Built in 1869, a beautifully restored North Adelaide terrace has come onto the market as a young family looks to upsize.

Words Genevieve Meegan

While Luan Huynh and his wife Wendy Trinh have loved the convenience of their heritage-listed North Adelaide home, it’s now time for a change to suit the needs of their young family,

Luan, a cardiologist, and Wendy have two young children, one of whom is very keen on swimming, so the couple have decided to look for a larger home on a big block with plenty of room for a pool and play space.

“We thought about building a pool here, our neighbour has one, but we decided that we really want more room and if we were going to move we may as well do it now,” says Luan.

“But we have loved it here. I’m always so busy but as a cardiologist, I try to keep fit and I’m part of a running group with five other doctors. We always meet at our home because it is in the centre of everyone, and then we can go around the corner for coffee afterwards.

“I’d love to stay in this area but we are now looking for a 1400 square metre block so I’m not sure what our chances are of finding that in North Adelaide.”

Luan hopes to buy a bluestone villa that he and Wendy can renovate and put their stamp on. The couple have renovation experience, having completely revamped the two-storey Gover Street property when they bought it in 2012.

“We gutted it essentially and whitewashed the floorboards, added polished concrete floors, redid the kitchen, painted throughout, redid the electrics. It was a big job,” Luan says. “But we had it all done in three months and it was pretty much finished by the time we moved in.”

Built in 1869, the home still retains many of its original features including fireplaces and decorative ceilings.

Other features include three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a cellar, decked courtyard with vertical garden and undercover parking for two cars via back lane access.

The master bedroom also features a north-facing balcony overlooking the front yard, complete with fountain and fishpond.

Luan says he has had some feedback, with some buyers worried about the stairs for toddlers and older people.

“All our neighbours are older than 65, all empty nesters who wanted the convenience of North Adelaide and they all plan to live here for many more years,” he says.

“As for toddlers – this is the only house our daughter has ever lived in and both she and our son run up and down the stairs with no problems. I suspect it’s helped my son become the fearless climber he is now.”

The property is being handled by Sally Cameron of Toop & Toop and expressions of interest close on Tuesday, June 18 at 12pm.