Queanbeyan heritage home 'like a Sunday visit to nan's house' with a stunning modern twist

From the second you open the charming front gate at 11 Meredith Street, Queanbeyan, it’s like going back in time to a Sunday drive to Nan’s for afternoon tea.

Built in 1927, it’s the details of the home that transport you back to the days of dirt roads and kerosene lamps: from the front verandah and decorative ceilings to fireplaces and light fittings.

Sitting in the lounge room of the original home (an extension was added in the 1990s) is like a visit to the regions surrounding Canberra back when you were a kid: when the adults would sit around drinking cups of tea and eating lemon myrtle biscuits while the kids were ordered to go out the back and play.

Located in Queanbeyan‘s heritage precinct, the home is now a four bedroom masterpiece, blending nostalgia and modern amenity in the most beautiful way.

“The reason the home feels like you’re visiting a grandparent in a country town is because when this home was built, Queanbeyan was just a very small country town,” sales agent Jennifer Ward from Ward Estate Agents says.

“It was bushland beyond Stornaway Road.”

The current owners of 11 Meredith Street have lovingly restored it over the past five years, and the details are staggering; from Blackbutt timber floors, sandstone fireplaces, a ‘vintage’ Smeg oven in the new kitchen and double glazing throughout.

It’s so close to the main street of Queanbeyan you can smell the steaks cooking at the Royal Hotel, and yet the property is whisper quiet: like being out in the country. The current owners are moving away, but “wish they could literally pick the house up and take it with them” Jen says.

She described the heritage home as "the kind of home you buy and never leave", given its proximity to the Queanbeyan town centre, but also because in a way the gorgeous restoration is a kind of “haven”.

“You walk out the front door on Meredith Street and you see the old butcher shop, the old corner shop and a simply stunning street lined with heritage homes,” Jen says.

“It’s a special part of Queanbeyan and a truly special house.”

The new owners of 11 Meredith Street will be able to walk to iconic Queanbeyan events like the Multicultural Festival, Carols in the Park and the Queanbeyan Show. But major events can also be hosted at home, with a charming back deck, lawn and huge driveway area meaning the whole family will be keen to gather at the home for Christmas, New Year’s and birthday parties.

According to Jen, interest in the property has been huge with many Queanbeyan residents and people who grew up in the city keen to see what one of the city’s original homes looks like.

“Open homes have been massive,” she says.

“The cars have been lining Meredith Street – it almost looked like there was a big event on at town park.”

Number 11 Meredith Street, Queanbeyan, goes to auction at 12.30pm this Saturday 2 September 2023.

View the full listing.