Elevated far above the street at one of the highest points of the Plympton Ward, sits 75 Glyde Street. The high front wall, with its tumbling greenery and heavy timber entry door, evokes a sense of mystery, and anticipation of what lies beyond.
The first surprise is how big and private the front yard is. There are two large, decked areas, perfect for entertaining, along with the full-width veranda that wraps around the house on the northern side. Stand just about anywhere and you'll be astonished by the magnificent views of the Swan River and surrounding areas. While homes further down the hill have built second-storey extensions to capture river glimpses, you already have exceptional river views from this front garden.
If you can tear yourself away from the outlook, you'll have a lot more to discover. The original house was built with generous proportions in 1912, and various alterations and additions have been made over the years, creating a large, 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom family home with high ceilings, two separate living areas, and a truly eclectic range of character features.
The front door with side light has bespoke leadlight glass in a gumtree pattern that bathes the hallway in delightful reds and greens. On each side of the hall is a very large bedroom, one with its original fireplace, and a corner window to take in river views and capture northern light. Both rooms have large windows and are bright and airy.
An archway leads you to the central loungeroom, which has gracious bones including a simply gorgeous plaster ceiling. There's an arched stone fireplace, and the room is beautifully light and bright. To the left is the third bedroom, which is also a good size, and has a sash window, and the wide timber floorboards that run throughout the original house.
Walk through a second archway and let the additions begin! To the rear of the home, you'll find a huge living space with a cosy sitting area, kitchen, and a truly remarkable large dining room that starts to blend into the raised back garden. Light and sunshine flood this space, where there's plenty of room for dining, dancing, and entertaining. This really is a fabulous house for a party! There are layers of history here with a celebration of the natural limestone ridge the house is built on, the elegance of the era the house was built in, and a generously rambling addition that couldn't be more "Fremantle."
The back extension is built with impressive, recycled timbers, terracotta flooring and plenty of glass. The kitchen cabinetry is a rich, Mediterranean blue, with polished tile surfaces. The very large, tiled bathroom has an extensive bank of North-facing glass bricks that makes this yet another light, bright room. There's a second semi-outside toilet that's conveniently accessed via a side door. Here there's a section of garden, perfect for herbs, and a gate to the driveway.
A flight of wooden stairs and tall French doors lead to the elevated garden. This extension was designed to bring the house and garden together, and the two are one! There's a big pond with waterlilies that comes right up to the window, and there's recycled brick paving and plenty of lush greenery. There's also a garage with storage room, accessed via a laneway.
This is no ordinary house, it's a wonderful, flowing home with a unique charm that really sings to its own tune. If you're looking for something conventional, it's not here, but if you want something that rises well above the mundane and predictable, then this will truly excite you!
75 Glyde Street is also in a prime location that offers a fantastic lifestyle. The cafes, bars, and restaurants of George Street are around the corner, and it's a very short walk to the river, several parks, Fremantle Arts Centre, and Freo Central is just minutes away. It's also in the catchment for John Curtin College of the Arts and East Fremantle Primary.
I can honestly say, there's not another house like this if you miss out!