Old Goulburn schoolhouse hits the market after more than 50 years

There are plenty of tweaks and additions you can make to a home, such as extending the spaces, installing the latest appliances and incorporating hand-picked fittings.

But there’s one element that no amount of work or money can buy: that inimitable charm and character that only comes with a place steeped in history.

It’s an indescribable sensation akin to stepping into a living chronicle of days gone by; a feeling that can only be forged by the passage of time and the embrace of a storied past.

That feeling greets you when you walk inside 54 School House Lane in Parkesbourne, just under 20 minutes outside Goulburn.

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The property started as a school, with the “Father of Federation” Sir Henry Parkes to thank for its origins.

The story goes that Parkes, who was passionate about free education, visited the area and noticed all the local children were at the church. On enquiring why they were there, he discovered there was no school in the area, so he set about changing that – as well as renaming the town from Breadalbane to Parkesbourne.

The school opened in around 1874 and remained at the site for almost a century. Many current Parkesbourne locals attended the school, and recount memories of games of marbles, knuckles and hopscotch, teachers who were fond of the cane, and a high level of education.

Once the school was closed in 1969, the bell was removed and it was converted to a private residence. And the story of the home’s journey since then is just as intriguing.

For about 30 years, it was home to a man affectionately known as Pop. Originally from Ireland, Pop was an architect who moved in and lovingly transformed the former schoolhouse into the cosy home it is today.

Pop was in his eighties and going blind when Leigh Walsh, who owned the property next door, offered to mow Pop’s lawn. The weekly lawn cutting grew into regular visits, with Walsh popping over to light the fire and help out around the home.

Walsh’s family embraced Pop, regularly helping out and spending Christmases and special occasions together.

Every Thursday, Walsh would take Pop into Goulburn to do the groceries, and they’d get a counter meal with a beer, followed by a coffee and a chocolate brownie before returning home.

When Pop passed away a few years ago, Walsh and his wife were surprised to discover he had left them the home.

“We didn’t have a clue about it, it was a bit of a shock,” Walsh says. “He was a remarkable man to look after. He travelled the world. He’d been everywhere and seen a lot of things.”

The Walsh family has now listed the home for sale, ready for new owners to write its next chapter.

Originally constructed of stone and lime mortar, the original schoolhouse has effortlessly stood the test of time, while the thoughtful extension and additions have converted it into a cosy cottage filled with rustic charm.

Two comfortable bedrooms are tucked near the entry, with the main having easy access to one of the home’s two bathrooms.

The kitchen features timber benchtops, while the living area, originally the schoolhouse itself, boasts high ceilings, a fireplace and subtle evidence of the generations of students who once attended.

Out the back is a verandah which looks out over the property’s 1.2 hectares, lush with established trees, gardens and a tennis court.

Back inside, Pop’s deep love of books is evident in the home’s charming library, which is flooded with natural light. The space was originally the teacher’s residence, and boasts an open fire down one end.

Given the area was rife with bushrangers back in the day, a huge bolt still remains on the door, once tasked with keeping the occupant safe.

“I have been told by some of the people that, on really cold days, [the teacher] would take them into her quarters because it was a small room,” Walsh says.

“That library; it is an unbelievable feeling just sitting in there. It’s like you can feel the history behind you.

“The whole home has got a feeling about it when you go there. You can feel the presence – it’s an unbelievable place to walk around.”

Selling agent Kelly McClelland from Agent Team Goulburn says she was instantly very touched by the property.

“As soon as you walk in, it certainly has a feel that I don’t think I’ve ever experienced – and I’ve been into a lot of homes,” she says. “But it definitely has a feel and a vibe.”

McClelland says the property presents the ideal work from home country retreat, conveniently accessible to both Canberra and Sydney.

“As you look down off the back verandah at the beautiful trees, you can see yourself sitting out there with a coffee or wine with family and friends.

“The property does need a bit of work, but it has a real character and feel. People who have come through find it thought-provoking.

“I think this has been quite an emotional journey for [the vendors]. They would like to see the property sell to someone that can do it justice and love it the way in which Pop did.”