You can stay in the humble holiday home from The Castle for about $200 a night. Photo / Airbnb
You can stay in the humble holiday home from The Castle for about $200 a night. Photo / Airbnb
By Samantha Landy for the Herald Sun
Holiday-makers can find out just how the serenity really is in Bonnie Doon, with the house made famous in The Castle up for rent on Airbnb.
It comes as the other well-known home from the 1997 film prepares to go under the hammer in Strathmore on Wednesday afternoon - and the Bonnie Doon owner hasn't ruled out having a crack at it.
The Castle house in Bonnie Doon is up for rent on Airbnb, complete with the punching bag for Con Petropoulous (aka Eric Bana). Photo / Airbnb
Huge fan of the film Mel said she hoped whoever bought the Kerrigan family home would share it with other fans of the film, as she's done with the Kerrigans' holiday house.
"Put it this way, if nobody else wants it, I don't want to see it demolished."
Mel bought the legendary Bonnie Doon abode two years ago and spent about a year fixing it up before offering it as a short-term holiday rental for about $200 a night, plus cleaning costs.
"You're not dreaming," the Airbnb listing reads. "The serenity is real."
To offer guests the true Castle experience, Mel has collected items you'd expect Darryl and Steve Kerrigan to peruse in the Trading Post and put them on display, including jousting sticks, a punching bag for Con Petropoulous and a dog kennel for the family dog Coco.
She even built a "pool room" out back to house extra guests.
The house has been styled with a retro theme. Photo / Airbnb
"I just love telling people when I buy things that they'll be going straight to the pool room," she said.
Teacher Jess Laxton got caught up in The Castle vibe while recently spending the weekend at the holiday home, which overlooks Lake Eildon, with her partner Tim, daughter Abbey and some friends.
"My friend Amanda bought the film, and watching it there was a bit of an experience," she said.
Tracey Kerrigan's Diploma of Hairdressing even takes pride of place on the wall. Photo / Airbnb
Darryl Kerrigan's Melbourne "castle" may not follow in the Boonie Doon property's footsteps and become a holiday rental - Brad Teal selling agent Rebecca Towns said pre-auction interest had mostly come from homebuyers rather than Airbnb hosts.
The humble weatherboard is being sold without its block next to Essendon Airport at 3 Dagonet St, so the buyer will need to relocate it.
"We've had good interest from people who have got blocks of land who plan to do it up and live in it," Towns said.
She expects the humble weatherboard - which has been marketed as "the ultimate piece of movie memorabilia" - to fetch between $1000 and $10,000, with relocation to cost another $45,000 to $50,000.
