‘A labour of love’: Crookwell home on the market for the first time in 30 years

Curiosity and charm. These are the first words that come to mind when standing in front of this five-bedroom residence, affectionately known as Normanton, at 4103 Goulburn Road, Crookwell.

The stone-and-brick home has a verandah that features some of its original wrought-iron lace panels and Victorian-era columns.

Normanton was built in 1891 by local builder John Howard, who was also the man behind Crookwell landmarks like Saint Mary’s Catholic Church and the Crookwell Hotel. He named the home after his wife’s maiden name, Harriet Lucy Norman.

Today, the home is on the market for only the fifth time in its 130-year existence.

Brenda and Sean Proudman have spent the last 30 years tending to every nook and cranny.

“When we bought it in 1990, it was in a very derelict condition and had been sitting empty for about eight years,” Mrs Proudman said.

“The windows were boarded up, the verandah was completely missing and the stone walls weren’t as polished as [they are] now.”

Despite this, the couple were keen to purchase the property and restore it to its former glory to house their family of six.

“It was like a hidden gem on the edge of town that was big enough for my three boys and my daughter, who I was pregnant with at the time,” Mrs Proudman said.

An avid builder himself, Mr Proudman got down to work. What was initially a 10-year renovation project became a 15-year restoration plan, using historical photos of the property as reference.

“We found a bit of information on the property’s history from the previous owner and, as it so happens, one of Howard’s relatives lived next door and was able to fill in the gaps and provide photos of what it formerly looked like,” Mrs Proudman added.

Some of the work Mr Proudman undertook included re-building the verandah with the wrought-iron remains, reinstating door frames, building a barn in the backyard and creating a four-car garage.

Meanwhile, inside the house, new bathrooms and a kitchen were installed. And, after a fresh lick of paint, the house felt finished.

“It was a complete and utter overhaul, really, to get it to where it is today,” Mrs Proudman said.

“[It was] a labour of love for those first 15 years and something we were very proud to call our home for the past 30 years.”

It’s a bittersweet sale for the couple who raised all their children in the home, even hosting a number of family weddings and engagements on the 6.48-hectare property.

“The house is surrounded by nature and these beautiful, mature gardens. It is quite magical all year round,” Mrs Proudman said.

“Even though we’ve only hosted family events at the property, we’ve had brides from town come and take their wedding photos on the verandah or near the gardens. Every corner of the property just oozes charm and elegance.

“We hope the new owners can see this and love it as much as we have. We’ve had it long enough and are ready to move on.”