39, Vincent Street North, DAYLESFORD, VIC 3460

“Allambee” Former Guesthouse in Central Daylesford

CURRENT COVID 19 INSPECTION PROCESS – VIRTUAL & ON-SITE

IF YOU ARE FROM REGIONAL VICTORIA THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY RESTRICTED OR IN LOCKDOWN THEN YOU CAN ATTEND AN ON-SITE OR VIRTUAL INSPECTION BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. (DENSITY LIMITS OF 10 PEOPLE APPLY).

IF YOU ARE FROM AN AREA THAT IS CURRENTLY RESTRICTED OR IN A LOCKDOWN THEN WE CAN OFFER A VIRTUAL INSPECTION BY REQUEST. BUYERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THE SALES AGENT DIRECTLY TO MAKE A BOOKING.

This large Victorian home represents a significant part of Daylesford’s rich history and is one of the few remaining relatively untouched original residences in central Daylesford, just 10 minutes walk into town.
The property, a former guesthouse, has been held by the same family since 1967 and occupies a large corner site of approx. 972 sq. m. (Vincent Street North & Trimble Street) close to Daylesford’s main street, with potential for further development or subdivision (STCA).
A classic verandah entry at street level accesses the upper floor of the residence that for many years provided boarding house/short term accommodation for travellers and holidaymakers to the region. This level features 4 enormous bedrooms and a living room – all with Baltic timber linings and high ceilings. Adjoining the living room is a kitchenette that could now serve as an office or library.
The long central hallway with an ornate pressed metal ceiling leads to the top level of the double-storey wing that comprises 3 further bedrooms – 2 double & one single – bathroom, and study with balcony access.
An ornate timber staircase leads downstairs to further living quarters with lounge, dining, and kitchen/meals area, along with laundry and several outbuildings. A large shed at the rear of the residence provides plenty of storage space and would be ideal as an artist’s studio or workshop.
The land slopes gently down from the street with a westerly aspect over nearby Doctors Gully with bushwalking tracks and native wildlife.
This property offers a truly rare opportunity for those seeking a picturesque country residence in the heart of popular Daylesford.
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History of the Family
Jack and Val Ragatz purchased 39 Vincent St North, Daylesford in 1967 becoming the fifth owners of the property since the 1930s, and they continued ownership of the property till 2020.
Jack and Val were descendants of immigrants to Australia during the gold rush era of the 1800s. Jack’s family were Swiss Italian and his grandfather arrived in Australia in July 1861 as a 21-year-old from the Swiss town of Andeer.
Val’s family were Irish and her grandfather Denis Conroy came to Australia from Tipperary, Ireland in 1867 and settled in Bolwarrah, 26 km from Daylesford.
At the time Jack and Val purchased the house in Daylesford they had six children. Jack was driving trucks and later worked at a sawmill in Trentham. Val took on the challenge of running a boarding house while looking after six children.
When they purchased the house in 1967 no one had lived in or maintained the property for three years. The house was rundown, with long grass and blackberries up to the back door, rats running through the house during broad daylight. The house at that stage had been set up into four fully furnished flats with a communal lounge, bathroom, outside toilets with a large concrete septic tank in the back yard.
All the rooms upstairs along the back of the house except the bathroom had been set up as kitchens. Downstairs was the dining room, kitchen, and pantry with meat safe under the house. There was a large wooden shed, garage, and chook pen in the backyard. The roads from the main road were dirt tracks.
Before they moved in they started cleaning up the downstairs area, one bedroom for themselves, a large bedroom for the four girls, and a smaller one for the boys. Once they did move in they spent all their spare time cleaning, painting, and removing hessian and wallpaper that covered the Baltic pine walls and ceilings.
Three months after moving in they took in their first boarders – six young men who were working in the Daylesford area and lived out of town. They each paid $15.00 a week board and received a cooked breakfast, cut lunch, and three-course tea, plus all washing and ironing. All cooking was done on a wood stove which had double ovens and all the hot water was heated through the stove. Heating in the house was by open wood fires.
By 1968 the guesthouse was thriving and at holiday time was booked out.
During 1971 many men who were working on the Ballan-Bendigo pipeline came from all over Australia and the world, moving from place to place as it progressed. The boarding house became a popular place to stay and the men were happy to share rooms. At its fullest, there were 28 borders.
In 1973 the house became a private residence for the next 15 years where Jack lived until his death in 1988 when Val and her partner Barrie O’Donohue moved back into the house. Over the next 20 years, they continued to renovate and operated as a Bed & Breakfast with many returning guests.
Although the house still retains many of its original features, it has seen a lot of changes over the years including the installation of gas heating and cooking, and inside toilet facilities connected to town sewerage.
The large shed was built for Barrie’s model train display for tourists and train enthusiasts. One of Val’s passions, since she was a teenager, was flowers, and the cart from which she sold bunches of seasonal flowers is still a local landmark.
In 2010 the house became a private residence again and Val and Barrie concentrated on their love of the garden which kept them busy in the later years of their life.