Heritage beach home wins awards after stripping away 1970s makeover
A quarter-acre Kiama beachfront home kept its original mid-century feel while becoming contemporary after decades of poor updates.
Luke Walton bought the 1961 Kiama beach house in 2016. Under the gaudy 1970s additions, he found a chandelier, four clashing wallpapers, and designs that didn't fit the original layout.
Working with architect Graeme Bell, he stripped back the upgrades. Walton rebuilt the four-bedroom home to keep its mid-century character while adding modern comfort.
The project won a High Commendation at the 2023 SPASA swimming pool awards and a 2024 Master Builders Association Housing Alterations and Additions Award. Broadcaster Tim Ross, known for his love of mid-century design, chose the home for his 2024 MOTEL performance.
"This is one of the finest mid-century beach houses in the country," Mr Ross said. "It has all the best elements of a mid-century home, but it's been expertly reimagined for today."
The property sits on a rare quarter-acre beachfront reserve above Easts Beach.
- 1961
- Built
- 2016
- Purchased
- Four
- Bedrooms
- Graeme Bell, Trace Architects
- Architect
Why it mattersIt shows how heritage homes can be updated with modern comfort and still keep their character. It highlights why mid-century coastal design matters to Australian builders and buyers today.
AustraliaFor Australian homeowners with older properties, it demonstrates the market value and design credibility of restoring heritage architecture instead of replacing it with trend-driven updates.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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