PREMIUM PROPERTY: Charming in Crafers
It’s exceptionally rare to find a house that is perfect in every way.
Typically, there may be parts of the renovation the previous owners never got around to finishing, or maybe the new owners just want to put their stamp on it.
But when Guy and Lucy discovered this Crafers estate, it was just that – perfect.
“Full credit to the previous owners who did a world-class renovation on it,” says Guy.
“We went up to inspect to get some ideas for a renovation when we were living in Malvern, then we fell in love with it.
“They went above and beyond – the back of the house is nearly more amazing than the front of the house.”
Originally built in 1874, 9 Fairview Road, Crafers was constructed as a summer home for an Adelaide judge.
You might like
Set on 11,460sqm, the house includes six bedrooms, four bathrooms and enough parking space for six cars.
The dwelling combines both formal and informal living spaces, including a drawing room, a formal dining room, a living room and an open-plan living area.
Guy says that its location was also a big drawcard when they were thinking of moving.
“The beauty of Crafers is that it could be another suburb or it could be in the Adelaide Hills,” he says.
“I travel a lot for work, so I’m at the airport every week or every fortnight and it’s very helpful being 20 minutes away in Crafers.
“Then you’re also on the doorstep to world-class wineries, nature for the kids and great community schools.”
Throughout its 150-year history, the property was known as Drapers’ Hall and was used to house British migrant children who had come over as part of the Fairbridge Family Migration Scheme.
After Drapers’ Hall closed in 1981, the house became a respite care facility known as Crafers Community Unit before returning to a private dwelling.
Subscribe for updates
The jaw-dropping renovation was carried out by the previous owners, Jeff and Caroline Owler, who have seamlessly blended both old and new.
“We could see the potential of modernising and doing a contemporary addition to the old home and creating some open plan living,” former owner Jeff told SALIFE in 2021.
Jeff and Caroline enlisted Rolf Proske from Proske Architects to complete the design and modelling, while interior selections were made by CVL studio with input from Caroline and the build was completed by Traegermunt.
The interior layout was entirely rethought, respecting the historic architecture but also creating a new open-plan living space, terraced outdoor dining and a barbecue and pool area.
The open-plan area features marble, while granite has been used on the kitchen benches to create a sophisticated contemporary interior.
Outdoors, a heated infinity pool looks out onto the nature-filled garden, with its tennis court and plants ranging from a 100-year-old sequoia tree to roses, rhododendrons and around 400 hydrangeas.
“We were very lucky – it’s like having a botanical garden in your backyard,” says Guy.
“Everything was all done and because it’s so developed, it’s actually surprisingly low maintenance.”
When asked about his favourite part of the property, Guy struggles to answer, saying that it depends on the mood and whether you are entertaining friends, clients, kids, or just want some quiet time.
“I love the study in the old part of the house; the tennis court has got me back into tennis with friends, which I love; the swimming pool and spa with its heating, which we use all year round, even in the Adelaide Hills; and the gardens are an amazing slice of nature for the kids and for the adults,” he says.
But after nearly four years, Guy, Lucy and their family plan to move further into the Hills, where they will live on a larger acreage with small paddocks.
“The kids are very keen for a pony, a motorbike, a cow and a pig,” says Guy.
Guy says they will miss the convenience of Crafers the most, being surrounded by nature but close to the city.
“From Unley Park to Crafers is the same distance as Unley Park to North Adelaide or Unley Park to Burnside, so I’ll probably miss that – the convenience to the city and the airport and the beaches,” he says.
The sale of 9 Fairview Road, Crafers is being handled by Arabella Hooper and Taryn Varcoe from Harris Real Estate.
