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It’s easy to see why this charming beach shack on the Mornington Peninsula caught the eye of its current owners on their first drive-by, five years ago.
Tucked away on a quiet one-way street, the original weatherboard home, which at the time was owned by an Italian couple who had lived there for 60 years, came with an established vegetable garden and mature fruit trees.
‘It’s so quiet and peaceful, being in the backyard that backs onto the wetlands feels like a sanctuary,’ says the owner.
The property itself had equally strong foundations. But while the setting was idyllic, the original floor plan wasn’t making the most of it.
To reimagine the home, the owners enlisted Olaver Architecture to overhaul the interiors while carefully retaining the original character of the facade and front rooms.
‘Functionally, the plan wasn’t well connected to the rear garden — a missed opportunity — and there was not much flow between spaces,’ explains Emlyn Olaver, director of Olaver Architecture.
The renovation, completed in 2023, replaced the rear section of the house with a generous open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area, alongside a more private main bedroom suite.
Just 20 square metres was added overall, but the impact feels far greater. New decks extend from either side of a small courtyard, creating effortless indoor-outdoor flow, while a study, updated laundry, and improved side entry make the home feel quietly practical as well as beautiful.
Most importantly, Olaver designed these new spaces to capture the home’s prized north-westerly aspect, whilst avoiding the temptation to overbuild.
‘We didn’t want the architecture to be the hero,’ explains Emlyn. ‘The gardens and the life around and within the architecture are important.’
Inside, the palette is calm and tactile, with light oak flooring and joinery, natural stone, raked ceilings, and expansive windows that frame the surrounding coastal-meets-Mediterranean garden — a nod to both to the home’s seaside location and its original Italian custodians — designed by Peachy Green.
It’s a home that feels embedded in its environment, and true to its beginnings.
Now, the current owners have made the difficult decision to put it on the market. When asked what they’ll miss most about living here, their answer is immediate: ‘Everything!’
12 Tern Avenue, Capel Sound, VIC, is listed for sale with Jake Egan and Lilli McMillan from Marshall White. Expressions of interest close 2pm AEST, May 19, 2026.
