179 Gipps Street, East Melbourne

On the top of the hill in Gipps Street, just doors away from the magnificent Fitzroy Gardens sits the historic property of 179 Gipps Street, currently home to the prominent Chrysalis Gallery. First built in 1861, the light filled interior and elegant Classical Revival frontage is the work of renovating architects Terry and Oakden in 1881.

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On the top of the hill in Gipps Street, just doors away from the magnificent Fitzroy Gardens sits the historic property of 179 Gipps Street, currently home to the prominent Chrysalis Gallery. First built in 1861, the light filled interior and elegant Classical Revival frontage is the work of renovating architects Terry and Oakden in 1881.

In its 150 years this substantial property has been home to the early Ormiston Girls School, to Robert Ramsay – who represented East Bourke in the Legislative Assembly from 1870 to his death in 1882, and was instrumental in the capture of Ned Kelly; to Australia’s first woman medical practitioner Constance Stokes, and to historian Winston Burchett. At present the ground floor houses the Chrysalis Gallery, frequented by many of Australia’s well known artists including Michael Leunig, Bruce Petty, Deborah Halpern, David Moore and Marise Maas.

Behind its classically elegant profile of undeniable appeal, this landmark freestanding Victorian reveals a series of beautifully flexible spaces surrounded by established gardens of remarkable size for such a sought after inner city location.

Currently configured as gallery spaces on the ground floor, the downstairs domains each relate to a romantic tessellated tiled central courtyard that enjoys leafy serenity. To the rear, an airy second courtyard garden contributes comparable allure and precedes a light filled free standing studio.

Upstairs, a contemporary kitchen/dining area, inviting living room and four bedrooms served by a modern bathroom are complemented by a beautiful balcony overlooking the tessellated tiled courtyard.

Wonderful proportions, high ceilings, Baltic Pine and Kauri floorboards frame rooms which have been superbly designed to capture the light and to convey a restrained, refined confidence that has clearly stood the test of time. Land size 698 sqm approximately including driveway and rear access.

For a comprehensive property description, photo gallery and floor-plan, www.179gippsstreet.com