6 Carol Street, Castlemaine, Vic 3450

Some homes are easy to picture yourself in. This is one of them. On 967sqm (approx.) in a quiet Castlemaine street, this late 1970s brick home sits within a pretty and private garden. Castlemaine Secondary College is at the end of the street. The Mount Alexander Golf Course and Kalimna Park bushland are a short walk away, so weekends can start on foot. West of the college, a pedestrian rail crossing leads to the Botanical Gardens, also within easy walking distance. The town centre is only five minutes by car.

A carved 1970s front door welcomes you in. Coloured period glass sliding doors open to the sunken lounge, where a freestanding gas heater makes it the place to gather on cold evenings. Evaporative ducted cooling keeps the house comfortable through summer, and solar panels on the roof help with the running costs.

The kitchen is open plan to the dining area, with a freestanding gas cooktop and oven. The bench is made for casual breakfasts and long conversations. A door leads out to the flagstone alfresco, so a coffee or a shared meal is always close by.

There are four bedrooms. The main has an ensuite. Two more face the front, one with wall-to-wall built-in robes. The fourth bedroom opens through a sliding door to the alfresco, and suits a second living space, a study or a room for guests. The bathroom has a shower, bath and vanity, with a separate toilet.

Then there is the garden. Raised stone beds and stone and concrete paths wrap around the house, and brick and stone terraces step down through established planting. An old Japanese maple shades the beds, and roses and calla lilies soften the paths. Timed irrigation, with impact sprinklers and drippers, keeps it all thriving. Above the barbecue area, an ornamental pond is ready for fish or water plantings. Quiet sitting areas are tucked into corners, and a mid-level landing looks over the rooftops to Castlemaine in the west, a second spot to pause and ponder.

Parking is easy. A carport at the front has room for tandem parking, and the wide verge suits visitors. At the back, a full-size garage space with a brick wall and steel frame is fitted with benches, racking, power and lighting. It is open-fronted, ready for a workshop, projects or storage. A shed adds further room.

This is a home for slow mornings, shared tables and a garden that gives back.