Cunningham Street cottage a rare house in Canberra's Kingston

This heritage-listed cottage on Cunningham Street is sure to charm buyers looking for a piece of Canberra history.

The property is one of Kingston’s few freestanding homes and its 1920s features struck a chord with Max Willis and Andrew Schloeffel when they first inspected the home eight years ago.

“It’s so cute,” Max says.

“Unlike a lot of Canberra properties it has a sense of history and personality. It appealed to my aesthetics – it’s both neat and pretty and it’s a classic old Kingston look.”

Few changes have been made to the three-bedroom house over the past 90 years and that’s exactly what the couple love about it.

“There were some minor tweaks to the original floor plan to take out a wall for that open-plan feel, while staying true to the original design,” Max says.

“While it’s rock solid, it’s very light and airy.”

French doors connect the living room to the alfresco deck and cottage gardens, making it an ideal entertainer.

Other character features include hardwood timber floors, two chimneys, picture rails and antique glass, but the couple have uncovered other details that paint a picture of the home’s history.

Andrew says the house started its life as a Federal Capital Commission property, rented to compositor William Kingswell and his wife Mabel for one pound, 13 shillings and seven pence a week in 1928.

Over the years, other residents have – quite literally – left their mark on the home.

“One of my favourite moments was finding in the garage, written on wall in pencil in impeccable handwriting, the service history for a car – oil changes dating from the 1950s,” Max says.

The house is set on a 544-square-metre block, providing scope for extensions. However, the precinct’s heritage status ensures this peaceful pocket of Kingston will retain its timeless appeal.

15 Cunningham Street, Kingston
Price guide: $1 million + EER: 0.5
Agent: Holly Komorowski, home.byholly, 0434 973 987
Auction: Saturday, May 13, at noon, on site