A forever home in gorgeous Grange
This Grange villa was built as a forever home, with a wine cave, 15-metre lap pool and custom-built pool table. But with changing life circumstances, its owners are now looking to pass it on to a new family.
For Michael France, it was always a childhood dream to have his own pool table and a swimming pool. So, when building what was then intended to be his forever home 15 years ago ago, having these two features was a top priority.
“A lot of it was about fulfilling childhood dreams,” says Michael, a surgeon.
“I didn’t come from money … and growing up, our next-door neighbours had a pool table. I used to go over there and borrow it. I thought, when I’m older, I’m going to get a pool table.
“And then, one of our other next-door neighbours had a swimming pool and we didn’t have a swimming pool. I said, when I get older, if I do well in life, I’ll get a swimming pool.”
Fast forward to 2025, and Michael now shares the home with his wife, Casie France and their blended family.
The couple were married in October last year and have been dividing their time between Grange and Medindie, where they also own a home.
Michael says when he was looking for somewhere to build, the beach lifestyle of Grange with its tall Norfolk pines, which he likens to living in a forest, was a major drawcard.
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“You’ve got the beach, but there’s also lots of restaurants and there’s a pub here and it’s a little bit quieter than Henley, which is actually a nice thing. So, it’s a lovely community feel here, the neighbours are all very friendly,” says Michael.
“There are little shops down the corner that the children pop down to and get their frozen yoghurt and things – it’s quite lovely,” adds Casie, an obstetrician-gynaecologist.
When Michael bought the land, an older house existed on the plot, which was demolished to make way for his vision.
He enlisted Medallion Homes for the build, which was completed in 2010.
Set on 682 square metres, 24 Jetty Street, Grange, includes four bathrooms, three bathrooms and space for up to two cars.
Among the standout features are a spacious master suite with an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.
The house also includes an open-plan living and dining area, an outdoor kitchen, a 15-metre lap pool and spa, a wine cave and a pool house and pool room.
Michael says he had a lot of input into the design of the house, which was intended to be a “forever home”.
“It’s got everything. It’s got a large swimming pool. It’s got a gym area with a steam room. It’s got a separate spa that sits outside the study. It’s got an underground cellar with a custom-made pool table in it and it’s got a beautiful adult retreat area separate from the children’s area,” says Michael.
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Other must-haves included separate living areas, a wine cellar with a specially designed pool table, a swimming pool, and a guest area which was designed for Michael’s parents when they came over from New Zealand.
For the interiors, Michael opted for a modern classic look, with traditional cornicing and architraves, as well as high vaulted ceilings, marble in the kitchen and curtains from New Zealand design house Mokum.
Outdoors in the established gardens, you will find plants such as Japanese box hedges and topiary.
Michael says there were many advantages to a new build over buying an existing dwelling.
“This is the second home I’ve built. I love building because when you look at it, there are personal touches that bring you a lot of joy. You can personalise it to your own tastes,” says Michael.
Michael and Casie say their favourite area of the house is the front room with its soaring ceilings, where they enjoy unwinding at the end of the day.
Michael also enjoys being out in the pool, looking up at the towering Norfolk pines.
But after many years of splitting their time between Grange and Medindie, Michael and Casie have decided to move permanently to their Medindie home.
“Both properties are quite big and they’ve got big gardens. Trying to maintain the two locations just got a little bit much with our lives,” says Casie.
Michael and Casie say they’ll miss going for evening walks together on Grange Beach.
“We have lots of beautiful memories with the children in the pool and when we get home from work, we love to go for a walk by the beach and watch the sunset – it’s stunning,” says Casie.
The sale of 24 Jetty Street, Grange, is being handled by Sharee Redic of Toop + Toop.
