79 Balliang St, South Geelong, is scheduled to be auctioned on September 14.

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Erasing all traces of a 1970s renovation has allowed the original beauty of a restored circa 1891 worker’s cottage to shine through in South Geelong.

The vendors of 79 Balliang St stripped back layers of paint and plaster to reveal gorgeous hidden treasures like a period brick chimney that had been covered up for decades.

The couple used an original black and white photo, which has been passed down through owners over time, of their double-fronted weatherboard house as inspiration for their modern-day renovation.

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As well as faithfully restoring the heritage facade, they’ve overhauled the interior to deliver a contemporary four-bedroom house with a new open-plan extension connecting to the north-facing back garden.

In summer months, they love nothing more than opening the bi-fold doors linking the living and dining areas to the grapevine covered deck and letting the breeze gently blow in.

Come winter, the polished concrete with hydronic underfloor heating and the wood fire create a warm, cosy vibe.

The open-plan rear extension connects the house to the rear garden.

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Messmate highlights feature in the kitchen.

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Established grape vines provide summer shade to the deck.

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The vendor said it was a far cry from the “freezing” house they bought a few years ago, with no insulation and holes in the walls and floor.

“It was renovated in the ’70s and we say, it’s probably harsh, but they kind of destroyed it a little bit,” she said. “They lowered all the ceilings down to 2.4m and took away all of the features.

“There was layers and layers of plaster and wallpaper on the chimney and there was a gas Vulcan fireplace in there so we just went exploring and found the brick behind and then managed to locate the second-hand traditional fireplace that we put into the chimney.”

The brick chimney was a great find in the main bedroom.

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It doubles as shoe storage in the walk-in wardrobe.

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The ensuite is deliberately neutral.

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The fireplace now occupies pride of place in the main bedroom suite and the chimney is also exposed in the walk-in wardrobe, where its cavity has been repurposed as a clever shoe storage unit.

Both the ensuite and family bathroom which services the three minor bedrooms boast timeless finishes, as does the light-filled rear extension.

Messmate timber features are a standout of the kitchen, which has a large stone topped island bench and a 900mm stainless steel cooker.

A wood heater warms the living room.

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Hydronic heated towel rails are a winner in the family bathroom.

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The four bedrooms have timber flooring.

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“We wanted to go fairly neutral and timeless. We absolutely did the renovation to the standard we wanted to live in,” the vendor said.

While others may have been tempted to eat further into the yard, maintaining that green space was a priority for the owners.

“The north-facing back yard was a big tick for us and, with my other half being a landscaper he recognised the importance of that,” she said.

Rear access to a triple garage provides off-street parking with provision to store a boat or caravan, and there’s also a large vegetable patch.

The back yard includes a productive zone.

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The vendors said the location was fabulous, with South Geelong train station, Kardinia Park, cafes, and the waterfront within walking distance.

Gartland, Geelong listing agent Michael Tricarico has set a price guide of $1.4m-$1.5m for 79 Balliang St, South Geelong.

It’s scheduled to be auctioned on September 14 at 10.30am.