Heritage with an eye to the future

106 Redfern Street SUBIACO

Offers by April 22 William Porteous Properties

Almost a century after Heatherbell was built, the 1925 character home still retains its charm but is ready for the next century thanks to a comprehensive renovation that spreads over two levels.

The original owners, Margaret Aikman and her crane-driver husband James, named it after their home town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland.

The pocket of Subiaco called Redfern Estate was subdivided in 1893 by NSW developers Intercolonial Investment Land and Building Company.

But there wasn’t a lot of initial interest in the land, despite it being advertised in the local press as “Good building lots, near the railway line”.

The Aikmans bought one and a half blocks in 1924, and a year later they moved into the home that stayed in their family for about four decades.

The house, on a 668sq.m site, is one of 35 character properties in Subiaco council’s Sadlier and Redfern streets heritage area.

The council describes the area as having “an aesthetically pleasing streetscape with a strong identifiable character, featuring an avenue of mature street trees, which frame views of the largely inter-war residences.”

In 2013, Heatherbell caught the eye of an experienced renovator who engaged Melville company Urbane Projects to update it with a contemporary addition.

The owner said the twoyear renovation was done with a great deal of care to maintain the authenticity of the front section of the home and to maximise the use of the site by building an undercroft garage.

The “before” photo of the kitchen shows how much it has changed.

What was a white, galley kitchen tucked off to the side is now a stylish mix of marble-look and timber cabinets in an open-plan living area.

Previously, the northfacing back garden was a big expanse of lawn; now it has a heated pool and an alfresco area with a teppanyaki barbecue.

On the long list of improvements are heated floors, solar panels, gardens by Tim Davies Landscaping and a separate gym area with TV in the garage.

Kitchen before A northern aspect ensures the main living is light and bright.

The “before” photo of the back garden, below right, shows how much it has changed since the owners renovated their 668sq.m property on one and a half blocks.

Parking is problematic in Subi but this house has an undercroft garage with parking for three cars.

Indoors merge seamlessly with outdoors.

Back garden before