Great Ocean Road Residence
Great Ocean Road Residence
Big Hill, VIC
  • Project Type: Residential
  • Designer: Woods Bagot
  • Timber Species: European Oak
  • Colour: Penza
  • Format: Grande
  • Grade: Classic
  • Style: Hand-scraped*
  • Application: Flooring

This monumental home by Nik Karalis and Brandon Yeoh of Woods Bagot was designed for Celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, and is a response to the rugged bushland site. Perched on the edge of a hillside on a remote location along Victoria’s iconic Great Ocean Road, the H-shaped form of the home is also a nod to Sidney Nolan’s iconic paintings of Ned Kelly wearing his infamous helmet.

The exquisitely crafted interior frames expansive views over an impressive garden designed by Phillip Johnson Landscapes – complete with a billabong-inspired pool – and the Lorne-Queenscliff Coastal Reserve.

The ground floor is designed for serious entertaining, with a state-of-the-art kitchen, an indoor pool with its own cinema, and fully appointed bar with walk-in, climate-controlled wine cellar. The master bedroom suite is set atop the home, with a panoramic 360-degree view over the ocean and bushland.


This extraordinary interior is complemented by Tongue & Groove solid engineered European oak floorboards in the Penza colour, with a subtly oversized Grande format that emphasises the sense of space.

The aged, dark brown tones of Penza are elevated by the pre-distressed, hand-scraped style that celebrates the characterful grain of the natural oak and evokes the raw beauty of the surrounding landscape.

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