"WALSHALE"

18 Ferdinand Street HUNTERS HILL NSW 2110 (Sydney) Australia

Walshale - lower house centre behind the trees with the white verandah railing

PRIVACY - VIEWS - LOCATION

Please read this slowly

Commissioned by wealthy local businessman Henry Brooks and built in 1852 from local sandstone by the infamous French Jobert brothers and their team of talented stonemasons and they were also responsible for building almost eleven of Hunters Hill’s old sandstone stately and most conspicuous residences many including this property are still under Heritage registration and most have been preserved to maintain the character of the era in which they were built but the house has been internally updated to meet today’s modern living standards and requirements.

HISTORY: In the late 1890’s the property became an infant’s school and from there passed on through private ownership until purchased by the current owners in 1994 from a Solicitor and his wife who had spent considerably by also adding the new wing on with the master bedroom, en suite bathroom and nursery/gym/spare room and garden landscaping.

ARCHITECTURE: Much of the original design of this two story house is indicative of the 1850’s era and architecture with reasonably low ceilings, small doorways and multiple windows and atrium skylights have since been added between the two roof gables to flood the house internally with daylight.

RECENT RENOVATIONS: The entire inside of the house was updated again and painted in 2014 and new quality carpets were laid throughout and parts of the garden were re-landscaped to add to the ambiance of this unique property.

COUNCIL APPROVAL: The house also still retains its exposed internal and external sandstone walls and three working marble fireplaces on both levels with ornate ceilings and was renovated in the 1990’s with the addition of an extra wing which was done under Council’s supervision in a manor sympathetic to its history and heritage by renown heritage architect Karl Romandi and has a current 149 Certificate.

GARDENS: The gardens have been created to provide minimum maintenance and have an “olde English” ambiance with the winding paths and drooping tall trees and bushes … and the property is equipped with an automatic water sprinkler system which helps to keep everything healthy and green.

LAND SIZE: Almost 1500 sq metres useable.

COUNCIL RATES: Reduced by approx 25% due to Heritage recognition … Land Tax not applic.

ACCESS and LOCATION: At the end of a cul de sac (Ferdinand Street) on the unique Hunters Hill peninsula, Walshale is located on the Southern river bank (facing North) of the Lane Cove river with exquisite views of Fig Tree Bridge to Riverview College, Burns Bay and Linley Point and is especially nice after dark. A strip of relatively inaccessible by the public is the Council maintained bushland called Ferdinand Reserve separates the property from the river bank which provides a wharf (requiring repairs) and a lockable Council boatshed that provides secure dinghy parking by arrangement with Council for local boat owners including us with their large boats moored in the river… these photos do not do justice to the house, garden or the views.


Fig tree bridge	Lane Cove River

UPSTAIRS

Comprises of 4 x bedrooms upstairs including the master suite which is private separate private enclave with a large main bedroom, huge walk in wardrobes, en suite bathroom and a separate large bedroom that can also be used either as a gymnasium, a nursery or a private personal office. The main bedroom has separate verandah access and expansive views across the Lane Cove river to Linley Point and beyond to Fig Tree and Burns Bays
The other two bedrooms are smaller and have built in cupboards, one has a wall bookshelf and both share the large main bathroom with hot tub and a separately accessed guests vanity closet off the upstairs hall which consists of a WC and a basin for visiting guests
The main hallway receives ample daylight from atrium skylights between the two gable roofs and the windows are adjustable
A large formal withdrawing room/formal dining room occupies the Northern end of the upstairs area with two fireplaces with French doors opening onto the polished timber floor verandah where the views are exquisite with a stone garden path access also on the Eastern side of the verandah separated only by a balcony fence with an opening gate
The verandah provides an ideal place to sit and relax or read a book or simply enjoy the views

DOWNSTAIRS

Large open plan living area with polished timber floors and a very well-equipped 20 year old kitchen with a separate large pantry and more than ample cupboard and bench space
Open plan includes a separate informal dining area, large open plan lounge area with working fireplace and French doors opening onto the sandstone paved outside entertainment patio and lawn which is surrounded by a low sandstone retaining wall and gardens offering magnificent views
The den/office off the lounge area (now being used as a private study) also enjoys its own extra outside entrance or could be used as a 5th bedroom or playroom
At the rear a there is a long passage with a complete wall of sliding door cupboards ideal for wine storage etc and leads to the separate laundry and a WC and basin plus outside access to the swimming pool area via stable doors

OUTSIDE AREAS/GARDENS

15 metre pear shaped filtered concrete swimming pool with solar central heating
Lower level lawns with a lockable tool shed for tools and mowers etc
Fully automatic water sprinkler system on all levels (downstairs requires repairs)
Access from these lawns to a private stone pathway through the reserve to the boatshed and wharf below
The upper level consists of sandstone paths and low maintenance gardens bushes and trees
Three access points to the house either via the side gardens and verandah, the bottom door off the patio or a relatively steep staircase down from the garage past the office


Sandstone walls and paving complete the garden with its three lawns, trees and low maintenance shrubs and bushes

GARAGE AND OFFICE (or STORE ROOM) … top level with driveway and street access

Security garage accommodates two cars plus a two car Architect designed gable roof carport … the combination providing 4 x car off street parking. Ample bench space and is accessible via a shared driveway with ornate sandstone entrance pillars adjacent to the walking path entrance to Ferdinand Street Reserve
Below the garage and one flight of steps from the front door entrance is a large office or storeroom wired for Telstra equipment and 240V power approx 6 x 7 metres with a tall ceiling with views of the Lane Cove River … a separate stand-alone room for privacy, a large home office or separate bedroom for a teenager … or a granny flat as water amenities are nearby and would be inexpensive to install … this unique room away from the house providing absolute privacy
Ferdinand Street ends as a cull de sac at the top front driveway entrance and little traffic except for the immediate neighbors
Ferdinand Reserve below is accessed by a stair pathway which runs down from the road end of Ferdinand Street past an additional Eastern border entrance incorporating Walshale’s heritage stone wall and total privacy is maintained by tall pine trees and bushes along the border
Due to the steep path few people access the reserve so privacy is a benefit of living in such a bush land environment so close to Sydney’s CBD

Top level garage with driveway and street access

ABOUT HUNTERS HILL PENINSULA - and nearby surroundings

A quiet bushy peninsula enclave including Woolwich only comprising of a few thousand people has a village atmosphere and it still retains its old world charm with some beautiful old mansions and tiny sandstone cottages and terrace houses but the area is also renowned for its bushland and tree settings … Kelly’s Bush and Clarks Point being the most notable.

One road provides access to the Peninsula which otherwise is totally surrounded by water being Lane Cove and Parramatta rivers and views of Cockatoo Island Sydney Harbour from Weil Park and beyond are breathtaking … especially for the NYE fireworks and is serviced by two hotels (pubs) being the Woolwich Pier and the Triple H on the overpass.

Shopping is available on the overpass with IGA, butchers, Newsagent, restaurants and coffee shops etc or at nearby Gladesville, Top Ryde or Lane Cove shopping Centres and the Hunters Hill/ Woolwich Ferry travels via many waterfront suburbs to the Sydney CBD or Parramatta everyday providing work commuters a very pleasant way to travel and this service is most popular.

A picturesque sandstone public school in lovely grounds occupies most children living on the Peninsula under 13 years of age together with a high school and three private schools also within a whistle for either boys of girls (St Joseph’s, Riverview and Marist Sisters) and Private School bus picks ups also service Hunters Hill every morning around 8.00 am and drops offs late afternoon.

Living on the Peninsula is more a way of life and an excellent place to bring up children in a safe environment with an extremely low crime rate and it provides a unique lifestyle only 10kms from Sydney’s CBD so unique properties like Walshale in Sydney are rare and sought after by discerning people with taste and a sense of wanting something “different” in a very central Sydney location … 20 mins to Mascot airport etc .

CONFIDENTIAL SALE DETAILS

Currently the real Estate Market in Sydney is going through an absolute boom and we have consulted with our busy local Real Estate Agents but prefer at this time not to utilize their services not specifically to save their fees but we simply don't want the razzle dazzle of Open House Inspections etc so we will only show the property personally BY APPOINTMENT.

We are still only contemplating selling and downsizing and we are not in a hurry recognising realistically this property will appeal possibly only to certain mature buyers and probably not to todays ''New World'' tastes so we offer Walshale by PRIVATE TREATY for sale. It will suit more conservative experienced tastes and hopefully someone who will enjoy this wonderful environment, views and privacy as much as we have over the past 21 years.

SELLING TERMS: Serious and discrete enquiries by principals only please … we are not dreamers and will talk realistically and will even consider longer settlement terms under contract should you need time to sell your existing house … but only to the right buyer.

ROBERT and PEG TWEEDIE
+ 61 (0)408 162 762
ibcholdings@bigpond.com

E&OE

Walshale

Interstate friends enjoying the top lawn

[ Home ]