The Marino brothers are selling the Forest Hill home their parents Sebastiano and Angela bought in 1977, bringing nearly 50 years of Italian family life to an end.
For nearly a century, pasta has been boiling five nights a week in this Forest Hill kitchen.
Now the three-bedroom weatherboard at 438 Canterbury Rd is up for sale for the first time since 1977, with the Marino brothers, Alberto and Delfino, closing a chapter built by their late father’s hand.
Set on 836sq m, the home went to auction with price expectations of $1.09m-$1.17m but was passed over after two expected bidders failed to complete the financing, negotiations are ongoing.
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The house was bought in 1977 by Sebastiano and Angela Marino.
Sebastiano, an architect by trade, renovated the property himself shortly after the purchase, rebuilt the structure, improved the edges that were considered forward-thinking at the time and built a brick barbecue that would serve for decades of family gatherings later.
He died in 1999, but his work can still be seen throughout the home.
Alberto and his brother Delfino sell on behalf of their mother Angela, who has moved into care.
The hallway shows the first floor remodeled by architect Sebastiano Marino shortly after the family bought the home in 1977.
One of three bedrooms inside a weather board that has been in the Marino family for 49 years.
“This was our family’s home,” said Alberto.
“Daddy built to stay.”
In the courtyard, fruit trees planted decades ago still produce mandarins, lemons, figs, pears and nectarines.
“I remember when the mandarin tree was just a branch,” he said.
Now this is a big tree that we cannot deal with.
The backyard has fruit trees planted decades ago and a brick patio built by Sebastiano, where Italian family gatherings were once held.
The bathroom retains original features from the late 1970s, including a bidet that was rarely seen in Australian homes at the time.
Inside, Angela set up a house in the kitchen.
“If you ask about pasta, five nights a week for almost 50 years,” said Alberto.
“Mom made the best sauce.”
Forest Hill was historically an orchard and the garden still reflects that heritage.
The decision to sell, says Alberto, was about responsibility.
The kitchen, where Angela Marino cooked pasta five nights a week, was the heart of the family home.
The living room connects directly to the kitchen, featuring a layout that encourages long meals and family conversation.
“We want to make sure that Mom is comfortable in her next chapter.”
Asked to describe home in one line Albert said: “Our family started with an honest slice of Italy, in the Australian way.”
The listing generated over 42,000 online exposures and over 1100 listing views.
Agency Victoria’s Jim Christou said the pass reflected financial timing rather than a lack of demand.
The garden is always thick with mandarins, lemons and figs, similar to Forest Hill’s orchard and the Marino family’s Italian heritage.
“It was not a lack of interest,” said Mr Christou.
“It was just a financial time. We still have strong buyers moving around.”
Mr Christou said the size of the block and the flexibility to move in, renovate or explore redevelopment later supported buyer interest.
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