9 Godalmin Street, Eltham

Expressions of Interest - Offers closing Tuesday 28th April at 5.00pm (unless sold prior).

9 Godalmin Street, Eltham is not the sort of property that can be reduced to a checklist and a handful of polished superlatives. It is a house with the unmistakable feeling that someone once imagined life on a grand, romantic scale and then, against all odds, actually built it.

Hidden completely from the street, it reveals itself gradually. A long driveway draws you away from the ordinary world, past generous parking and a substantial carport with undercover storage, toward a residence that feels less discovered than encountered. Then it appears: sprawling, earth-toned, deeply textured, somewhere between an artist’s stronghold, a Spanish Mission daydream and a hand-built hillside sanctuary

That sense of story is real, not invented. Commenced in 1959 by Kevin and June Engish — both artists, teachers and writers — this was a family home shaped over years of vision, labour and creative conviction. Kevin, an owner-builder, constructed his “castle” by hand across a period of sixteen years, assisted by local stonemason Horrie Judd, with mud bricks made on site from excavated earth. Bluestone blocks salvaged from former Melbourne buildings. Doors were sourced from Melbourne theatres and demolition yards, stained glass was commissioned from local artists Rod and Jenny Sherlock, and the result was never going to be conventional.

The approach to the front door sets the tone beautifully. The door itself — painted glass in a steel frame, depicting Adam and Eve — is a singular artwork before you have even crossed the threshold. Inside, the arrival is unforgettable: heavy stone blocks, an indoor garden courtyard, artistic leadlight, a sculptural stone staircase.

From here, the home unfolds in rich and surprising directions. Turn right and step down into the living and entertaining wing, where the grand hall makes an immediate impression of scale. The ceilings soar, seemingly reaching triple height, while celestial windows filter changing light through the day. A vast bluestone fireplace anchors the room. Slate floors bordered by substantial bluestone slabs and huge windows open the space to paved terraces beyond. It is dramatic, yes — but not cold. For all its grandeur, there is a softness here, an almost monastic calm, a serenity created by natural materials, handcrafted detail and the home’s intimate relationship with the landscape outside.

The formal dining room connects seamlessly to this central grand hall, creating a space that is both theatrical and highly functional. With its heavy hardwood cabinetry, dedicated lighting for artwork and elevated outlook across the grand hall toward the kitchen.

The kitchen is generous in every sense. Centred around a huge solid timber island bench, it offers gas cooking, slate floors, a casual meals area with split system comfort, and easy connection to an outdoor terrace. This is a kitchen that understands gathering: family breakfasts, late-night glasses of wine, while something fragrant simmers on the stove.

Elsewhere, the home continues to reveal itself in layers. The staircase rising from the entry leads first to a landing with access to westerly walled gardens and remarkable water features. These garden rooms are extraordinary in their own right offering tranquility and a sense of retreat. The entire property is built into and around the landscape, with the natural geography of the site dictating the shape of the home. Rather than impose itself on the block, the house seems to converse with it.

Ascend a little further and the bedroom level continues the sense of scale and individuality. The suites are enormous, each with heavy timber doors, built-in shelving and cabinetry. These are not bedrooms in the ordinary sense; they are private domains.

Versatility is another of this home’s rare gifts. A self-contained wing includes a large bedroom, a bathroom, and a smaller living/dining/kitchen zone rich with one-off leadlight, bespoke joinery, slate floors and handcrafted detail, opening at the living end to yet another walled garden. Above the main residence, accessed by walkway from the upper terrace and rooftop deck, a third self-contained area comprises a north-facing office or studio, a bedroom and plumbing for an additional bathroom. Offering remarkable flexibility for multigenerational living, guest accommodation, creative practice or work-from-home independence.

Then there is the ground floor zone, previously used as an art gallery. A series of rooms with bagged mudbrick walls, slate floors, stone stairs and hardwood-lined sections invite almost endless possibility. Additional accommodation, studio space, music room, games retreat, home business premises, gallery once more — this is a part of the house that refuses to be limited by standard labels.

And throughout it all are the details that make this residence unforgettable: arched windows, salvaged timbers, artistic leadlight, handmade mudbrick, earth-toned bagging, panoramic views toward Mt Dandenong, huge solar arrays, hidden courtyards, water, stone, light and texture at every turn.

And for all its sense of seclusion, this address is astonishingly central. Virtually around the corner from Eltham High School, the Eltham Recreation Centre, and the Diamond Creek Trail. Eltham Station, shops, cafes are all within easy walking distance.

Some homes are designed for the market. This one was built for a life of art and appreciation — and for a very particular imagination. That is why it feels so different. So impossible to compare. It is not just unique. It is utterly enthralling, genuinely magical, and waiting for the next custodian to understand exactly what it is: a once-in-a-generation home with a soul all its own.