Historic converted kindergarten in Lindfield to sell for $3.5 million

One of the first homesteads in Lindfield, Highfields has a colourful history.

Part of a 30-acre Crown land grant made to Samuel Onions in 1837 and built in 1906, it has been used as a recuperation space for returned veterans, then as a kindergarten, before being restored as a private home in 1988.

A lot has changed since Highfields last traded hands in 1989 for $990,000 – now, the property is on the market for $3.5 million.

Tiered to account for the sloping site, the deep front garden is a treasure trove, with north shore favourites like hydrangeas and jacarandas tucked alongside fig and olive trees, a mature pomegranate and weeping mulberry.

There are citrus trees, a macadamia tree and a thriving vegetable patch. It’s irrigated via rainwater tanks, of which there are seven in total.

A small, solar-heated pool is tucked away at the side of the house while the backyard plays host to a synthetic grass tennis court. Spectators can relax on a deep, covered verandah.

Inside, it’s hard to pick that the structure was ever anything but a family residence. The formal lounge and dining rooms each retain a cast-iron fireplace and soaring ceilings, with a neighbouring sunroom for sewing or reading.

Downstairs, there’s a fully self-contained apartment, a workshop and under-house storage.

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Poh Ling Ee of Ee Real Estate is gearing up for a December 9 auction. 

“There’s plenty of room for a big family, which is hard to find these days, and it’s so close to everything,” she says.

See more of 1 Highfield Road here or download the Domain app for similar listings across Sydney