Nursed Back To Glory Days

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday June 21, 2006

Alysson Watson

THIS is a house that wraps its arms around you in welcome.

I don't say that just because I had a hand in its restoration way back when, or because it's where I brought my babies home it's just a lovely old house filled with timber and rich in history.

Restored over the past few decades by several owners, the Edwardian cottage harks back to a day when Wickham was a sought-after waterfront address, much like it is becoming again.

Once Nurse Bundoch's maternity hospital, it was one of few houses to survive the industrial onslaught and retains delightful period features that will enchant.

Its floors are tallowwood, ceilings and wainscoting are kauri pine, and four-panel doors cedar and pine. Except for one bedroom, now a combination of fudge and white, all the timber is unpainted.

The front door has its original leadlight panels and other doorways have fanlights. The original multi-paned coloured windows run along the front and recycled ones have been added at the rear.

The bold colour scheme, deep hunter green throughout living areas, plum in the bathroom, sand and sage green in bedrooms, take their cues from this glass.

The kitchen has been lined with timber boards and the fireplace in the old brick chimney one of three in the house has been turned over to gas hotplates.

A stainless steel oven and dishwasher sit unobtrusively under timber benches.

The bathroom has a claw-foot bath with shower above, old-style toilet and pedestal basin. On the floor are sand tessellated tiles.

A delightful stencil border, also replicated once on the bath, is an indication of the feminine touches added by the current owner.

The lounge room has a combustion fire set into the original fireplace and split-system air-conditioner.

At the front is a long sunny veranda, overlooking the cottage garden and picket fence, and at the rear is a deck looking out to a private rainforest courtyard paved in old bricks.

Privacy is a big selling point on this corner block, with access from Union Street via an automatic roller door on the carport, separate to the lock-up garage.

The largest bedroom, used previously as a studio, has a separate front veranda entry.

WICKHAM

$499,500

Address: 32 Throsby Street.

House: Weatherboard and Zincalume house on 427 square metres.

Inspect: Saturday, from 1.30pm.

Agent: Scott Purnell, Robinson Property, 4902 7222 or 0438 770 427.

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© 2006 Newcastle Herald

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