Doreen car and motorbike lover’s dream home for sale
32 Bernard St, Doreen, is a car enthusiast’s dream.
This Doreen home is sure to get any car enthusiast’s motor running.
Sue and Steve Kirwan turned an empty block into a rev head’s paradise about a decade ago, building a four-bedroom house with two garages where they now keep vintage cars and more than 20 motorbikes.
Their love of classic vehicles is reflected in the fit-out of one of the garages, where retro signage, petrol cans, oil bottles, traffic lights and a petrol pump await. And this space is complemented by a covered alfresco area featuring an old-school kitchen with a “1957 fridge that’s still running” and antique railway signs.
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The retro alfresco area and kitchen.
The couple is now selling the 32 Bernard St property via Pridham Property, and a buyer will need to shell out $890,000-$970,000 to take the wheel.
Ms Kirwan said she and her husband had been motor mad since they met in high school.
“He was into motorbikes and cars, and I guess I followed suit to be in the gang, rather than being left at home while they went out cruising,” she said.
“We still ride with friends from our youth who have got motorbikes and cars, up through the Kinglake Ranges, Flowerdale, Yea, Yarra Glen, the Black Spur, Christmas Hills. There are some beautiful rides nearby.”
An on-theme living room.
The Doreen house is listed for $890,000-$970,000.
The pair also restores vehicles from the ’60s and ’70s – when they first got their licences – at the house.
“It’s all classic sort of stuff, apart from one modern motorbike,” she said.
“I’ve got two motorbikes, my hubby’s got about 20. The cars (at the house) are all mine – there’s a ’67 Fairmont and ’77 and ’72 Toranas.”
Ms Kirwan said they were selling to downsize from the house that was “too big” now their three kids have moved out. But they were moving to a bigger block with space for more shedding.
You can see into the garage from the main living, dining and kitchen area.
One of two kitchens at the property.
“We’ve got a lot more bikes in storage to do up,” she said. “That’s the problem – we don’t sell them, it’s hard to part with them once you’ve done all that work.”
Pridham Property director Leigh Pridham said the pad’s three indoor and one outdoor living spaces, in addition to its substantial on-site parking, made it “not your stereotypical Doreen home”.
He noted there was plenty of a room for a family – and “all the toys”, also including caravans, jet skis and boats.
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