The Mornington Peninsula in Victoria is a stunning region, cherished deeply by Stuart and Chelsea Hall.
The couple first encountered each other in this area and have been fortunate enough to spend numerous vacations here over the years at Stu’s parents’ beach house. Recently, they made the decision to purchase their own family retreat in Blairgowrie.
The Halls are only the second owners of this property dating back to 1979, which has been remarkably preserved in its original state, as evidenced by photographs featured on the cover of Home Beautiful magazine from January 1980.
Chelsea, Stu, and their two children, Angus (8) and Evie (6), relish the nostalgic atmosphere every time they visit their quaint timber retreat. It brings back fond memories of school outings and simpler summer holidays.
Stuart and Chelsea Hall, along with their children Angus (8) and Evie (6), own a beach house that was originally a kit home known as ‘Gill House’, which was available for purchase from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Situated in Blairgowrie, this home was initially constructed as the display suite for the kit home, before being acquired by a family who owned it from 1979 until 2021. Remarkably, the interior features immaculately preserved timber-lined walls, seagrass flooring, and mosaic bathroom tiles, remaining virtually unchanged since its acquisition.
Chelsea remarks, “It’s incredibly well designed, and the layout functions perfectly. You can still see where the (now grown-up) kids scribbled on the walls so many summers ago!”
With strong familial ties to the area, Chelsea and Stu had long harbored an interest in purchasing a property on the Mornington Peninsula. The Covid lockdowns provided the impetus for them to pursue this dream. Upon discovering this home for sale, they were immediately drawn to its charming simplicity.
The layout revolves around the central bathroom, surrounded by the living room, kitchen, and two bedrooms, creating a seamless flow throughout the house. “When we first visited, we loved the unique nostalgic feeling of the home and instantly knew it was ‘the one’,” says Chelsea. “The home feels like a retro cabin from a school camp or ski lodge, instantly evoking feelings of nostalgia, holidays, and fond memories from our childhoods.”
Chelsea and Stu have made minimal updates since acquiring the property, preferring to preserve its original character. One subtle change they implemented was installing new lantern-style pendant lamps, resembling the original fittings featured in the 1980 Home Beautiful magazine. “We wanted to stay true to the home’s heritage and embrace its warmth and character,” explains Chelsea. “We also desired a casual holiday home feel, where it doesn’t matter if you’re a bit sandy!”
While the two-bedroom house comfortably accommodates the family of four, it can feel snug when hosting guests. To address this, Chelsea and Stu added a backyard ‘pod’ from My Pod Modular Buildings, serving as an additional bedroom without compromising the charm of the original home.
Overall, the house exudes a relaxed and inviting atmosphere—a simple retreat for family bonding and communing with nature—reflecting the preferences of the Hall family. When not at the beach, they can often be found gathered around the dining table playing board games or lounging on the front deck, observing the local birdlife.