Seldom does a home come to market that is so steeped in history.
'Kintire' is such a property, purpose built as the Station Masters House this home just oozes the quality that was lavished on publicly owned property at the time.
The construction is rendered double brick which is rare and unusual as most Station Masters Houses were weatherboard.
The result is a home that is incredibly solid and has stood the test of time in fine style as can be seen when visiting this lovely character home.
There are four good sized bedrooms all with the lovely high skirting boards and wide polished floorboards that are a signature of quality homes of the period.
The beautiful fireplaces are all intact with the original mantles and the ceilings are the expected lofty height.
The current owners have loved and maintained this home to a terrific standard too with sympathetic updates to the kitchen and bathroom areas that add to the existing character.
The history attached to this home is a story in itself, and was the home of Thomas Raymond Rodriguez who was a person of influence in Blackheath.
He married Aimee Shillington at Ironbark on January 4, 1888. The young family, by April 29, 1889, was settled in the station-master's cottage at Blackheath where they remained until he left the Railways on September 1, 1901.
The popular stationmaster oversaw construction of Blackheath stations new island platform.
Rodriguez developed the railway tennis courts into a local social and sporting centre. He, his wife and friends organised tennis parties and tournaments.
Secretary of the Blackheath Progress Committee, Rodriguez had the sites of the Blackheath Gardens and the cricket ground cleared and fenced.
He loved Govetts Leap, developing the "delightful rustic walk" to the Lookout. With Tom Daly, Rodriguez hired Tom and Samuel Williams to construct the track from Breakfast Point to just below the waterfall. It opened on February 25, 1899.
Rodriguez Pass, from the bottom of Govetts Leap to Evans Lookout, was opened April 21, 1900. It and the track through the Grand Canyon owe their existence to Rodriguez. He raised money, sought donations, haranguing everyone until the tracks were a reality.
After leaving the railway, Rodriguez ran the Ivanhoe Hotel from October 1, 1901 until November 25, 1907 while concurrently managing the Hydro Majestic in 1904.
Improving his guests' experiences, he began regular car services to the Jenolan Caves on September 28, 1903.
After a brief interlude in Sydney from late 1907, Rodriguez in 1914 returned to Blackheath where he had remained involved in local affairs: Honorary Secretary of the Presbyterian Church, member of the Evans Lookout Reserve, on committees for the School of Arts and the establishment of a golf course.
By January 31, 1914, Rodriguez had begun his final career - Land Agent in a small cottage-type building which still stands today near the railway station entrance.
So, as you see, this home has been occupied by a man who was the driver of many of the sights and facilities that make the village of Blackheath so desirable today.
So come along and have a look at this terrific slice of Blackheath history.
• Close to town
• Reverse cycle air conditioning
• Slow combustion fireplace
• 971m2 level block
• Rendered double brick construction
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