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Privacy is a big word in real estate, perhaps second only to location. Private gardens, private estates, private baths. A brand-new listing in Paris, Ont., has an unusual feature — a private postal code. N3L 2N3 to be exact.
The property, at 1 Banfield St. in the County of Brant, about a 90-minute drive west of Toronto, is a Gothic Victorian estate that was built in 1854. Its original owner was Charles Whitlaw, owner of the Paris Mills — at the time the largest mill in what was then Canada West — and several times mayor of Paris, Ont. Its current owner is entrepreneur, philanthropist and former Cineplex Media president Salah Bachir.
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The listing, by Sotheby’s International Realty, notes that many of the original historic features are intact or have been restored over the years, including the slate roof, hardwood floors, copper eaves, five fireplaces and plaster mouldings. The walls are two feet thick, creating a quiet (and private) sanctuary.
“It does not share its postcode with any other property,” said Paul Maranger, broker and senior vice president at Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, in a statement to the National Post. “Generally, an office tower or a condo building will have its own postal code but never a single-family home.”
The house spans more than 5,800 square feet over two levels, with an attic offering an additional 1,389 square feet of potential space, plus an additional 1,716 square feet on the lower level.
Visitors to the home over the years have included Alexander Graham Bell (after whom a nearby section of highway 403 is named), Henry Ford, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Margaret Atwood and Christopher Plummer. Queen Elizabeth II received a bouquet of peonies from the home’s garden during a visit to Paris.
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Other features include 18 chandeliers, 12 of them custom-crafted Murano chandeliers from Italy’s renowned Vetreria Artistica Galliano Ferro, whose creations can also be seen in the Bellagio in Las Vegas and the Pierre in New York.
The nearly one-acre property is enclosed by a tall wrought iron fence (again, privacy). The property includes mature trees, stone terraces, gardens, and landscaping designed by landscape architect John Lloyd. A 16-by-six-metre saltwater pool is adorned with two waterfalls and features twin cabanas and a pergola-covered sitting area.
Inside the house are five bedrooms (three with private bathrooms), a family room, a home office and a recreation room, currently being used as a fitness area. The main bathroom includes a skylight and steam room.
The postal code is an unusual feature, though not unique. In 2022, a property at 1 Greig Ave. in Toronto was listed for sale, also featuring its own unique code. That one, tucked into a laneway near Broadview Avenue and Dundas Street East, was listed at $2.6-million. 1 Banfield St., with significantly more space, is on the market for $4.895-million.
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