keera vale

WEST WOLLONGONG

Built: 1844 First owner: Judge Roger Therry Current owners: Jenny Dixon and Harold Cosier

How long have you owned Keera Vale? We purchased Keera Vale in late 2012 and moved in January 2013.

Why did you decided to take on a restoration project? It was purely by chance, as we weren't actually looking for a restoration project. Jen's parents were downsizing and had a number of lovely old Australian cedar pieces of furniture that they wanted us to have. Jen said to her mum, "Where are we going to put these things?" and her mum replied, "I don't know why you don't buy Keera Vale?" I'd never heard of it so we went home via Keera Vale and within a week our offer had been accepted! I am a frustrated builder and a bush carpenter (I built a mud brick home in the 80s) so I was quite excited at the challenges Keera Vale might offer.

What do you love about living in a historical home? Living in a home like this means that you almost become public property – because so many people have a connection with our house, there are regular drive-bys and the occasional visitor who just want to reconnect. Since featuring on ABC’s Restoration Australia many people now feel that they know us and greet us by name – although it is a little disconcerting to have people appear in the kitchen, or my workshop unannounced! The new balconies and verandahs are probably our favourite part currently, as they have given us a whole lot more living area but also they have restored her to what she originally would have looked like, offering magnificent views of the area

Have you revealed any hidden history during the renovation? We have found a treasure trove of artefacts as we've progressed – particularly under the floors, but sadly nothing of huge financial value, and very little from the 1800s. We do have an 1853 English penny with Queen Victoria on it and a large number of bottles. What has impressed us is the incredible workmanship that we've uncovered – beautiful joints in the big timbers, held together with handmade wooden pins, nails and our floorboards are all rough sawn timber.

What unique skills have you learned when renovating the house? We have learnt an enormous amount about early 19th century building, particularly around lime-based mortar and plaster in walls that do not have damp proof courses. Walls like ours (the external walls are triple brick with no cavity) are designed to "breathe". They absorb water and then evaporate it out again, so you cannot put waterproof coverings like render or modern paints on them because they just retain the water inside, with the bricks eventually turning to mud. Jen has learnt so much about lime-based paints, and I've learnt skills around mixing lime mortar and laying bricks using no cement at all!

What's your favourite story about the house? Our research has shown that Keera Vale has had a very diverse past – for much of its life it has been a rental. The original owner Judge Therry was posted to Port Phillip before he could take up residence so it was rented from 1844 until 1852 when it was bought by John Stewart, the first large animal vet in the colony. It has also been a girls' school, a boys' school, and in later years was divided into three flats. One of our favourite (though rather ghoulish) stories is that of one of the men in the household died from an infected tooth and was carried out on one of the doors! We really want that door back, as they are unusual, oversized six-panel Australian cedar doors and we only have five of the original 11!

What are your future plans for Keera Vale? While it is a very long-term project, we want to continue restoring Keera Vale to its original beauty, remaining as true to the original details as possible. We do have approval to add an extension to the rear of the building, in which we can have the modern amenities, but which would also complement the beautiful old building. Ultimately, we would like to be in the position where we could periodically open it to the public so that other people can share in its beauty.