Heavenly homes: SA’s most divine church conversions revealed
Open the doors of these buildings and it will feel like you’re stepping into heaven – not because they were once churches but because they’ve been transformed into such impressive homes.
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The rise in popularity of television shows like Grand Designs and Adelaide’s moniker of the City of Churches are making converted places of worship hot property among househunters.
Churches are always popular when they launch onto realestate.com.au – whether in their original state, fully converted or halfway there.
Real Estate Institute of South Australia chief executive Barry Money said Adelaide’s reputation as the City of Churches meant there had been many fantastic examples of great conversions over the years.
“It’s great to see those buildings retaining their original structure and their original beauty, which makes this City of Churches such a beautiful place to be, live and invest,” Mr Money said.
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Reneke van Soest recently bought a converted church at 104b Cross Rd, Highgate, and said it offered a strong feeling of tranquillity.
“It sounds odd, but you get a real sense of the building cherishing you when you are in it, rather than it just being a house and I think that is church-specific, rather than old house-specific,” she said.
We’ve compiled a list of what we think are 12 of the best converted church homes in SA. Why 12? Well, there well 12 disciples, and ‘a dozen’ has just got a good feel about it.
Anyway, kick back and take a look at the amazing transformations given to some of the state’s most beautiful churches.
Section 195A, Cowell
Let’s kick things off with a pretty one, hey?
Built in 1909 from local stone, this stunning church has been converted to a home and is a sight to behold.
A celebration of natural materials, the home has a warmth about it, while the property’s original stained glass windows flood it with natural light.
If that weren’t impressive enough, there are the soaring ceilings, which give the home an enormous sense of scale.
It sits on a 965sqm allotment and is just 15 minutes from Cowell and a short drive from Port Fibbon and Franklin Harbour’s pristine beaches.
26 William St, Allendale East
Enjoy this spectacular property, or rent it out as the Airbnb it was converted for in the first place.
The property consists of two separate buildings, both ideal as Airbnb accommodation – ‘The Church’ and ‘The Annexe’.
The Church is a renovated 1866-built church with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large living and dining area with a luxe kitchen.
Its high ceilings, leadlight windows and timber floors have been retained.
The Annexe is a self-contained single-bedroom apartment with a kitchenette, a bathroom and a private deck and courtyard.
They sit on a 2072sqm allotment with a six-bay shed, established low-maintenance gardens and plenty of parking.
21 and 21A Canning St, Rosewater
Australian actor Doris Younane and her husband Bill Papakostantis are responsible for this funky church and hall conversion at Rosewater.
The couple bought the former Anglican Church with attached hall in 2007 during her stint on McLeod’s Daughters, which was filmed in South Australia.
They subsequently transformed the church into a striking two-bedroom home, while the hall was converted into a three-bedroom residence with its own title and address.
Ms Younane and her husband lived in the church conversion, while using the hall, which they also renovated, as a studio space to teach acting.
Both properties were listed for sale last year and have since sold.
104B Cross Rd, Highgate
Deconsecrated in 1989, this stunningly converted home sits on a 1070sqm allotment and offers a flexible floorplan and glam contemporary lifestyle while preserving the home’s original ‘churchy’ features.
The include vaulted ceilings, archways, stained-glass windows, an internal mezzanine and timber floorboards.
The front door opens into an open-plan lounge and formal dining room, while a hallway leads past three bedrooms and a family bathroom to an open-plan kitchen, family and meals area at the rear.
Upstairs you’ll find the master suite – with a walk-in robe and an ensuite – and a rumpus room with a bar.
The home has a 3KW solar system, airconditioning, ceiling fans, and wood fires throughout.
1 Castle St, Parkside
This impressive church, which has stood on the outskirts of Adelaide’s city centre for more than 135 years, was converted into a heavenly home in 2006.
Many of its grand character features have been preserved, including its 13.5m cathedral ceilings and stained-glass windows, while modern design trends have breathed new life into it.
It changed hands late last year in a $1.5 million deal.
The church, which was decommissioned in 2003, is steeped in Adelaide’s history.
It features as part of a Burnside Council-produced self-guided history walk, a brochure of which states the foundation stone for the former Wesleyan Methodist Church was laid in 1883.
It became known as Epworth Uniting Church in 1977.
17 Borrow St, Freeling
It’s not just a long and rich history that throws this former church into the spotlight.
The 1908-built Freeling church was just one of the region’s landmarks featured in popular Australian television series McLeod’s Daughters.
The Anglican Church sold it eight years ago to a woman who poured her heart and soul into transforming it into a home.
It sold late last year for $385,000, according to property records.
The now two-bedroom residence has been modernised but many of its classic features were restored, including leadlight windows.
904 Leighton Rd, Leighton
It was built in 1871 as a Primitive Methodist Chapel, while the adjacent building was constructed in 1923 as a Soldiers Memorial Sunday School Hall.
Now the Leighton buildings in the state’s Mid North is a home after being completely transformed.
The owner purchased the 2800sqm property 20 years ago and moved from the UK to turn the historic buildings into her dream home.
With a background in interior design and art, she completely transformed the buildings.
But after many happy years in the home, she put the property on the market last month and the online listing now indicates it’s under offer.
32 William St, Mannum
Stroll past this historic Mannum building and you’ll probably assume it’s just an old church.
Take a look inside it though and you’ll soon see you were mistaken.
The former Mannum Baptist Church, which was built in circa 1893, has been turned into a contemporary two-bedroom home.
The previous owners spent about 18 months renovating it before putting it on the market.
Property records show it sold in March for $490,000.
238 Carclew Rd, Penfield Gardens
Swing open the double doors of this former chapel at Penfield Gardens and it will feel like you’re about to step into heaven.
The former owners spent almost two decades restoring and extending the building, which was opened in 1870 as the Primitive Methodist Church.
It was rundown and dilapidated when they bought it from the Munno Para District Council back in 2002.
It had been left to rot and was badly vandalised in the decades following its last service in 1950.
Looking at the three-bedroom residence now, you’d never guess it was once so badly damaged.
According to CoreLogic data, it sold in November last year for $715,000.
8 Horn St, Houghton
It might have been built in 1890, but this stunning Houghton home offers a contemporary lifestyle and has been well set up for the next 131 years.
The home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a stunning Jag kitchen and is surrounded by landscaped grounds – making this property nothing short of heavenly.
Plenty of the building’s original character has been maintained, including the bell.
How much fun could you have with that?
31 Young St, Parkside
To be totally honest, we don’t really know a whole lot about this place.
So that means we don’t really have a whole lot to tell you about it – it’s gorgeous though so we had to include it in the list.
Realestate.com.au says it’s got three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a double garage, and we think it’s awesome for the way it offers that feeling of modern living while not covering any of its period features.
Some church conversions are done so the interior doesn’t really feel like a church, but this place knows what it was and celebrates it.
1 Townsend St, Parkside
OK, so technically this place was a Sunday school building attached to a church, but it’s so nice we’re including it.
Now converted into a warehouse-style home, the property was built in 1913 and is a beautiful combination of original and contemporary features.
It’s got 6.5m ceilings, original timber elements, an internal courtyard and even a rooftop deck.
Four bedrooms and three bathrooms make it perfect for a family, and this place has quality fixtures and fittings at every turn.
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