For the past 21 years, this beautiful old timber house named Fairview in Gerringong has been a weekend and holiday retreat for a busy Sydney couple. "At times, we've both been working 70 hour weeks in Sydney. This place has been our refuge from it all, a sanctuary both physical and psychological," say the current owners. "We have such lovely memories from our time here. Where else in the world can you take the dog for a gorgeous walk to a spectacular headland and watch whales breaching offshore?"
The couple were in search of a refuge from the city when friends who lived in Gerringong alerted them that one of Gerringong's original farmhouses, more than 100 years old, was coming on the market. "I was concerned it might need a lot of work or have lost all its original features," says one of the owners, "but when I walked in I just drew in a breath. The house needed a little TLC but was very liveable and had all its original features including timber lining boards, beautiful fireplaces, gorgeous old door fittings, cobalt blue glass in the front door and high ceilings. It just had the most wonderful feeling of stepping back in time. We believe Fairview was built around 1885 and that we're only the third owners, which explains why it was in such fantastic condition."
Set on an 1180 square metre block, the house is set back from the street and secluded by beautiful old trees. The block is surrounded by playing fields, with a high hedge providing privacy and has only one neighbouring house.
"It's an easy walk 200m walk to the cafes and shops. The supermarket is only100m up the road and the beach and rock pool is just 1km away," say the owners. "Gerringong is a lovely little village that has become really cosmopolitan in recent years. There's great coffee and food, nice shops and the local IGA has everything you could need."
Of a late afternoon, the owners like to sit on the front verandah "mesmerised by the birdlife and the sunsets. The garden is on a bird corridor and attracts a wonderful range of native birds. The king parrots love our birdbath so we are leaving it for them to enjoy."
The front verandah wraps around both sides of the house and the front door opens to a central hallway with three double bedrooms and a fourth bedroom or second living room with open fireplace opening off it. There is an en suite bathroom opening from the main bedroom.
At the rear of the house, the owners have added a sympathetic extension clad in Mini Orb corrugated steel incorporating a big open plan kitchen and living room, separate dining room with double fireplace, main bathroom and a study or sunroom with black and white tiled floor. Three sets of sliding doors open out to the back garden, with a laundry accessed from the back verandah. There is also a separate double garage.
"The air is so fresh here when you arrive from the city," say the owners, "and the ocean breezes mean the nights are always lovely and cool. We go bushwalking and have a little boat to chuff around in, wander up to Gerringong markets and go to the movies at the Town Hall. It's just wonderful, it truly is."
Property Code: 46
