Bathroom Renovations in Morpeth
A river port on the Hunter
Morpeth sits on the southern bank of the Hunter River at the border between Maitland and Port Stephens, and takes its name from Morpeth in Northumberland, England. Edward Charles Close selected 1,000 hectares and developed a river port there from 1831 to 1841, building his sandstone Georgian house Closebourne, which served as an episcopal residence from 1848 to 1912.
The church on Tank Street
St James' Anglican Church on Tank Street was built from 1837 to 1840 and partly designed by John Horbury Hunt. It carries a local heritage listing. A major merchant, James Taylor, built a bond store around 1850 near the bridge, now heritage-listed. Morpeth Court House dates from around 1861 in the Greek Revival style, and a police station followed in 1879.
Bypassed by the railway
The Great Northern Railway was built in 1857 and bypassed Morpeth, which meant Newcastle developed as the regional port and Morpeth lost commercial importance. It survived as a township with its heritage intact. Today Wikipedia calls it a popular tourist destination because of its historic buildings and riverbank setting. Its heritage-listed places include Morpeth Bridge, Morpeth House and the railway station.
Heritage and the bathroom
In a historic town, much of what you see is protected from the street, but the inside of a bathroom is usually a private matter. Even so, ask Maitland City Council whether your property is listed or lies in a conservation area, and ask each business what approvals it believes apply. Document the answers in your contract.
Old pipes and old walls
Sandstone and old brick walls behave differently from modern framed walls, and old floors may have been patched for many decades. A renovator with experience in older houses will ask about previous work and will want to see inside the floor before they promise a price. The national guide behind this page suggests ten to fifteen per cent contingency for houses over twenty years old.
NSW numbers
The guide quotes a standard bathroom at $3,000 to $6,000 per square metre and says Sydney runs 15 to 25 per cent above the national average. Maitland is not Sydney, but it is also not the national average. Use the numbers as questions, not as a price list.
Before paying anything
A deposit is capped at ten per cent in NSW, a contractor licence is needed above $5,000, and home building compensation cover applies above $20,000. Use the HBC Check on the Service NSW site to look up a business, and ask for the licence details in writing.
A river port made privately
Morpeth takes its name from the town near Newcastle upon Tyne in England. Edward Charles Close picked a 1,000 hectare property and developed it as a river port between 1831 and 1841. His sandstone Georgian house, Closebourne, served as an episcopal residence from 1848 to 1912. Almost all residents live in the historic town.
Where does Morpeth get its name?
From Morpeth in Northumberland, England, near Newcastle upon Tyne.
Who founded the river port?
Edward Charles Close, who developed it from 1831 to 1841 and built Closebourne.
Why did Morpeth decline?
The Great Northern Railway of 1857 bypassed it, and Newcastle became the regional port.
Request a quote
Nearby
Woodberry
Gillieston Heights