36 Australian Country HOMES
but coming home to their slice of Ipswich
history is a blissful adventure to be
enjoyed all on its own.
“A perfect day at Toronto starts with
a sleep in, followed by pottering in the
garden,” Vanessa adds. “We love to have
drinks with friends in the side garden
which is shaded from the afternoon sun.”
Little by little, Vanessa and Chris are
etching their own story into the home’s
old walls. “There is never a day when
I take this house for granted,” Vanessa
says. “I marvel at her beauty every
day and feel fortunate that we are the
custodians who are lucky enough to
clean, paint and look after her.” ACHThis page: The attic-style bedroom on the second f loor is furnished with some of Vanessa’s antique
finds including a brass bed left in its original time-worn state. The home was originally called Devonshire
Cottage by its English owners, but was changed to Toronto by a French-Canadian owner who renamed it
in honour of his birthplace. Owning the property has brought out Vanessa’s green thumb, although she
admits that her gardening education has mostly been a case of learning by trial and error.