Auction Location: Friendly Auction Online - Live via Buy.Realtair.com Website One of the few Arts and Crafts homes built in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area, 'The Gables' c.1924 is a beautiful example presiding over a generous 2,716sqm block adjoining the stunning natural beauty of Awabakal Nature Reserve. Rich in history, 'The Gables' brings together the best in architectural design against a backdrop of eye-catching period detail, expansive multi-room living and entertaining areas, and beautiful, private gardens where there is an abundance of space for alfresco entertaining and play. The Arts and Crafts style was sparked by a ground movement towards the revival of traditional construction and craftsmanship using local materials, craftsmen, and traditions. Built on the diagonal – another common feature of the style – the home opens to the north and private gardens featuring a prominent verandah distinguished by its half hexagon shape. It's easy to imagine alfresco dinners and parties in this beautiful spot, with plenty of room in the gardens for games of cricket and soccer against the sounds of birdsong, and where you may wish to envision a pool, tennis court or multi-vehicle garaging. Inside, the six-bedroom, three-bathroom home reveals ornate 3.3m ceilings, Tallowood floors, brick fireplaces, French doors, fretwork and two staircases linking the ground floor to the sleeping quarters upstairs. Here, some rooms gift glorious coastal views towards Blacksmiths Beach or magical sunset views towards Mount Sugarloaf. Transitioning from grand living and dining rooms to a luminous north-facing family zone, there are fire-warmed spaces to lounge and entertain, a multi-purpose space for the kids to make a little noise, and multiple spots to set up a study or home office. A separate wing on ground floor features a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, and study/sitting room, which could easily be self-contained for visiting guests or as au pair's quarters. Renovated in 2010, the spacious Miele-appointed kitchen makes cooking a breeze, while a 2.4m x 1.2m recycled Blackbutt island functions as the hub for family life. Casual dinners, homework and catching up on the day's news are the order of the day in this inviting communal zone. A simply peerless Redhead property, the new custodians of this beautiful home will also love the lifestyle less than 1km to the beach front. This is period beauty for our times – in a lifetime location.  - Private enclave of just six homes - Gated gardens with gravel driveway and parking for up to five vehicles - Formal lounge & dining rooms, spacious family room, multi-purpose kids' space - Contemporary island kitchen featuring Miele induction cooktop, dishwasher, regular oven and combi/microwave oven - Two working fireplaces and gas heating - Welsh slate roof completely renewed in 2020 - Three bathrooms including one recently renovated, plus two extra toilets - Plenty of storage in and around the home - Freshly painted with new carpet upstairs, tallowwood floors in living areas - Stunning master bedroom with bay window, custom robes, new sheer curtains - Rustic gardens with fruit trees and veggie patch, firepit and pizza oven - Gated access to Awabakal Nature Reserve and 1km track to beachfront - 14km to Newcastle city centre History: Commissioned by the Scottish Australian Mining Company, for their manager Mr. Frank Croudace, 'The Gables' was designed by architect Nigel Bronte Pitt of the firm Pitt and Merewether, and the builder was E. H Banks & Sons. The double brick and Welsh slate building was erected at a cost of £6,000 originally on a five-acre plot of high land overlooking the ocean, which was later sub divided. In 1932 BHP bought the mine and residence from the Scottish Australian Mining Company and sold the residence to well-known accountants of the time, the Forsythe Family. After it was used as a boarding house, 'The Gables' was purchased by Bishop John Toohey around the 1950s, with its use in mind as a convent for the Redemptoristine Nuns who lived there until 1983. During this time and subsequently again as a boarding house, the building had been allowed to deteriorate. The Gables was restored and renovated in the care of two families since it was returned to a private residence in 1987. This property is being sold under the Online Friendly Auction System. An independent building and pest report is available on request at no charge to you. This is the type of report your solicitor would usually recommend purchasing before bidding at an auction or before making an unconditional offer prior to auction and are conducted by a panel of reputable companies. The companies have consented to friendly auction terms and will generally be happy to speak to you about your queries in reports and in most cases transfer the reports into your name if you are the successful buyer at auction or prior to auction: see each report for details. Flexible deposit and settlement conditions are also available by negotiation with the agent if required. Offers can also be made prior to auction and each offer will be assessed on its merits. Live streaming auction. Bid and buy with confidence in this consumer driven, transparent auction system that was pioneered here in Newcastle but is now in use across Australia. We also have a downloadable guide available on our website. 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