A labour of love
When Jack Whitton was visiting family in Colac he fell under Stonnington’s spell. Jack was unable to turn his back on the dilapidated Californian bungalow and set about refurbishing the 90-year-old home in what became a 10 month, seven-day-a-week labour of love.
Ultimately Jack gutted and refurbished the house, doubling its size. Wherever possible original ceiling roses, fireplaces and traditional features have been retained and refurbished, to reinstate Stonnington’s elegant style.
New contemporary features in the home are homogenous with the original design, which has been decorated in a tasteful and understated style, with a neutral colour palette.
Jack was so proud of the way Stonnington brushed up, he decided he wanted others to enjoy its beauty and peaceful location, just metres from the shore of Lake Colac.
Having travelled extensively domestically and abroad, Jack knew that busy executives prized their privacy and decided to make Stonnington on Colac a self-contained property. He lives off-site but ensures the house and garden are always perfectly presented for guests.
Stonnington regularly attracts corporate business people who are fed up with small and dark motel rooms, and especially those who like to combine business with pleasure. With a broadband connection, Stonnington is well equipped for those who like to keep working online after the business day is over.
Property Features
- Air Conditioning
- Alfresco Dining
- BBQ Facilities
- Bathroom
- CD Player
- Central Heating
- Clock Radio
- DVD Player
- Dishwasher
- Dryer
- Early Check-in
- Electric Blankets
- Ensuite
- Gas Log Fire
- Full Cooking Facilities
- Golf Nearby
- Hair Dryer
- Heating
- Iron & Board
- Kitchen
- Laundry Facilities
- Meals Available
- Microwave
- Non Smoking Indoors
- Parking Off-street
- Private Courtyard
- Queen-size Beds
- Range of Books
- Range of CDs
- Range of DVDs
- Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning
- Room Safe
- Shop Nearby
- Spa
- Spa Bath
- Tea & Coffee Facilities
- Televisions (widescreen)
- Washing Machine
- Water Sports Nearby
Make the most of the alfresco dining area and luxury spa during your stay at Stonnington
The Californian Bungalow
In its day, Stonnington was a classic Californian bungalow – a style that was popular in Australia between 1915 and the 1940s. The style of architecture was originally modelled on the tea-planter dwellings of India.
They typically have three bedrooms and a separate living room that face East or South. Their identifiable characteristics are that they’re usually single storey, with a two to three gabled roof and large pillars supporting a front verandah.
Luxury bedrooms & bathrooms
Enjoy views through the French windows to the courtyard and pretty garden from the beautifully appointed Master suite, which has a walk-in wardrobe, queen-size pillow-topped mattress and a selection of pillows.
The ensuite, which includes a large spa bath, features a solid jarrah benchtop with twin basins, marble tiles, ceiling heater and towel warmer. Bath sheets, robes, a hair dryer and toiletries are supplied. There is also a safe. The bedroom is equipped with a wide-screen TV, heating and cooling.
The second and third bedrooms feature queen-size pillow-top mattress beds fitted with fine linens. The rooms have wide-screen televisions, clock radios, built-in wardrobes and split air-conditioning. Bedroom two has its own private courtyard, with views of the folly which has a dense canopy of wisteria.
Bedrooms two and three share a beautiful bathroom with a large shower, twin basins, ceiling heater and towel warmer. All beds are fitted with electric blankets.
Additional single beds and a cot are available upon request.
Kitchen
Stonnington’s French provincial style kitchen is a home-chef’s dream. It’s fitted with state-of-the-art European appliances including a built-in coffee maker, dishwasher, microwave, and large stove. Luxury finishes include granite benchtops. The kitchen is ideally located in the heart of the home, overlooking the informal lounge and dining areas, with views to the garden.
A large picture-window, framed with leadlights, fills the informal dining room with natural light. The formal dining area is perfect for leisurely meals and is ideal for dinner parties.
Lounge rooms
There’s a relaxing space overlooking the rear garden, which is perfect for listening to music or watching the wide-screen television. It’s part of the open-plan sociable hub of Stonnington.
But if you need a quiet spot in front of the fire, the formal lounge room is a great spot to curl up and read a book. Leadlight windows and painstakingly refurbished period ceiling roses are a feature of the formal lounge.
Garden
Overflowing with heritage plants, mature trees and architectural follies, the ½ acre garden at Stonnington is a magnet for guests. There is a six-person spa, gourmet’s gas barbeque, and an al fresco dining setting. Many of the feature trees and plants in the garden date back to the 1930s. There are mature Japanese maples, palms, horse chestnuts, fruit trees, roses and hellebores.
The gardens have been used as a picturesque backdrop by wedding photographers. There is a wisteria-laden folly, a stone-built arbour, private courtyard and cottage-style borders.