Tips & Articles

The Pole House, Fairhaven: Why It’s Famous and How to See It

TL;DR: The Pole House is a holiday home perched on one pole high above Fairhaven Beach, between Aireys Inlet and Lorne on the Great Ocean Road. It’s private property and a paid rental, so you can’t go inside unless you’re staying. You can see it from the road or from the beach below. Heading west, look up at the hillside on your right just after Aireys Inlet.

Driving the Great Ocean Road, it’s easy to keep your eyes glued to the ocean. But just past Aireys Inlet, it pays to look the other way. There, high on the hillside above the road, is a little glass house sitting on top of a single pole, looking as if a strong gust might carry it off.

That’s the Pole House, among the most photographed homes in Australia. Here’s the story behind it, where to spot it, and how to get a good look without trespassing.

Where Is the Pole House?

The Pole House is at 60 Banool Road, Fairhaven, on the Surf Coast. Fairhaven sits between Aireys Inlet and Eastern View, where Memorial Arch marks the official start of the Great Ocean Road.

It’s about 1 hour 40 minutes’ drive from Melbourne’s CBD. Heading west from Aireys Inlet, you’ll pass it within a few minutes, then reach Memorial Arch a few minutes later.

How Do You Spot It?

Heading west, look up on your right just after Aireys Inlet. A few more pointers:

Heading west, it’s on the right-hand side of the road (the side away from the ocean)
Get ready as you pass Aireys Inlet and the white tower of Split Point Lighthouse on your left
Look up at the hillside. The house sits about 40 metres above the road
If you reach Memorial Arch, you’ve just passed it

Passengers get the best view. If you’re driving, keep your eyes on the road and leave the spotting to whoever’s riding shotgun. The road here is narrow and winding.

What’s the Story Behind It?

Architect Frank Dixon first dreamed up the idea in 1963, but it took nearly a decade to become a reality. The house was built between 1972 and 1978, perched on a single pole about 15 metres tall, with a walkway connecting the hillside to the front door.

It nearly didn’t make it through the 1980s. The Ash Wednesday bushfires of 1983 swept through the Surf Coast and damaged the back of the house, which was rebuilt the following year.

Decades of salty sea air eventually took their toll. By the 2010s, the original structure was badly worn, and it was demolished in January 2013. Architect Franco Fiorentini of F2 Architecture rebuilt the house in 2014, keeping Dixon’s single-pole concept while adding floor-to-ceiling glass along the ocean side.

Today, the house is reached by a 23-metre floating walkway. Inside, it’s a cosy 64 square metres, with one open-plan room, a kitchenette, a fireplace and a 200-degree view over Bass Strait.

That view, along with the fact that the house appears to hover above the landscape, has made it famous. We reckon it’d be a pretty good spot for a cuppa, too.

Can You Visit the Pole House?

Not unless you book a stay. The Pole House is private property and runs as a holiday rental, so there’s no public access to the house, the driveway or the walkway.

You’re welcome to photograph it from public land, the road or Fairhaven Beach below. Just please don’t stop on the Great Ocean Road itself. Pull in only where there’s a safe, marked parking area.

Fancy staying the night? It’s been available as holiday accommodation since 2006, and rates start from about $1,400 a night with a two-night minimum. It books out well ahead, especially over summer.

Where Are the Best Photo Spots?

Fairhaven Beach gives you the classic shot. Stand on the sand with the waves rolling in behind you and look up, and you’ll get the hillside, the pole and the glass box all in one frame. Fairhaven has a surf life saving club, so the beach is patrolled in summer if you fancy a swim afterwards.

The roadside pull-offs near Fairhaven give you a side-on view of the pole and the walkway. Just stick to the marked parking areas.

What Else Is Nearby?

Plenty. The Pole House sits on one of the prettiest stretches of the Great Ocean Road.

A few minutes east, Split Point Lighthouse has stood on the headland at Aireys Inlet since 1891, with clifftop paths and ocean views around it. A few minutes west, you’ll find Memorial Arch at Eastern View, which commemorates the returned servicemen who built the Great Ocean Road after World War I. It’s also one of the coast’s classic photo stops.

Keep going and you’ll reach Lorne, with its long surf beach, pier and cafés along the foreshore. It’s a good spot to stop for a bite before carrying on.

Before You Go

You don’t need to book a $1,400 night to see the Pole House. You just need to know when to look up, and now you do.

If you’re seeing the Great Ocean Road with us, our day tour passes the Pole House just before the Memorial Arch photo stop, so grab a seat on the right-hand side of the coach and keep your eyes peeled. Happy spotting!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Pole House on the Great Ocean Road?

At 60 Banool Road, Fairhaven, between Aireys Inlet and Memorial Arch at Eastern View. It sits on the hillside above the road, looking over Fairhaven Beach.

Can you visit the Pole House?

Only as a paying guest. It’s a private holiday rental with no public access. You can photograph it from the road or the beach.

How do you get to the Pole House?

Drive the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne, about 1 hour 40 minutes, to Fairhaven, between Aireys Inlet and Lorne.

How much does it cost to stay at the Pole House?

From about $1,400 per night, with a minimum stay of two nights.

When was the Pole House built?

Frank Dixon designed it in 1963 and it was built between 1972 and 1978. It was damaged in the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires, demolished in 2013 and rebuilt in 2014.