House of the week: Upgraded elevated made for family

A cherished Darwin home that has been in the same family for more than 60 years is on the market for the first time since it was built. CHECK OUT HOW IT LOOKS TODAY.

The home at 6 Morice Ct, Larrakeyah. Picture: Supplied

A Darwin home that has been in the same family for more than 60 years is on the market for the first time since it was built.

Kerry Nourse bought the elevated house a 6 Morice Ct, Larrakeyah, from her parents, George and Flo Liveris, in 1977, and renovated the home twice with the help of her brother, renowned Darwin architect Hully Liveris.

“Mum and Dad bought the land back in the early 60s and Dad, who was a builder, built (the house),” Kerry said.

“I can remember helping Dad by handing him the nails so he could put floorboards down.

“And Dad couldn’t have done what he did without Mum’s help.”

Kerry said the house was originally a typical Darwin elevated with a central hallway and a veranda off the kitchen and living area.

“I loved living in that house with the floorboards and the cross breezes, and knowing Dad had built it, so it was solid,” she said.

“Dad was a perfectionist, he was a man who did business on a handshake, so I knew the house was built to the best possible standard.”

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The home has been redesigned to focus on indoor-outdoor flow between the downstairs area and the backyard. Picture: Supplied

The downstairs area has big open living spaces. Picture: Supplied

Kerry and her husband Geoff raised their two children in the home, which evolved over the years.

“We did two fairly big renovations and we engaged Hully for both,” Kerry said.

“Dad was involved in the first renovation and he loved bringing Hully’s work to life.

“When we did the second renovation, in about 1995, it was Dad’s best friend who did it with us.”

Today, the home is spread across two levels with four bedrooms, three bathrooms and indoor-outdoor flow.

“Hully’s design brought the focus to the back of the home and the pool area, where we terraced the backyard and landscaped,” Kerry said.

“We brought the living areas downstairs – that connection with the ground level when you have kids is amazing – and we lived with the back doors open.

“We would come home from the oval, jump in the pool and the kids could walk in all wet because the floor were designed for that.”

Kerry said they also added a master bedroom upstairs over the driveway and added a balcony.

The home has high ceilings and banks of louvres. Picture: Supplied

Polished timber floorboards feature upstairs. Picture: Supplied

The home has banks of louvres and a combination of concrete and timber floors, including original floorboards to the bedrooms.

On the ground floor there is an open plan living, dining and kitchen space opening to the covered outdoor area and a deck overlooking the pool.

“That downstairs room, we’ve had 40 people – four or five generations of our family – in there for Christmas,” Kerry said.

“We’d have all the generations in that room with the airconditioner on or out in the pool.”

There is also a storage space, bathroom and laundry on this level.

A spiral staircase leads to the second floor where a large living space flows out to a balcony.

The main bedroom has a sitting area, walk-in robe, ensuite and balcony, while the three remaining bedrooms have built-in robes and there is a family bathroom.

Kerry said her dream was for a Darwin family to buy the home.

“I was so lucky to be given the opportunity to buy the house,” she said.

“It’s been a hard decision for me to sell it, but it’s better off in the hands of a good family who will love it as much as we do.

“Our kids, who are now in their 30s, have so many memories of growing up in that quiet little street.

“It was a real little community.”

The property is in a sought after cul-de-sac, neighbouring Kahlin Oval and Cullen Bay Marina, and close to the popular local school.

PROPERTY DETAILS
ADDRESS: 6 Morice Ct, Larrakeyah

BEDROOMS: 4
BATHROOMS: 3

CARPARKS: 2

PRICE: Offers over $1.6m

AGENTS: Chris Hyland, 0409988022, Julie Neal, 0499870080, Colliers International – Darwin