History LESSON

THE ROOMS OF A WEATHERED, CENTURY-OLD HOME IN COUNTRY NSW PULSE WITH NEW LIFE AND VITALITY, THANKS TO ONE COUPLE’S DETERMINATION TO RAISE THEIR YOUNG FAMILY SURROUNDED BY THE RICHNESS OF THE PAST

- JESSICA BELLEF

OLD SOUL Relocated from one country town to another, this heritage cottage in NSW’s Central Tablelands brims with vintage pieces, warm feelings, and the understated style of homeowners Matt and Georgina (pictured opposite with children Donny, Ada and baby Mali) and their little ones. Inside, a comfortable vintage chair sourced from Lunatiques in Sydney sits beside a wood-burning stove found on Gumtree (top left) in front of a striking paneled wall (painted in Dulux Natural White) from Pressed Tin Panels in Bathurst. The front gate (top right), constructed by Matt, is a blend of new and reclaimed timbers and, while the home’s original verandah didn’t survive the move, he constructed a new one from cypress pine and painted the home’s exterior in Raw Cotton by Dulux (bottom right). Cane chairs – hand-me-downs from Georgie’s mother – provide the perfect spot to watch country life amble by. “When friends visit we have them here normally for more than just one night, so we can properly catch up and do nice things together,” explains Georgie.

Georgie, her partner Matt, and their trio of children, all aged under seven, bring a dose of youthful energy to the historic hamlet they call home in NSW’s Central Tablelands. Their quaint provincial village, west of the Blue Mountains, is made up of a deer farm, the original schoolhouse, and a handful of streets. The family’s home, a veranda wrapped beauty dubbed ‘The Old Girl’, is more than 100 years old and, like Georgie and Matt, started life in a different town.