51 Heidelberg Road, Bickley WA 6076

The Captain's Cottage on One Acre

Nestled into the heart of Bickley Valley but only 20 minutes drive to Airports, Captains Cottage is an esoteric home with history, beauty, and a few surprises! Delightfully whimsical, this weatherboard and iron cottage was built circa 1910 by Welsh ship carpenter Taffy Jones, who liked to be referred to as Captain, and features an incredibly detailed reproduction of a ships main cabin which now serves as the formal lounge. Resting on a full acre of rich soil with dual road access there is plenty of space for ancillary accommodation such as a granny flat ( subject to approvals) The cottage has been faithfully extended to become a complete three bedroom, two bathroom home for modern convenience. Sitting prettily on the hillside, with views over the valley and plenty of space to breathe, Captain’s Cottage is perfect for those who want to immerse their lives in beauty both indoors and out.

The main house is a showcase of skill and vision, with the original dwelling showing incredible hand carving throughout the formal lounge and entry, while the extension to include a large country kitchen, informal loungeroom and king-size main bedroom with ensuite has been completed with nods to the original styling. The country style kitchen showcases beautiful views over the valley through French windows and has been renovated to be light, bright, and inviting. Modern white stone countertops, a large undermounted porcelain sink and ILVE 6 burner, two oven (plus grill) retro styled freestanding cooker stand in an open plan style L-shape, maximising the space in this large room to include a dining table. A super-slow combustion Jotul potbelly stands proudly in the corner, providing a source of both heat and comfort during the chilly winter months. As a bonus, you can even cook on it, talk about super slow cooking a roast! Off to the side is the combination family bathroom/laundry and separate toilet, so no morning arguments for getting ready for the day. The informal lounge has space for everyone, with a large open fireplace and carved mantle as the central gathering point. The lounge also has access to the Breakfast Balcony, a sun-drenched morning space to start the day and take in views across the gardens and the many small creatures that make this space their home, including nesting western silvereye and blue fairy wrens.

Up a short staircase within the entryway (with intact Federation painted ceiling!) are two beautifully appointed minor bedrooms, both with space for modern queen-size beds, decorative fireplaces and built-in robes. The original Jarrah wall-panelling is intact, these rooms have a wonderful old-world feel to them… and one room has a little surprise, a secret passageway outside and a hidden door to the roof space! The main bedroom will comfortably fit a king-size bed, plus has a full wall-length run of built in robes and views over the garden. The ensuite has a glorious freestanding claw foot bathtub perfect for soaking, a separate shower, toilet and traditional pedestal sink.

The true standout of the home, the formal lounge, is a masterpiece. Painstakingly detailed and hand carved, this room was a true labour of love for the builder, Captain Jones, who by all accounts spent most of his days in this room whittling. The floor slopes as it would on a ship, the ceiling is carved Jarrah with two domed ceiling roses and there is a beautiful fireplace (complete with ethanol burner) and carved wooden mantle. Built in cabinets and decorative door archways are also completed in Jarrah, and whilst the wood is dark the room feels light and cosy thanks to the addition of French doors from the courtyard. Another surprise with this room, there is access to the cellar through one of the Jarrah wall panels, perfect for wine, preserves or storage, depending on your fancy.

Outdoors, a separate artist’s studio and barn-style shed has increased the useability of the land and possibilities for new owners – run a business from home, for a multigenerational family or just for those needing a little extra space. Large sloping lawns run from the mini-orchard down towards the spring-fed pond, currently stocked with Perch and ready for catching in about 18 months’ time – here is a home where you could truly live off the land! The large below ground, concrete saltwater pool is perfect for hot Hills summers and is beautifully set to maximise privacy on the downhill side of the house.

Features:
• Circa 1910 three bedroom, two bathroom weatherboard and iron cottage with hand carved, decorative features, two living rooms and large country kitchen sitting on a little over 1 acre in the Bickley Valley
• Original wide-width Jarrah floorboards throughout (carpet in main bedroom and lino in family bathroom can be removed to expose floorboards if desired)
• French windows and several beautiful reclaimed leadlight windows in immaculate condition
• Security cameras with viewing TV in lounge room and trigger bell to announce arrivals via the driveway on Heidelberg Road (access also possible from Lawnbrook Road)
• Ducted evaporative cooling and passive heating, plus reverse cycle units to the main bedroom and living room
• Slow combustion Jotul potbelly in kitchen, open fireplace to lounge room and ethanol burner in decorative traditional fireplace in the cabin
• Fully insulated Artists Studio 6x6 metres with split system (excellent teenage retreat or home office!)
• Barn-style large shed with three-phase power, mezzanine floor and insulated office with split-system
• NBN connected plus Telstra Wi-Fi Booster for coverage over the whole property
• Large below-ground concrete salt-water pool (95,000L) perfect for hot summers
• 5kW solar panel system with 2 x 2.5kW Salivia inverter
• Solarhart hot water system with electric booster
• Water bore with 32,000L tank with automatic refill pump, plus manual gravity-fed reticulation
• Large spring-fed pond recently stocked with 40 Perch (ready to catch and eat in approx. 18 months!)
• Fruit/Nut trees on property includes mature avocado, cherry, lemon, pear, olive, apple, apricot, cherry plum, wild plum, macadamia, orange, grapefruit, nectarine and two grape vines
Located only 35 min drive from Perth CBD and approximately 20 min from Airports

For further information contact Anneli Carson on 0417 953 629.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the above particulars, interested parties are encouraged to conduct their own inquiries, including those related to utility and internet connections. Additional connection fees may apply, and no responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of the whole or any part of the information provided.