Trentham East: Sacred Heart Church conversion a heavenly home

The interior of 600 James Lane, Trentham East, is truly divine.


This converted country church is truly a piece of heaven on earth, boasting divine views and hiding a spectacular renovation.

The 1890s-built property has been reimagined as a Trentham East home, and is on the market with a $1.3m-$1.4m price guide.

McQueen Real Estate director Kim McQueen said 600 James Lane was blessed with an “architectural vision” that was a rarity for historic church conversions.

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The picturesque country surrounds.


The remarkable home has a $1.3m-$1.4m price guide.


The property’s divine heritage is retained — there’s even an old confession box.


“There are a lot of churches around country Victoria but they are often old, dark churches, or they need a lot of work,” Ms McQueen said.

“What makes this one so special is that it’s so light and bright. Although it’s a stone church, it’s been painted white internally and externally.”

She said the previous owners, who were also architects, had transformed the place of worship into a divine five-bedroom home.

The exterior of the Sacred Heart Church — which is about an hour from Melbourne — retains arched windows, ornate detailing and crucifixes.

Inside, an expansive space offers a 10m-high timber-lined cathedral ceiling, stained-glass windows and a private main bedroom within a “hidden sanctum”, complete with an ensuite and dressing room.


Even the luxury bathroom features the beautiful leadlight windows.


An additional two bedrooms sit on the hidden mezzanine level on either end of the home.


A cleverly zoned mezzanine floor features two secondary bedrooms on either side of the property.

A grand dining setting for up to 16 people lies where rows of pews once stood, and there is even an original wooden confession box.

“For such a large and spacious building, it still retains a cosy and warm feel,” Ms McQueen said.

“It’s got these really unique glass pivot doors in the middle of the home. They are like big walls of glass that move and let in so much light.”

The doors opened up to a “beautiful” entertaining deck off the side of the church with
pastoral views.

The unique glass windows pivot open to the outside deck.


A modern kitchen fits right in.


Space to entertain outside.


“It’s surrounded by lots of farm land, so it’s so peaceful and quiet,” Ms McQueen said.

“You get borrowed views of rolling hills, wide fields and autumn trees.”

Hydronic heating, a log fireplace and the low-maintenance grounds were other highlights of the 6000sq m property.

Ms McQueen said it had been rented out as holiday accommodation, in addition to being used as the vendor’s weekend retreat.

Inside the heavenly home.


“People are also looking at it as function space for weddings, which would be amazing as well,” the agent said.

“The area has great soil and one of the (interested) buyers was talking about putting in some beautiful gardens.”

She said the James Lane location was a renowned address that was just five minutes to the nearby township.

The incredible church is being sold privately.

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