A home with substance.

When they arrived 27 years ago, the area was still shaking off its working-class roots. The streets were louder, the back lanes rougher. Yet there was a pulse here, an unmistakable sense of life that enticed them in. “What drew us to the suburb initially was the desire to give our young teenage children a sense of independence and proximity to quality schools,” Gary says. “The blend of diversity, easy access to transport and vibrant culture that Camperdown offered suited our own outlook on life. The suburbs would never have worked for us.”

The house itself was already carrying a story. One previous owner - an American engineer, had salvaged sandstone and timber, incorporating them into the fabric of the building to create its unique identity. The result was a structure that felt ancient and grounded, "as though it had always stood on that block since the beginning of time," Rosie says.

Set across a substantial dual-access parcel, the oversized residence unfolds across multiple living zones, with a central internal courtyard linking the main home to a rear studio. Wide frontage, soaring ceilings, exposed beams, leadlight windows and sandstone textures combine to create a sense of warmth and architectural gravitas. Yet the home has always been as much about flexibility as it is about presence - a place capable of evolving alongside its family.

For Gary and Rosie, the house became the framework around which life expanded. Children grew, boundaries were tested, independence cultivated. The upstairs balcony remains one of their most cherished spaces. “My wife and I could chill up there, giving us valuable time out,” Gary says. “The kids learned that this was important for us and taught them how to set boundaries of their own.”

Downstairs, the adaptable layout a different kind of freedom. “For our older daughter her favourite space was the rear studio living area where she could have friends come over, enter via the laneway and exit when she was old enough to understand what that meant,” Rosie says. “For her this was freedom, for us it was growing up in a safe environment.” Their son found his own rhythm outdoors, gravitating towards Camperdown Oval for basketball and running.

As their family grew, so did the suburb. King Street transformed into one of Sydney’s most dynamic cultural strips, while the parks, transport and community infrastructure evolved. “We arrived at the end of a very conservative working class era,” Rosie says. “We’ve watched the change over the past few decades and how the King Street area has taken off - it’s now the undisputed best place to eat and see live music in Sydney.”

By 2007, the house was ready for its next evolution. The renovation focused on amplifying space, light and connection, while preserving its heritage core. “Our renovation was motivated by needing more bathrooms, better outdoor living and a grander kitchen space to host friends,” Gary says. “It was also in the design brief to keep the exposed bridge beams, stained glass and sandstone features. We really wanted to maintain the heritage features but modernise everything else.”

Today, the home reveals a rare generosity of scale: a stone kitchen with gas cooking and eat-in island, expansive living and dining zones, a private internal courtyard, separate studio, garage with secondary lane access, and a master suite crowned by a large sun terrace. It’s a house designed not only to be lived in, but to be lived through - accommodating every phase of family life.

After nearly three decades, Gary and Rosie are preparing for a new chapter. Seven years spent immersed in Bali softened their pace, and now Coffs Harbour beckons. “Being in our 70s, it’s time to stroll along the beach and enjoy the peace and quiet for a while,” Rosie says.

Yet leaving is no small thing. “We hope the next owners will last another 30 years,” Gary says. “This is really an intergenerational home that will outlast us all. It has been an oasis in the city for our whole family. Many good memories and great vibes are left behind.”

Perhaps that’s the greatest legacy of any home. It’s not about scale or everlasting sandstone. It’s about the way they quietly hold their inhabitants, year after year, letting them grow.

View the listing: 102 Denison Street, Camperdown