Werai

'Gatehouse Cottage'

It is impossible to overstate the romance, style and stunning historical charm of 'Gatehouse Cottage'. Originally an 1867 sandstone railway gatekeeper's cottage before becoming a church, the two-room original stone building gained a weatherboard extension in 1971 when transformed into a delightful home featuring three spacious bedrooms. It has since been extensively renovated. Highlife magazine devoted a cover and eleven pages to showcasing the incredible style and hidden delights of this property, after the current owners purchased it as a design project: they have created an artistic and unique Southern Highlands' retreat, blending history with modern-classic and vintage pieces.

Light and height strike the visitor when spending time in the original cottage – now a stunning dining room and formal living room bedecked with an impressive art collection. The cosy country kitchen either leads through French doors to the garden or along to a casual living area heated beautifully by a designer combustion fire.

The home also features a huge cottage-like double garage/workshop and 'green room' for gardeners. It would be an easy conversion to guest accommodation, able to be joined via a walkway.

Thoughtful design elements throughout the home extend seamlessly into the 2 plus acre garden. Meander through garden rooms, past a prolific orchard and beneath many specimen deciduous trees: romance and hidden delights are features of the garden. Discover 'Last Man Standing' – an enormous sandstone garden sculpture created in collaboration with renowned artist/sculptor Gordon Richards.

Other features include:
Two gorgeous slow combustion fireplacesA beautiful leadlight window added when the home was a churchSeparate bathroom and W/C5 x water tanks totalling approx. 162,000 litre capacity, 3 have been cladded to resemble wine barrelsNewly roofedMany old specimen deciduous trees and an orchard including quince, plum, pomegranate, apple, feijoa and persimmon trees. Separate bore to water gardenGarden storage shed
More than one hundred and fifty years of history, style and charm, 'Gatehouse Cottage' is a dream weekender or a cosy, yet spacious full-time retreat. Surrounded by farmland, the sound of birdsong fills the garden, and yet you are just a three-minute drive to the famous Exeter General Store for some of the best artisan food and coffee in the Highlands and a short drive to Moss Vale or Bowral.