Perhaps the most recognisable property in the Willunga township, this home at 62 High Street, Willunga was once known as The Willunga Post Office and Telegraph Station.

Established in 1858, the main building functioned as The Willunga Post Office and Telegraph Station until 1915 when it became a solely private residence.

General practitioner, Robert Hurley, purchased the historic home just over a decade ago, attracted to its old-world charm and idyllic location.

The main two-storey residence features three bedrooms and a single bathroom, with a large dining space and charming country kitchen.

Lofty ceilings add a sense of grandness to the rooms, while a character staircase, open fireplaces and polished timber floors resonate with the building’s enchanting sense of history.

“It was in relatively good condition when I purchased it, but it was actually being run as a business at the time,” Robert says.

“What the previous owners did was establish a bed and breakfast out the back that was built in the 1990s. Instead of ruining the original building, they expanded by creating separate buildings.”

The second building, referred to as “The Stables”, accommodates a bedroom and bathroom, making it the ideal space for a teenager to have some extra freedom.

The third building is a self-contained cottage with rustic western red cedar windows and doors.

It offers an open-plan kitchen and living area, a large bedroom, and a bathroom with a spa and twin showers.

Situated in an elevated spot, the cottage’s deck creates a sublime space to enjoy sunsets overlooking the Aldinga coastline.

Although intending to move into the property one day, plans changed when Robert met his wife, Rose, a nurse, and they settled down in Melbourne, where they now live with their two children.

Robert decided to hold onto the property, renting it out with the hopes that he might one day be able to live there with his family.

After its short stint as a bed and breakfast, the property has since been rented residentially as a much-loved family home.

Over the years, Robert has kept the home well-maintained, without compromising its historic charm.

“It is all up to date,” Robert says. “I have invested a lot of money [in the property] over the past years maintaining it.

“The property is pretty much the original design; we didn’t modify the structure at all.

“We had a modern kitchen put in and updated the bathroom, but all the walls are the originals.”

Now, the 165-year-old home is ready for a new family to take on custodianship and continue its legacy.

“Unfortunately, with a very heavy heart, I will be putting it up for sale,” Robert says.

“The penny dropped that I am not going to make the move anytime soon, so it is time for somebody else to come and enjoy the property.”

The sale is being handled by Corey Michelmore of Raine & Horne McLaren Vale.