The old-world charm and character of early 20th century architecture combined with locations which are beachside or city-fringe attract strong buyer interest.

Renovated older homes are generally on larger block sizes, offer privacy, feature solid building materials and can be close to transport links and parklands.

Trever Molenaar, principal of McGrath Thirroul, said period homes with beautiful renovations commanded high prices because of their originality and the historical factor.

‘‘You can go into a new estate and get bricks and mortar, and it looks really flash, but you can’t recreate a 100-year-old home,’’ he said.

Mr Molenaar said the period features highly sought by buyers included high ceilings, large bedrooms, ornate and decorative cornices, and verandahs including the bull nose shape.

‘‘Buyers want all those features yet they also want a nice sparkling kitchen and a beautiful bathroom,’’ he said. ‘‘So the mod-cons in the old home.’’

McGrath Thirroul is selling a circa-1910 Woonona family home, which has retained its period features, yet also has the modern conveniences of a master bathroom with underfloor heating, double showers and spa, and a kitchen with stone benches, stainless steel appliances and butler’s pantry.

The four-bedroom 20 Hopetoun Street home will go to auction on Saturday, September 19 with a price guide of more than $850,000.

‘‘The owners of Hopetoun Street have spent a lot of time, love and energy on their renovations,’’ Mr Molenaar said.

‘‘They brought down a fireplace from an old cottage in Sydney, which they restored, and put it into this house. It kept with the tradition of the home.’’

A two-bedroom circa 1900s former miner’s cottage at West Wollongong is another example of blending classic style with contemporary living.

Renovated by an interior designer, the home is set on an over-sized 683 square metres block with a north-facing backyard and large covered entertainer’s deck.

Located close to the University of Wollongong and the Keiraville village, the 8 Parsons Street home also has distant ocean views and district views.

‘‘People love period homes, there is just something about them,’’ said the agent Christian Zeidler of One Agency Zeidler Waller.

Mr Zeidler said the property’s West Wollongong address would be a strong selling point.

‘‘In the past West Wollongong has flown under the radar because it wasn’t a ‘Mangerton’, a ‘Keiraville’ or a ‘Gwynneville’ so it held back on price compared to those sorts of areas,’’ he said.

‘‘Then everyone seemed to discover West Wollongong at once, and the same can be said for Coniston and Mount St Thomas.

‘‘People realised those suburbs were less than five minutes into town, had everything around them, yet were affordable.

‘‘Everyone has flocked to them and now the law of supply and demand has driven the prices up.

‘‘You can’t say West Wollongong is an undiscovered gem any more, it’s well and truly discovered.’’

The West Wollongong home will go to auction on Saturday, September 19, at 11.30am.