Devil in Detail: What It’s Really Like to Convert a Church – realestate.com.au

A century-old church that has been carefully converted into a modern home has hit the market in the NSW town of Robertson.

The six-bedroom house at 39 Hoddle Street, Robertson, is for sale, with a price guide of $2.5-2.7 million.

Owner, designer and artist Josette Cauchi bought the church, first built in 1902, on Robertson’s Main Street in 2017 after seeing it in a magazine.

“I have always loved big, open spaces,” Ms. Cauchi said.

‘I had lived in two converted warehouses in Sydney, so when I saw this place with its lawns, hall and church together, I thought: I could make this work.

“There was nothing in it at all, just a shell. No kitchen, no bathroom, two outside toilets. So I bought a camping shower and oven and moved in.”

Ms. Cauchi had worked in the hospitality and interior design industries for a long time and arrived with plans already outlined. It was formalized by an architect – a pragmatic move that kept the process fast and costs low.

High double height ceilings and crisp white walls frame the open plan living area. Image: realestate.com.au/buy

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Council approval came within six months; Now that everything had been ordered in advance, trading began immediately and the old church hall was first completed as her private room.

“I then added two extensions – a bathroom and a studio – following the original lines and recreating everything so that to this day you can’t tell where the new begins and the old ends,” she said.

Josette Cauchi converts Robertson Church. Image: supplied

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“I am an artist, I like to step outside the lines.”

She tackled decades of orange varnish and tired finishes with a mix of pragmatism and flair.

Before and after renovations at 39 Hoddle Street, Robertson. Image: supplied

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“I felt like I was in an 80s sauna, so I removed the floorboards and painted them Japanese black,” she said.

“We also found a primer that sticks to old oil varnish, so I could paint the church without sanding the whole thing – saving weeks and a lot of money.”

A well-equipped kitchen anchors the house. Image: realestate.com.au/buy

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“I like to combine the new with the old: a bit of New York industrial with vintage accents.”

Building challenges and coming up with creative solutions

The project’s biggest design puzzle became a signature move.

During the renovation, the interior received a complete makeover. Image: supplied

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“The real problem with church conversions is where to put the bathrooms – you don’t want a square box for a nice space,” Ms Cauchi said.

“It took me two months to come up with a sloping bathroom in the middle to separate the bedroom and living room. The architects loved it and added a sloping roof. It became a sculptural piece.”

Design schools now let students study her inventive approach to adaptive reuse.

Equal thought was given to bringing the structure up to modern standards: a new sewerage system, complete rewiring and upgraded switchboards, and the original timber proved robust enough to support a glazed mezzanine floor without additional posts.

The conversion features a mezzanine retreat overlooking the open plan living area. Image: realestate.com.au/buy

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Ms. Cauchi was candid about the details of the project, noting that checking zoning was a priority.

The Hoddle Street Church has a mixed-use category that allows for both residential and business use.

The central bathroom has an opulent design, with a striking freestanding bath framed by a cathedral-style window. Image: realestate.com.au/buy

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“It’s an advantage because you can live at the same address and run something, but banks usually only lend about 60% on such a property; a standard home loan can get you 90-95%, so you need a larger deposit,” she said.

“Churches often require you to add a kitchen and a bathroom, think $30,000, so you can live there while you stage everything else.”

The 2,023 m² property is located in the heart of Robertson. Image: realestate.com.au/buy

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Ms Cauchi said renovators should first live in the property to see where the sun falls, find your favorite corners and then commit.

“I spent more on the renovations and the garden than I did on the church,” she said. “But you do it little by little.”

A vintage photo of Robertson Church. Image: supplied

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A house with heart

Now complete, the half-acre estate feels both grand and grounded: six bedrooms, six bathrooms, a utility room and five double doors leading to a large terrace and an edible garden planted with figs, walnuts and citrus fruits.

“I designed it for entertainment,” she said. “I created a holiday destination for all my friends.”

Since moving to the city, Robertson has become what she calls ‘the jewel of the Highlands’: a foodie area where city visitors now come for wood-fired pizza, artisan cheese and slow-cooked Wagyu pies.

For those who dream of buying their own deconsecrated church, Ms. Cauchi’s advice is simple: be respectful, be creative and stay practical.

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“You want to keep the essence and continue the original look — that’s where the value is,” she said.

“A church demands respect during renovation. If you do it right, you really get something unique. Take your time.”

After eight years, her Robertson sanctuary is ready for its next custodian.

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“I’ve loved every minute here,” she said. “It was beautiful, inspiring and full of life.”

So what’s next for Ms. Cauchi?

She’s checking off the last two things on her bucket list, living with absolute water views and living in Italy – and she’s already found the place with those views.