Blackstone beauty Cambrian House has it all, even a ballroom. David Thomas had worked in Blackstone for 10 years before buying land and building this home in 1897. Beside the grand colonial Queenslander, he built a shop and bakery. “He was a baker, postmaster and store keeper,” Blackstone resident and historian Ray Edbrooke said. “He got into mining as well, but lost quite a bit of money in his mining ventures.”

A ballroom was added onto the house in the early 1900′s. Mr Edbrooke said it was quite likely his home was used for wedding receptions and other social gatherings. Mr Thomas died in 1943 and left the family home to his wife Lizzie. She sold the home to a director to a director of war service in 1951, who split it into flats.

The next owner to place his mark on the 20 Thomas Street house was Mr Sawyer, who spent more than 10 years restoring it to it’s original splendour. In 1994 his efforts were recognized by winning an Ipswich City Council Award of Excellence in the Heritage Conservation of an individual home. He auctioned the home the following year and Tony & Jenny Fernandez were the lucky buyers.

When asked what she liked most about the home, Mrs Fernandez said the 12 foot ceilings and the timber floors. “The big wide floor boards aren’t made anymore,” Mrs Fernandez said. It also has a beautiful cedar entrance with ornate blue, red and yellow coloured glass. A fire place dwells in the dining room with a hand-carved mantle piece and built-in book case. It has veranda’s on three sides.

The only unexpected purchase the Fernandez family came across when moving into the home was dozens of birds. “Mr Sawyer fed the birds every afternoon and when we moved in, we had birds flock down at the same time everyday,” Mrs Fernandez said. “It took them about 12 months until they realized there was no feed for them anymore.”

The sustainability declaration form for this property can be obtained by contacting the agent.