Maitland Revival

“Verona”, one of Maitland’s Victorian-styled heritage homes built in 1901, has recently undergone a new lease on life undertaken by new owners Hardy and Jacqueline.

From behind a screened thick wall of olive trees, the home’s real beauty has been exposed to the world, allowing the home to shine behind a newly erected brick fence with wrought iron feature panelling. Since then, many hospital staff on their way to and from work have noticed the home for the very first time.

When the couple acquired “Verona” back in November, they set about giving the two-storey beauty a cosmetic makeover. Being passionate and consummate serial renovators of grand old homes, the couple couldn’t resist the challenge of the task that lay ahead.

“The residence seemed to beg me to buy it,” said Jacqueline, “so we did.”

Over its lifetime “Verona” has only had two previous long-time owners and remained virtually intact with all its original fixtures and fireplaces.

It was designed by James W. Scobie, a leading architect of the day, and built by William Taylor & Son, taking six months to complete at a cost of £1,300.

Read more in Edition 74 of Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine.

Story by Marilyn Collins. Photography Kathleen Mackay.