Authors: Dr Sue Rosen and Liz Gorman
Client: Private Client
Our team prepared a history of the property as part of a Heritage Impact Statement required for the client to construct a second independent residence at their heritage listed property, ‘Koombahla’. The new detached single-storey contemporary dwelling is expected to become the primary residence.
In August 1910, lots 2 – 6 of Hunts Subdivision in Dural was purchased by James William Runting Smith, his wife Mabel Jane, and spinsters, Sarah Sutherland Smith and Hilda Sutherland Smith. This represented the majority of the acreage – a total of 64 acres 26 perches. The Smiths commissioned the construction of the timber cottage on the study site; a painted inscription on the riser of the stone front step of the house marks the construction date as ‘Feb 1st 1913’. A rural take on the Federation style, the residence is constructed of weatherboard, with a corrugated iron hip and gable roof, wrapped with a continuous veranda. Inside, New Zealand Kauri Pine is used extensively as flooring and for the varnished paneled ceilings.
The property was sold to various farmers, graziers and pastoralists until the current owners purchased the property in 2013.