35 Hinemoa Avenue

Normanhurst NSW 2076

' WALKER'S ORCHARD C1880'S AFFECTIONALETY ESTHERS COTTAGEnSET ON AN APPROXIMATELY 1,350M2 BATTLE-AXE BLOCK THIS SERENELY PRIVATE ESTATE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY RENOVATED AND IS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF ALL AMENITIES INCLUDING TRAIN, SCHOOLS AND SHOPS. THE ORIGINAL COLONIAL COTTAGE HAS UNDERGONE A COMPLETE TRANSFORMATION AND FEATURES STYLISH AND MODERN FITTINGS THROUGHOUT. ACCOMMODATION INCLUDES 3 BEDROOMS (MAIN WITH WALK-IN ROBE, SITTING ROOM AND ENSUITE), STUDY AND 2 SUPERB BATHROOMS. THE STUNNING KITCHEN INCLUDES CEASAR STONE BENCHTOPS, GAS COOKTOP AND SMEG OVEN. FORMAL LOUNGE AND DINING ROOMS INCORPORATE THE RE-FURBISHED, ORIGINAL FIREPLACE C 1880'S, WHILE MORE CASUAL SPACES INCLUDE A SUNDRENCHED SUNROOM, FULLY COVERED VERANDAH AND SANDSTONE ENTERTAINING AREA. A LARGE, LEVEL, NORTH FACING BACKYARD IS FULLY LANDSCAPED AND PROVIDES A TRUE FAMILY OASIS COMPLETE WITH VEGETABLE GARDEN AND TREE HOUSE. IN ADDITION THERE IS A CIRCULAR DRIVE WAY AND OFF STREET PARKING FOR MULTIPLE CARS, CARAVAN, BOAT ETC., AIR-CONDITIONING, GAS HOT WATER, HIGH CEILINGS, PICTURE RAILS AND WIDE PANELLED BALTIC PINE FLOORING. IN 1881 WILLIAM WALKER AND HIS WIFE JANE PURCHASED A 13 ACRE PARCEL OF LAND FROM SAMUEL HORNE FOR A MIXED FRUIT ORCHARD WHERE THEY BUILT ONE OF THE FIRST FARM HOUSES IN THE DISTRICT IN WHAT WAS TO LATER BECOME THE SUBURB OF NORMANHURST, THE PROPERTY EXTENDED SOUTH FROM PENNANT HILLS ROAD DOWN TO THE CREEK, EAST OF MRS DUFFYS. THE WALKERS BUILT A HOME IN 1881 FOLLOWED BY A SECOND HOME IN 1890 ON THE SAME ACREAGE. A 122 YEAR OLD OAK TREE REMAINS ON THE PROPERTY PLANTED AT THE TIME OF ESTHER'S BIRTH (THEIR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OF 9 CHILDREN). ESTHER LIVED IN 35 HINEMOA AVE UNTIL SHE PASSED AWAY IN THE MID 1980'S, THUS THE HOME BECAME AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS ESTHER'S COTTAGE. HINEMOA AVE WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED WALKERS LANE, AND WAS A DIRT TRACK LEADING DOWN TO THE WALKER'S ORCHARD. THE PROPERTY RETAINS THE ORIGINAL BELOW GROUND BEEHIVE WELL, LOCATED ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE GARDEN AND EVEN IN DROUGHT HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT WATER IN IT. ALTHOUGH SUBDIVIDED OVER THE YEARS THE PROPERTY HAS RETAINED A LOT OF ITS ORIGINAL GARDEN ON A 1,350 SQM BLOCK INCLUDING AN OAK TREE, LARGE LILLYPILLY TREE, TALLOWWOOD TREE AND IMPRESSIVE LIQUID AMBER ALONG WITH SOME HISTORICAL CAMELIAS. THE HOME SITS GRACEFULLY IN THE CENTER OF THE BLOCK, MAINTAINING ITS PRIVACY AND COUNTRY CHARM. ALTHOUGH ONCE ON HORNSBY SHIRE'S HISTORICAL PROPERTY REGISTER, IT IS NO LONGER HERITAGE LISTED DUE TO A REASSESSMENT AND A CHANGE IN THE HERITAGE LISTING CRITERIA IN 1997. HOWEVER THE PROPERTY REMAINS ALMOST IN ITS ORIGINAL LATE COLONIAL EARLY VICTORIAN VERNACULAR STYLE. FEATURES INCLUDE SANDSTONE FOUNDATIONS, ORIGINAL FIREPLACES & CHIMNEYS, 6 INCH BALTIC PINE FLOOR BOARDS, 10FT CEILINGS, ORIGINAL LIGHT FIXTURES (ALTHOUGH THE HOUSE PRE-DATES ELECTRICITY), FRONT & REAR WIDE VERANDAHS, SOLID DOUBLE BRICK CONSTRUCTION AND BEEHIVE WELL. INFORMATION SOURCED FROM: PIONEERS OF HORNSBY SHIRE 1788 -1906 (1983...