It's easy to fall in love with this tightly-held Woodville property, which features lush, layered gardens, an elegant period home, enviable lifestyle features and fertile farmlands renowned for producing quality livestock. The magnificent 33.78 hectare (83 acre) property has been lovingly maintained by the same owners for the past 45 years but has finally come onto the market, offering a new family the chance to create their own cherished memories within "Tressingfield's" walls. A long gravel drive winds down past the farm's fenced paddocks towards the house, which has been set back over a rise for added privacy. The road branches at the bottom of the hill, with a lower path continuing through a corridor of lush greenery and vibrant flowering plants to end in a turnabout driveway complete with ornate water fountain in the middle. Sizable sandstone blocks create a grand set of steps lined with plants that lead the way up to the original convict-built brick path and shady wraparound verandah, which runs along the front of the home and around the south side. The upper drive takes you to the rear of the home, where you can park your vehicle in the double car carport and access the house via the sunroom or laundry. The original home on the property, known as Carlton Cottage, was built in the early 1800s before further additions later that century extended the house to include four bedrooms, two bathrooms and multiple living areas. Renamed "Tressingfield", the home is a fine example of period elegance and sophistication, from the original timber floorboards, high ceilings, ornate cornicing and decorative ceiling roses, to the traditional French doors and shutters, which provide multiple access points to the verandah including from the master bedroom. A solid timber front door opens into a grand entry foyer, which is currently being utilised as a formal dining room complete with elegant chandelier. The home is neatly divided into separate zones, with the entry leading through to the cosy kitchen, casual meals area and rear sunroom, while multiple living spaces are located to the left and the home's four generously-proportioned bedrooms are grouped along a shared hallway to the right. Timber panelling adds detail to the soaring ceilings, while vintage-look pendant lights, delicately embellished wallpapers, French doors and a cast iron wood-burning fireplace with simple timber mantel add a sense of authenticity to the period-style bedrooms. The main bathroom is conveniently located adjacent to the bedrooms and has been sympathetically styled to fit the era, with a rustic timber vanity, oval mirror and brushed brass tapware. A second bathroom is accessible via the laundry at the rear of the home, providing an additional shower and lovely country-style timber vanity as well as a separate toilet. This space is positioned close to the home's living areas, including the light and bright sunroom that runs along the rear of the home and was originally part of the verandah before being enclosed by a previous owner. Large windows and glass sliding doors that stretch almost all the way from the richly textured slate flooring to the white, raked ceiling flood the sunroom with natural light, making it the ideal spot to sit in the winter morning sun and enjoy views over the beautifully landscaped grounds. The home features another two spacious living areas, including an inviting study that would make working from home far more enjoyable, with built-in timber library shelving and cupboards, a central wood-burning fireplace with exposed brick surround and the modern convenience of a split system air conditioner. A more decorative cast iron fireplace adds period detail to the formal living room, with a beautiful turned timber mantel and feature tiled hearth, while the country-style kitchen and casual meals area oozes traditional charm with timber fretwork, leadlight glass display cabinets and a recessed vintage-style freestanding oven with exposed brick surround. While there are plenty of period features to love inside, it is the magnificent grounds that make this property truly special. The house is flanked on two sides by towering Moreton Bay figs and a Port Jackson fig, which were planted more than a century ago, while the current owners have created a densely layered yet easy care natural wonderland in between these ancient trees, with a mixture of ornamental, exotic and hardy plantings creating an ever-changing tapestry of form and colour throughout the year. The lush landscaping and wide expanses of lawn continue on every side of the home, from the bountiful orchard filled with countless varieties of fruit trees, to the flourishing wisteria vines that cover the carport and decorative arbours with a flush of fragrant flowers. A sunken Japanese garden provides a tranquil sanctuary to escape to, with ornamental plants, fruit trees and raised vegetable garden beds, while the elevated summer house overlooking the farmlands and lagoon, full-sized tennis court and 650m of river frontage add to the property's lifestyle appeal. A poplar forest cultivated between the house yard and the Paterson River frontage is an effective windbreak for the home and a cool shaded area for livestock to retreat from the sun, while six fenced paddocks and access to irrigation from the river provide established infrastructure for agricultural pursuits. A separate two-bedroom workman's cottage is located in the top paddock close to the front access road, with the 70-year-old building currently leased to a reliable long-term tenant. Located 15 minutes from Maitland and just 45 minutes from Newcastle, this one-of-a-kind period property offers an idyllic setting where families can immerse themselves in nature, appreciate a country lifestyle and enjoy a wide range of leisure activities. SMS 1081Paterson to 0428 166 755 for a link to the on-line property brochure.