UNIQUE It’s the one word that truly sums up Valley Lake. That’s because it’s a breathtaking place unlike any other. Situated on land that was once Niddrie Quarry for 35 years, Valley Lake has been transformed into a tranquil, sheltered lakeside environment rich in nature. A winner of the UDIA 2011 award for urban renewal, at Valley Lake you’ll discover a distinctive character and lifestyle unlike anything else. With sweeping boardwalks, walking paths and parkland ready to be enjoyed. See it for yourself. Stage 7B land release now selling with limited Niddrie Lake front and premium court-side lots available. Visit the Land Sales and Information Centre at 45 Valley Lake Boulevard, Keilor East, or call 131 852. www.myvalleylake.com.au
natural wonders Outdoor living and stunning landscapes appeal at this dramatic estate
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alley Lake estate, in Keilor East, is located in a visually stunning pocket of the thriving north-west, where land formations not normally associated with the residential areas of Melbourne create an atmosphere at once dramatic and protective. It is built on sloping land that was once Niddrie Quarry. Basalt for road paving was mined there from the 1940s until 1975. The Urban Land Corporation, now Places Victoria, bought the site in 2000 and work on the estate began a decade ago. The first land release was in 2006. The 48-hectare estate is secluded, with just a couple of roads into it, and is defined by stunning escarpments formed four million years ago that gives it a distinctive character and an atmosphere found nowhere else in Melbourne. Because it is so well-defined, and with limited entry roads, it is like a naturally gated community. More than 180 houses have been built and, when finished, there will be 580 houses on the estate. They will be primarily single-family houses, with some medium-density housing. A lot of the blocks in the estate are on sloping 22 THE WEEKLY REVIEW \ JUNE 17, 2015
(JOHN GOLLINGS)
ADVERTISING FEATURE
CONTEMPORARY LIVING
WEEK 1
PENLEIGH & ESSENDON GRAMMAR JUNIOR SCHOOL
land and this has resulted in stunning, architect-designed houses complemented by creative landscaping. In 2011, Valley Lake won the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s Victorian urban renewal award in recognition of the barriers overcome to bring new life to the site. Places Victoria is selling Stage 7B in the Lake View Release. The blocks range in size up to 754 square metres and have excellent views of Niddrie Lake, the cliff and across the estate, with some lots directly opposite
the lake. Water is a feature of the estate, with Niddrie Lake, wetlands and Steele Creek, a tributary of the Maribyrnong River, running through it. The water, naturally, attracts birdlife and this has been celebrated with The Ornithologist, a dramatic piece of public art in Niddrie Lake at the northern end. With about 30 hectares of open space, the estate is a place that encourages enjoyment of the outdoors and a healthy way of life. Walking trails have been incorporated into the estate itself, and the Steele Creek shared trail for walkers and cyclists, which forms a shortcut between the Western Ring Road Trail in the north and the Maribyrnong River Trail in the south, runs through the estate. Niddrie Lake is flanked by boardwalks and has barbecues on its shore. The Cliff Top Walk gives fantastic views in all directions. Peregrine Park, with its basketball court and playground, is a great place to have a family picnic or kick a footy, and P.A.Kirchner Reserve is natural parkland. The area is well-geared for families, although they are not the only buyers. Single people and downsizers have also been attracted to the charms of Valley Lake.
Out and about
ADVENTURES AT STEELE CREEK
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» www.myvalleylake.com.au
SHOPPING
(SCOTT McNAUGHTON / SUPPLIED)
Access to Melbourne and Essendon airports is fast and fuss-free and the estate has attracted pilots and other airline employees. Excellent primary and secondary schools are nearby – including Penleigh and Essendon Grammar, with its dramatic new buildings signalling yet another stage of evolution in the school’s history. Essendon Keilor College is to the south of Valley Lake and Keilor Heights Primary is just a couple of streets away. Also nearby are St Bernard’s College, St John Bosco’s Primary, Rosehill Secondary College and Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar. Valley Lake is 15 minutes from the city in off-peak times and has excellent access to Calder and Tullamarine freeways and the Western Ring Road. Bus services operate on the perimeter of the estate and bus services in the area are being revised. ● BEVERLEY JOHANSON bjohanson@theweeklyreview.com.au
alley Lake is within easy reach of family activities, sports, shopping and restaurants. Brimbank Park, in Keilor East, is a great day out for the family. Its fun playground is inspirational for children with a giant Bunjil the Creator nest for the kids to climb, a maze with many separate elements, a build-your-own cubby house and lots of more traditional play equipment for children of all ages. Barbecues and picnic areas are well-equipped. Football, cricket and tennis clubs have good memberships and hard-fought competitions. Golf course, tennis courts and swimming pools are a short drive away. Keilor East Leisure Centre has swimming lessons in a heated pool for infants through to adults, health and fitness programs, a full gym with more than 60 pieces of equipment, a cardio room and group exercise facilities. Classes include body pump, body combat, aquacise and zumba. Birthday parties can be held at the centre. Keilor Park Recreation Reserve has a wave slide, scrambling wall and climber among its play equipment and there is also a basketball court, barbecues and huge open spaces. Rosehill Skate Park is a concrete park with banks, quarters, fun box, ledges and a flat bar. Overnewton Castle, built in 1849 in Scottish baronial style and set in two hectares of gardens, has events, children’s activities, afternoon teas and tours of the castle.
Next week \ JUNE 24
Keilor East Farmers’ Market is held at
Centreway Park in Wyong Street on the fourth Saturday of each month. The Milleara Shopping Centre is close by, but Westfield Airport West and Highpoint are the go-to destination for fashion, films, department stores and services. RESTAURANTS
Keilor Road is loved by locals for the way it layers up restaurants with cuisines from all around the world. Biagio’s has a stylish, modern aesthetic with a well-considered menu. Favourites with a modern twist are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the restaurant also caters for functions. Tin Roof Café has about 90 meals on the menu – including homestyle specials such as goat, rabbit, polenta chips, pizza, risotto and wood-fired oysters kilpatrick, followed by dark chocolate pudding and other scrumptious desserts. Enjoy Turkish food at House of Fides; seafood and steak at Squid Inc.; gluten-free and MSG-free Chinese at Jasmine House; a contemporary spin on jalapeños and barbecue sauce or chicken quesadilla at Mylk & Honey, and many more flavours and textures along this restaurant strip. ●
HIG HPO INT BROWSI NG
We look at building on a sloping block JUNE 17, 2015 \ THE WEEKLY REVIEW 23
ADVERTISING FEATURE
CONTEMPORARY LIVING
WEEK 2
VALLEY LAKE AND SURROUNDS
the thrill of the hill There are advantages to building on a hillside
22 THE WEEKLY REVIEW \ JUNE 24, 2015
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o one person, a sloping block of land is an opportunity for creative design; to another, it is a costly challenge. There is no denying that building on a slope is more expensive than building on flat land, but the end result is a distinctive house with a commanding presence and many advantages over its flatland neighbours. The house might cost more initially, but the individual custom design, the character of it and its garden, and the views, will likely mean that it commands a premium price when sold. There is also an emotional component to living “up high”. The experience of looking out gives a feeling of connection to the world
rather than just the garden – a sense of being connected to the community rather than being limited by fences. Along with the views, the house will capture the prevailing breezes, a bonus for passive cooling and cross-ventilation. The appeal for a lot of people is that sloping blocks allow for highly individual and creative designs with interiors that are functional and interesting and capitalise on the changing levels on the block. The idea of building on more than one level suits the design trend of zoning a house to its occupants and uses. Living areas can be zoned to one level, most likely opening directly
to the outdoor entertainment area and the garden. The main bedroom suite can have its own zone, and the children’s or teenagers’ area is in another distinct zone. Another advantage is that you might end up with a basement – a useful room that is common in Europe and the US, but rare in Australia. Dramatic and stunning designs can be built on hillsides. Should you be including a pool, the most luxurious and visually exciting feature you can incorporate is an acrylic window from the water to the living area of the house – an option made easier by a sloping site. Cantilevered decks are dramatic, as are
split levels, which inspire stunning interior design possibilities. Changes in levels can also create pockets of privacy. For example, the bathroom or bedroom can open to a secret courtyard secluded from the rest of the garden or house. Interesting gardens can be achieved on sloping blocks and can be either quite formal and structured with terraces and stone walls, or designed as a natural spill of colour and texture down the slope of the land. Mood lighting works well with either style and highlights the contours of the block. Finding the most appropriate and experienced builder is vital when constructing
(SCOTT McNAUGHTON)
DRAMATIC AND STUNNING DESIGNS
any house, but even more so if it is on a slope. Initial site works bring into play excavation and engineering not required on flat land. Foundation, footings and sub-floor elements need an experienced hand, as does drainage and waterproofing. Depending on whether the block slopes to the street or away from it, the sequence of building, landscaping and creating retaining walls will change. A good architect or builder will work with the site. The contours of the land, the orientation, the shape of the site and the views will all influence the design of the house and its placement on the block. Blake Ballard of Ballard Building has built
height, but at the rear of the building, where the kitchen and living areas look out to the garden, the room becomes a grand, airy space with 3.6-metre ceilings or higher. He has recently seen plans for a house at Valley Lake that has a lift from the basement garage through to the living areas on the first floor and then to bedrooms on the second floor. He has just finished one with a swimming pool against the wall of the living area. “All the houses are custom designed and each is different. Volume designers usually won’t work with sloping blocks,” he says. “What a custom builder does far outweighs
“A lot of the reason why Valley Lake is such an attractive area is to do with the sloping land” – BLAKE BALLARD nine houses at Valley Lake. Blake, who has been building for about 15 years, started his career in Sydney and has never built on a completely flat block. One house he built in Sydney had 150 steps to the front door. “A lot of the reason why Valley Lake is such an attractive area is to do with the sloping land. With the houses, it’s to do with the view. You can’t build a view,” he says. Blake says design options depend largely on the way the land is sloping. If it is sloping from the street down, for example, it is often possible to keep the same ceiling/roof level throughout. This results in the front part of the home having standard 2.7-metre ceiling
what a volume builder can do in terms of flexibility and quality of build and you are getting exactly what you want. It doesn’t cost that much more when you factor in all this. “We do everything from start to finish and we have the same team of tradespeople working on our jobs,” he says. ● BEVERLEY JOHANSON bjohanson@theweeklyreview.com.au » www.myvalleylake.com.au
Next week \ JULY 1
We talk to Valley Lake residents
Unique. It’s the one word that truly sums up Valley Lake. That’s because it’s a breathtaking place unlike any other. Now is your chance to purchase land in this exclusive release which offers a selection of lake front and desirable court-side home sites. Consider the architectural possibilities of an inspiring new home on these sloping blocks. Bring out your individuality and creativity, or consider building a home that maximises your position or outlook. Your opportunity to build a distinctive home, in the most striking of locations has arrived. See it for yourself. Select from just a handful of premium Niddrie Lake front lots. Stage 7B now selling. Visit the Land Sales and Information Centre at 45 Valley Lake Boulevard, Keilor East, or call 131 852. www.myvalleylake.com.au
JUNE 24, 2015 \ THE WEEKLY REVIEW 23
SPECIAL PROMOTION
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WEEK 3
KERRYN M CHARDY & MURRAY FITZGERALD
18 THE WEEKLY REVIEW \ JULY 1, 2015
(DARREN HOWE)
CONTEMPORARY LIVING
One look was all it took to lure this family to Valley Lake erryn McHardy was astounded by the sheer beauty of Valley Lake when she discovered it last year. Her son had suggested it as a new destination for his driving licence hours and Kerryn says she knew she wanted to live there as soon as she saw Valley Lake’s sheer basalt cliff face, lake and parklands. “I have always lived on this side of the city, with the last 20 years or so in Ascot Vale and Maribyrnong, and I couldn’t believe how secluded, peaceful and beautiful Valley Lake is and, at the same time, how close it is to everything – city, airport, freeways, schools and shops. You would never know that you are five minutes from the Calder Freeway. You are in another world.” Kerryn and partner Murray Fitzgerald immediately visited the 48-hectare estate and inspected a new house built and designed by Ballard Building. “We drove down and loved the first house we saw – the finish, the architecture, attention to detail, the kitchen,” Murray says. “We would have bought it but unfortunately it had just sold. Builder Blake Ballard told us to visit the Valley Lake land sales centre and to find a block we liked. He works closely with his father Gary, who is an architect, and he said that together they could easily design and build a house to suit the site we chose.”
for the love of the lake Kerryn says they found another block in the same street but had to move quickly because blocks were selling fast. “We were so impressed with Blake and Gary’s work that we went straight back to them and got a quote and went ahead. I have never settled for a single quote before, but we loved the design and quality of the houses they had built. “There were no issues building on a sloping block because Blake had so much experience. We have a four-metre drop from the street and that gives us incredible views and an amazing house design.” A little over a year later, Kerryn and Murray have moved into their new house overlooking Niddrie lake and Valley Lake’s spectacular 30-metre high basalt cliff face. With them are Kerryn’s son, Tom, and Murray’s daughter Amelia and son Byron. Their four-bedroom home has all the features they were looking for, including a living room wall integrating a large screen and fireplace, north-facing outdoor living area and another shady spot to escape summer’s heat and a four-metre plus length of island bench for family members and friends to gather around. The couple say they couldn’t be happier with their decision. Murray can jump on his motorbike and get to work at Melbourne
MURRAY, KERRYN & BYRON ENJOY THE BOARDWALK
Airport in less than 15 minutes while Kerryn has a 10-minute drive to Glenbervie or Strathmore stations with a 17-minute train trip to her city office. Schools within walking distance include Rosehill Secondary College, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, Essendon Keilor College and Keilor Heights Primary. Byron has “my park” five steps across the
road. He kicks a football or flies a kite with his dad and can enjoy a wide range of playground equipment. The whole family loves the half basketball court and they’re planning summer barbecues there. Kerryn gets up at 6am several mornings a week to walk the 4.2-kilometre Steele Creek Trail with a friend. Murray, a fitness trainer in his spare time, regularly runs along the
clifftops and does several circuits of the stairs. “You feel like you’re living in the country here, not 15 minutes from the city. I love getting up and walking and seeing the lake, the cliff and the parklands and hearing the birds,” Kerryn says. For shopping, the family is spoilt for choice with Keilor Road, Westfield Airport West and Essendon Fields all 10 minutes or less away and Highpoint and Moonee Ponds within 15 minutes. Kerryn says when they need to go to the supermarket they have five Safeways, three Aldis, four Coles and LaManna Direct to choose from. Eating out is also easy with a fantastic range of cafés and restaurants a few minutes away in Keilor and Mount Alexander roads. Murray’s mother lives in Geelong and, with direct access to the Western Ring Road, he says he can get to her place in 55 minutes. “Because we are right on the ring road next to the Calder Freeway, we are on the doorstep to everything. We can also cycle into the city along the Steele Creek and Maribyrnong River trails. We can drive to the city in 15 minutes. It is all about location and lifestyle here,” he says. ● LIZ McLACHLAN lmclachlan@theweeklyreview.com.au
Next week \ JULY 8
Part of a growing community
Unique. It’s the one word that truly sums up Valley Lake. That’s because it’s a breathtaking place unlike any other. A private haven that’s both secluded and tranquil. Positioned within moments to the picturesque Niddrie Lake boardwalk and the 4.2km Steele Creek walking and cycling trail. You’ll also love having the convenience of Highpoint Shopping Centre and Essendon Fields within a short, 15 minute drive, and some of Melbourne’s leading public and private schools even closer. This idyllic spot has every aspect covered, so consider the lifestyle benefits now, and enjoy them for years to come. Stage 7B selling quickly, so don’t delay. Visit the Land Sales and Information Centre at 45 Valley Lake Boulevard, Keilor East, or call 131 852. www.myvalleylake.com.au
JULY 1, 2015 \ THE WEEKLY REVIEW 19
SPECIAL PROMOTION
CONTEMPORARY LIVING
WEEK 4
Growth in Keilor East includes the thriving community of Valley Lake
alley Lake, one of the most attractive housing estates to come on the market in recent years, has the atmosphere of an intimate community. When driving in, there is the impression of entering a secluded, relaxed place set apart from the busyness and hassle of the city beyond. On one side, it is protected by a 30-metre-high basalt cliff and flanked on others by natural open spaces with Steele Creek running through. Niddrie Lake, on the western border, adds another dimension to the landscape. Inside these borders the land is sloping, and tree-lined avenues curve and meander to follow the contours. Houses built on the sloping land have a stunning presence and look out over the community. The contoured terrain opens up all kinds of possibilities for buyers, with the landscape encouraging individual and imaginative design in houses and landscaping, such as multilevel homes and terraced gardens. The 48-hectare estate was once Niddrie Quarry and basalt for roads and footpaths was mined there until 1975. The Urban Land Corporation, now Places Victoria, bought the site in 2000 and released the first blocks of land in 2006. About 180 houses have been completed and Valley Lake has a homely, established and welcoming appearance. Places Victoria is selling Stage 7B. Blocks
in this exclusive release offer a selection of lake-front and desirable court-side home sites offering excellent views of the estate, the lake and the stunning natural features. A large percentage of the estate is open space. Peregrine Park, at the heart of the estate, has a basketball court and playground and its elevated position offers city views. Steele Creek runs through open parkland creating wetlands that encourage birdlife. Niddrie Lake is the focal point of the community. Set against the basalt cliff, it is a stunning feature with the sculpture of The Ornithologist sitting atop a high ladder. Walking trails follow the clifftop and, at its base, follow the edge of the lake. Barbecue areas and boardwalks make the lakeside a pleasant place to socialise and meet with friends and neighbours. Valley Lake is an excellent place to raise a family. The shape and design of the estate discourages casual traffic and, with its geological features and limited roads in and out, it has the character of a gated community. Leisure facilities and schools in the area are excellent. Among the nearby schools are Penleigh and Essendon Grammar and Essendon Keilor College. Also nearby are St Bernard’s College, St John Bosco’s primary, Keilor Heights primary, Rosehill Secondary College, St Columba’s College and Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar. Highpoint Shopping Centre and the new Essendon Fields are the local major shopping
(SCOTT McNAUGHTON / SUPPLIED)
Life on the lake V
WATER VIEWS
centres. Keilor Road, with its great variety of cuisines and food styles, is a popular “eat street” and Keilor East Leisure Centre has a heated pool and a large gym with a range of programs for those who feel they have overindulged. Valley Lake, in the City of Moonee Valley, is in an area that is showing record prices for property sales. Keilor East outperformed Melbourne, with growth of up 8.1 per cent, according to Australian Property Monitors
and nearby areas have recorded double-digit growth in the past year. The estate is 15 minutes from the city in off-peak times and has excellent access to Calder and Tullamarine freeways and the Western Ring Road. Bus services operate on the perimeter of the estate. ● BEVERLEY JOHANSON bjohanson@theweeklyreview.com.au » www.myvalleylake.com.au JULY 8, 2015 \ THE WEEKLY REVIEW 21
It’s the one word that truly sums up Valley Lake. That’s because it’s a breathtaking place unlike any other. From dawn, until dusk you’ll enjoy every moment here. Take a stroll past distinctively designed homes on sloping blocks, each with their own defined character. Walk, run or ride along the lakeside boardwalk, or simply enjoy the surrounding parks, playgrounds and cycling trails with friends and family. There’s convenient shopping at Highpoint nearby, close proximity to schools and the CBD, as well as outstanding dining options on Keilor Road. Valley Lake is a location that puts you at the centre. A place made for enjoyment. Make it yours now. Don’t miss out. Land in Stage 7B is selling fast, so hurry. Visit the Land Sales and Information Centre at 45 Valley Lake Boulevard, Keilor East, or call 131 852. www.myvalleylake.com.au