Photo by: Sardaka licenced under (CC-SA)

Sarahville: 29 Challis Avenue, Potts Point. Sydney, New South Wales.

Sarahville is a freestanding two storey terrace house which is part of a collection along Challis Avenue.  It was built in 1893 in rendered Sydney sandstone.  Sarahville currently operates as a boutique function centre and photography studio.

The wide terrace features free classical details with a tall Italianate parapet in the sort of style more common in Melbourne with its double storey verandah.  The terrace is quite wide and symmetrical (with the exception of the chimney) and may have originally been double fronted.  There are refined classical details including a triangular pediment and pinnacle central to the parapet and a cornice supported by bracket pairs.  The party walls also feature some classical ornamentation including scroll corbels.   The verandah features wide ron lace split into three bays by cast iron classical columns with a fringe, brackets and pendants central to each bay (although a couple of these are currently missing).  The upper level features a french doors and two windows.

The interiors retain many of their original features including grand doorway with leadlights, grand hallway, hallway arch, parquetry flooring, skirting, wooden staircase hallway and polished boards.

Although Sarahville was listed on the Register of the National Estate in 1978 for historical significance, it still does not carry a citation of significance, date of construction or architect.  This is not unusual, however as it was probably nominated as part of an effort to register the entire Challis streetscape with poor research on this particular building.