New England-style family entertainer in Netherby
Retired medical professionals Angela McLean and Peter Sharley are selling their five-bedroom Adelaide foothills home which enjoys expansive views of the property’s picturesque gardens and swimming pool.
Angela McLean and Peter Sharley built their dream family home at 10 Heather Avenue in Netherby after returning from America where they were inspired by picturesque New England-style homes.
“We built the house from scratch and designed it as a family home … and now it’s just too big for the two of us,” says Angela, a retired doctor.
After purchasing the property in 1997, Angela and Peter demolished the “unlivable” pre-existing house and rebuilt in 2000, with the help of Alan Sheppard Constructions.
For the design of the home, the couple was inspired by the traditional American-New England architecture they were surrounded by in their Californian university town when they were living in America.
“The design has got that American influence and New England facade which appealed to us, and we love the symmetry of the house,” Angela says.
Angela and Peter originally moved to Netherby to be closer to the city and the location is one of the things Angela will miss the most.
You might like
“It’s a beautiful street, it’s incredibly quiet, and it’s a really lovely little neck of the woods that I think a lot of people don’t know about,” Angela says.
“I think the location is perfect with lovely neighbours and a large piece of land.”
The home sits on almost 1400 square metres and has views to the nearby Adelaide Hills.
With the Waite Reserve at the end of the street and Carrick Hill and its walking trails nearby, the outdoors became a quintessential part of Angela and Peter’s everyday living.
“The garden is absolutely superb, and yet it’s pretty easy care,” Angela says.
“We get koalas in the backyard, and often have ducks and ducklings.
“The bird life is incredible, we specifically planted native plants to attract native birds, so we regularly have a whole range of parrots – the eastern rosella is there very regularly, as well as lorikeets, kookaburras and a range of other native birds.”
Subscribe for updates
Angela says the superb, easy-care garden can be appreciated from every aspect of the home, and not just outside.
“I love the garden, but I also love looking out the windows at the garden,” Angela says.
“It’s a very light and airy house, and really, from every room, you can enjoy the outdoors and the space, the privacy.”
The north-facing bay windows see the sun stream through in winter, and the native greenery envelops the house in privacy.
Although they had some help designing the garden, Angela says over the years Peter has done all of the work himself.
“My husband planted all of the trees and bushes, he did all the plantings, so it’s had very much a personal touch,” Angela says.
“The garden was very important to us.”
In 2021, Angela and Peter modernised the home by renovating the kitchen, the bathrooms and had the swimming pool redone.
Now that they are retired, the couple spends most of their time at their farm in Hindmarsh Valley, where they also run a bed and breakfast called Old Coach Road Estate.
Angela says the couple would love to stay living at 10 Heather Avenue, but with their children having flown the nest, the family home is too big for the two of them.
The sale of 10 Heather Avenue, Netherby, is being handled by Kris Casey and Laura Prest of Harris Real Estate.
