Melinda Fitzgerald says you don't have to be "an expert to save a house".
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"You just have to care enough about our past to want to do it," she said.
"Historic homes across Australia are at risk of being lost forever, as they are cleared to make way for multi-dwelling complexes as our need for affordable housing increases.
"But these houses are the links to our past and we owe it to our past to preserve them for future generations."
Ms Fitzgerald and partner Tory Macri bought 'Rose-Bank' on Robertson Street, Coniston in 2010.
"It nearly fell into the hands of developers," she said.
'Rose-Bank' was built by James Herbert Bennett, who migrated from England in 1911.
Mr Bennett bought land to build his dream home, which his family moved into in the late 1920's.
"It is rumoured Mr Bennett salvaged materials from houses in the street that were destroyed when the cannons at Fort Drummond were 'proof-fired' in the 1940's; rescuing door frames, fireplaces and mantles for Rose-Bank from the firing line," Ms Fitzgerald said.
After Mr Bennett's death in 1946, Rose-Bank and its surrounding land were sold to a local developer who sub-divided the land and on-sold RoseBank house to Dutch migrants in a 10-acre parcel, who later ran it as a boarding house in the 1950's.
In the 1960's, the land was divided up again, leaving RoseBank with the current 2523sqm parcel.
"When we visited RoseBank nearly 10 years ago, it was a real mess," Ms Fitzgerald said.
"The house was very neglected and run down from renters, with broken/missing internal and external ceiling panels, fireplaces bricked over and tiles coming off walls.
"It was dirty, smelly and just so tired looking and unloved and in need of a complete overhaul.
"The gardens were so overgrown and neglected, it just looked like a sea of weeds.
"We couldn't see anything worth saving at first, but it immediately got under our skin and we had to have it."
The couple spent many hours on the house and gardens to try and preserve it.
"A lot of the work we have done on the house and gardens is cosmetic really; not wanting to alter Rose-Bank's integrity too much, but refresh it," Ms Fitzgerald said.
The couple submitted a Heritage Nomination to Wollongong City Council for Rose-Bank to be considered as a potential heritage item.
They collected research from the likes of Illawarra Historical Society and previous owners and put in a heritage application.
"The application process was pretty easy, but my advice is to do your homework first on the property and its history, gather as much information as you can," Ms Fitzgerald said.
"Things like its physical description, any previous modifications, any historical notes of interest and why you think this house could be of 'significance' to the area."
In 2017, they were told Rose-Bank was going to be put forward as part of a bulk submission on a series of Illawarra houses, for heritage listing consideration.
"We were thrilled; this place is too special for it to go under a bulldozer's tray," Ms Fitzgerald said.
Council says they have been working with the owners on the matter.
"The property is under consideration for heritage listing as part of a broader review of council's Heritage Schedule, reporting on which is expected to commence later in 2019," a spokesperson said.
When council staff decides on the heritage fate of RoseBank, the couple plans sell the property.
"The goal was always to preserve RoseBank and move on," Ms Fitzgerald said.