Comprising 3 bedrooms, living room, separate dining room, sunroom, eat-in kitchen, walk-in pantry, utility room, bathroom, separate shower recess, second toilet, laundry and fernery.
Cavity brick and colourbond
Single garage
Approx 700 square metre level block
This home has high ceilings, original timber architraves, wide skirting boards, plate rails and picture rails.
Location:
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A 15 minute walk to Merewether Beach
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Close to Newcastle CBD and transport
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Near a selection of schools and shopping centres
A True Federation Home
Some of the true Federation features include:
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Five-panelled doors throughout the house
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coloured leadlight windows
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fretwork wooden screens
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decorative moulded high plaster ceilings – including Australiana detail of wattle in the dining room
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shaped timber mantelpieces, in living room and dining room, surround floral glazed fireplaces with hoods decorated in art nouveau tulip design
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brass art nouveau door handles
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high gables
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high pitched roofline
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3 roughcast render chimneys
The land at 113 Gordon Avenue, Hamilton South was purchased by Scottish couple, Matthew Banks Porter and Margaret Ann Porter in 1924 for 265 pounds. Matthew Porter built the substantial cavity brick home to a Federation design and, in order to link it with his homeland, named it Glenroy after the Glen Roy nature reserve in the Lochaber area of the Highlands of Scotland. The original coloured leadlight front door, decorated with roses and a heart, bears the name Glenroy.
In 1926 William Frederick Glover, an accountant and his wife, Isabella Glover purchased the newly-built Glenroy from the Porters for 1,835 pounds. Being the son of cabinetmaker, also named William Glover, the purchaser would have been drawn to the craftsmanship of the interior cabinetry and architraves. To this day these features remain in original, beautifully polished condition – unlike so many Hamilton South homes that have been spoiled and devalued at the hands of unsympathetic renovators who misguidedly paint original timber, at the same time painting away the history of the house.
Glenroy was purchased by the family of the present owners in 1967, shortly after the death of Isabella Glover. Over its 87 year history this home has had only two dedicated, caring owners who have meticulously maintained it in pristine original condition.
Built to a much earlier taste, this spacious residence is a treasure trove of traditional features of the Federation period. Untouched by time, and cared for by only two families, the original architraves, coloured leadlight and decorative plaster ceilings remain intact. Waratah air vents, picture rails, wide skirting boards and five-panelled Federation doors are featured throughout the house.
Timber fretwork grills define the wainscoted entry hall as the delightful floral ceiling and acorn ceiling rose welcome the visitor. The generously proportioned living room has large art nouveau rose patterned leadlight doors with matching side panels. Similarly, small rose leadlight windows feature on either side of the fireplace. If it were not for the striking leadlight doors, the shaped timber overmantel with bevelled mirror would be the focus of the room. The floral tiled hearth surrounds a stylised art nouveau tulip design cast iron grate and hood. A variety of fruit adorns the plaster ceiling while the deep cornices are trimmed with roses. Echoing the entry hall are the panelled walls and plate or plaque rails.
At the front of the house the spacious main bedroom has a high plaster ceiling embellished with grapes, the fruit of the gods – pleasant to wake up to, or a comforting thought, at day’s end. Deep cornices are decorated with pears and peaches. Two more bedrooms lead off from the wide main hallway before another fretwork wooden screen leads to the bathroom. On either side of the entry to the bathroom are the original stained timber linen presses.
Like most homes of this era, Glenroy has a separate formal dining room. In this room the striking feature is the stylised art nouveau wattle ceiling – such Australian motifs were popular in Federation houses. A mirrored mantelpiece surrounding a fine floral tiled fireplace with a hood bedecked in tulips, similar to that in the living room, is the focus of this room.
The kitchen is equipped with the original cabinetry including drawers and a glassed dresser for display of china. A large walk-in pantry is fitted with the original shelves and meat safe. To the rear of the house are the laundry, fernery, shower recess and second toilet.
Glenroy is set in a conservation area on approximately 700 square metres. From the exterior it has high gables, a new colourbond roof and three roughcast render chimneys. The original single garage still stands. There is ample room in the large level back garden for an addition, a pool, or both.
The timeless appeal and valuable, sought-after features in this home would be irreplaceable in today’s market. Inspecting this house is like turning back the clock and stepping into a show house of the Federation era. Close the doors behind the 21st century and the escape is complete.
Enquiries can be made by contacting:
Barbara Kelly on 0413 994 240
or email beekay1@live.com.au or
Gerard Kelly on 0411 241 627
