It was a bold idea for someone planning their retirement. Having fallen in love with the old flour mill in a small country town, the realisation of her dream had to negotiate a rocky road of planning, zoning and heritage suitability issues. Early discussions with HAA determined whether the project was viable.

Critical in the successful negotiations with council was HAA’s understanding of the nuances of heritage zonings. It was also necessary to convince council that the unconventional path was the best way of conserving the item.

Another key factor in the successful conversion was finding a sympathetic engineering solution which retained the original roofing structure.

Our client asked us to create a light, inviting home on a tight budget. The upper floor became the residence, with kitchen, bathroom, living space and a mezzanine bedroom. The large downstairs space is envisaged as a space for future quilting workshops.

The finished conversion/home reflects the client’s own creativity and warm hospitality. Outside a beautiful cottage garden is being established. The interior displays her eclectic collection of old furniture, art and handmade quilts. All of this has been achieved with environmental efficiency.

Stephenson’s Mill received the 2022 NSW Architecture Awards Heritage - Conservation Commendation and the Adaptive Re-use Award in the 2022 National Trust Heritage Awards.

Conservation Planning, Heritage Incentive Management, Design, Collaborative Documentation, Consent Management.

The new stair treads are of tallowwood, salvaged from a grandstand located in Goulburn which was being refurbished. Most of the materials used in the build were sourced or manufactured locally.