Sugar Shack - a beach house with a difference

FEATURED IN FRANKIE'S INTERIOR BOOK 'SPACES'! The Sugar Shack is a beach house with a difference – a vibrant place to play, relax & recharge. This unique take on the classic beach shack captures the essence of simple beach living, with all the modern comforts. The Sugar Shack is a place for the fun-loving and wild, who appreciate style, quality & the natural environment. Delightfully presented & only a short stroll to the beach, let the Sugar Shack bring out the adventurer & artist in you!

Configuration

The Sugar Shack is comfortable in all seasons. This two-story house has plenty of room to spread out in summer, and a cosy core where you can enjoy a movie, board game or your favourite LPs around the fireplace in winter.

The main abode is elevated, consisting of a hip, warehouse style open-plan kitchen, lounge and dining, as well as separate bathroom and laundry, with oiled floorboards throughout. Upstairs are two unique double bedrooms – the Tiger room and the Aegean room – with bespoke Japanese beds, retro dressers and modern warehouse style bedside tables.

Downstairs is a separate studio space, accessed externally, that has been fitted out to accommodate a second family, or as a haven for the kids. This polished concrete zone combines a queensize four-poster, bunk beds and a sitting area. And enclosed within is the beautifully decorated 1946 vintage caravan which provides a novelty place for the kids to sleep or a quirky nook to chill with a book.

The Sugar Shack is a great space for couples, solo adventurers and families. It is most comfortable for 4–8 guests, but the indoor caravan, sofa-bed and futon allow for sleeping of up to 12:
• Bedroom 1 – QB
• Bedroom 2 – QB
• Studio-bedsitter – QB, 1 set of bunks (2 singles), futon (double) and sofa-bed (double)
• Indoor caravan – king single

Set to the rear of a large double-block, the Sugar Shack has a lovely, private presence. A Blackbutt deck at the front overlooks an open lawn with plenty of space to picnic, kick a ball and sit around the rustic fire pit. A hand-crafted traditional swing invites play under the shade of grand coast banksias. Beyond, native bush provides privacy and connection to the Cape Liptrap Coastal Reserve. Spend a quiet moment in nature or enjoy a coffee on the deck whilst watching the visiting kangaroos, wombats, wallabies and birds. Whatever your fancy, you'll find something to enjoy at the Shack.

Style

The Sugar Shack’s unique and bold façade – vintage pressed metal feature walls, port holes, spiral staircase – invites you to step inside and experience something a little different.

Raw, yet finished. Creatively designed for functionality and style by the Melbourne-based film prop maker behind the famous Ghost Rider motorcycle. Up-cycled utilitarian objects, wood, metal and neutral tones, juxtaposed with strong colour and intricate pattern. A style that we’ve dubbed Industrial Zen. Factory windows salvaged from the redeveloped industrial zones of inner city Melbourne frame the majestic coast banksias and ever-changing skyscape whilst maintaining a sense of seclusion and privacy. Artistry is evident at every turn, from the delightful Japanese fabric bedheads to the salvaged doors that contrast exquisitely patterned amber glass with distressed paintwork. Vintage scooter becomes door runner, culverts become a staircase. Original artwork, vintage and industrial light fittings feature alongside retro and modern custom made furniture.

Features

We enjoy the art of cooking and appreciate quality. The Sugar Shack is kitted out with everything you will need to create your favourite dishes and relax comfortably, from Asko and Smeg applicances to quality mattresses and bedding:

• Espresso coffee machine
• Dishwasher
• Washing machine
• Wood fire
• Reverse-cycle heating and air-conditioning
• Smart TV
• DVD player
• Bluetooth sound system
• CD player and radio
• Record player
• Outdoor sporting equipment
• Board games, books and the latest Frankie magazine to curl up with
• BBQ
• Outdoor dining setting
• Fire pit
• Quality tea, coffee and basic kitchen supplies
• Off-road parking
• Doonas, pillows, mattress protectors, bed linen, bath towels and tea towels are provided
• Outdoor shower

Eco-features

At the Sugar Shack we aim to minimise our ecological footprint. Our native garden provides habitat for native wildlife and we use:
• Solar power
• Recycled and upcycled materials and furniture
• Environmentally friendly washing and cleaning products
• Energy and water efficient appliances
• Recycling and composting facilities
• Rainwater tank
• Furniture made from recycled and sustainably managed timbers, produced locally for lifetime use with a negligible footprint
• Certified organic, fair trade products used and provided wherever possible
We are members of Friends of Venus Bay Peninsula Inc., supporting the local community in conserving Venus Bay’s biodiversity.

Guest access

The entire house and garden are yours to enjoy. Only the garage, in which our personal belongings are stored, is inaccessible. Access will be given to the key safe with a special combination for your stay.

Guest interaction

Our aim is to ensure that all is in order for you to enjoy a private escape. To this end, we will be in contact prior to your stay to give you a code for the key-safe and answer any questions you may have. We provide a letter of introduction to the house and its quirks and user manuals for appliances. We live in Melbourne, two hours away, but can be easily contacted by phone or email and we have local contacts for any maintenance needs.

Minimum stays

Please note, between December 23 and January 14 the minimum booking is 1 week unless there is a smaller gap between existing bookings. A minimum booking of 3 nights applies on long weekends and a minimum booking of 4 nights applies over the Easter period.

Location and attractions

Venus Bay, two hours drive south-east of Melbourne on Victoria’s east coast, is an undiscovered coastal destination. Tucked away on its own little peninsula, it remains the quintessential beach escape. Primarily a holiday town, its vibe is laid-back and friendly all year round. Venus Bay’s waters range from wild ocean surf beaches with stunning sunsets to the calm estuary and river system of Anderson’s Inlet. The Sugar Shack is in a fantastic location, nestled in vegetated sand dunes half way between these two areas (~1 km walk from each) giving you access to the best Venus Bay has to offer and allowing you to drift off to sleep to the soothing sounds of the ocean. Nestled on a quiet back-street bounded by Cape Liptrap Coastal Reserve, the Sugar Shack offers great walking, bike riding, scenery and wildlife. The local village is a short ride or drive away.

Venus Bay is very much about losing yourself in the holiday flow, relaxing and forgetting what day it is! However, for those who want to get active and explore, Venus Bay and the surrounding region are home to endless outdoor adventure activities, cafes and restaurants, arts and culture and well-being services. We have gathered together a bundle of maps and information brochures at the Sugar Shack that will help you discover the best the local region has to offer. We've included some highlights here:

•Swimming, paddling, surfing and body boarding. Venus Bay No. 1 Beach is patrolled by surf lifesavers during the summer months and Doyles Road beach, Anderson Inlet, provides a calmer option, ideal for families.
•Explore Cape Liptrap Coastal Park and heritage of the Gunai/Kurnai and Boonwurruny indigenous people. Learn about more recent history of the Cape Liptrap lighthouse and natural geological history.
•Recreational line fishing, pipi collection and boating.
•Bike riding.
•Dogs are allowed on some beachesVenus Bay Beaches No. 1-5, except between 9 am and 6 pm from 1 December until 31 March, and Doyles Road beach is used by dog walkers all year round. Dogs are permitted between Walkerville North and Walkerville South and between Waratah Bay township and Cooks Creek.
•The Venus Bay Community Centre host kids activities. Visit the South Gippsland Conservation Society and Bunurong Environment Centre at Inverloch for free hands-on activities, environmental education, dinosaur hunting at the dinosaur dig site and the shell and marine natural history museum, ride the bush tramway or take a ghost tour at Coal Creek Community Park and Museum, Korumburra, learn about volcanoes at Cape Paterson.
•Other activities in the region include bird watching, golf, snorkelling, scuba diving, kite surfing, chartered boat tours, laser skirmish, marine and national parks and scenic drives.
•If you would like to eat out, Venus Bay and surrounds offer a variety of cafes and restaurants. Gippsland is embracing an emerging foodie culture and you will find fresh local produce to buy directly from growers, farmers markets and boutique wineries.
•Immerse yourself in local culture, including art galleries, live music, festivals and creative classes.
•Relax and rejuvenate with natural therapies.