Two of Kiama’s oldest homes are on the market – a dying breed of properties – according to one Illawarra real estate agent.
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“These original Kiama heritage homes rarely come on the market,” said listing agent Rob Havasi from Ray White Kiama. “When they do there’s always a substantial amount of interest.”
Originally built for local citizen David Lindsay Dymock and his wife Grace in 1860, “Rockleigh” at number 80 was the first house built on the hill in Bong Bong Street, according to the Kiama and District Historical Society (KDHS). At the time the township was barely populated therefor the home had sweeping views of the town, the harbour and the ocean.
Extensions made in 1906 added a second storey to the original home. Mr Dymock was a noted auctioneer and the first director of the South Coast Co-operative, designing the first milk factory in central Illawarra at Albion Park.
The property has been recently renovated to highlight some of the home’s period features such as blue stone fireplaces and cedar with pressed metal ceilings.
The five-bedroom home sits on 1,024 square metres of land and will go to auction on Monday, December 3.
It was last sold in 2016 for $1,150,000.
“Despite the [local] heritage listing, the size of the block does allow for some potential for development on the site – like as in a second dwelling – subject to council approval,” Mr Havasi said.
“Being in a position where it’s in the centre of town and being able to walk to everything and still have that nice elevated outlook is pretty special.”
Around the corner at 157 Manning Street another 19th century period home is hitting the market in coming days. Known as The Loft and Blake Cottage (it has been renovated for dual occupancy) – was built in 1895 by local architect John Simmons.
Mr Simmons was responsible for many of the homes and buildings constructed between 1860 and 1894 in the region including the Presbyterian Church, the Public School, the school house and the Protestant Hall; the Butter Factory in Gerringong; the ES&A Bank in Albion Park, and the Church of England in Shellharbour.
According to the KDHS Cecilia Lee Kendall and Selina Emily Kendall, daughters of Thomas Surfleet Kendall and Caroline Blake (Rutter) Kendall of Barroul, lived at the Manning Street property until their deaths in 1924 and 1926.
The house then went to their nieces Caroline Mary Black and Jane Caroline Zillman who also lived their lives here. After their deaths in 1952 and 1957, the house was sold out of the Kendall family.
The 942 square metre block was last sold in 2015 for $955,000. In total the property has six bedrooms, which includes a loft which can be used for dual occupancy.
The Mercury understands the property is currently being used as a holiday rental.
Both homes have traditional high ceilings, cornices and fire places.
Despite house prices declining around the country, Kiama is still performing well.
For the September quarter the local government area had a median house price of $950,000 – an annual increase of 14.5 per cent, and a five-year growth of 75.4 per cent – according to Domain Group data.