The Heller Street Residences are a rare offering — a family-oriented townhouse development that overlooks a public reserve in Brunswick — and one is for sale.
This project was originally completed in 2011. Multiple collaborators on the development have since resided in one of its townhouses, including the architect and developer James Legge of Six Degrees Architects, and the planning consultant.
Antony Martin, founder of MRTN Architects, didn’t work on the project, but had full faith in the design presented by his friend James.
‘We were committed to the idea immediately upon hearing about it in 2007,’ Antony says.
At the time, the architect was living in New York with his partner Cath Debreceny (partner at KPMG) and their three children, but jumped at the chance to return home and help bring James’ vision of a close knit, inner-city community to fruition.
This unique townhouse development comprises 10 family-oriented, environmentally-considered, and generous dwellings that directly connect to a new public park, Gillbrook Reserve.
Residents benefit from leafy park views, and of course the physical benefits of adjoining this public outdoor space, which acts as somewhat of a communal garden for residents, creating a wonderful sense of community.
‘We live in such a fantastic community. We know all our neighbours, and even though we enjoy absolute privacy, we have a strong social connection with everyone who lives here, who are all passionate about the park and the community we have formed,’ says Antony.
‘We have been in the property since completion, and have raised our three children from toddlers to teenagers, taking full advantage of the ability to run into the park without a roadway in between.’
Heller Street Residences won several awards upon its completion, including the 2012 AIA National Awards for Sustainable Architecture and Residential Architecture.
Antony’s family home is one of the biggest on the site, after adding an extra floor on top. The property also includes underground car parking and has three private outdoor garden spaces.
With their kids now moving on, Antony and Cath have decided to place their Heller Street Residence on the market to build a smaller home.
They’ll miss waking up in the morning to a view through the treetops, opening the bifold doors to have breakfast in the sun, and the unique experience of ‘walking home from a local night out to our house through a country scene,’ Antony says.
‘The house nurtured us through Covid, with space and beauty for working and learning from home.’
3/1 Heller Street, Brunswick VIC 3056 is for sale with Jonathan West from Nelson Alexander and will go to auction on March 2 at 1pm.
