95 Brogers Creek Road

Brogers Creek NSW 2535

BURNSIDE - THE OLD WOODHILL SCHOOL HOUSE
WIND GENTLY UPHILL THROUGH PRETTY COUNTRY LANEWAYS EIGHT KILOMETRES FROM BERRY, PULL INTO THE GRAVEL DRIVEWAY OF BURNSIDE AND BE PREPARED FOR A BIG SURPRISE. STEP AROUND THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE AND THE WORLD OPENS OUT INTO A STUNNING VISTA DOWN THE LENGTH OF WATTAMOLLA VALLEY, WITH THE RUGGED BLUFFS OF BROUGHTON HEAD TO THE LEFT AND BUDDAROO NATIONAL PARK TO THE RIGHT. HERE, THE SILENCE REALLY IS GOLDEN, BROKEN ONLY BY THE GENTLE BABBLE OF A CREEK AND THE CALLS OF BIRDS IN THE RAINFOREST BELOW. EVEN AFTER 20 YEARS HERE, WE STILL APPRECIATE JUST HOW MAGICAL THIS PLACE AND THE VIEWS REALLY ARE, SAYS ONE OF THE CURRENT OWNERS. ALSO, THE WATTAMOLLA VALLEY IS PART OF THE SYDNEY WATER CATCHMENT AREA SO THERE CAN BE NO MORE DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD AFFECT THE OUTLOOK IN THE FUTURE.SET ON FIVE ACRES, THE HOUSE AT BURNSIDE IS A SEAMLESS COMBINATION OF OLD AND NEW. THE ORIGINAL PART OF THE HOME WAS THE ORIGINAL WOODHILL SCHOOLHOUSE (CIRCA 1883), MOVED FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION TWO KILOMETRES AWAY IN PIECES BY BULLOCK CART IN 1904. IT WAS SO SOLIDLY BUILT THAT IT HASN'T SHIFTED OR SHOWN ANY CRACKS IN 100 YEARS, SAYS THE OWNER. IN THE ORIGINAL HOUSE ARE THE MODERN KITCHEN, DINING AREA AND LIVING AREA WITH OPEN FIREPLACE, PLUS THREE DOUBLE BEDROOMS, TWO WITH ENSUITE BATHROOMS. WARM TIMBERS LINE THE WALLS AND LARGE TIMBER WINDOWS AND STAINED GLASS DOORS FLOOD THE HIGH-CEILINGED SPACES WITH LIGHT. A SUN-FILLED ATRIUM LOOKING OUT ONTO A RAINFOREST COURTYARD WITH A STAND OF TREE FERNS LEADS TO THE NEW SECTION OF THE HOUSE, BUILT BY THE CURRENT OWNERS. HERE, THERE IS ANOTHER SPACIOUS LIVING AREA, MAIN BEDROOM AND ENSUITE BATHROOM WITH LARGE WINDOW LOOKING OUT OVER THE WATTAMOLLA VALLEY. AFTER A DAY OUTSIDE IT'S REALLY LUXURIOUS TO LIE IN THE BATH LOOKING OUT AT THAT VIEW, SAYS THE OWNER. BEFORE BUILDING THE NEW SECTION, THE OWNERS COLLECTED OLD DOORS, WINDOWS AND PRESSED METAL CEILING SECTIONS TO ENSURE THE NEW BUILDING FITTED SEAMLESSLY WITH THE OLD. THE NEW SECTION OF THE HOUSE OPENS OUT TO A LONG VERANDAH LOOKING OUT OVER A LILY POND TO THE VIEWS BEYOND. IT'S A WONDERFUL SPOT TO RELAX AND ALSO WHERE WE LOVE TO ENTERTAIN. AT CHRISTMAS, ALL THE FAMILY COME TO STAY AND WE HAVE CHRISTMAS DINNER ON THE VERANDAH. IN ADDITION TO THE HOUSE, THERE IS A FOUR-BAY GARAGE AND A LARGE ORIGINAL SHED THAT COULD READILY BE USED AS A WORKSHOP OR STUDIO. ON TWO SIDES OF THE HOUSE ARE GLORIOUS EDNA WALLING STYLE GARDENS, TERRACED USING LOCAL STONEWORK AND PLANTED WITH JAPANESE MAPLES THAT BECOME FIREBALLS OF COLOUR IN AUTUMN, CAMELLIA HEDGES AND AN ORCHARD PLANTED WITH EVERY VARIETY OF CITRUS, GRAPES AND PASSIONFRUIT. WE HAVE SUCH GOOD RAINFALL HERE THAT, APART FROM THE POTS, WE NEVER NEED TO WATER THE GARDEN, SAYS THE OWNER. BURNSIDE IS ALSO HOME TO ABUNDANT BIRDLIFE AND WILDLIFE, INCLUDING WOMBATS, ECHIDNAS AND A SMALL BLACK WALLABY WHO HAS RECENTLY TAKEN TO VISITING THE PROPERTY. IT'S TRULY BEEN A MAGICAL PLACE TO LIVE, SAY THE OWNERS. EVERYWHERE YOU GO THERE ARE THE VIEWS AND THE BIRDLIFE. THERE ARE WONDERFUL SECLUDED SWIMMING HOLES NEARBY IN BROGERS CREEK AND WE ARE SO CLOSE TO BEAUTIFUL BEACHES.THE VERSATILE LAYOUT OF THE HOUSE WOULD ALSO MAKE IT IDEAL FOR B & B STYLE ACCOMMODATION. FEATURES AT A GLANCEFIVE ACRES, CURRENTLY AGISTING CATTLE AND SHEEPFOUR BEDROOMSTHREE BATHROOMS PLUS EXTRA SHOWER IN LAUNDRY/MUD ROOMOPEN FIREPLACES AND PERIOD FEATURESTWO SEPARATE LIVING AREASFOUR-BAY GARAGE LARGE SHEDWATER TANKSCREEK AND SPRING