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WHEN Your Home visited Ann and Peter Zaal, they had only recently put the finishing touches to the renovation of their stately home in Ballarat Central, a property that has been given some major makeovers during its 110-year history.
Built in circa 1908, “Dana House” was the city’s first publicly advertised home with an asking price of more than $1 million. This naturally made headlines in 2002, The Courier reporting on its fascinating history. The prized pocket of land was purchased by Melbourne surgeon Dr Thomas Rowan in the early 1900s, who cleared the existing disused church, hall and cottage from the 1889-metre square block of land and built a mansion in a style influenced by Scottish architect Charles Rene Macintosh.
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The house included 10 massive main rooms and a hospital section for “ladies in confinement”. At some point it was then owned by the Victorian Government, who used it as part of the Lakeside Mental Health Facility. The property was later sold by the Government and converted into six apartments, before being purchased by David Rose and Elizabeth Hak during the 2000s. They repaired the building’s facade and continued to lease the apartments and main home to university students.
The Zaals purchased the property in 2013, and with four renovations behind them, began the monumental task (their biggest undertaking to date, and much bigger than they first thought) of reinstating the refineries of this beautiful Federation building. Now, after five years of decisions, hurdles and a great deal of hard work, the couple have created a home that’s oozing timeless luxury.
The seven bedrooms were converted into four king-size bedrooms, three glamourous bathrooms, a fully fitted library/study and four entertaining zones. Elements of drama form the centrepieces for each room, Ann admitting that finishes and furnishings were obsessed over to create the perfect flow and a fine balance between the room’s usability and an artistic presence.
The original decorative mantels, high ceilings and cornices have been married with lush modern features, such as a night lit entertainment area, outdoor kitchen, an inbuilt spa, and cellar. Clever storage in nooks and crannies has also be added, given old homes weren’t traditionally built with ample amounts of storage in mind.
Ann nominates the kitchen as the finest addition to the house, with local tradespeople creating this masterpiece, together with the outdoor decking area frequently used by the couple, who love to entertain. The relaxed window seat is ideal for basking in the northern light, while the granite island bench includes a convenient herb garden, fruit bowl and ice bucket. Ann notes that the manufacturers said they’d never make something similar again, such was the work involved in creating it.
The most loved elements? Ann nominates a bed runner crafted by her talented sister and an ornate chandelier in the bedroom, one of many that adorn this treasured home.