184 Ballina Rd, Alstonville

'Severn Lodge' Your Chance to Own a Piece of History!

Severn Lodge – an opportunity to own one of the most adored country cottages right in the heart of Alstonville.

A charming timber home inside and out, this Edwardian residence was built in 1906 for Muriel and Roy Williams, a mother and son well known to local history buffs. Lovingly restored, the property is only a short walk from all village amenities yet seems to be hidden away in its own secret garden on a magnificent 1,273-sqm allotment.

Set far back from the road behind a heritage-style gate and manicured hedges, this cute haven of a home enjoys an ideal northerly aspect and has a real sense of serene intimacy. Featuring period details such as ornate timber fretwork, high ceilings, polished teak floors, Federation arches, French doors and picture rails, the cottage includes wide verandas, three light-filled bedrooms, a welcoming hallway, a formal lounge, an informal living/dining area and a well-equipped gourmet kitchen.

The lounge is cosy and inviting with reverse-cycle air-conditioning and a bay window where you can sit and enjoy a quiet cuppa and a book. At the rear of the home is the well-appointed timber kitchen that merges with the casual living/dining area, a delightfully sunny space where you can relax with friends. Bright pink camellias outside the bathroom casement window bring the garden inside, while practical additions include ceiling fans in every room, a new roof, and a solar hot water system.

 This rare and desirable property has two front gardens, one with a paved area for cars, the other providing a lush retreat on warm days – especially during summer when the huge established frangipani trees are in bloom. Towering over both areas is a Christmas bush planted by the original owners more than a hundred years ago, and still generously providing bunches of flowers that you can bring inside to add atmosphere to the home throughout the festive season.

To the rear of the property are a good-sized double garage and a refurbished potting shed that was once the Severn Lodge laundry. When Muriel’s father, the photographer Henry Williams, built the home for her, she was twenty-three, unmarried and pregnant. But Muriel soon gave birth to Roy, who grew up to become a keen gardener. In keeping with Roy’s love of gardening, the back yard is still home to a variety of trees; many themselves home to orchids, elk horns and stag horns. In this area you will also find a large veggie patch, two kiwi fruit vines, native hydrangeas, a kaffir lime tree, and an ancient grapevine that weaves its way through the branches of another frangipani. There are also many established food trees including orange, mandarin, fig, tropical apple and Brazilian cherry trees.

The land is flat and there is plenty of room to build a shed or another home or studio, or even to expand the existing home. And of course the written history of Severn Lodge and all documents relating to that, including original photos and artefacts discovered in the garden, will be given to the new custodian, who may eventually be able to add to the collection.

The home is only a short stroll from the village centre, offering easy access to all conveniences such as shops, the supermarket, cafes, galleries, restaurants, schools and sporting facilities. By car, the property is less than fifteen minutes from the beautiful beaches of Ballina, and half an hour from Byron Bay.

If you are a lover of history, enchanted gardens and ‘olde world’ cottages, Severn Lodge will not disappoint. Large blocks with heritage homes are scarce in our village and we expect high interest in this one! To arrange a viewing call exclusive agent Melanie Stewart on 0421 560 936 today.