Beachfront exclusivity

Sitting on the ocean side of one of Australia’s most iconic roads at Fairhaven, a house with uninterrupted views of the ocean and a famous lighthouse has come onto the market.

Once used as the backdrop to scenes in the cult 1970’s film Mad Max, the renovated home at 310 Great Ocean Road offers panoramic and exclusive coastal views, immediate beach access, privacy and is only 90 minutes from Melbourne.

Situated atop a sand dune on Fairhaven beach, and one of only two homes ocean side of the Great Ocean Road within the area, the three-storey house is in a league of its own and is expected to set a coastal price point record.

Currently owned by Boost Juice founder Janine Allis, it has been a sanctuary for the entrepreneur and her family as Boost Juice grew into a global success.

“I found it really inspiring to work by the ocean,” Janine said.

“We were on a crazy ride growing Boost Juice and Retail Zoo and it was a place that I could go to and breathe.

“You wake up and your shoulders just drop a little.”

Surrounded by Crown land, with the exception of one side, the peaceful abode features five bedrooms – including a bunk room with king singles – six bathrooms, a games room, open-plan living kitchen and dining area, second living area, pool, spa and an upstairs deck perfect for outdoor entertaining.

“It is such a super special house – you cannot rebuy it, you wouldn’t be able to no matter how much you have, you cannot rebuy a house like that,” Janine said.

“There’s no neighbours you can see, you’re looking at the lighthouse and out to the ocean.”

The house underwent a renovation in 2014, with the main focus of the design “to bring the outside in” resulting in a spacious home which can be sectioned off to upstairs-only living, or an entertainer’s dream utilising all three levels.

The home is designed to afford views wherever possible, with the master bedroom and ensuite offering spectacular ocean views and the main guest bedroom looking out towards Split Point Lighthouse.

Floor-to-ceiling windows on the top level allow you to watch storms roll in, as well as admiring sunsets and sunrises and the ever-changing ocean.

“I wanted to see as much of the sky and ocean as possible. It’s such a beautiful view that changes every single day,” Janine said.

“I’ve travelled all over the world and the sunsets you get, oranges, the blues and the pinks are just breathtaking. I’ve probably posted a dozen shots on Instagram and it’s just that, they’re not filtered.

“You get the feeling of having complete space, there’s so much sky, and ocean and green.”

The games room features a hand-crafted pool table, table tennis table, television and kitchenette, while the second living space serves as a relaxing media room and the elevated pool is another standout feature to enjoy.

Sympathetic to its natural surroundings with external timber walls, sandstone elements and courtyard, the home blends naturally into its backdrop.

“There are things that you discover there as well, like a little side path down to an area in the garden with an outdoor trampoline,” Janine said.

“From the front of the house to the ocean there is the most amazing picnic spot, and it feels like you’re flying in the sky.”

That picnic spot features throughout the original Mad Max film and, sitting atop the high sand dunes, it offers an eye level view of the ocean.

Down below is a majestic six-kilometre stretch of Fairhaven beach where you can explore rockpools, take long beach walks and let your dogs enjoy the pet friendly beach.

“You cannot get a better location,” Janine said.

“Fairhaven is such a special spot, but it’s that spot where you feel like you can be anywhere.

“It’s not crazy busy like Portsea or Lorne, it has everything you want but without the business.”

The property, privacy and views are only part of the drawcard.

On par with the beauty of the house is the community, with Janine saying the people would be something she would miss the most.

“It was a massive decision, we have no issues selling Melbourne or any of the other properties, but to sell Fairhaven was a big decision,” she said.

“There is a really beautiful community of the most amazing people … you walk into the supermarket and people know your name, you go to the pub – which is one of the best in Australia – and you’ll be having a beer and see someone that you know and have a chat.

“It was an extraordinary place to have kids and grow up.

“The house is full of games, it’s full of surf boards and boogie boards and it’s just a house of play.

“They could walk out the front and go to the beach.

“All the kids came over to our house because we were central, go to nippers, walk to the shops – it was all just there.

“It gave them incredible autonomy but because of where they were, you knew they were completely safe.”

The house sits on three-quarters of an acre but according to Great Ocean Properties agent Marty Maher the surrounding Crown Land makes the site feel more expansive.

“The property itself is really iconic,” he said.

“It’s in such a unique spot, on one of the best positions on the Surf Coast; to be sitting on a primary sand dune is pretty unusual now … it feels like the waves are crashing in your front yard.”

310 Great Ocean Road is on the market for $10.8 – $11.8 million. To book an inspection contact Great Ocean Properties director Marty Maher on 0419 505 279, or Mim Atkinson on 0408 912 533.