Dream Home, Inspirational View

Sun Herald

Sunday January 29, 2006

By MICHELLE SINGER PROPERTY WRITER

SOMERSET is a Watsons Bay landmark, a former ship pilot's cottage with views to the harbour.

Built in the 1890s, the double-fronted home on Salisbury Street is on the market and selling agent Rodney Blackman says it is one of the suburb's "aspirational homes" - one people drive past and dream of owning.

Mr Blackman, of PRD Nationwide Double Bay, said that having last sold for $2.7 million in 2002, Somerset had been attracting strong interest in the opening weeks of the new year.

"There's been a lot of buyers who live in the vicinity coming through," he said. "They live in Watsons Bay and want to stay here because it's a home and holiday destination rolled into one."

The cottage - which once housed the men who piloted sailing ships through the Heads up to the port of Sydney - is set on one of Watsons Bay's largest non-waterfront blocks, measuring 930 square metres.

It is not Heritage-listed but is considered significant to the suburb for its original characteristics, including timber floorboards, high ceilings and pressed metal feature walls. Its features include five bedrooms and four bathrooms; its grand formal lounge and dining room is intact, as are the marble fireplaces.

A new kitchen, bathroom and self-contained guesthouse with a security alarm are contemporary additions.

The Woollahra History and Heritage Centre has found that the architecture and landscaping around the area proves Salisbury Street marks the boundary of an original land grant and is on what was known as the Beaconsfield Estate, once owned by John Robertson.

The construction on the southern side of Salisbury Street, taking in Somerset cottage, includes three single-storey Victorian period cottages and a mix of early 20th-century housing.

Heritage architects have designed a DA-approved renovation in line with the history of the property. Mr Blackman said the option of an already approved DA would give the new owners an opportunity to add a new section to the home, including three storeys at the back and an underground car park.

He said young families as well as empty nesters saw potential in the home because of its size and location.

"People are attracted to the location, the house, the history, as it's very much a landmark building," he said. "The attraction for a lot of young families is that it's a practical family home with a large, level backyard.

"But it also suits people that are scaling down from enormous homes but don't want to go into an apartment."

Somerset will be auctioned on Tuesday, February 21.

© 2006 Sun Herald

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