Bizarre shed built over Winkie home has surprising benefit

A past owner may have ruined the character of a Riverland home but, on the bright side, will likely save its buyer some serious coin when it comes to ongoing running costs.

Faced with a leaking roof, the former horticulturalist owner of the property at 358 Katarapko Cres, Winkie, decided to build an open-air shed over the entire century-old home and allegedly claim the structure as a tax deduction.

While it’s certainly not the most attractive solution, it provided excellent insulation and has saved considerable home heating and cooling costs, Elders Riverland agent Karen Nash said.

Ms Nash is selling the property on behalf of the current owner, who bought the home in 2009, well after the shed roof had been erected.

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The Winkie property at 358 Katarapko Cres looks a bit strange.

The open-air shed built over the character home could actually save its new owner some cash.

It also means the home has an undercover outdoor entertainment area now.

“It was a previous owner who put that roof over the house,’’ Ms Nash said.

“They used to own the land all around (the home) – it was a horticulture property – and they wanted to be able to claim (repairs to the roof) on tax so they went for a shed roof over the top of the house.

“It does look a bit different but for heating and cooling there are (cost saving) benefits there.

“The current owner has noticed quite a difference (saving).

“It also provides a large undercover entertaining area, with a nice rural outlook too.’’

Those able to look past the creative roof fix, with its sturdy open-webbed truss system, may still fall in love with the 1921-built double brick home.

It features three oversized bedrooms, along with a wide entrance hallway with polished timber floorboards and high ceilings.

There’s also a recently-renovated granny flat with a wood stove.

Fruit trees and garden beds, as well as more conventional shedding and a shipping container for storage, are also included on the sprawling 4046sqm grounds.

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The home has three bedrooms and one bathroom.

It’s living areas are mostly open plan.

There is also an updated cottage on the property.

Ms Nash suggested if buyers wanted to fix the home’s leaking roof, there could be potential to relocate the shed structure and use it for another purpose.

Or it could remain as a quirk of the property.

“I know it could be viewed as a negative for some but obviously the current owner purchased (the house) as it is and didn’t get turned off by it,’’ Ms Nash said.

Priced at $440,000, she said the home, which is near to the Katarapko Creek Reserve National Park and larger Riverland townships of Berri, Glossop and Barmera, was affordably priced to appeal to first-home buyers and would also suit those downsizing from larger properties.

“It is a lifestyle property for people who want to live outside of town without close neighbours,’’ Ms Nash said.

“For the price, I think there’s a lot of benefits there as long as someone can look past the shed roof over the house.’’

– by Lauren Ahwan

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