Expected to fetch more than $2 million, Ray White Real Estate  for expressions of interest in Hurstville, also known as Bulwarra, at 244-246 Cowper Street in February. 

The home, designed in 1861/62 by J Goold, has been extensively restored by current owners Peter Caucino and Yvonne Arras, with significant help over three years from Noel Barrett, who also renovated Mandelson’s Hotel. Dutaillis Architects also had significant input into Hurstville’s conservation.

Mr Caucino and Ms Arras bought the home in 2006, which at that time was surrounded by unsympathetic additions, hiding its grand original facade. 

Ray White principal Justin Gay said no stone was left unturned in the restoration.

“The joinery and architecture is stunning. It’s an icon of Goulburn with understated gracefulness and a great opportunity for someone,” he said.

“It’s the city’s finest residence and will set a benchmark.”

Mr Gay predicted the property could fetch in the low to mid $2m mark. It is being marketed locally as well as nationally.

Set on 2500 square metres, the home contains five bedrooms, two studies, a formal living area, garden room, three garages and extensive gardens.

The Victorian Italianate house was designed for Anne Hurst, the widow of the wealthy Methodist Minister, The Reverend Benjamin Hurst, who had died in 1857. Located in the West End where many of the city’s finer homes were built, it included seven bedrooms, a drawing room, dining room, sitting room, servants quarters, bathrooms and store rooms, according to an 1888 Goulburn Evening Penny Post sale advertisement. Palisading on three sides and an iron gate entry reflected its grandeur.

The home was originally set on a much larger block. But in 1888 the land was subdivided into 70 lots and sold, along with the house. The lots had frontages to Bradley, Belmore, Lorne, Prince, Hurst and Sellors Streets and were described as “by far the most valuable that have ever been offered as a suburban subdivision.” 

Agents Finlay and Co were acting on behalf of Mrs Caldwell in selling the blocks, Hurstville and another West End home, Ingleside.

The two-storey structure had been leased by a Dr Sly to run a grammar school, the advertisement stated. Before that a Mr Bloomfield leased the property.

According to research by the Goulburn and District Historical Society, Russell Edward Conolly purchased Hurstville in 1904 and reportedly renamed it Bulwarra. Some subsequent owners were WJ Nicholson – 1918, G Bracher - 1921 and FG Leahy - 1934. 

The house was described in 1904 as being “exceedingly handsome – built of brick with 14 inch walls, cemented, painted and slated with verandahs 8ft (2.4m) wide and 166ft (50m) around. The approach is through a massive iron gate and side gates with iron railing in front on a dwarf wall, 130ft (389.6m) in length.” 

It was subdivided again in the 1920s and 1930s and was first advertised as Bulwarra Flats in 1937.

At some point, Maggie Davies bought the property. The Goulburn Post reported in 2008 on her son, Samuel Davies’ concerns that the Uniting Church had sold the property for $600,000 in 2003, 10 years after his mother’s death.

He said his mother had donated the home to the church on the proviso it be used for people with disabilities. But the Church countered that the agreement allowed it to sell the property after 10 years if it wasn’t suitable for that use. Uniting Care executive director Harry Herbert said at the time the sale money was used to purchase a respite facility at Belfield for people with disabilities.

Now, with no sign of the units left and their extensive renovation well and truly complete, Mr Caucino and Ms Arras are moving back to Sydney.

Mr Gay expected strong interest, given Goulburn’s strong market.

“The Narellan/Camden area is looking after us superbly and if it continues to boom we’ll piggy back off that for a long time to come,” he said.

“People are snapping up subdivisions because we offer a similar quality of life they enjoy. People don’t want the fast pace of Sydney and Canberra.”