The family home at 32 Warburton Street, Brunswick is a little bit unconventional, which is exactly what the owners love about it.

Since moving in a few years ago, writer Lucy and barrister Ollie have heard stories about the building’s past from their neighbours.

The double-brick structure reportedly once served as a warehouse for a pipe-manufacturing business, then a street artists’ studio, before the corner block was sub-divided into three dwellings.

By the time the couple and their two kids purchased the property, it had been cleverly converted into a functional home by architects Arlo (then known as Winwood McKenzie Architecture) with plenty of industrial edge.

‘We were looking to move into this little pocket of southern Brunswick to be close to Brunswick South Primary (for its Italian/English bilingual program) and Princes Hill Secondary College,’ Lucy says.

‘Our buyers’ advocate found the property off-market, and we immediately felt the rush of finding a rare beast in the wild. We weren’t expressly looking for a warehouse conversion, but we were immediately drawn to the uniqueness of its historical bones and the quality of its finishes.’

Spanning three floors, the interiors reveal sleek polished concrete floors, with exposed red brick walls, and a textural timber-lined ceiling overhead in the kitchen.

One of the most impressive features is the abundance of light that streams through the double-glazed, steel-framed windows on the middle level — which houses the living and entertaining areas, alongside an open-air terrace.

‘The real hero is the magnificent gumtree that lives with us on all three stories,’ Lucy adds.

‘The upper-level bedrooms seem to be actually in its upper canopy (you can touch the gum leaves from the bedroom balconies).’

Lucy and Ollie have been quite taken with the location too, saying it’s the best of both worlds.

‘[We love] living on a quiet, leafy residential street, but so close to our social places (Bahama Gold, Waxflower, the Alderman). It means we can easily switch from cocoon-mode to butterfly-mode and back again,’ she says.

But a twist of fate has brought them to another unique property, as the family has just purchased the ‘little Victorian terrace’ that Lucy rented 20 years ago when the couple first met.

It means the beloved warehouse conversion is now awaiting a new owner…

32 Warburton Street, Brunswick, VIC, 3056 is listed for private sale with Andrew De Angelis from Nelson Alexander. Expressions of interest close Monday August 31 at 5pm.