travelbug

This questions goes out to the locals (or anyone else that might know the answer! )

Looking at a lot of properties - the style i tend to like a lot is referred to as "federation" style. Can someone please explain to me what period year wise these styles normally cover? Some of the styles vary greatly - so i'd be interested if anyone knows the true definition of a "federation" property.
I have tried searching on the web but haven't found a site that does that!

and are there any locals on here that have a house that is predominantly made out of wood rather than brick? I was wondering what kind of treatments are required in Tasmania yearly for such properties...

thanks all!
Cathy

travelbug

Hi Peter, seems like the site problems have continued a bit today!
I typed you a reply on this - but lost it as the site went down!
Right pain that!
Anyway......what i was going to say was that shop must do good business as it's presented really lovely - just like a gift shop / specialised shop should be. I imagine kids absolutely love it (i know Eden would be after one of those bee's!).
oh, and it was a nice surprise seeing you on the computer nice and early for a change!
Cathy

MelbourneCityRach

The Federation of Australia was 1901, that's when our constitution was born and created distinct Federal states. So that style of housing dates from early 1900's ... and yes they're lovely looking :-)

My family has always owned weatherboard houses... no yearly treatments bar keeping it clean that I know of - we used to paint every 3-5 years. Not sure if that helps or not re-reading it!!

travelbug

Hi - thanks for your reply That's exactly what i wanted to know - some of the federation houses i've seen do date back to the early 1900's - so i guess they're legit! As we're not up on Australian History i didnt know exactly what it meant!
and thanks for the info on the weatherboard houses.... I wasnt sure if they needed woodworm/termite/ant treatments....i know you get white ant in Western Australia and that can seriously damage houses and didnt know if there was anything similar in Tas...

thanks again!
Cathy

Possums

Hi Rach did you find them warm enough in winter? There are some beautiful federation styles in Launceston I really wanted to buy one but OH put me off saying they are cold?? we ended up buying a concrete block house.

kezzabird

Our rental was a weather board 50's style house and that was really cold, but don't know if that was because it didn't have carpet only floor boards, and don't know how insulated the roof was or anything.

When we were looking at houses, I really loved the federation style ones too and still do. But the nice ones were lots of money and the not so nice ones needed lots of work, not some thing that we were willing to take on since Duncan hates DIY. But I know your Andy is handy So you should be able to pick up a doer upper quite cheaply.

kezzabird

I don't know if Carina is still online or not but just wanted to wish you all the best babe for your journey into your new life down under! Don't forget to drop us a line. Don't forget your woolly jumpers, its a bit chilly down here.

Best of luck to you and your family and I guess I'll see you soon

Kerry
X

travelbug

Hi Kerry We have seen some that need renovating that could be wonderful - and if a place was "liveable" with the kids whilst being renovated it's something we would consider doing... Andy would love the challenge of getting a place looking just how we'd like it..... But i'd have to have a working toilet / bath etc before i'd even consider it! Not sure i'd fancy kipping in a caravan on site - which is something Andy's considered before!
There are some lovely Federation houses within our budget in the North of the Island that have already been renovated - but again as we're heading initially to the Hobart area's that's a shame really the prices change somewhat for the ones already renovated..... But who knows what the future will bring and where we'll end up! I would love a white picket fence around my property too - and a lovely big verandah to sit on - do you think i watched too many programmes like Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie as a kid?
Andy says that it's probably easier nowadays to find solutions to insulate a house better than it was years ago....and i'm sure he'd be able to improve the insulation - as that's what he is anyway - a Thermal Insulation Engineer & Sheet Metal worker by trade... (but i might end up with the shiniest house in Hobart - made out of Aluminium! ). Only joking.... Andy will read this later and probably give me a kick!

Have noticed on realestate.com this week that some properties on the Island along with the mainland are starting to show reduced asking prices.... so maybe things will pan out for everyone that's had to take a drop in their selling price over here....

Anyway, Andy's at home today so i'll say bye for now..... as it means that i can get into work a bit earlier this afternoon....
Eden's doing a sponsored walk at school in about 10mins time - all the reception kids are doing 20 laps of their school playing field - which is quite big really. I said to Andy she'll come home knackered and i bet she'll be in bed by 7pm without moaning tonight!

Cathy
x

travelbug

I'll second the good wishes for Carina & family! Hope you have a great trip over and get settled in quickly and well!
I think it was this week sometime that you go wasn't it? How
exciting

take care & be sure to let us all stuck here still in the UK know how you get on!
Cathy

oldgit

Hi Cathy.
Having had too many site problems to cope with over the last few weeks and the last 3-4 days in particular I have PM'd you.
Good luck to you and to everybody else on here
i will keep on looking in but not replying until the Site becomes stable again or my reception/transmissions become stable again.
They are trying hard to get things back to normal and for many of you thankfully I suspect you have few if any problems
Hope this transmits OK
Cheers Peter

Possums

mmm must admit this house we've bought is feeling pretty cold now its winter, we need a new roof though and there is no insulation up there so reckon that will make a big difference.

I have ordered one of those pure australian wool quilts that are advertised on the the morning show, all sizes $99 ours is a king so reckon thats a good price?

Possums

hi me too always wanted that verandah with a swing on it I got a nice balcony though

yes Col has fitted us a new bathroom and found a lightweight thermal sheeting .. called thermawall.. that he put under the floor boards and between the stud wall he made, it seems pretty good

travelbug

Glad i'm not the only one then! Nice you've got a balcony to sit out on though

I'll have to remember that name thermawall.....just incase we need something similar in the future!!!
my Mum&Dads house was always freezing cold as their house was built around 1970 and had warm air heating for years....which was absolutely rubbish & never warmed the place up....and our house here is very cold in the winter....especially the detached side of the house, it's freezing within 10mins of turning the heating off so hopefully we'd be able to survive!

Possums

LOL yep though you will be amazed at how you climatize to the weather, I know its no where near as cold as the UK but beejeebies it feels it sometimes

kezzabird

We've had to go out and buy an oil heater to boost the other end of our house, our wood burner just can't get the heat down that end and its frightfully nippy down there. It's on wheels so we can move it around, which is really handy. It goes in the bathroom when we are showering and bathing. Then at night it goes into the hall way and warms up the bedrooms, plus it has a timer which is really handy, we don't have to have it on continuously.

I'm really sad today, one of our sheep gave birth to twin lambs on saturday night and this morning I found one of them dead I felt absolutely terrible, I think the cold winds in the night must have been too much for the little thing.