​York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia and is one of the few towns that retains so much of its architectural history, providing the perfect foundation for lovers of history and tradition who seek to enjoy a lifestyle with meaning – one where you can slow down and hear your heartbeat.
 
This old cottage, according to its owners’ own research, dates to the late 1800s. After they purchased the home, they discovered, hidden behind the plastered walls, the original, natural stone walls and mud mortar; so, it was, that they painstakingly chipped away for hundreds of hours to restore the artistic work to its original glory…O that walls could speak, what stories we would hear. This stunning feature is the centrepiece of the cottage and sets the theme for the warm character and charm of the home.
 
Typical of the era, the builder, in his quest for insulation, built high ceilings and verandas to beat the heat in summer. The two bedrooms retain the original pressed-tin ceilings. Of course, it gets cold inland in the winter, so fireplaces were a mandatory inclusion, and they remain intact. A slow-combustion fire is ready and waiting for you when your first winter here arrives. Imagine sitting around the crackling fire, studying the rich beauty of the stone wall, as you rest between chapters of your favourite books. Perhaps it is a gardening book?
 
The owners are keen gardeners and have built an impressive network of vegetable gardens, including wick-beds and raised beds, shade houses, rose pergolas, and a fruit-salad orchard. Incidentally, the property was part of a market garden in its early days, and there is an oak tree that grew from an acorn taken from a tree at the original Guildford school. Chooks are a big part of the lifestyle in the country, and there are plenty of places for them here…imagine kids exploring the property on the egg hunt. It is about lifestyle, remember.
 
The block is decent too – not quite a farm – but over 7,400 square metres of gently elevated land with room for that big shed you have been promising yourself.
 
Queen Elizabeth II passed through its door. No, she didn’t visit the home, but she did pass through the door that was salvaged from Tipperary Farm and installed in this cottage, so it’s kind of famous!
 
There are many hidden places here to sit and enjoy the country lifestyle. Given that it is only 97 kilometres from Perth, it would be a great weekend getaway, if not a permanent home.
   
Contact Patrick Grogan 0419 497 432 or patrick.grogan@tsales.com.au