There is a distinct magic that happens when a designer’s professional eye meets a homeowner’s heart. For Lee Talbot, founder of mavenHOME, her 1890s farmhouse in Thirroul has been more than just a project – it has been a twelve-year labor of love and a sanctuary for her family of six.
Standing as a proud sentinel of local history, the home was originally the McCauley Farmhouse, built in 1895 when the surrounding village was nothing more than rolling pastures between the escarpment and the sea. Today, as Lee prepares to pass the keys to a new custodian in 2026, she gives us an insight into the inspiration behind this Maven Farmhouse, the joy of raising children within its walls, and why this home remains one of the most authentic pieces of Thirroul’s history.
What was your vision or inspiration when creating/designing this home?
More than anything, I wanted to honour the heritage and the story of the home. Its 1890s envelope called for a sensitive and considered refurbishment, but it was equally important that the house reflect our family’s personality and how we live.
My vision was to play with traditional heritage principles, retaining original details and respecting the home’s classic planning, while gently introducing a modern edge. I wanted the spaces to feel more free-flowing and functional for contemporary family living, without ever losing the soul of the farmhouse. It was about allowing modern life to sit comfortably alongside history, respecting the home’s heritage while letting it evolve.
What do you think the new owner will love most about this home?
I think the new owners will fall in love with the home’s sense of flow and its connection to the outdoors and surrounding landscape. The iconic wrap-around verandah plays such a big role in this. It invites you to move through the house in a way that feels relaxed and effortless. I think they will fall in love with her heritage.
Some of my fondest memories are of my children running every which way through the home, in and out through the French doors, under the bullnose verandah in the afternoon summer sun. The house feels incredibly grounded and warm, it has a way of wrapping around you. It’s a home that works beautifully for family life, entertaining and everyday living, all while feeling calm and welcoming.
Were there any “must-haves” or design details that were especially important to you?
Preserving the traditional planning principles was always non-negotiable for us, particularly the central T-zone that is so characteristic of homes from this era. It was also incredibly important to reinstate the wrap-around verandah to the rear of the home, which had been removed by previous owners. Bringing that back felt like restoring a missing piece of the house’s identity.
Adding the pool and alfresco area really was the cherry on top. It created a beautiful gathering place for family and friends and completed the home in a way that feels both generous and true to its farmhouse roots.
What are some of your favourite moments or memories you’ve experienced in the home?
Oh goodness — there are so many I’ve lost count. We’ve raised our four children in this home over the past 12+ years, and it has been an absolute privilege to add our own chapter to her long history.
The first swim in our sparkly new pool was pretty fabulous, however one moment that stands out so clearly is the day we brought our fourth child home from the hospital. I was sitting on the front veranda while my three older children scooted around in absolute glee, blowing bubbles and filling the space with laughter and chaos. It felt magical — one of those moments where everything felt perfectly complete.
Which spaces in the home do you find yourself using or loving the most?
One of my favourite places in the home is the front veranda. Sitting there with a cup of coffee, taking in our towering gumtree and escarpment views, feels incredibly grounding. There’s something so serene about being under the bullnose, listening to the gentle sounds of the street and the surrounding nature.
It’s a space that feels deeply authentic, unchanged in spirit from its original purpose, and it remains one of the most comforting and beautiful places in the home.
How do you feel the home connects to its surroundings — the landscape, views, or community?
This home holds a very special place in the Thirroul landscape and community. Built in 1895 by the well-known McCauley family, it was the original McCauley Farmhouse, standing proudly long before Thirroul village grew up around it. At the time, it overlooked farmland stretching toward the beach, nestled between the escarpment and the sea.
It’s a rare and beautiful thing to live in a home that is such a true original, so deeply woven into the fabric of its community. Over the years, members of the McCauley family have visited and shared their own stories and memories of the home, which has been incredibly moving and humbling.
We have felt truly honoured to restore and breathe new life into the farmhouse, and we hope we’ve done justice to its history. As we prepare to pass it on in 2026, we’ve renamed the property Goodacre, after my own family’s dairy farm in New Zealand, a small but meaningful way to honour both the past and our own family story.
This stunning home is currently on the market! Contact Troy McNeice or James O’Donoghue or view more of this stunning property here.
Blog written by: Laura Sharpe
Photography by: Adam Wallis