Saturday, August 30, 2014

Whare Tau, Exeter

Whare Tau, 2 Exeter Road Exeter, c.1903


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Offers over $3,300,000

An historic house in Exeter with a price tag of $3.3 millionexternal image Whare%2520Tau%2520Animation.gif

An historic house in Exeter with a price tag of $3.3 million is drawing attention from afar.
Exeter's gracious house on the hill, Whare Tau, has piqued the interest of a Dubai-based sheik.
This house at 2 Exeter Road, Exeter, has come back onto the market with a price tag of $3.3 million.
This house at 2 Exeter Road, Exeter, has come back onto the market with a price tag of $3.3 million.
  • The southern highlands estate was marketed for sale two years ago but has just been relisted for $3.3 million.
  • "We've had local interest from the highlands and inquiries from Sydney but we've also had an inquiry from a sheik in Dubai," selling agent Sarah Wotton of Highlands Property said.
The opulent interiors include stamped metal Wunderlich ceilings, marble fireplaces and exquisitely carved cedar joinery.
The opulent interiors include stamped metal Wunderlich ceilings, marble fireplaces and exquisitely carved cedar joinery.
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The owners, David Smith and his artist wife Bernadette, paid $1,075,000 in 1995 for the Queen Anne-style Federation house on 3.8 hectares.
  • The Smiths undertook a significant restoration of the National Trust-listed 1903 house and other buildings including an earlier two-bedroom cottage, coach house and stables.
  • Whare Tau (a Maori name meaning "first house" or "our home" and pronounced locally as "where to") is one of Exeter's most significant homes.
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Built by Alfred Stephens & Co of Bowral for land owner Denis Sheil, it has had several owners including Irene Hope Meek, the daughter of Sir Joseph Meek, a chairman of Lever & Kitchen. Meek paid £11,000 for Whare Tau in 1958.
  • Ms Meek is credited as introducing the Brownie association to Australia and remained their patron until her death in 1992.
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The gracious double-brick house has a roof of Welsh slate, a wraparound verandah, intricate timber fretwork and large, arched windows. Inside, the opulent interiors include stamped metal Wunderlich ceilings, marble fireplaces and exquisitely carved cedar joinery in the form of doors, door cases, skirtings and picture rails. An electric bell system used for calling servants recalls an earlier lifestyle.
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  • There are several living areas including a grand dining room with leadlight doors and a marble fireplace, a kitchen with Miele appliances, four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
  • Underfloor heating has been installed under the kauri pine floors and an en suite added to the main and second bedrooms.
    Whare Tau
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Garden

The park-like grounds feature a rose walk, specimen trees, cold-weather plantings and a vast vegetable plot. There is a tack room with two stables, four-bay machinery shed and town plus bore water.
  • The village centre is five minutes' walk away and Bowral is a 25-minute drive. Exeter is home to an eclectic community of artists, writers, publishers and photographers.
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Historically and architecturally significant, Whare Tau sits amidst its magnificent garden estate, a commanding and beautiful example of Federation Queen Anne style.

Situated by parklike grounds and boasting significant outbuildings including a two bedroom brick self contained cottage, a wonderful corn drying shed and original coach house and stables.
  • Built by Alf Stephens senior, the property has been lovingly and fastidiously restored, extended and rebuilt by its current owners
  • Of double brick and slate roof construction (Welsh Purple) with soaring ceiling height (13ft 4in in part), intricate Wunderlich ceilings and ornate joinery throughout, all which bear witness to the original standard of fine craftsmanship
  • Superbly painted decorative ceilings, kauri pine floors, grand marble fireplaces and jaw droppingly beautiful cedar joinery resound throughout the main residence
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  • Kitchen features a generous arched window overlooking the gardens with in-built Miele BBQ, stainless steel Miele gas cooktop and dishwasher, and island bench
  • Capacious living room adjacent to kitchen has timber floors and French doors to the garden and entertaining terrace beyond
  • Stately dining room with Cedar windows, leadlight doors, marble fire place and timber floors
  • Four bedrooms, two with ensuites, three with beautiful fireplaces
  • Four bay machinery shed with power, as well as tack room and two stables, town tank and bore water
  • Long views to the North at front and over the gorgeous park-like grounds and only moments to Exeter general store/cafe and village
  • 9.5 acres of grounds with beautiful plantings and specimen trees, fabulous vegetable plot and rose walk
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Australian Heritage Database

History:

This property was originally part of a grant to the Badgery Family in the 1800s. The Badgery's rewarded workers on their estate by giving them land on which to build a house and run a small farm.
  • The subject property was later one of three grants to the Shields family; three brothers who competed to build the best house. One house was built on Mount Gibralter, another 300m south-west of this property, and this house, which is the largest of the three.
  • The house was purchased by a Miss Irene Hope Meek in 1958 for 11,000 pounds. Miss Meek was the daughter of Sir Joseph Meek, who came to Australia from Northern Ireland after the Irish Rebellion. Sir Joseph Meek established in Australia the firm of Lever and Kitchen, manufacturers of soap and cleaning agents including such well known household products as Sunlight, Lifebuoy, Sand Soap, Pears Soap, Rinso and Lux.
  • Miss Meek introduced the Brownies to Australia and was their patron until her death in 1992. The Girl Guide's Association Commemorated Miss Meek's many years of service by holding a ceremony and planting a tree in her memory at Moss Vale. In her capacity as patron, Miss Meek was received on many occasions by the Princess Royal, sister of King George VI, the father of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II.
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The date of construction of the residence is presumed to be prior 1906, as it is thought that 1906 was the first year that Deeds of Property were issued in this area. After Miss Meek's death, the property was bequeathed to Mrs Lillian Thurtell.
  • The 35.75 acre (approximately 10ha) property was used for beef cattle farming.
  • In 1993, a deceased estate contents auction was held; among 800 lots were sold.
  • The property was sold by Ms Thurtell in 1994-95.

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Description:

The house is a single story Federation Queen Anne residence of double (face) brick construction, rectangular plan shape, with rear skillion added at an early date. The pitched roof is clad with slate. There are five brick chimneys. Timber gables, including decorative bracketing, provide evidence of fine craftsmanship.
  • The front verandah is tiled, with marble edging and marble steps. The verandah features cast iron circular columns, a cast iron lace valance and ornamental timber frieze. A small rear verandah is timber floored. Three external panelled doors, including highlights and surrounds, contain leadlight panels incorporating a lotus flower design.
  • The exterior of the house is in good condition and retains much of the original fabric and integrity.

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The interior of the house contains excellent examples of ornate joinery, often extending to the ceiling height of 15ft. Marble fireplaces, original milk paint colour scheme still intact) continue the prevalence of first class craftsmanship and attention to detail. Oiled timber flooring imported from New Zealand is found throughout the house. The hall is divided by a decorative portal.
  • The interior of the house is in good condition, and retains much of the original fabric and integrity.
  • A second cottage built in 1916 for workers is still in existence and had been in continuous use until 1992.
  • Outbuildings consist of two coach sheds, attached to which is a harnessing room and two tack rooms and two stables. A hayshed and loft are made of adzed slabs.
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Two wells are still in use for the garden; one of these is operated by a windmill. English oak, elm and lime trees of great size and bulbs and roses of a bygone age are still in the garden. The Sydney Morning Herald Title Deeds article of June 1993 reports that prior to the deceased estate contents auction trees were uprooted so clear access could be gained into the Federation style house. It is unclear if this procedure included the removal of some of the original, significant plantings.

History of Exeter

Main Road, Exeter
Main Road, Exeter
Exeter is the most "English" of all the villages of the Highlands, Its leafy streets and lanes, its clipped hedges and grand rows of trees give the impression of an age old-village in the "old country".
In fact Exeter is one of the newer villages in the Southern Highlands, and owes its existence - as do many others - to the coming of the railway in the late 1860s.

Original store - now homestead, east of station
Original store - now homestead, east of station
Settlement, however, preceded the development of the village by almost half a century. When Charles Throsby of Bong Bong f
ame opened up the area in the 1820s, many settlers prevailed upon the governor of the day for grants in the 'Sutton Forest' area.

Some of these were established landholders closer to Sydney looking for wider spaces to graze their herds.
One such was James Badgery, who had arrived in Sydney in 1799, and for 20 years had successfully farmed in the Bringelly region. His farm here was called 'Exeter', after the town in England near where he grew up. This name was later to be given over half a century later to the new village.

Badgery was granted land between the present Sutton Forest and Exeter villages, and he and his family were later to consolidate holdings of several thousands of acres, centred on the main holding, which was called Vine Lodge.
Today a reminder of this past can be seen on the right hand side of the road as you enter Exeter from Sutton Forest - the horse stud farm of the same name. Descendants of the Badgery family still live in the area.

Other landholders also took up grants in the area, and the actual village today sits mostly on land previously owned by the Badgerys.
St. Aidans Anglican Church 1896
St. Aidans Anglican Church 1896

Exeter owes its existence largely to the coming of the railway. Sutton Forest, an established village, was like Berrima bypassed further to the east by the new rail line. The new line in fact cut through the middle of the Badgery properties, and probably had the effect here and elsewhere of breaking up these older landholdings.
There is evidence that some land in the area had been alienated to the railways, and this - in conjunction with the encampment of hundreds of railroad workers from time to time no doubt stimulated ideas of settlement.

However it seems almost 20 years passed before moves were made to establish a town. In 1891 a large section of 'Vine Lodge' was subdivided and sold; the first school was also opened, and a post office. Some houses already existed for staff at the station and new lots were snapped up.
By 1894 there was a new store (thought to be the house "Elouera" on the eastern side of the railway), and a bakery.
The foundation stone of St. Aidans was also laid in 1894, and after a a public subscription the church was opened in 1896. As it
School of Arts
School of Arts
 was too small for the local congregation, extensions were added in 1903.
By this stage the population was large enough to warrant the establishment of a School of Arts. These places were a cross between meeting hall, library, and educational institution. Exeter's distinctive mock-Tudor building was opened in 1902 on land apparently donated by Dalgety & Co., the pastoral company.

Old Blacksmith's Cottage. 1890
Old Blacksmith's Cottage. 1890
The old cottage seen today near the railway was originally a blacksmith's shop, and dates from 1890. The two main shops at the crossroads were built c.1900 (the current general store) and c.1920 (for many years the general store, now an antique shop). There does not seem to have been an inn or hotel in Exeter, which makes it different from most settlements in the Highlands.
A gold mine operated east of Exeter at the headwaters of Stonequarry Creek in the 1880s, and a mining lease was taken out again for the area in 1904.

References

Friday, August 29, 2014

Glenella, Blackheath

Glenella, 56-60 Govetts Leap Road BLACKHEATH NSW


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Huge Blue Mountains property Glenella, complete with world’s biggest Chesterfield sofa, up for sale

Largely from article by 
The Glenella guesthouse is expected to fetch big money when it goes up for sale.
The Glenella guesthouse is expected to fetch big money when it goes up for sale.
The iconic homestead has been operating successfully for over 100 years as a guest house and restaurant.
  • Historic Blue Mountains guest-house up for sale
  • Features 13 bedrooms and the world’s longest Chesterfield sofa
  • New owners could use it as a residential property

"Glenella" is a large, predominantly single storey building that demonstrates some of the characteristics of the Federation Queen Anne style.
  • The building has a hipped roof, apart from the wing that projects from the western end of its front, which has a gabled roof.
  • The roof is covered with corrugated iron and walls are lined with rusticated timber weatherboards.
  • A verandah with a bullnosed corrugated iron roof painted in contrasting bands of colour runs across the full length of the southern side of the building.
  • The verandah roof is supported off turned timber posts, and has a turned timber valance running beneath the beanm supporting the roof. Window joinery is of timber. (Heritage NSW)
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"Glenella" has strong associations with the locally prominent Phillips family, who built it and then managed the building as a guest house for many years.
  • It has been an important focus of tourist activity in Blackheath for much of the twentieth century and its name has continued to be a drawcard into recent times.
  • The building is also a significant part of the group of buildings at 40 to 68 Govetts Leap Road, and has in particular important visual links to "Oakdene" (No. 52 Govetts Leap Road).
  • Architecturally it is a representative and relatively intact Federation era dwelling.
The outside of part of the 1841 sq m property.
The outside of part of the 1841 sq m property.
56-60 Govetts Leap Rd doesn’t look so imposing from the street.
56-60 Govetts Leap Rd doesn’t look so imposing from the street.


Federation Queen Anne style features enrich the grand residence, with handmade leadlight windows, dome patterned ceilings, turned timber posts, a hipped roof made of corrugated iron and a wraparound veranda.

  • “There is a (Thai) restaurant in there at the moment but in the late ‘80s and ‘90s it was formerly one of Australia’s best restaurants,” selling agent Peter Torok, of Ray White Blackheath, said.
The dining room featuring the longest Chesterfield sofa in the world.
The dining room featuring the longest Chesterfield sofa in the world.
“Michael Manners had it at the time and it was one of the first fine dining venues in NSW. All of that aside, the building is very historical … it is right in the middle of town and it is a really nice place,” he said.
  • Mr Torok said the amount of interest in Glenella had been surprising. There have been over 50 inspections and 18 contracts issued during the auction campaign.
The gardens at the guesthouse have some interesting features.
The gardens at the guesthouse have some interesting features.
“It is unique and iconic. The name is synonymous with Blackheath and the local community here. It is such a versatile property which has uncapped potential for someone who either wants a business, residence or something out of the usual.

“The main buyers looking it at it would possibly bring it back to its former glory. It has a wine bar licence as well as a guesthouse, restaurant and wine bar facilities. There’s a lot of potential there.

  • “I have got a couple of buyers who might have it as a house, turning it back into a really old, historical residence but the bulk of interest is from those who want to keep it as a guesthouse.”
The guesthouse has a number of open fires.
The guesthouse has a number of open fires.
The property is well-appointed.
The property is well-appointed.
Blackheath in the Blue Mountains is 89 kilometres out of Sydney CBD and the suburb has a median house price of $380,000 which rose 5.6 per cent in the last 12 months and 22.6 per cent in five years, RP Data figures show.
  • Mr Torok said the property last sold for about $695,000 ten years ago.
The deck outside a dining area is another notable feature of this Blue Mountains property
The deck outside a dining area is another notable feature of this Blue Mountains property

“That is not a reflection of what it would sell for today. The market is going well, it is a strong seller’s market with a lot of interest from people in Sydney and the eastern suburbs,” he said.

“I think just the village community here, and the quality of people moving to Blackheath, are really cementing its future as one of the better area in the upper mountains to live.”

Glenella will go under the hammer this Sunday (August 31, 2014) at 12pm.

References:

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Amesbury, Ashfield, NSW

Amesbury, a historic building in Ashfield, NSW



[Previous post: Appropriate Heritage Development ... Next post: ]
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'Amesbury' - Landmark c1888 Queen Anne Mansion on 1369 sqm Level Grounds

  • Amesbury is one of the earliest Queen Anne houses erected in Australia
  • It has had a heritage preservation order since Planning and Environment minister Terry Sheahan's decision in 1984; Follow-up story at PropertyObserver.com.au
  • See also post Queen Anne or Federation Queen Anne?
  • Listing
  • A sale of more than $3.5 million is tipped by Jennifer Aaron from Jennifer Aaron Real Estate.
  • Amesbury,  Ashfield
    Amesbury, Ashfield

    Ten-bedroom mansion with four-storey tower to fetch astronomic price

    • BRENDAN WONG REAL ESTATE REPORTER
    • INNER WEST COURIER INNER WEST
    • AUGUST 15, 2014 1:00PM

    One of Sydney’s grandest and most distinctive properties has hit the market for the first time in three decades.
    Amesbury is a grand 10-bedroom Queen Anne-style mansion on a 1366sq m block in Ashfield and is primarily recognisable by its four-storey Romanesque belfry-style tower.
    • While it appears to bear all the hallmarks of a church, it was designed and constructed in 1888 as a house by renowned Australian engineer, Norman Selfe to celebrate the country’s Centenary.

    Ashfield's most significant historic home. 'Amesbury' is a grand 10-bedroom Queen Anne style mansion built in 1888 by Mr Norman Selfe (1839-1922), Australia's foremost engineer during the late 19th and 20th centuries.
    • Last traded 30 years ago, the landmark residence was designed and constructed by Selfe during an era when engineers were regarded far more highly than architects. Upon completion, 'Amesbury' was considered the ultimate modern showpiece; it was feted in 'Builder and Contractors News" as presenting "more novelties both externally and internally than any other house in the colony".
    • With an elite pedigree of timeless distinction and historic significance, 'Amesbury' is a magnificent example of a wealthy Victorian gentleman's family residence.
    • Distinguished by a four-storey Romanesque tower with north-easterly views to the harbour, 'Amesbury' retains a host of beautiful internal and external features, including white Canterbury stone window surrounds and a pair of terracotta lyrebird panels modelled by decorative artist, Lucien Henry.
    The distinctive four-storey Romanesque tower was tailor-made for Norman Selfe’s hobby of astronomy, complete with terracotta lyrebird reliefs by artist Lucien Henry on the front wall.
    The distinctive four-storey Romanesque tower was tailor-made for Norman Selfe’s hobby of astronomy, complete with terracotta lyrebird reliefs by artist Lucien Henry on the front wall.
    Built around 1888 to honour the centenary of the colony, Amesbury still stands at 78 Alt Street, Ashfield. 'Amesbury' retains a host of beautiful internal and external features, including white Canterbury stone window surrounds.
    Built around 1888 to honour the centenary of the colony, Amesbury still stands at 78 Alt Street, Ashfield. 'Amesbury' retains a host of beautiful internal and external features, including white Canterbury stone window surrounds.

    The dining room has mahogany beamed ceilings and oversizes panel doors.
    The dining room has mahogany beamed ceilings and oversizes panel doors.
    • It does have a spiritual connection though, having been owned by international peace and meditation organisation Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga since 1986.
    Upon its completion, Amesbury was considered the ultimate modern showpiece.
    • The Australasian Builder and Contractors’ news even described it as having “more novelties both externally and internally than any other house in the colony”.
    • Selfe’s international travels during 1884 and 1885 inspired much of the design of the home. For the exteriors, he discarded cast iron lacework in favour of distinctive timber balustrades and carved fretwork.
    • An imposing entrance hall with a beautiful staircase (crafted from exotic timbers including American hickory and English oak) featuries hand made stained glass windows.
    Dividing the living and dining rooms is an extraordinary three-metre wide vertically sliding door panelled in New Guinea cedar and blackwood.
    Dividing the living and dining rooms is an extraordinary three-metre wide vertically sliding door panelled in New Guinea cedar and blackwood.

    Dividing the living and dining rooms is an extraordinary three-metre wide vertically sliding door panelled in New Guinea cedar and blackwood. Also in excellent condition in these rooms are oversized panel doors and wide architraves of oak and rosewood.

    The kitchen features modern appliances, stone benches and built-in storage.
    The kitchen features modern appliances, stone benches and built-in storage.
    The tower was purpose-built for Selfe to pursue his hobby of astronomy and boasts north-easterly views to the harbour.

    In 1885 Selfe bought land in Ashfield and designed a grand house called Amesbury.Built around 1888 to honour the centenary of the colony, Amesbury still stands at 78 Alt Street, complete with terracotta lyrebird reliefs by artist Lucien Henry on the front wall, and a tower purpose-built for Selfe to pursue his hobby of astronomy. [18]

    As children, Rhoda and Norma attended their Aunt Maybanke's school in Dulwich Hill.[19] As adults, they trained in Italy with educator Maria Montessori, returning to Sydney to open a Montessori school of their own atAshfield, called Warwick.

    1894 the family moved once again, this time to Hornsby shire, where a new Selfe-designed house, Gilligaloola, was built on 11 acres (4.5 hectares) purchased by Selfe 10 years earlier. Gilligaloola, at 82 Pennant Hills Road, is still a local landmark, with its distinctive tower and twin chimneys. [20]
    Gilligaloola, Normanhurst
    Gilligaloola, Normanhurst

    Normanhurst's Finest Mansion 'Gilligaloola? Circa 1893

    Gillingaloola - meaning a pleasant place brings the yester years and the contemporary together in what is Normanhurst's finest federation mansion. The contemporary kitchen with granite bench tops built for the entertainer flows onto an informal dining and living area. Wait, the best is yet to come - this dinning and living area opens up to the king size deck overlooking the koi pond and the swimming pool amidst the magnificently landscaped gardens with the sound of water fountains in the background. This meticulously renovated mansion throughout boasts of stately formal lounges and dining rooms, 5 to 6 huge bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, study and a library. City views are enjoyed at night from the tower room and crows nest lookout. The close proximity to the station, shops and schools is an added draw card. Truly your opportunity to own a part of history.

    As President of the Board of Technical Education, Norman Selfe fought passionately for the establishment of an independent system of technical education, to serve the needs of a rapidly industrialising society. Selfe's strenuous efforts in a number of causes went unrewarded during his life, but formed the basis of innovations later realised.

    Norman was a committed citizen, and a natural spokesman for the local community, to the extent that when the railways needed a name for the locality, the community chose'Normanhurst' (though Norman himself felt that 'St Normans' would have been 'much more elegant and suggestive'!).

    Selfe, Norman

    Norman Selfe, civil engineer c1900
    Norman Selfe, civil engineer c1900
    by Catherine Freyne, 2009
    supported by Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts

    Selfe was an engineer, naval architect, inventor, urban visionary and controversial advocate of technical education. Today, he is best remembered in the name of the suburb ofNormanhurst, where his grand houseGilligaloola still stands. But decades before the existing Harbour Bridge was built, Sydney came close to building a Selfe-designed steel cantilever bridge across the harbour with its northern foot in McMahons Point.

    When he wasn't designing bridges, docks, boats, precision machinery and new transport schemes for Sydney, Selfe was energetically involved in organisations ranging from theRoyal Society of New South Wales to theSydney Mechanics' School of Arts; theAustralian Historical Society to the Central Federation League. 

    From Dictionary of Sydney



    In 1912, the property was bought by Melbourne draper John Hindle who added tennis courts and Japanese gardens until part of the land was subdivided into eight flats during the 1920s.
    • Today the property still retains its heritage internal and external features including white Canterbury stone window surrounds and a pair of terracotta lyrebird panels modelled by decorative artist, Lucien Henry.

     A rear extension, with a separate entrance, has two more bedrooms, a sitting room and bathroom. The house has been owned by a meditation organisation since 1986.
    A rear extension, with a separate entrance, has two more bedrooms, a sitting room and bathroom. The house has been owned by a meditation organisation since 1986.


    The grounds have landscaped gardens.
    The grounds have landscaped gardens.


    Inside, there is a grand formal sitting, living and dining room opening from an imposing entrance hall with a timber staircase and stained glass windows.
    • On the ground floor are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an office, storeroom, kitchen and casual dining areas. A rear extension, with a separate entrance, has two more bedrooms, a sitting room and bathroom.
    The iconic property is part of Ashfield’s heritage walks.
    The iconic property is part of Ashfield’s heritage walks.
    The Japanese gardens were part of the original design.
    The Japanese gardens were part of the original design.

    Amesbury retains its character features including high ceilings, cornices and fireplaces.
    Amesbury retains its character features including high ceilings, cornices and fireplaces.

    • At the top of the staircase, on the first floor, are five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a storeroom. Another staircase leads to the second floor that has a large entertaining room (formerly a billiard room) and two storerooms, one with steep stairs leading up to the observation tower.
    • There is also a basement or worship room with extensive storage space.
    • Other features of the home include landscaped gardens, separate studio or office, a single garage and off-street parking for seven cars in the front driveway off Alt St.

    78 ALT ST, ASHFIELD

    INSPECT: Strictly by appointment
    FOR SALE: Expressions of interest
    CLOSE: Thursday, September 25 2014, 4pm
    PRICE GUIDE: More than $3.5 million
    AGENT: Jennifer Aaron Real Estate agent Jennifer Aaron on 0418 440 653

    References

    1. 78 Alt Street Ashfield at Domain.com.au
    2. Ten-bedroom mansion at Perthnow.com.au
    3. Selfe, Norman article at http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/selfe_norman
    4. Ashfield self-guided Heritage Walk no 3.