13 Spring Street, Maldon, VIC 3463

Spring Cottage sits high on Anzac Hill, 170 metres from Maldon's High Street. Built around 1865, this miner's cottage has a garden to match and Crown land on its boundaries. You can walk to town and come home to quiet.

Drystone walls and stone-edged paths lead through lavender, rosemary and native plantings. The front verandah looks across the garden, with a peek of original timber shingles above.

Inside, the north-facing living room is warmed by a solid wood heater in a period surround. Floorboards are polished, and the dado is timber. Built-in shelves sit beside 6x6 windows that frame the garden. At the rear, the kitchen and dining area is French blue, with concrete-look benchtops, an electric cooktop, undermount oven and dishwasher. From here you step out to the rear garden and rock walls dating from the 1860s.

A ground floor bedroom opens to the garden through French doors. The bathroom has been updated and has a deep bath, and a vintage timber laundry trough has been kept. Upstairs, the main bedroom has French doors to a wraparound verandah, built-in robes and an ensuite tiled floor to ceiling. The outlook runs over the garden to Maldon's historic rooftops.

Two studios sit in the grounds. One is fully lined and soundproofed, with carpet, track lighting, a split system and shelving. It suits a home office or creative work. The other is carpeted with a split system and works for guests or hobbies.

The garden has raised vegetable beds, fruit trees, gravel paths and quiet places to sit. Echidnas wander through, and a koala visits Anzac Hill from time to time. There are water tanks, ornamental plantings and an old stone spring well on the nature strip.

Weekender or permanent home, Spring Cottage is a private address close to town.