A stately heritage home described as a masterpiece that "simply cannot be recreated" is chasing a record-breaking residential price tag on the outskirts of Maitland.
'The Oak', a landmark estate in Bolwarra, has hit the market with a $3 million to $3.3 million price guide.
If achieved, the sale will easily eclipse Bolwarra's residential record of $2.73 million.
It is the first time the property has been offered to market since 2014.
The Oak, at 21 Kensington Road, has since undergone an extensive restoration that highlights the home's "irreplaceable" period features, including intricately detailed ornate plasterwork ceilings, decorative columns and lead light doors and windows.
"The current owners have done a lot of the restoration work on the original part of the home and then added all of the modernised features that you would hope to have in an architectural property of this age," River Realty listing agent Chris Henry said.
"The condition of the property is sensational - from the gardens to the pool area to the internal finishes, they have all been brought up to the highest of standards.
"It has the original ornate ceilings and and the construction team went through the whole home from top to bottom and every aspect of it was refurbished, from the beautiful timbers, the architraves, the columns, the doors - everything has been upgraded and redone."
The almost 100-year-old property is considered a landmark in the suburb.
Positioned on a 2791 square metre corner block, the grand home was designed by John Wiltshire Pender, a leading Maitland-based architect behind some of the most significant historic public buildings, cottages and houses in the Hunter region.
Dating back to 1927, The Oak was built for master artisan plasterer Ken Pryor whose skill is evident in the ceilings throughout.
Mr Henry said the property is a landmark in the suburb and took its name from the English oak tree that stood at the front gate since the mid-1800s.
"There is a lot of history and it has always been a local landmark," he said.
"John Pender worked on a lot of the beautiful homes throughout Maitland, Bolwarra and Lorn, but this would have to be one of Bolwarra's most famous.
"His architectural style is incredible."
"It's called The Oak because there was a beautiful oak tree on the corner that is no longer there any more but that's where the home took its original naming."
The four-bedroom, three-bathroom house features a semi-wraparound verandah, 3.3-metre ceilings and original hardwood timber floors.
An entry foyer opens to the formal living room with a bay window and marble fireplace, while the kitchen and bathrooms are all modernised with contemporary finishes.
Other features include a glasshouse conservatory, in-ground swimming pool, outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven, a gym space and formal gardens.
"It is starting to gain strong interest from buyers," he said.
"Most of the interest at this stage has been locals but I have had a few inspections with out of area buyers, including Sydney buyers considering a move to the area but mainly it has been local interest because it is a famous home within the local area."
The record price for a residential property in Bolwarra is $2.73 million, held since 2022 by a circa 1880 four-bedroom home on 2.7 acres fronting the Hunter River at 52 Kensington Road.
Cotality records show The Oak was last sold in 2014 for $1.55 million.
The median house value in the suburb sits at $1.06 million.
"We are guiding $3 million to $3.3 million, but when you're looking at it from a reconstruction point of view, you can't put a price on this kind of property," he said.
"A home like this simply cannot be recreated because the craftsmanship isn't available today to put a home like this together."
