Designed for Legacy. Built for Life.

Respectful, modern heritage home design that celebrates character, integrity and place.

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HERITAGE BUILDING DESIGNERS | RENOVATION & EXTENSION DESIGN | CENTRAL VICTORIA | CHARACTER HOME DESIGN | PERIOD HOME SPECIALISTS

Designing with Respect and Vision

A heritage home carries a sense of story — not just of its past owners, but of the neighbourhood, the materials, and the period in which it was built.

Our role as building designers is to honour that story while shaping a home for modern living. We help homeowners reimagine what’s possible through thoughtful renovations, character-preserving extensions and design solutions that blend old and new.

From Victorian cottages and Federation bungalows to weatherboard workers' homes and early mid-century styles — we’ve worked with many of the common heritage overlays and materials found across Bendigo, Castlemaine, Kyneton and Central Victoria.

Whether you’re extending, modernising or restoring a period property, we approach it with care, creativity, and a deep respect for the original character.

Modern house with wooden and black metal exterior, gravel walkway, and a black and white dog standing on a concrete slab near the door.
Line drawing of a modern multi-story building with balconies and large windows.
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What We Offer for Heritage Design

The specifics:

  • Renovation and extension design for heritage or character homes

  • Period-appropriate design detail and material consideration

  • Navigating heritage overlays and council permits

  • Improving energy efficiency and internal layout

  • Adding modern functionality without compromising integrity

  • Coordination with builders who understand heritage work

OUR
PROCESS

A complete service. A practical, professional approach.

Designing a home isn’t just about drawing walls and windows. It’s about navigating the site, the vision, the council process, and builder handover — and knowing what to expect at each stage. That’s what we’re here for.

STAGE 1

Site Insight + Concept Design

We begin with the land — how it flows, where the light falls, and what the planning overlays mean for your vision.

  • Site visit and orientation analysis

  • Understanding slope, bushfire (BAL) rating, and views

  • Early floorplans, elevations and 3D renders

  • Passive design and solar consideration

  • Initial budget and compliance guidance

  • Pre-planning advice

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STAGE 2

Planning & Approvals

We prepare everything needed to satisfy council, consultants, and anyone involved in approving your build.

  • Site overlays,design compliance, and town planning drawings and permit-ready documentation

  • Navigation of local overlays and zone-specific requirements

  • Coordination with engineers, surveyors and consultants

  • Ongoing liaison with council during the process

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STAGE 3

Construction Documentation

We get your project ready for builder handover — including the detail needed to quote, build and complete the job.

  • Full construction drawings (NCC 2022 compliant)

  • Working drawings for quoting and builder selection

  • Referrals to trusted local builders and trades

  • Ongoing support throughout the build (if needed)

Specialist Considerations for Heritage Homes

Character counts

We pay attention to the defining elements — rooflines, verandahs, timber profiles, windows, brickwork, and detailing — and use them as anchors to inform and inspire your future design.

Overlay navigation

We’re well-versed in navigating local council overlays, regulations and required documentation — and can help present your case clearly, with sensitivity and professionalism.

Legacy thinking

This isn’t about a quick fix. It’s about adding value to your home in a way that respects its roots and sustains its charm for future generations.

Balance and contrast

A successful heritage project balances old and new. It enhances the original character while introducing clean, contemporary living spaces that support how you live today.

Function meets tradition

We help you bring outdated layouts into line with modern life, while keeping the soul of the home intact. Think natural light, improved flow, updated amenities, and insulation that works.

Two new houses with metal roofs and front porches, surrounded by a white picket fence, under a partly cloudy sky, with trees in the background.

Top-rated
Heritage & Country Materials

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  • Close-up of a stone wall with irregularly shaped beige and brown stones, some with rust-colored patches and cracks.

    Stone

  • Close-up of a stack of weathered red bricks with some paint and mortar residue.

    Recycled Brick

  • Close-up of a textured, painted stucco wall with a rough, uneven surface.

    Trowel Render

A heritage home carries a sense of story — not just of its past owners, but of the neighbourhood, the materials, and the period in which it was built.

— Dennis O’Dwyer, Building Designer

“

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OUR
CLIENTS

Hear from the people that we’ve worked with and helped them achieve their dream home.

See More Reviews

  • Dennis had such a great eye for detail — we didn’t want to lose the charm of the house, and he knew exactly how to bring it into the 21st century without it feeling disjointed.

    Castlemaine Homeowner

  • The renovation actually enhanced the original home. Every visitor says how seamless it feels, which is exactly what we were hoping for.

    Bendigo Client

  • We loved our home, but Dennis helped us fall back in love with it. The renovation honoured the original design but gave us what we actually needed as a family.

    Castlemaine Renovation Client

  • Dennis guided us through a very complex heritage approval. His drawings, patience and communication made all the difference.

    Woodend Heritage Renovation

  • 'Dennis’s ideas and vision from early on met our brief well, but he was also flexible when we wanted to adjust elements of the design. The quality of his drawings were excellent and he went the extra mile to help cut through the building approval process.’

    Ben & Leesa Carlton

  • ‘Nothing was ever too much trouble for Dennis. His communication was exceptional throughout. Our experience from beginning to end was enjoyable and he was as enthusiastic about our home as us. We couldn’t recommend Dennis highly enough.’

    Stephen & Leonie Higgs

  • 'Dennis’s renovation design transformed our home. It looks amazing, works well with our young family and it’s retained the warmth and character of the original building. We'll definitely work with Dennis again and recommend him for your project.'

    Mathew Churchill

  • 'Dennis was so helpful with responding to council requirements and our builder was impressed by the level of detail provided in the drawings. We continue to be delighted by our renovation and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Dennis.'

    Adrian Ford

OUR
PORTFOLIO

Homes that respond to land, light and life. Explore how our designs come to life in different settings.

Browse Portfolio
Modern living room with large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking green rolling hills and countryside, with a dining area and ceiling fan.
New cream-colored house with a gray metal roof, surrounded by a white picket fence and trees with fall foliage.
Modern house with large windows and a balcony, situated on a hillside with a gravel walkway leading to it, surrounded by young trees and a landscape with hills and trees in the background, under a clear blue sky.
Exterior view of a modern house with wooden and black metal siding, a gravel pathway, and a dog standing near the entrance.
Black metal shed with large window in a backyard with new gravel path, grassy area, wooden fence, trees, and neighboring house in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Two modern buildings with black and wooden exteriors, large sliding windows, and a solar panel roof, under a blue sky with a few clouds.
A small wooden house with vertical wood siding, a glass double door entrance with wooden framing, a small wooden deck and stairs, and an outdoor wall-mounted light fixture. The sky is blue with some clouds.
Close-up of a black outdoor wall light fixture mounted on wood-paneled wall beneath a wooden beam in a room with wood interior.
Close-up view of wooden framing with metal fasteners, part of a structure under construction, against a backdrop of a wooden fence, blue sky, and a building with a metal roof.
A digital rendering of a modern house with a white and brown exterior, flat and sloped roof sections, a prominent brick chimney, a deck area with posts, and large windows.
Side view of a modern house with dark vertical siding, a large overhanging roof, and a glass balcony with a white railing in a rural area with grassy fields.
Digital rendering of a modern, two-story house with multiple levels and a porch, viewed from different angles against a black background.
Modern single-story house with large glass windows, a flat roof, and a red support beam, situated on a grassy area with trees in the background.
Rusty metal structure in foreground with a modern house on a hill in the background, surrounded by trees and dry grass.
Modern house exterior with glass sliding doors, a covered patio with a concrete floor, supported by red metal beams, overlooking a green landscape with trees.

Start with clarity.

Design a legacy home that balances heritage, function and future.

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Call Dennis