Former Clare Valley blacksmith, school transformed into home

A Clare Valley home full of stories from yesteryear has hit the market, offering buyers the convenience of contemporary living with a “historic feel’’.

The three-bedroom cottage, at 6 Dame St, Armagh, dates back to the early 1900s and was the original “village blacksmith shop’’, according to Nan Berrett, whose son Josh has owned the home for several years.

Over time, a nearby schoolhouse, once attached to a church or community hall in the tiny township, which is 137km from Adelaide, was relocated to the blacksmith shop to increase the building’s size, Ms Berrett said.

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The Armagh home at 6 Dame St has hit the market.

It was once a blacksmith shop and schoolhouse but you’d never guess just by seeing inside.

The home is now modern throughout because of several renovations.

“They just picked the whole thing (schoolhouse) up and just travelled with it 100m from the hall (where it was located) to Josh’s house – but this was well before he bought it,’’ Ms Berrett said.

“When (Josh and previous owners) have done renovations, they’ve found some old artefacts – horseshoes and other things – from the blacksmiths.

“There used to be a working brick kiln opposite (the cottage) and when they were bringing materials through, the blacksmith was handy for horseshoes and wheel repairs and things like that.’’

Ms Berrett was unsure when the blacksmith closed, or when the schoolhouse was relocated, but she said the building had since been converted to a comfortable family home, on a generous 3000sqm block that features a winter creek at the rear of the property.

“You’re definitely not moving into an old blacksmith shop (if you buy this), you’re moving into a comfortable home with a historic feel,’’ she said.

“People would get a surprise if they see it because from the front it doesn’t look like it’s very much – it just looks like a little cottage – but it’s a big, spacious home inside. It’s a bit like a Tardis.

“It’s one of the oldest remaining semi-untouched properties (in Armagh).’’

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The cottage has three bedrooms …

… And one bathroom.

The home is much larger than it appears from the front.

The old schoolhouse, which is now connected to the side of the home and serves as an expansive living area, still has its original timber floorboards, as well as more recent timber-lined walls and ceilings.

A modern kitchen forms part of an open-plan dining space, complete with the blacksmith’s original fireplace and a leadlight window.

There’s also an updated bathroom, a double garage, rainwater tanks and bore access.

Ms Berrett said her son had loved living at the home but had been renting it in recent years after moving from the Clare Valley for work.

He was now selling to raise funds to buy another home closer to his employment, she said.

“It’s so charming and he didn’t want to let it go – he loves that house,’’ she said.

“It’s a good place for kids to run about and the creek is mostly dry so it’s not a danger – you can scramble down the banks and play in the dirt.

“But really, I think (Josh) just loved the tranquillity of it and the fact you could see the stars at night.’’

The home, which is listed with Tim Edwards of the Professionals Clare, is open to offers in the high $400,000 to mid $500,000 price range.

– Lauren Ahwan

It’s on a 3000sqm block.

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