Hobsons Heritage

Warm Renewal Behind a Modest Façade

Tucked within the former Housing Commission of Victoria’s West Newport Estate, this modest brick home carries the quiet rhythm of Interwar suburbia—uniform setbacks, tiled gable rooflines, and symmetrical façades that reflect the area’s working-class history. Our role was to bring warmth, light, and flow back to this home, reimagining it for a couple preparing for retirement while respecting its heritage character.

Currently Under Construction - Progress Photographs Coming Soon

  • Long-time Newport locals, our clients had raised their family here and wanted to remain part of their community as they approached retirement. The house, however, was dark, cold, and disconnected from its backyard. The kitchen and bathroom were overdue for renewal, and the internal layout made daily life unnecessarily complicated.

    They engaged us to help plan a modest yet transformative renovation—one that would improve comfort, accessibility, and connection to the garden, while ensuring all works aligned with Hobsons Bay City Council’s heritage overlay requirements.

  • Our design focused on restoring dignity and practicality to a small home with a big heart. A carefully proportioned rear extension realigns the home’s circulation, creating a natural flow from front to back and framing views toward a future deck and home workshop planned for Stage Two of their masterplan.

    Inside, natural light and insulation upgrades replace draughts and shadows with year-round comfort. The kitchen and bathroom are reconfigured for modern living—warm timber tones, tactile materials, and clean-lined joinery balancing contemporary amenity with heritage restraint.

    Externally, the work respects the precinct’s heritage guidelines: the single-storey scale, smooth rendered brickwork, and gabled roofline all remain faithful to the area’s Interwar streetscape. The design honours the original rhythm of the estate while ensuring the home can age gracefully with its owners.

  • 2 Bedrooms
    Renovation and Small Extension
    Under Construction – Completion 2026

    Builder: Function Homes

    Newport, Melbourne
    Bunurong Land
    Hobsons Bay City Council

A 3D rendering of a single-story house with a red tiled roof, a brick chimney, white exterior walls, and a fenced backyard with outdoor furniture and a small lawn, surrounded by sidewalk and trees.

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A residential house with a brick chimney and a red tile roof, surrounded by a white picket fence and a sidewalk, with green lawn and trees in a suburban neighborhood.
Illustration of a single-story house with a red roof, white walls, and a brick chimney, surrounded by a white fence and green lawn with trees, under a partly cloudy sky.
A backyard with a green lawn, brick pathway, wooden deck with potted plants, outdoor dining table with chairs, and a covered patio area under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Modern kitchen with white cabinets, a marble island with three stools, and a stovetop with a pot. Fruit bowls on the island, artwork of a tree on the wall.

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Modern kitchen with island, marble countertop, sliding glass door leading to outdoor patio, and views of backyard with plants.
Modern kitchen with laundry area, appliances, and countertop appliances like a coffee machine and mixer.
Modern bathroom with beige tiled walls and floor, wooden vanity with white sink, large mirror, small window with wooden frame, heated towel rack with towel, and a toilet.

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