Ultra-premium Lower Mitcham oasis hits the market
On over 5000 square metres of resort-like grounds in blue-chip Lower Mitcham, this historic villa features an opulent modern extension with luxury living spaces, a swimming pool and tennis court, cinema room and much more.
In 2013, when Andrea and Darren Hoppe purchased their circa-1880 villa – affectionately known as “Ashleigh House” – there was no modern renovation, and the garden had become overgrown.
It was the historic charm of the Victorian villa that enchanted Andrea when she first stepped into the property, located at 12 The Grove, Lower Mitcham.
“When I first saw it, I loved the feel and the presence of the original house,” says Andrea.
“Not knowing what council would want from an extension, I didn’t have my heart set on whether it was something that was going to be totally modern or whether it would have to be something that’s kept in the same style or era.”
Andrea says the location was a key drawcard, being close to schools and just a six-kilometre drive from the Adelaide CBD.
Then, there was the grand size of the 5000-square-metre block.
The previous owner ran an animal sanctuary on the property, but her animal welfare efforts meant she had little time to spend on the garden.
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So, before Andrea and Darren could move in in 2014, one of the first things they did was to re-landscape.
They also built a breathtaking contemporary extension designed by Section Six Architects (formerly Alexander Brown Architects), with floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking out onto a heated swimming pool, a full-size tennis court and expansive lawns.
Andrea says the council, in line with the Burra Charter heritage procedures, required them to build a modern-looking extension that would be distinguished from the Victorian home.
“I spent a lot of time on Pinterest trying to find something that I loved, and I kept getting drawn to the glass pavilion because it made the original house the feature,” says Andrea.
Andrea says that because the house is heritage-listed, there was not much they could do to the exterior apart from replacing the verandah’s 1970s terracotta tiles with mosaic tiling.
However, on the inside, Andrea and Darren have reconfigured the layout, knocking out walls to make the space feel more open.
“Originally, the house had a lot of little rooms, which we wanted to change. So, it was a matter of knocking out those little walls and building substantial rooms,” says Andrea.
They also built en-suites in each of the four bedrooms.
A priority was to take advantage of the great views from the home.
“Because of the outlook to the expansive gardens and the Hills, the main thing was having lots of light and big windows,” says Andrea.
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“So, that followed through the idea of the glass pavilion; you can basically see all the way through the house, and it’s very private as well.”
Other highlights of the home include a 14-seat home theatre with a 120-inch screen and Paradigm sound system, and a climate-controlled wine cellar with a glass wall, custom wine racks, a built-in bar and a pool table.
Andrea says landscaping was challenging because of the property’s size, but the swimming pool, tennis court and basketball court were must-haves, as were the new lawns.
“It was about keeping the vegetation and the heritage trees and putting in the court, pool and grass so the kids can kick a football without having to go to an oval,” says Andrea.
They also installed an outdoor kitchen and dining area, a gym and four-person sauna.
Andrea tells SALIFE that her favourite feature of the home is the master bedroom.
“I love waking up and looking at the view in the master bedroom,” she says.
But after around a decade of calling Ashleigh House home, Andrea and Darren have decided now is the right time to downsize.
Andrea says she will miss the space and the lifestyle the most.
The sale of 12 The Grove, Lower Mitcham, is being handled by Jamie Brown of Booth Real Estate.
