Inspiration
Terracotta
A 130-year-old grand homestead in NSW’s Southern Highlands is updated with a roof that respects and honours its heritage.
Most people enjoy their home, but for Annie Thomas her heritage home in the NSW Southern Highlands is a complete passion.
Annie has owned the house, a 130-year-old grand Federation home, for 10 years, and says it was so well preserved when she bought it that she hasn’t had to do much work on it since.
“The inside had been renovated, which was great,” she says. “One of the bathrooms is original, which I loved. It had a new floor bath and a new vanity and things like that, but the original tiles are still there.”
The biggest modification Annie did was to add a separate wing to the house, which she turned into accommodation.
“It’s completely separate to the main house,” she says. “And I get people staying there, which is great. And when the family are there, I can just have it all open, and we can enjoy it.”
The home is set within very well-established grounds, and Annie says she loves the fact that the climate of the Southern Highlands means that she enjoys all four seasons – including spring bulbs and autumn colours.
With such a special property, Annie says she was careful about the choices when it came to re-roofing. The terracotta tiles on the house were mostly original, more than 130 years old and the colour had remained just as strong as when they were first laid, proving that terracotta outlasts any other roofing product in terms of colour.
Annie decided to stay with the same product and chose Monier’s Terracotta Marseille tiles in Earth colour, which reflect the original aesthetic and style.
The result is that the roof doesn’t look much different – just a little fresher and tidier, she says.
“Terracotta is always good. And even if it weathers a bit over the decades, it’s still lovely. I loved the old roof. But it does have to be replaced eventually, although 130 years is pretty good.”
Interestingly, the original tiles were still in relatively good shape, says Annie, and might have been fine for a few more decades, if it wasn’t for the local possums.
Another nice addition was the use of Monier’s Elemental™ Slate product, on a side awning. Their slate-like appearance kept to the heritage theme without dominating the main roof.
Five ways to respect a heritage home
1. Stick to the original materials, whenever possible. Annie chose the same style of terracotta roof tiles that were used by the original builders, ensuring that the home respected its history.
2. Timber shingles. The house was clad in timber shingles, which Annie painted in a dark charcoal to give it a modern touch.
3. Elemental™ Slate. An awning at the side of the house was updated with the Elemental™ Slate roofing solution in Inkstone, reflecting the look of the original slate tiles.
4. Landscape to respect the heritage and climate. Annie gets to experience winter frosts, spring bulbs and gorgeous autumn colours.
5. Consider original styling pieces like antique chairs or garden statues. Annie added a rustic touch by using old barrels for containers.