Designed for a New Life

When making plans for their retirement years, Neville and Lorraine decided to return to their roots and live in closer proximity to their extended family, after living all their married life in the bustling hub of cosmopolitan Melbourne City.

Neville grew up in Kurri Kurri and Lorraine in Waratah, so they looked around at ideal home locations and fell in love with Lorn, one of the most picturesque and historic towns of Maitland. “We loved one particular home and just missed out on the sale,” said Neville. “However, we were so impressed with the floor plan that we contacted the designer and purchased the plan to build a similarly styled home.”

An unexpected phone call from a surveyor contact recommended a block of land in Old Bolwarra, which was on the market, not far from Lorn. There were two street-frontage blocks which had been subdivided as part of an 1860 residence’s estate, which still stands at the rear of these two blocks.

Lorraine flew up from Melbourne to inspect the land, loved it and the deal was quickly done. After selling their warehouse-styled residence in Melbourne City, the couple decided to move to the Hunter for the duration of the construction, and sought a builder of their “forever home”.

Read more in Edition 80 of Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine.

Story and Images Marilyn Collins.