Bluestone or sandstone? The bedrock of inspiring homes: He Said/ She Said

Bluestone v sandstone?

There's not really much choice when its comes to the two distinct building materials across Australia.

It really comes down to what is or was quarried in the various states. The stones make for inspiring homes, either heritage or recyled.

Sydney sandstone dominates NSW, but blue stone exists too. Perhaps not as much of the honey-coloured sandstone in other states though Castlemaine in central Victoria is known for its sandstone buildings.

For a longtime it was believed that the sand grains that form the Sydney sandstone had come from central NSW, however studies revealed the grains had been transported from the trans-Antarctic mountains.

Bluestone was one of the favoured building materials of the 1850s during and after the Victorian gold rush. In South Australia the name bluestone is seemingly given to a form of slate which is much less durable than Victorian bluestone, but was certainly valued for its decorative appearance. The interior of the stone is usually pale grey or beige in colour.

Our property contrarians Jonathan Chancellor and Margie Blok select a few of their favourites.

HE SAID:

1) I love the baronial starkness of the grand stone residence featuring a traditional Scottish Castle style turret at 217 Gwenmarlin Road, Flinders (pictured below) on the Victoria coastal peninsula. It is on 50 acres, abutting Greens Bush National Park. The home is approximately 38 squares.

3) I see the interior designer Darryl Gordon has relisted his cluttered Oberon weekender, Bluestone Cottage. Set inland of the Blue Mountains, the Georgian-style cottage sits on about 1.5 hectares of gardens. There is a $550,000 asking price through Mary David of Ray White Emms Mooney Oberon. Bluestone Cottage is built from local bluestone construction with timber sash windows and brush box floors.

There are two dormer attic bedrooms, along with the main bedroom downstairs. Its modern kitchen has stainless steel Ilve stove with gas cooktop, Lefroy Brook tap ware, and Dura Limestone Island bench. The new bathroom has European fittings, underfloor heating and laundry nook. The cottage is well heated with large open fire place and pot belly stove. The house sits on 3.8 acres surrounded by gardens featuring acers, conifers, lavender parterre, cold-climate perennials, bulbs and fruit trees. There is a new 20,000 litre aqua plate rain water tank, bore irrigation and new fencing.

Margie Blok weighs in on bluestone v sandstone on the next page. Please click below.

SHE SAID:

With one of the finest sandstone basins in the world, Sydney has magnificent 19^th century stone residences, with the highest concentration found at Hunters Hills where 195 out of 4,800 homes are built of sandstone.  

Constructed during the 19^th century by French stone masons, these houses are collector’s items of unrivalled beauty and historic appeal.  

1) Recently Jonathan and I visited Hunters Hill to inspect Windermere (pictured below) - considered one of the suburb’s jewel properties.

For sale at more than $11.5 million through McGrath agents Tracey Dixon and Lee Dowdall, Windermere was constructed in 1857 by Jules Joubert, a prominent French pioneer and early entrepreneur.

Set on an elevated 3,569 square metre parcel of waterfront reserve land (occupying two titles), the house has sweeping 180 degree northerly views across Lane Cove River to St Ignatius College at Riverview. 

10 years ago, after an extensive renovation and extension including a 460 sqm wing designed by architect John Rose of Tanner & Associates, Windermere was deemed the best house for 2004 at the NSW HIA Housing Awards.

Set privately in manicured grounds with rolling lawns and a heated pool, the two-level house has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a library, media room, wine cellar, large eat-in kitchen and various living and dining areas flowing to covered verandahs overlooking the river.

With a private jetty and sea baths at the water’s edge, the Ernest Street property also features secure parking for up to 10 cars and a separate bungalow (or home office) with DA approved plans for a guest residence.

Windermere last traded for $10.5 in March 2011 when the Tarabay family bought it from Warren and Catherine Fraser of Fraser's Motorcycles. The Frasers bought the property from Annelies Crone-Arbenz, the widow of architect Donald Crone, for $4.4 million in 1998. The Crones owned Windermere for 37 years.

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2) St Ives is another beautiful 19^th century sandstone residence for sale at Hunters Hill. 

Listed at more than $6.5 million through McGrath agent Tracey Dixon, the Crescent Street property features a circa 1860 house set on a 1,066 sqm block with a gas heated swimming pool and direct access to a sandy beach at the river edge.

With a north aspect and pretty views over Alexandra Bay, the vast family home has been extensively updated for modern living (including marble bathrooms and air conditioning) while retaining exquisite 19^th century detailing. 

Featuring exposed sandstone interior walls in the entrance hall and high-end finishes throughout, it has six bedrooms, four bathrooms, multiple living areas, a limestone and stainless steel kitchen overlooking an entertainment courtyard with an outdoor fireplace.

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3) Adelaide in South Australia has sandstone houses without the lofty Sydney price tags. A beautiful sandstone house in desirable suburb can be snapped up for less than $1 million.

In the suburb of Fullarton, a four-bedroom sandstone house (pictured below) is for sale with a price range of $890,000 to $950,000 through Cocksaulg Real Estate agent Bernie Altschwager with offers closing on 2 June.

With a classic double fronted façade and intricate iron lace, the house has many original features including a decorative hallway arch, high ceilings and polished timber floorboards.  

Set behind a pretty picket fence on a level 830 square metre block with a pool and established gardens, the house has four bedrooms, one bathroom, gracious formal sitting and dining rooms, a spacious family room and a modern kitchen.

Other features include solar panels, ducted evaporative cooling, gas heating and secure parking for up to five cars.

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