65 South Road, Brighton, Vic 3186

From 1890 to this day, the palatial ‘Gallia’ has stood proudly as one of Brighton’s most distinguished residences. Here, refined 19th-century Italianate architecture, a prime location just metres from the beach, and all the space and contemporary luxury needed for a modern lifestyle, unfolds over approx 1,130sqm.

First impressions say it all. Beyond the wrought-iron front gates rises the impressive Victorian-era villa, with classic Italianate features like round-arched windows and a rooftop tower: an architectural addition that offers not only aesthetic grandeur, but one of Brighton’s highest viewpoints, with panoramic vistas all the way from the headlands to the Dandenong Ranges.

A French crystal chandelier glitters overhead in the grand entry hall, a first taste of the elegance found throughout. The property’s heritage beauty shines through in its ornate ironwork and cornices, original marble fireplaces and floorboards of Baltic pine, whilst bright, open-plan living and dining spaces have brought it masterfully into the 21st century.

The sleek granite kitchen is a gourmet’s delight, with its Gaggenau and Miele appliances, teppanyaki plate and complementary butler’s pantry. A second kitchen, crafted from stone and fitted with Smeg appliances, opens onto a landscaped outdoor entertaining area. Here, the jewel in the crown is a swimming pool ready to be enjoyed throughout the seasons, with its European-imported, cocoon-style sheer sunshade. The poolside studio is an ideal fitness centre, while the former stables site has become a marble bar and servery hatch. 

Four bedrooms each offer their own unique charm, including the master with its Florence Broadhurst-designed silk wallpaper, original ornamental fireplace and luxuriously modern ensuite. Completing this securely accessed home are four bathrooms, a custom-fitted study (or a potential fifth bedroom), an underfloor wine cellar and parking for four cars.

This generational jewel offers an unrivalled lifestyle and one-of-a-kind grandeur, just steps from Brighton’s beachfront and close to public transport, restaurants, boutiques and some of the city’s most prestigious schools.