Efforts to rejuvenate Wollongong's oldest house were afforded a funding boost recently.
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For the past several years, the owners of the 1844 mansion named ‘Keera Vale’ have been working to restore the Georgian structure to its former glory.
Harold Cosier and Jenny Dixon bought the historic West Wollongong house in late 2012.
They soon outlined plans for a large-scale renovation project to transform the run-down building into a grand family home.
The plans included reinstating the Bukari Street mansion’s Georgian balconies, which were removed in earlier renovations, and building a separate modern extension to preserve the original building’s structural integrity.
Even after several years the ongoing restoration process remains a passion project for the couple; for Mr Cosier “because I love working with my hands”.
“The timeframe (for completion) is before I die – that’s the timeframe she’s given me,” he joked.
During recent months, both levels of the home have been decked, and the family are now working towards completing the verandah roof and balustrades.
The couple estimate the total expenditure for the balconies will be between $160,000 and $180,000.
Some of this cost will be off-set by the owners recently being successful in applying for a $100,000 ‘Heritage Near Me’ grant from the state government’s Office of Environment and Heritage.
The funding was specifically provided in order to help reinstate the balconies on three sides.
“It’s a big deal getting the verandahs back on, because it’s actually been one of the things that’s been damaging the house internally and externally,” Ms Dixon told the Mercury.
“We’ve been at a standstill waiting to get these on, because the rain was still damaging even the new work that we’d done.
“Having this on and getting the building protected means we can actually move forward internally as well.”
Wollongong City Council has also provided them with $10,000 as part of a dollar-for-dollar heritage grant.
The house, not currently heritage-listed - although council have an Environmental Protection Order on it - was built for Judge Roger Therry, attorney-general and sitting member of the NSW Legislative Council from 1841 to 1843.
The house was featured on ABC TV’s Restoration Australia in 2015, and is a regular source of curiosity for passing motorists.
“The house, sited on a crest, is prominent in the landscape, aesthetically distinctive and presents a local landmark... In spite of unsympathetic superficial alterations, the building retains its Georgian character,” the Office of Environment and Heritage website says.
Read more: The mystery lurking in our oldest house