Storybook home built from old movie set

Located at 244 Hermitage Road, this home features four doors which were purchased from the set of the Peter Rabbit movie, based on Beatrix Potter’s classic books, which was filmed in Sydney’s Centennial Park. The doors landed in Australia after they were imported from the Cotswolds in the UK to make up the movie set.

The 4.65ha property is being marketed by Ray White North Richmond agents Cindy Cash and Michael Cash on behalf of the sellers, Glenn and Stephanie Clay.

Stephanie said all the cottages in the movie set were brought over from the Cotswolds and reassembled brick by brick in Centennial Park.

“The front door is from Beatrix Potter’s house in the movie. The door still has ‘Beatrix’s door’ written in pen along the top edge of it,” Stephanie said.

“Our back door and shed doors are from Mr McGregor's house and conservatory.

“We had to have the front door modified a bit to make it longer to fit our door opening as the cottages in the Cotswold are about 7cm shorter than our standard door heights.

“They fit the look of the property perfectly and we love them.

“Plus, I never get sick of telling people Sam Neill has touched my doors!”

Stephanie and her husband have lived on the property for six years, and said the doors weren’t the only pieces of history on the property. Stephanie said the original hermitage of Hermitage Road was once located where their house is, back in the 1820s, before it burnt down in a bushfire. She said a second hermitage was built which also burnt down in a fire. The property then lay bare until the current home was built in the 1980s.

“I have a jar full of bits of China, keys, and toothpaste lids from the Victorian era,” Stephanie said.

“Every time we put a spade in the ground we dig up something.

“The other day we found a saw which we researched and found it was from the 1800s. So it was probably one of the original saws used to clear the land.”

During their time in the home, Stephanie and her husband have undertaken numerous renovations including a new bathroom, deck, floorboards, and kitchen.

“I think we’ve really improved the home in our time here, but it’s now time for us to move somewhere with a smaller plot of land,” she said.

“I really love the doors and I wish we could take them with us, but they will be here for the next owner to enjoy.”

With a price guide of $2.5-2.65 million, Cindy said the property oozed character and charm.

“It’s a gorgeous character home. It’s quintessentially what people look for in Kurrajong,” she said.

“It has beautiful sweeping views and gorgeous gardens, including vegetable gardens and paddocks for animals. It’s like a little farm house.

“It could really suit someone who wants a tree-change but still wants to be close to the city. It has all the benefits of country living but it’s only an hour from the city.

“It’s also really close to Kurrajong village. Its location is close to everything but it feels like you’re in the middle of the country.”