Orthopaedic surgeon Richard Pope and his wife Megan have called this turn-of-the-century College Park villa home for the past 38 years.

“We bought the house before we had children and we had two boys who could walk across the road to Saints to go to school,” says Richard.

“It’s just a fantastic central location. It was handy for me because I worked at the Royal Adelaide for many years … so, it’s convenient for both work and lifestyle reasons.

“We bought into the area as the youngest people in the area and now we’re approaching the more senior people in the area. So, that just shows how much we like living in the area.”

Constructed in 1904, 1 Rugby Street, College Park was built on the original landholding of the Deputy Registrar of Land Titles, William Bacon Carter, by his widow Annie.

Affectionately known as “Chelmsford” after his place of birth in Essex, the federation-style villa blends both Art Nouveau and Arts and Craft architectural elements.

The exterior red-brick facade retains attractive heritage features, including leadlight windows, battened gables and rough cast render, while the interior boasts high ceilings, timber fretwork, decorative roses and mantles.

Stepping off the wraparound verandah through to the front entrance hall, you will find the living room to the right and one of four bedrooms to the left.

Walking down the passageway, you will pass the master bedroom with its spacious ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.

Making your way back of the house, you will enter the impressive 2018 extension by Outset Design.

“We wanted an open-plan design that we could open out completely. It opens out with huge sliding doors onto the garden and the pool,” Richard tells SALIFE.

“We added on the suites and wine rooms and pantry and that addition to the original, traditional design.”

The landscaped garden by Oliver Greenwell from Greenwell Landscapes features manicured hedging, topiary trees, groups of balls and lush lawns, while the pool provides welcome relief in the hot summer months.

“Our house was a haven for the borders from Saints because we were so close to the school. We had the borders, who would invariably end up over in our pool,” says Richard.

“It was a wonderful place to bring up children because they met many borders and country people who then became their friends.”

Richard says that his favourite aspect of the house is the outlook over St Peter’s College.

“The outstanding feature of our house is the outlook over the grounds of Saint’s Memorial Hall, the Saint’s Chapel and Llyod Oval.”

But after almost four decades of calling 1 Rugby Street home, Richard and Megan are now looking to pass on the keys to a new family.

“We’ve been incredibly happy living in this location for all of that period of time,” says Richard

Richard says he will miss the “incredible privacy” of the area.

“We have no close neighbours because we’ve got big grounds around us on all sides,” he says.

“We’re moving on to another house that came onto the market unexpectedly, which is the reason that we’re selling at this time. Otherwise, we probably wouldn’t be.”

The sale of 1 Rugby Street, College Park, is being handled by Sally Cameron from Toop + Toop.