildon. It has a population of about 700.

Lake Eildon has 515 kilometres of shore and is one of the largest artificial lakes in the state. It was built for irrigation and to generate hydro-electricity.

The median price for Eildon is $200,000.

Eildon has a basic supermarket, butcher, baker and a primary school. Alexandra, 20minutes by car, has a big shopping centre, hospital and schools.

© 2008 The Age

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