Is this Castlemaine's Most Precious Hidden Treasure?

Set on almost an acre in the township and an easy walk to town, you would never know this is hidden behind the native garden screening. Designed by Architect Randal May, this is an excellent example of passive solar building and pays homage to the great Australian shearing shed. Beautiful Australian hardwood including silver top, messmate and mountain ash was recycled when the old Bandianna army barracks were demolished and used to build the window frames, external French doors with bevelled glass, fly wire screens, kitchen benchtops and the island bench. The mantlepieces and corbels are solid Sydney bluegum as is the secret nailed floor now darkening naturally to resemble jarrah. There are views of Mt Franklin and, in winter, Mt Alexander.<br/><br/>All four bedrooms have robes, the master with a walk-in robe and ensuite with bath and shower. Most of the bedrooms also feature private outdoor decks while the main bedroom has a beautiful view of the pool and surrounding treetops.<br/><br/>The open plan - living, dining, kitchen is bright with glazing on both sides, French doors out to the pool deck and unusual split cathedral ceilings, all centered around the central brick fireplace.<br/>Planned for cooking, preserving and entertaining the hordes the handmade, hardwood kitchen has an Ilve gas/electric 900 ml stove and separate step-down pantry designed to keep the lower shelves extra cool.<br/><br/>The family bathroom has a spa and the laundry with built-in ironing board is discretely hidden away to one side. A separate study area can be used for working from home or as a separate lounge or TV area.<br/><br/>Gas-zoned central heating, ceiling fans, evaporative cooling, open fire and Everhot combustion stove with wet back offer a variety of choices for keeping comfortable in every season.<br/><br/>Other eco-features include: sub-floor insulation, 5kw solar system<br/>and 3 water tanks allowing for house to be on town or tank water and there is a ducted vacuuming system.<br/><br/>Extensive and generous decks lead out to the beautiful 15-metre fully tiled lap pool that juts out into the garden.<br/><br/>These established gardens include several vegetable gardens,<br/>fruit trees (cherry, apples, pear, apricot, olive, peach, lemon) a hen house and extensive garden watering systems. The well-designed hot home is productive all year round.<br/><br/>There is a brick-paved courtyard for morning coffees and a winding brick staircase up from the parking area.<br/>To keep maintenance to a minimum there is Modwood decking to lower patio and bedrooms (south side) and pool area<br/>Visitors have access to the 2 car carport and there is a double garage/workshop with power and lighting.<br/><br/>The Guest Cottage, in its own private garden setting, can be used for Airbnb, a granny flat or simply as a retreat.<br/>There are 2 bedrooms, a modern bathroom with a bathtub that looks out into the garden and a kitchenette at one end of the open-plan living dining area which also features a Morso wood-burning heater. Split system heating and cooling, commercial-grade bamboo flooring and sisal carpet in the bedrooms enhance the natural setting of the cottage. Double-glazed French doors open out to the private verandah.<br/><br/>The land also has subdivision potential STCA