It took something special to prise the Grine family from their stunning Warners Bay home.
Diane and Victor Grine had scoured the market for three years before finding the perfect treechange property - the old schoolhouse in Brunkerville.
Opening in 1870 as Broken Back Public School, 41 Gills Lane became Brunkerville Public School in 1893 and continued operating until its closure in 1962.
It was partially converted for residential, but was in a sorry state when it sold for $650,000 in 2018.
Its then-owners lovingly enhanced the remaining original features, restoring a convict brick fireplace hidden behind a facade, sanding back rough-hewn hardwood floors and repainting every surface.
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Elements of the home that were beyond saving were renovated, resulting in a captivating three-bedder that produced one of Jurds Real Estate's most popular sales campaigns at a time when the property market was falling.
The home generated hundreds of enquiries before selling at the top of its range for $1.65 million.
"When we saw this one we just thought it was so unique," Mrs Grine said.
"We didn't want just a normal couple of acres - we wanted something with character we could work with and we were drawn to the beautiful gardens and the hundred-year-old trees.
"We're looking forward to establishing more gardens and making little changes to make it our own."
Set on two acres, the home attracted predominantly Newcastle buyers amid some Sydney interest.
Jurds' Michael Denton said the property's location at the entry point of the Hunter Valley, as well as its fascinating history, contributed to its popularity with buyers.
"The current location is the original location, it hasn't been shifted like we see with some of the older buildings," he said.
"Some of the floorboards inside are original, there's an original old teahouse at the back of the property.
"It's got some nice period features, high ceilings and things like that, but it does retain a lot of the character of the original schoolhouse."
Shortly after securing the schoolhouse, the Grine family put their Warners Bay home on the market.
Set just one street back from the esplanade, the four-bedroom home is undoubtedly one of the finest in the suburb, proved by its $2 million-plus sale price.
"While we're leaving a beautiful house behind and we love Warners Bay, we are looking forward to the change," Mrs Grine said.
"The timing is perfect at the moment, everyone seems to be looking at making these changes in their lives."
Having begun the ultimate treechange, the Grine family is now setting their sights on continuing the schoolhouse's regeneration.
Mrs Grine, who has a certificate in interior design, and husband Victor, a concreter, are looking forward to adding their own chapter to the Brunkerville schoolhouse story.
"The history and the character of the house is what drew us in.
"The outlook is amazing, looking at the cattle on the neighbouring properties and the kangaroos that come down in the afternoon, it'll definitely be a change we're looking forward to."
