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FEATURE PROPERTY: Architectural masterpiece at Henley Beach South

Respected local football coach and business owner Bob Cross and his wife Julie are selling their renovated beachside home at Henley Beach South with a price tag upwards of $2 million.

In a prime location at the corner of the Esplanade and Seaview Road at Henley Beach South, Bob and Julie Cross’ four-bedroom home strikes a captivating shape with modern lines, sleek materials and an angular roofline.

Having previously lived just a few blocks further north along Seaview Road, Bob says he watched with interest when 37a Esplanade was being constructed in 2008. He and Julie purchased it soon after it was completed.

“One day I drove past and the home had a for sale sign out the front so we decided to go and have a look the next day,” says Bob.

“We fell in love with it. We bought it when the market was quite hot, but for us it was about the property.

“We loved the location and the feel of the house, so it was a no-brainer.”

Bob has run an electrical contracting business for 35 years and is also a well-respected former Australian Rules Football coach at both amateur league and SANFL level.

He was the assistant coach at Woodville-West Torrens when they won the flag in 2011 and was awarded an OAM that same year for his services to the sport.

Just over a decade after purchasing the home, the couple engaged Mike Sheidow of Black Rabbit Architecture and Interiors to design a significant renovation and modernisation.

Completed in 2019, the project transformed the property and gave it a refreshing modern appeal, both inside and out.

“Mike came up with a really cool design, which we loved. It’s quite unique and I don’t think there are too many homes like it,” says Bob.

“It was designed specifically for our lifestyle, but it’ll appeal to a lot of people for its functionality.”

Now looking to downsize, the couple has listed the property for sale with a price guide of between $2.3 and $2.4 million.

Bob says it will be hard to part with the property and its views.

“It’s such a lovely spot because we do get these wonderful sea breezes and the views in the morning are really quite spectacular,” he says.

“You also come to appreciate the four seasons of the year. We’ll often just sit there and watch the front of a storm roll in.”

“It’s a lovely stretch of beach. On a warm night we’ll go and just sit on the beach, only a 50-metre walk away, watch the sunset, and then walk back up feeling grateful for where we live.”

The property features a cinema room, two living areas, three generous bedrooms, a study or fourth bedroom, two bathrooms and separate powder room.

Appointed with sleek modern finishes and fittings, the first-floor kitchen, dining and living space is the hub for gathering and entertaining.

“We were going to build a butler’s pantry, but it turned into being a galley kitchen,” says Bob.

For privacy from Seaview Road, the window above the kitchen sink can be switched from transparent to opaque.

The renovation saw the installation of new Dekton surfaces, a fireplace and double-glazed windows for sound and thermal insulation.

A wine display cabinet beneath the stairs was a project that Julie and Bob created themselves during the COVID lockdown last year.

As part of the renovation, the floating stairs were sanded back and treated with an invisible two-pack finish that highlights the timber.

There is a two-vehicle garage with space for a gym or workshop, and off-street parking for two additional vehicles.

Bob says hard work and support from his family has underpinned success in various aspects of his life, including business and football.

“I grew up in a housing trust property at Ferryden Park and we didn’t have any money as kids,” he says.

Bob left school at 15 and started an electrician’s apprenticeship, although his passion was for football.

“I was fortunate enough to be able to dabble in my passion and still run a business, and the footy side of things has been great for networking.

“I really love what I do, and football has helped create opportunities for us.”

Over the years, Bob has taken hundreds of photos from the balcony, capturing sunsets, lightning, rain and both calm and rough seas.

“My idea was to one day put them all in a big frame to appreciate the many different views you get from that balcony, but I never got to it. Maybe I’ll do it when we move to our next home and it can remind me of our time here.”

The sale is being handled by Ros Herbert of Fasari Real Estate.

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