The magnificent "Willtun" sandstone homestead nestled up on the hillside overlooking the Cedar Creek Valley between Millfield and Wollombi in the Hunter Valley vineyard & winery area - a most beautiful part of the world.
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Wayne & other members of the BuildFlex crew were presented with this challenge quite a few years back. The Situation: a beautiful rural property with a plentiful supply of sandstone boulders & outcrops on site, and an abundance of locally grown & milled hardwood. The Brief: to build a landmark family homestead utilising the naturally occurring local sandstone and timbers, and incorporating some additional unique elements such as a 140 year old Australian Cedar staircase which was reclaimed from an ancient historic nunnery in Sydney. Who you gonna call? |
The lower internal walls were all constructed from 100mm (4") thick slabs of locally milled blue-gum which had been carefully stacked & stored on the site for 2 years for natural air-dry seasoning. Even after all that time there was still some shrinkage experienced in each piece after the construction was completed. The slabs, which weighed up to 100kgs each, were hand-fitted together and placed vertically to form the lower load-bearing walls which support the upper floors.
The sandstone was hewn on site from large boulders & outcrops right up behind the house. All hand-split and shaped, the blocks were individually carried down to the house and laid into position by master stonemasons.
The magnificent old Australian Cedar staircase and handrail was salvaged from the demolition of an old Sydney nunnery and brought to site in pieces. Wayne and the BuildFlex crew cut & built all of the framing on site as well resurrecting the staircase and installing all of the internal linings & mouldings etc. All in all a most challenging and satisfying project.
The sandstone was hewn on site from large boulders & outcrops right up behind the house. All hand-split and shaped, the blocks were individually carried down to the house and laid into position by master stonemasons.
The magnificent old Australian Cedar staircase and handrail was salvaged from the demolition of an old Sydney nunnery and brought to site in pieces. Wayne and the BuildFlex crew cut & built all of the framing on site as well resurrecting the staircase and installing all of the internal linings & mouldings etc. All in all a most challenging and satisfying project.
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Still owned by the Heslop family, the "Willtun" property is now also the home of Stonehurst Wines and the Cedar Creek Vineyards. Have a look at these images → Additional accommodation facilities have been added over the years, and these days you can enjoy a most relaxing holiday at the Cedar Creek Cottages resort as guests of the Heslops. Check out the Cedar Creek Cottages website here. If you're intending to book in for a stay, tell them you were recommended by Wayne and Team BuildFlex. |
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Testimonial by Daryl W. Heslop:
".... The workmanship by Wayne and his crew was above fault, and there was never any question or dispute with any account submitted. In fact, the staircase was installed with seemingly little effort after another builder, who was engaged only to install this, gave up and left the site.
I have no hesitation in recommending Wayne's workmanship and integrity."
I have no hesitation in recommending Wayne's workmanship and integrity."