The central streets of Northam; Gordon, Chidlow & Duke just to name a few, capture some of the town’s finest examples of Federation Architecture. The early 1900s was a professional boom period for the town which saw many doctors, solicitors and trading merchants establish substantial homes close to the main business hub. Streets like Duke Street became informal ‘status corridors’.
No 65 was built around 1905 and has been carefully and meticulously restored by its current owner. Behind the white picket fence is an uncluttered garden with two raised beds designed so as not to distract the eye from awe-inspiring, grand residence that sits behind.
The Federation red painted garden path leads to the verandah steps where your unforgettable first impressions are beginning to crystallise. You’ll notice brand new, steep pitched roof, brick chimney corbelling, turned verandah posts, verandah fret-work brackets below the beams, double-hung sash windows… but that’s just the start.
Behind the checker-board painted feature tiles and solid green door is the longest and widest hallway and you’ll think you’ve travelled back in time as you step inside and soak up the character and charm of yesteryear.
This home showcases richly polished jarrah timber floorboards, high ceilings, fancy cornices, tall skirting boards and moulded architraves, fire places with timber mantels and neutral-tone paint theme to suit most buyers’ decor.
There are four bedrooms, each with split system air conditioning, the Main Bedroom having a handy sitting or dressing room before its en suite bathroom. At the bottom end of the entry hall are two ‘ballroom’ sized living rooms; one is the dining room, large enough for the Duke & Duchess to hold court, the other through glazed double doors is the formal sitting room.
Corner windows allow ample natural light into the kitchen which features blonde-wood bench tops, overhanging ceramic sink and period style tapware. The floor covering chosen had high traffic and occasional wet spills in mind. It’s a composite wood incorporating a rubber-like underlay. A breakfast nook doesn’t take-away the enormity of the kitchen’s expanse.
You’ll love the brightly coloured laundry. The Periwinkle & Gold will turn your Monday-Washday chore into a leisure activity. The room still has the old concrete double trough and louvre windows.
Through the laundry is the family bathroom. There’s an enormous tub, separate shower recess, period timber vanity, panelling below dado rail and on-trend floor tiles.
The land is 729sqm in area and there’s a wide corridor on the right side of the dwelling just ripe for a new owner to build a carport, patio, workshop… maybe all three (subject to Shire approval). In fact, the formal sitting room has an external door to the right side verandah making for easy access to and from this portion of the property’s yard.
Talk about location !! From No 65 you’ll find a doctor, dentist, two primary schools, Woolworths shopping centre and Spudshed just minutes away.
Homes of the era are timeless, oozing character and charm and are highly sought after by purchasers desperate to set themselves apart from modern contemporary house design.
Courtney Hughes and Tash Brennan would love the opportunity to demonstrate this magnificent home to you.
