20 Freeman Street, Fitzroy North VIC 3068
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A Refined Urban Retreat
Add to this a luxurious bathroom with walk in shower, and heated towel rail and floor tiles, gas ducted heating throughout, split system heating and cooling, separate laundry and storage shed.
A sought-after location in the area's most popular lifestyle precinct, on the edge of the CBD, and only a stroll from Rathdowne, Brunswick and Nicholson Streets, trams, parks & schools. Nelson Alexander Pty Ltd.
Owners Notes
20 Freeman Street is a very special house. I remember viewing it for the first time in 2018 - The house had a beautiful, happy feel; a lightness to it that said it was a place that had been loved. I bought the house because it felt good the moment I stepped in the front door; because it had 12 foot ceilings and original plasterwork; because you are bathed in light when you step out of the hallway into the living room. I loved the huge, generous bedrooms and the proper, separate spaces for the living and dining rooms. I loved that if you turned left you could walk to Curtain Square and Rathdowne Street, and if you turned right you could walk to Edinburgh Gardens and the St George’s Road shops.
In 2018 the house hadn’t seen a lick of paint in a while. It featured a 1980’s corner spa bath and a wonky kitchen tap. I lived here for a year, carefully thinking about how best to renovate it to preserve the beautiful feel of it, to make the most of the light as it changes through the day and evening, and to make it into a comfortable, modern home. In 2019 I set sail with the renovation, completely replacing the 1980’s kitchen and bathroom, adding more windows to further flood light into those spaces, and restoring the plasterwork and original features in the front of the house. I opted for high quality finishes that were sympathetic to the house and its history, whilst also being contemporary and fresh, and which would stand the test of time. The items I love the most are the new front door and stained glass (handmade here in Melbourne), the woodfire heater, and the hanging pot rack in the kitchen, which we rebuilt in Vic Ash using the old 1980’s pine template.
The house is a very easy, comfortable place to be. The light streams through the windows in the living and dining rooms, making it a luxurious place to read the papers on the weekend. I love the timber finishes in the light fittings, the shelves, and the cabinetry handles. I love the tumble of hydrangeas (just now flowering) and the green outlook from the picture windows. Having a cup of coffee with the back French doors open, the heated kitchen tiles on under your feet and looking out to the green of the courtyard is a special memory that I will carry with me of this house.
This area of Fitzroy North is a lovely place to live. It is peaceful and tranquil, yet everything you need is in easy walking distance to the house. The revamped Royal Oak pub is vibrant and popular, close but not too close, and excellent for an impromptu dinner. We walk to get our bread, milk and eggs locally from Clay in Rathdowne Street, or Wild Things in St George’s Road. The tram down Nicholson Street runs on dedicated tram lines all the way into the City, making it a less than 10 minute trip into town. We have the most wonderful neighbours – neighbours who put your bins out and collect your mail when you’re away, who give a cheery wave and a Hello in the street.
We are leaving Freeman Street to relocate to Brisbane and we are excited for that new adventure, but sorry to be leaving. We have been so happy in this home and have loved being a part of this community and we will miss it very much.
