An opportunity has arisen to purchase one of Sydney’s last affordable beach houses, located in an incredibly unusual area of Sydney.
Sydney residents Penny and Ged Blaschka are selling their home in the Colonel and embarking on a trip around Australia with their young sons Arien and Elio.
The couple listed their family home at 36 Torres Street, which they have poured their heart and soul into building over the past eight years.
The 607sqm property is one of two for sale in Carnell, a historic suburb in Sutherland Shire, south of Sydney.
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It’s a suburb from a bygone era, with quiet streets and kids playing cricket. Just a short walk to the beach, waterfront and bushland.
Adjacent to Cronulla, Woolooware and opposite La Pérouse, Cronulla is the site of Captain James Cook’s landing in April 1770, an early 1920s fishing town and, in 2015, NSW’s premier fishing town. It has a rich history as the site of the construction of supercells that have recorded wind speeds. 213km.
Blaschka said he bought the house in 2015 when it was an “old Fibro Beach cabin.”
“I was really shocked,” she said.
“From the beginning, we knew this was going to be a labor of love. The first time we tried to get into the house, even the key wouldn’t work in the broken lock. In fact, the house didn’t even have a kitchen. There was also a rooster living in the backyard. Our family thought we were crazy to buy this house.”
The couple said they liked Carnell’s proximity to national parks, as well as its “small holiday town in the middle of Sydney” feel.
“If the wind is blowing in the right direction, you can hear the waves, and most importantly, the old glass windows catch the morning sun and heat the whole house,” Blaschka said.
She said renovations began soon after she moved in, starting with renovating the studio and workshop using recycled materials.
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“We used old recycled bricks and also used old floorboards from the 1950s to cover the walls and ceiling spaces. It’s very unique,” she said.
“We planted Boston ivy to cover the exterior walls of this space with greenery during the summer. It’s one of the features of our home that people comment on most.”
An organic permaculture vegetable, herb, and fruit garden followed, and the couple often distributed food to neighbors before being confined to their homes.
“We love texture and color, and that’s reflected in the different pockets of the home,” Blaschka said.
“We wanted a one-story home that was easy to maintain and where each space flows into one another. To make this home rich and inviting, we sourced things from everywhere. .”
Blaschka said the move was bittersweet because the home was a “labor of love.”
The home is scheduled to be auctioned for $1.7 million on Dec. 9, and the listing describes it as a “beautifully renovated oceanfront haven” built for modern comfort.
Features include an open-plan design that integrates living and dining areas, entertaining decks, spotted gum hardwood boards and marble mosaic, plus a brand new kitchen and master bed with luxurious en-suite bathroom and walk-in robe. Includes room.
The organic permaculture vegetable and herb garden includes citrus trees, recycled hardwood raised beds, and a composting bay.
McGrath Sutherland Shire agent Mitch Kenyon said Carnell was a “fantastic area”.
“It’s flat and close to the water,” he said.
“This is a family-friendly area and we’re seeing a lot of interest from downsizers as well as young families.”