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In 2018, Jason Lee was spellbound by a house.

“I came back three times before the auction,” he recalls. “I couldn’t have told you that there were built-in wardrobes, or a second toilet, or anything like that.

“I just walked straight out the back and stood on the deck.”

From that deck is a mesmerising view across the Barwon River to the You Yangs. In the last five years the view hasn’t changed, but the house has.

Today, the 1960s house on a 661sqm block, is a showpiece of modern living. Mr Lee spent three years completing the sweeping renovation.

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“My plan was to stay here for 10 to 15 years, so I took every bit of plaster of every bit of wall and started again,” he recalled.

The split-level home has a floorplan that facilitates and highlights the beauty of indoor-outdoor living. Thanks to banks of large windows and that captivating view, the open living and meals area is a sheer pleasure to be in. It is also Jason and his wife Kirbi’s favourite room.

“You walk in the front door, and go into the kitchen and there it is – you can see all the way, everywhere,” said Mr Lee.

The living area also has the advantage of opening on to a large north-facing, wrap-around balcony and outdoor entertaining space. And the dining area also extends out to the deck.

With their vision for a modern, minimalist home, the couple chose all-white interiors and light-coloured European oak timber floors. It provides a lovely, fresh canvas to furnish.

The kitchen is fitted with light grey 40mm Corian benchtops, hi-end appliances including a 1200mm induction cooktop and oven, and a large butler’s pantry.

In addition to the open plan living at the rear, there is a light-filled lounge room at the front. Again, it has views — this time of the front garden — and access to a balcony.

There are four bedrooms – three on the upper level and one on the ground floor. The spacious main bedroom at the rear of the house has sliding doors out to a private deck which takes in views of the Highton hills. It also has an ensuite and large walk-in robe.

The Highton property has not only been a love project for Mr Lee over the last three years, but a chance to discover the best in Geelong. He admits the property’s location saved his sanity at times during Covid lockdown.

“I’ve really come to appreciate how nice Geelong is, since moving here. When we got hit with Covid and we weren’t allowed to do anything, we had the river right there and I took up riding.

“If I had been in the Geelong West area, I don’t think I would have appreciated it as much – there’s lots of open space over here and it’s quieter.”

Today, the project is complete and the couple are ready to move on to their next.

To put it simply, Mr Lee says he “gets bored quickly” and “just needs to be doing something.”

So here’s to a new owner, who will get to bask in the rewards of a fantastic renovation.

Maxwell Collins, Geelong agent Shaun Carroll has listed 30 Challambra Cres, Highton for sale with a price guide of $1.225m to $1.325m.

Originally published as Highton house a riverside sanctuary for spellbound owners

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