13 Strathbogie Court, Kilsyth, includes a secret Narnia-themed room. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe film starring Tilda Swinton (left) was released in 2005.
A house in Melbourne’s east featuring a Narnia-themed secret chamber concealed behind a wardrobe is bringing a touch of magic to the market.
The home at 13 Strathbogie Court, Kilsyth, is for sale with a $1.1m-$1.2m range.
Jellis Craig Mooroolbark and Lilydale’s Patrick Donker said the abode’s owners had even commissioned local artist Michelle Urkhart to paint a mural based on the classic children’s fantasy books, The Chronicles of Narnia by author C. S. Lewis, in the hidden room.
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In 1950, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first book published in the series.
The novel has since been translated into more than 40 languages and was included in Time Magazine’s 100 Best Young-Adult Books of All Time list five years ago, among other accolades.
In the books, the young characters famously enter the fantasy land of Narnia through a wardrobe.
There’s a Westinghouse pyrolytic oven, cooktop and dishwasher, stone benchtops and a pantry in the kitchen.
The Narnia-themed reading room was inspired by the owners’ children, now adults, who love the books by C.S. Lewis.
British actor Tilda Swinton in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. The movie won the 2006 Academy Awards’ Best Makeup gong and Best Makeup and Hair at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ (BAFTAs) awards.
In 2005, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe film starring Tilda Swinton and Liam Neeson as the voice of the lion character, named Aslan, grossed $745m worldwide.
Mr Donker said when the Kilsyth house’s owners built in 1996, they included the secret reading room for their now-grown up children who loved the Narnia stories.
“And you actually have to go through the cupboard to get into it – as a child, it would be absolute gold,” Mr Donker said.
Artist Michelle Urkhart painted a Narnia mural in the room.
There’s also a fairy garden outside.
Liam Neeson voiced the lion character Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia films: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, 2008’s Prince Caspian and 2010’s The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
One of the home’s five bedrooms features the colourful hidden alcove behind a set of small double doors.
“The built-in wardrobe has four sliding doors on it, you open one of the sliding doors and then you open the two doors that go into the Narnia room,” Mr Donker said.
Some potential buyers with multiple children have commented their offspring would likely end up fighting over who gets the bedroom with the Narnia nook.
Mr Donker said the hideaway could also serve as a teenager’s study or gaming room or as a storage space.
Watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks from the patio.
NBN fibre to the premises, plantation shutters and a double garage with internal access are among the other features.
A favourite book on display in the reading alcove.
Outside the house, there’s a small fairy garden set up below a Japanese maple tree planted about two decades ago.
Mr Donker said mostly families had inspected the 864sq m property showcasing a sunken lounge with a gallery-like landing above.
The kitchen is equipped with a Westinghouse pyrolytic oven, cooktop and dishwasher, stone benchtops, a pantry and a number of power points.
“The owners updated the kitchen a few years ago, but other than that, it’s fairly original – the home was built really well,” Mr Donker said.
“They built a little bit back from the road to allow for more off-street parking.”
The hidden room has great views too.
A scene from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
Part of the mural in the Narnia room.
A gas log fire warms the lounge room and sliding doors open to an alfresco area boasting
a barbecue, wok burner and views from the Yarra Valley to Croydon Hills.
The main bedroom includes a balcony, spa ensuite, walk-in wardrobe and an additional mirrored wardrobe.
The house is close to Montrose Village, Montrose Primary School, Jacaranda Reserve and Mooroolbark train station.
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