A home crafted by love and war hits the market - this story will have you in tears

When Frank Penn asked Lesley if she would wait for him before leaving to serve as a WWII pilot, neither could have imagined the life they would later build, quite literally, on a quiet street in Mitcham.

Shot down over Europe and captured as a prisoner of war, Frank's return home was nothing short of miraculous.

True to her word, Lesley waited, and after the war the young couple bought a 748 sqm block near Mitcham Station, determined to create their forever home.

And build it they did, by hand.

Frank, a chemist with a meticulous mind for detail, became the builder, and Lesley, an accomplished artist, art teacher at Box Hill High School and later librarian at Swinburne Art Library, took on the creative design.

Think of them as an original couple from The Block, but actually doing the build themselves instead of handing it over to tradies!

Together they turned raw materials into a home filled with character, design and craftsmanship.

Everywhere you look, their handiwork endures.

From bespoke joinery in each room to a built-in lounge suite that Frank upholstered himself, every detail was designed to last a lifetime.

They crafted wooden bedheads with matching bedside tables, tallboys, shelving units, and cabinetry, pieces so finely made that they remain intact and functional today.

When the house required re-stumping in recent years, Lesley, who was in her 80's, could recall the exact number of stumps beneath the home, ensuring cheeky tradies couldn't overcharge her!

The couple, unable to have children, poured their love into their vocations, their home, and their garden.

And what a garden it became.

Lesley was inspired by French impressionist Monet's gardens and she created a garden that resembles a living canvas filled with curved garden beds featuring seasonal bursts of colour from rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas.

Mature trees create dappled light, while winding paths encourage you to linger and explore, an artist's garden in every sense.

Listing agent Julian Badenach at Woodard said: "This is the perfect opportunity for first home buyers to make their mark and move into a beautiful house with a lot of history and love behind the build.

"We've seen a lot of inner city hipsters checking it out coming from St Kilda and Brunswick who love its mid-century, retro charm and are at the stage of life where settling down and having room for the kids to run around is really appealing.

Frank and Lesley's nieces are overseeing the sale of this lovingly built family home

"You can imagine Frank and Lesley looking down and hoping one of them will take on and care for the cottage in the same way they did over the years," Badenach said.

The property at 419 Mitcham Rd will be sold by public auction on Saturday, October 4th at 11am, presented by Woodards Blackburn.

Priced at between $870,000 - $950,000 it falls within the new First Home Buyers Guarantee cap.