The love of the region, the desire to sink their teeth into a project and a keen interest in history and restoration lead Linda and Grant to purchase a grand old home in need of some TLC. Set on a large block in Vincent Street Daylesford, it quickly turned it into something very wonderful.
Linda and Grant purchased Hambleden in late 2015. They were captivated by its old world charm and the potential to create a really special period property befitting of Daylesford’s past history. In short, Hambleden needed some love and TLC to bring it back to the standard of style and excellence it once held. In doing so they also wanted it to have a more modern and contemporary feel where guest can relax in the warmth and comfort of a really inviting place to stay.
To the best of their knowledge the previous owners named the house Hambleden after the English Village situated near Henley on Thames. Hambleden, UK has been used as a location in a number of films and TV series including: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sleepy Hollow, 101 Dalmations, The Avengers, Dance With a Stranger, Band of Brothers, Poirot and Midsomer Murders.
“We love taking on a project and were excited at how the house could be transformed”, says Linda.
“From the point when we first saw that the house was for sale we were immediately attracted to its country feel and loved its close proximity to town being only 5 minutes walk to the main street. This is a great feature as guests can literally park their cars and walk to most of the great cafes, restaurants and galleries. This is significant in helping our guests to unwind, forget about their city lives and take in all the wonderful attractions that Daylesford has to offer”.
They immediately embarked on an extensive repair and renovation project. Over that last 2 years they have painted inside and out taking away combinations of fluoro-green, navy blue, red, pink and apricot and replacing them with a classic off white interior. The exterior weatherboards have been repaired, replaced and painted with a more contemporary colour scheme of ink navy and white. They have gradually been adding to the property with a new Coonara wood burner fire, carpets, bedroom furniture and accessories. The large collection of CD’s and games is a big hit with guests.
The garden has been landscaped in some areas, new retaining walls and front fence have added to the street appeal. They even had to remove a very old and long unused chicken coop from up near the old garage.
The large garden and country feel of the property is one of the reasons why guests love staying at Hambleden. The property has a rambling feel and guests often comment about how much they enjoyed the outdoor area in the warmer months. Its flexible layout means that it can accommodate couples, families and groups of individuals equally as well. It is particularly warm and inviting on cold nights and winters days where curling up in front of the fire with a good book is no better way to let time slowly pass by. Girl’s groups, in particular, love the property for a mid-week escape from the kids or on weekends when they can enjoy the spas by day and a cosy house by night.
There is so much to explore around Daylesford enthuses Linda, from the local food and wine, homewares, galleries and even the odd eclectic treasures. A trip to Daylesford is never complete without a trip to the Mill Market or the Bazaar to find something really unique. If you’re into the outdoors there are numerous walks, great bike trails and golf courses nearby. Everything you’d want for a special weekend is at your doorstep. Don’t discount the idea of a mid-week trip where you’ll have less crowds and more time to amble around.
We particularly love Daylesford for its wonderful people. Everyone you meet is so friendly, happy to help and really engaged in the hospitality of the town. Ranging from trades people through to cafe owners they personify the spirit of this wonderful town”.
