2 Thomas Street, Nairne, SA 5252

"Bethel" a piece of Hill's history originally built as a single storey tannery by Henry Timmins in 1853 then expanded by Jacobs C1880 with the addition of two more floors and a large workshop.

The property is recognised as being a place of significant heritage interest, is the oldest surviving example of a tannery building in the State and retains a high integrity. The property has rare, uncommon or endangered qualities that are of cultural significance and is an outstanding representative of a particular class of places of cultural significance.

"Bethel" is in good company being located just behind the popular and also historic Upstairs Downstairs Antique Shop, as well as being within close proximity to the key tourist township of Hahndorf and approximately 20 - 25 minutes drive from the city.

Bought by the present owner in 1987 as a charming shell with potential. The building has been lovingly and authentically converted to a heartfelt home of delightful character. Surrounded by approximately 1/2 an acre of gently undulating garden with winding flagstone paths, sitting places in hideaway areas together with the added charm of the Nairne Creek which meanders through.

The building has gutsy stone walls up-to 600mm thick, low windows with garden views, deep stone sills, low beamed ceilings, white washed walls on two floors, exposed rafters, a unique shingle ceiling and unpainted stone walls as well as a round leadlight window high in the south gable wall on the upper floor.

The first view of this enchanting home is one of pure delightful surprise and totally unexpected. Tucked in behind the main road in Nairne just two minutes away from the shops, service station, Post Office and Changari Indian Restaurant.

The kitchen and casual dining area have many interesting features. A brick floor, Rayburn Stove with wet back, an old German table with a drawer houses the kitchen sink, open display shelving, an unusually narrow timber staircase leads to the upper bedroom, the front door has a window that opens.

From the kitchen through an opening with a small step down is the living room. When the building was owned by Jacobs this was the cold room where the meat was hung on pegs from the beams. The pegs remain as does several other original hooks, large nails and the remains of what carried a huge cold room door. The floor is of hand sawn timber together with a trap door with chunky old hinges that opens upon the lower level room. The living room has a corner nectar combustion heater and doors leading out to a balcony that overlooks the gorgeous rear garden.

The upper most room covers the full length of the building and is used by the present owners as a study and meditation space as well as a bedroom. There is a wonderful sense of peace and harmony within this special room. The roughly hewn stone of the walls is subtly varied in colour, the exposed rafters are visually elegant against the intricate puzzle-like texture of the original shingle roof.

A hallway built with old timber flooring and wide 300mm stained pine planking walls, old beams and heavy cast iron door latches create the corridor between the second bedroom, the bathroom and the immense workshop and was built in 1987. The bathroom has a Kanmantoo slate floor and bath/shower walls, other walls and the ceiling are of timber. There is an old claw footed bath, lovely round corner wash basin, an old fashioned shower rose over the bath, a very effective wall heater and quaint pull flush toilet. The taps are of brass together with exposed pipes made from copper. The bedroom nearby, or guest bedroom which is currently used as a sewing room, has a quaint old window that looks out onto a sloping paved covered terrace and another window that looks out over the workshop.

The large workshop has plenty of shelving, windows that provide views over the back covered terrace and a display of various strange original remnants from the days of Jacobs ownership. From the workshop a doorway and wooden steps with a rustic curved branch hand rail provides access to the terrace and leads down to an area covered with giant flagstones and then onto the garden.

Once in the garden you will discover an external door under the balcony that leads to the lowest level of the residence. This room has great character - it is the original tannery building built in 1853. Double brick tanks where the hides were soaked were formerly located within this room - all have been removed. This versatile basement room could have many uses and has over the years been a bedroom, a meeting room, a young person's retreat, a study, a wine cellar and a storage room. This flexible room is a cool place to sleep on a very hot night!

The private and shady rear garden is home an abundance of deciduous plants and flowers, a diverse variety of local birds and home to a family of ducks that reside in and around the tranquil creek setting. An old garage on the eastern side of the property provides undercover car parking space together with room for storage, or a second workshop. There is also a wood shed with an orginal shingled roof.

If you've had the stamina to read all this, you must be interested! Call now to arrange a private viewing of this wonderful place of significant heritage interest with it's preserved old character charms intact.