A trio of history lovers plans to make a family home out of the old Bulli courthouse and police station - cells and all.
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The conversion is the project of former MMJ Real Estate father-and-daughter duo Bruce and Dayna Martin, and Ms Martin's husband, Nathan Fensom.
The three are directors of Bulli Properties Pty Ltd, which bought the Princes Highway property for $660,000 in June last year after it fell short of reserve at auction.
The courthouse was described in the Mercury as "moderately imposing" at its 1884 opening but Mr Martin said he was confident it would make a good home.
"It's got a lot of history about it and we will preserve as much of it as we can. We're going to do the right thing by the building, with some very minor changes," he said.
Ms Martin, Mr Fensom and perhaps another family would live at the site, Mr Martin said.
The site was sold on behalf of Aldi after Wollongong City Council rejected the supermarket chain's proposal for a store on the neighbouring block.
A proposal now with the council is for adaptive reuse of the two buildings, both heritage-listed and targeted by vandals in recent years.
According to the development proposal, the courthouse will be fitted out to contain a master bedroom with ensuite, three bedrooms, living, dining and lounge areas, a study, kitchen and laundry and storage areas. The 95-year-old former police station will contain five bedrooms, two bathrooms, living areas and a study.
Ms Martin said she hoped to use the cell in the police station for storage.
"It [the cell] won't be made habitable, it's quite eerie," Ms Martin said.
Plans include the removal of a skillion roof over the shared driveway, demolition of the portico on the southern side, removal of concreting surrounds to make way for landscaping and the addition of a new door opening on the northern side.
A review of heritage conservation matters by Borst and Conacher Architects concluded the significance of the item would not be diminished by the proposed development.
The council application cited the lack of demand for commercial business spaces in the area as the reason for residential occupation.
