Hyde Park villa’s sophisticated reinvention
This high-end sandstone villa has been meticulously modernised for luxury living and entertaining, featuring a swimming pool, imported Italian chandeliers and restored century-old floorboards.
Several years ago, retired midwife and nurse Tracey Securo and her husband, Anthony Securo, a semi-retired builder, were on the hunt for a new restoration project.
The couple had sold their bluestone villa in Norwood and looked through half a dozen historic houses in the eastern suburbs, but none of them seemed quite right.
Tracey says that all changed when the couple stepped into the villa at 5 Opey Avenue, Hyde Park, six years ago.
“We walked into the dark house … I only got six steps into the hallway, and I just looked at my husband and I said, ‘We’re in trouble here because this is the house,’” says Tracey.
Having spent two years lovingly restoring the villa to create a stunning luxury home, Tracey and Anthony are now selling to embark on a new challenge – restoring a farmhouse in rural Italy.
Built in 1890, the Victorian-era sandstone villa sits on 558 square metres and has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a two-car garage.
Tracey was particularly drawn to the storied history of the home, which had been in the same Greek family for 56 years.
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“It’s got beautiful energy – it’s been a family home and you can feel the sense of love,” says Tracey.
“You can tell it’s had so many birthdays and Christmases and christenings and everything you do with the love of a family.
“The location is fabulous – you’ve got everything at your fingertips.”
When the couple purchased the property, the home had “solid bones” but needed to be brought into the 21st century.
Tracey and Anthony’s meticulous renovation included replacing the wiring and plumbing, putting in a new kitchen and bathrooms, and adding a large extension at the rear.
They pulled up an old carpet to reveal the 125-year-old wooden floorboards, put in new cornices and Victorian ceiling roses in every room, and delicately removed yellow plaster on the front facade, which uncovered the original, pristine sandstone.
In an homage to the previous owners, Tracey and Anthony retained a kalamata olive tree that was planted 75 years ago.
“The whole extension was built around that tree. So, it curves around the tree and there’s a beautiful curved wall inside the house that’s all done in sandstone, just to match the curve of the tree,” says Tracey.
“My husband also built a beautiful sandstone and cast-iron wine cellar room in the back family room extension, and that matches the sandstone on the back of the wall, as the curved wall does around the olive tree.”
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Tracey says the house is very private with its fully enclosed perimeter, video intercom, alarm system and CCTV cameras.
With her extensive experience designing interiors for the boutique homes and renovations built by her husband, Tracey took charge of this aspect of the renovation.
The aim was to create a house “that didn’t feel too much like a display home”.
“It’s a family home, it needs children running through corridors and people sitting out by the pool,” she says.
“It’s a drop-in house – we find that all of our friends are always ringing up saying, ‘Oh, we’re going to come over for a swim or, ‘We’re going to come over and have a quick drink on our way out somewhere’, and you can just tell that it has good energy.”
One standout feature of the interior design is the home’s unique light fittings, which include Italian chandeliers from Disegno Luce and modern fittings from Cafe Lighting & Living.
Outdoors, Tracey and Anthony have installed a solar-heated pool, an alfresco pavilion and a barn-style pool room.
Tracey says her favourite features of the home include the family room and the master en suite, which features Carrara marble tiles.
“In summer, I love sitting in the alfresco area and having lunch. Even in the evening, sitting out there too, it’s really lovely,” she says.
Tracey says she will miss the location and her “beautiful neighbours” the most.
“This house has such a happy energy, and I hope the next owner has as many happy times in it as we have,” she says.
The sale of 5 Opey Avenue, Hyde Park, is being handled by Sally Cameron and James Campbell of Toop + Toop.
