211 Farmers Road

Everton Upper VIC 3678

See the property story on 'Restoration Australia with Sibella Court' Video link https://iview.abc.net.au/video/FA1289S001S00

In 1885 a grand stone family homestead was built using the local Beechworth granite stone on rural acreage about midway between Beechworth and Wangaratta by Scottish stonemason William Morrison.
It was for many years to the family home of a number of owners of district importance.
Then for unknown reasons in 1940 the home was vacated and gradually fell into disrepair.
The property comprising over two hectares, or five acres of rural land was purchased by Clay Carnegie a Canadian who having already restored one stone cottage in nearby Yackandandah and with a background as an antique furniture restorer purchased the property with a plan to rebuild in the original style.
What remained was the largely demolished Keith Hall.
As he says "some parts of the original stone home walling were still standing if only by luck, while the main northern wall had collapsed and lay spread across the land.
So, Clay began a project to reinstate Keith Hall as a hands on building project that has now concluded after seven years of full time building.
Clay was given one important photo of the main collapsed northern wall of the home.
Working with a blown up and laminated print he was able to pick up all the stones as they had fallen on the ground and cement them back in their original place.
The rebuild and restoration of Keith Hall in Farmers Road Everton Upper midway between Beechworth, Milawa and Wangaratta is now complete and the owners Clay Carnegie and his wife Narelle are now offering the property for sale.
Now offering four bedrooms, including a new upstairs master bedroom and ensuite with its own Dormer window to capture the surrounding district views, there are three bedrooms downstairs, a quality kitchen and living zone, even a home office.
Meticulous finishes in stone, rendered internal walls and lighting fittings are complemented by a beautiful tongue and grooved cypress pine floor throughout that was locally milled to a quality finish. Clay has installed timber decks on the perimeter of the stone walls for enjoyable relaxation and alfresco outdoor living. One section also hosts a jetted swim-spa for exercise and relaxation. The Keith Hall home is uniquely comfortable under winter or summer conditions. Not surprising considering that most of the stone walls are 60 centimetres or more in thickness.
All the windows that were replaced are double glazed with the new roof insulated.
There are three rebuilt and functional chimneys, one with a combustion wood heater and this quickly warms the home to a congenial temperature in winter.
In the summer, the sheer mass of the construction provides an internal temperature at least ten or more degrees cooler than the outside ambient reading.
Clay says that they originally considered creating Keith Hall as a bed and breakfast but after completion and with their lived experience it has proven just a delightful home in which to live. It is fully serviced with mains power with rain water harvested into a large steel tank for domestic supplies. The surrounding five acres has been extensively landscaped with potential specimen trees planted that will provide a spectacular garden as they grow.
In the garden area is a spring fed pond that holds water year round while one side property boundary is to a local creek.
Two other buildings on the property include the fourteen metre by twelve metre American barn steel building which Clay uses as his workshop and for antique restoration.
There is a second building of eight metres by seven metres configured as a double car garage with roller doors for access.
It also includes a laundry and a space intended to be a battery room as a significant solar panel array could be fitted to its roof.
Another feature is a garden arbour with steel posts in place for overhead vines designed on one at the famous Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
There is also on the property the stone remains of the original stone dairy which could be rebuilt or relocated, and Clay will negotiate with the purchaser on this structure.
Elders Real Estate in Wangaratta has been appointed to market Keith Hall for an online Auction
Elders Real Estate manager Michael Everard says that the rebuild of Keith Hall to its original format and the extension to the historic homestead design is effectively a work of art and a considerable tribute to the energy and expertise of Clay Carnegie as a stonemason and builder.
"Keith Hall now presents as a signature lifestyle property within ten to fifteen minutes commute of Beechworth, Wangaratta or Milawa.

"Clay's rebuilding work was featured on the Restoration Australia television series when he was rebuilding the stone structure and a reference to this program will give intere...