One of Willoughby's Oldest Original Houses

Sneak Peek: “Kia Ora” 1 Clanwilliam Street, Willoughby North

3 bed/1 bath/2 car

Who wouldn't fall in love with this immaculate home with its chic fusion of classic heritage charm and modern elegance in an enviable location close to Chatswood and City?

“Kia Ora” is thought to be one of the oldest remaining original homes in the suburb of Willoughby.  It was built between 1880 and 1882 by local landowner David Etherington, who lived there with his wife and eight children.  At that time, there was no toilet and the family cooked over the open fireplace in the lounge, with no modern luxuries like electricity and gas.  The house was extended around 1910 by Edward and Alice Smith, whose son, Edward Amos Smith, left from there to fight in the First World War at the age of 18.  Tragically, he never came home but his memory remains by his signature which he etched into one of the sandstone window sills as a child.

Over the following decades, the house was home to a number of Willoughby’s prominent families, but fell into disrepair until the current owner bought the property in 2001.

A labour-of-love has restored this classic brick and sandstone double-fronted cottage to its original form, with soaring timber ceilings, beautiful Kauri floors, open fireplaces, picture rails and heritage colour schemes.  The front cottage provides three double bedrooms, two with French doors to the wide sandstone veranda, along with a traditional central lounge with open fireplace.

The contemporary rear extension, designed by heritage architect Scott Robertson, reflects the proportions and ambience of the 1880s cottage, with vaulted timber ceiling, recycled 6” Kauri floorboards, sandstock bricks and feature sandstone window sills.  Providing open plan dining and gas kitchen with stainless steel appliances, this sundrenched room has tall windows and French doors flowing to the North-facing entertainer’s decked rear garden.  The home has a glamorous fully-tiled marble bathroom, huge attic storage spanning the full size of the cottage, professionally landscaped low-maintenance gardens and two-car auto-gated parking.

The renovated home won the Willoughby City Council Heritage Award – Restoration - in 2008.

This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of history.  “Kia Ora”, has been architecturally renovated and painstakingly restored to create a unique blend of Victorian history and contemporary designer lifestyle.  On the market for the first time in fifteen years, the immaculately presented home will be auctioned through Forsyth Real Estate on 31 October.

“A showcase to heritage restoration, this home has an exceptional sense of history while offering designer quality and surprisingly space and light for today’s lifestyle,” says marketing agent James Snodgrass of Forsyth Real Estate.

Contact:      James Snodgrass on 0411 815 181 or Di Burcham on 0411 815 181.

Full details will be available on Thursday 1st October.