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1950s, Australia, Midcentury modern

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia

The iconic 1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia, has just gone up for sale.

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia (image credit: Soulful Living Real Estate)

 

And it really is quite something. It’s a step back in time with a midcentury modern gem of the era and the region, which amazingly has stayed faithful to the original design over six decades.

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
(image credit: Soulful Living Real Estate)

 

1959 was the year of construction, with award-winning Anglesea builder John Hickford creating this bold piece of architecture, which, even today, stops you in your tracks. It’s a thing of beauty if, like me, you love house designs of this period. John Hickford is responsible for over 150 properties in this area, but I can’t imagine many being up with this one.

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
(image credit: Soulful Living Real Estate)

 

Many thanks to agent Kellie Saddington for sending over some background on the architect. He started off working on cars before ‘falling into’ the building trade. Designing houses wasn’t something he was trained to do. This is a man who learned on the job as a carpenter, subcontracting what he couldn’t do personally, and over time, built up quite a portfolio of homes in what was a booming area.

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
(image credit: Soulful Living Real Estate)

 

Where his design inspiration came from isn’t clear, but I would imagine the glossy interiors magazines from the US played a part. This is Californian midcentury modern, but on the Surf Coast in Australia.

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
(image credit: Soulful Living Real Estate)

 

It’s a design that has aged well, and with the midcentury modern design revival still very much alive, I suspect this one will have no trouble finding a new owner.

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
(image credit: Soulful Living Real Estate)

 

The agent points out that the house ‘can be renovated and restored to its original glory’, which perhaps hints at some work required to bring it back to its best. A viewing would tell you the full story there. But from the images, the house still looks in amazing condition.

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
(image credit: Soulful Living Real Estate)

 

Yes, some parts of the house might look a little dated, as you might have expected—the bathroom and some of the decor, for example—but nothing significant. The bones of this one look to be immaculately preserved, as do the key details within.

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
(image credit: Soulful Living Real Estate)

 

The design is stunning. The raised house has an inverted roof and plenty of natural light. It also offers easy access to both the outside space and the stunning views this one has on its doorstep.

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
(image credit: Soulful Living Real Estate)

 

That’s courtesy of the wall of glass/sliding doors that lead out onto the spacious curved front deck. Hopefully, you can see the stunning coastline view and ocean beyond. Alternatively, stay at ground level and have a party – there’s a large garden that’s ideal for BBQs and get-togethers, which takes advantage of the afternoon sun.

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
(image credit: Soulful Living Real Estate)

 

The upper level of the house has an open-plan reception space, which includes a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. The rooms are fairly neutral, which is no bad thing at all. The feature working fireplace, bricks, slate, and timber shelving are all from the original era.

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
(image credit: Soulful Living Real Estate)

 

The house has three bedrooms, with views out and across to the sea. The bathroom with bath, shower, and separate toilet looks original and perhaps something you might want to update, although it has enough original character to maybe just freshen up.

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
(image credit: Soulful Living Real Estate)

 

The lower level currently consists of a studio with a kitchenette, a second bathroom, and a living room. This space is set up as the fourth bedroom and living room, but it could be utilised as some kind of annexe holiday space, etc., as it has its own entrance and is separate from the house.

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
(image credit: Soulful Living Real Estate)

 

I mentioned earlier that designer John Hickford was passionate about working with cars, which is evident from the garage here. According to the agent, the garage had been ‘perfectly set up for a professional mechanic or car enthusiast with hooks to hold engines and enough shelving and space for any expert workshop’. There is enough room for multiple cars and even a storage room that would work well as a cellar. I know many of you love your cars, so it’s a big selling point. The house also has an undercover carport, so there is plenty of off-street parking for multiple cars.

1950s John Hickford butterfly house in Anglesea, Victoria, Australia
(image credit: Soulful Living Real Estate)

 

A good-sized plot, too, coming in at around 656 sq. metres.

Fancy it? The guide price is $1,900,000, which works out at around £962,000 at the current exchange rate.

Images and details courtesy of Soulful Living Real Estate. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.

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