After nearly a decade spent renovating a home that "nearly fell into the hands of developers", the owners of a historic Coniston property have listed it for sale.
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Melinda Fitzgerald and partner Tory Macri bought 'Rose Bank' at 48 Robertson Street, Coniston in 2010, with a view to preserving it for future generations.
Ms Fitzgerald said now the restoration project was finished, it was time to sell.
The historic double brick residence, set on 2523sqm grounds, is now for sale via Expressions Of Interest.
Ms Fitzgerald said it was important to determine the intentions of prospective buyers.
"(You have potential buyers) who want it for the land and potential development interest, instead of those who love it as it is," she said.
'Rose Bank' was built by James Herbert Bennett, who migrated from England in 1911.
His family moved into the home 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 Rose Bank 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 Rose Bank with the current 2523sqm parcel.
Ms Fitzgerald said when they visited Rose Bank nearly 10 years ago, the house was neglected and rundown from renters.
However, they fell in love with the property and after buying it spent many hours on the house and gardens to try and preserve it.
"We've tried to stay really sympathetic to what's been already there," she said.
Expressions of Interest for the three-bedroom, two-bathroom property close on Friday, December 20 at 12pm. Contact Peter Fitzgerald Real Estate.
The owners submitted a Heritage Nomination to Wollongong City Council for Rose Bank to be considered as a potential heritage item.
A Wollongong council spokesperson said council is "continuing to work on a broader review of council's Heritage Schedule and this includes the property Rose Bank as potentially worthy of a heritage listing".
"There is currently a notation against the property's planning certificates indicating council is considering its significance in telling the story of the city's built history.
"Work on this schedule is continuing and reporting is anticipated for 2020."