Beechmont Avenue encapsulates the history and visual beauty of OLD Eagle Heights in one single street. It is a fairly narrow lane of bitumen running between well tended lawn verges lined with trees, many of which are Jacarandahs that cast their glorious hue across bitumen and mowed lawns in a profusion of colour during the late spring months. These trees tend to be deciduous and while they offer cool dense shade in summer, their leaf drop in winter allows the sun to shine right in when you want it. Many other trees, some dating back about a century and others being remnants of the rainforest that once stood here long ago, are part of the beautiful gardens that surround most of the homes in this street. And speaking of homes here, some date back to early in the 20th century. There are a couple that have been built since the year 2000, and the remainder fall somewhere in between. This little classic appears to have been built possibly in the late 1940’s, but nobody can be certain of that. Whenever it was built, it is one very sturdy home that is now in perfect condition from front porch to back verandah.

It seems to have been modelled on one of those “railway cottages” that were built by the NSW State Government to house their country town station masters long, long ago. In fact, Helen South, the owner of Lane Realty, swears that her late Aunt and Uncle, who was the station master at West Tamworth, lived in an identical looking house there during the 1950s! However, once you step through the entry hall, you find yourself in another world. Somehow, the modern comforts and delights such as a super kitchen and 2 delightful new bathrooms along with air conditioning are all there, yet much of the yesterday’s ambience has been retained. Part of the stunning change has been the addition of some really striking glass and timber doors to the outside world. This house that was once fairly dark and dingy inside has been completely replastered and opened up to create a very light and enticing lifestyle.

There is a Federation archway at the end of the short hallway and a most unusual window on the left as you enter the hallway. When you step through the archway you find yourself in an almost classic parlour, an ideal lounge room for the modern era. The wonderful new white kitchen with stone tile bench tops features a black cooking centre with all stainless steel appliances, a dishwasher and a large pantry as well as a set of screened colonial style timber and glass French doors that open out to the partly lattice enclosed side verandah. Most of the back wall has been replaced with glass and glass doors that let you look out into the cool dense shade beyond the rear verandah. There is space for a couch here as well as for a real dining suite and a garden view nook that will tempt the computer user to keep looking up and out into the garden.

Besides the wonderful new interiors, the most enchanting part of this property is the back verandah and the garden that lies beyond. If privacy is what you crave, you could hardly ever find a more private and serene back yard than this in what is almost a suburban street. It has a central lawn surrounded by really dense, tall foliage, a lovely little gravel terrace below the verandah and a superb rainforest tree that turns the entire yard into feeling like a rainforest glade in summer. There could be nothing more relaxing than sitting out on the verandah or down on the terrace on a hot summer’s day and feeling the breeze that flows naturally through this dense greenery.

It is impossible to believe how the application of lots of money, lots of imagination and a lot of hard work has turned this cottage into just the most delectable home for a couple or an ideal weekend retreat. Everything possible has been done to make it perfect! All you need to do is see it inside and you too will fall in love with it.