A curvy home with an unusual military history has come up for sale in a sought-after affordable pocket.
The two-bedroom home at 23 Macquarie Avenue, Cessnock is a classic example of a Nissen hut, a type of temporary military building which has since been repurposed for suburban housing.
The house sits on a 556sqm block and blends its unmistakable semi-cylindrical shell with modern updates.
A home converted from a World War II-era Nissen hut has hit the market in Cessnock. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
While its curved steel form would normally stand out on a typical streetscape, it actually blends in among at least 40 other Nissen huts on Macquarie Avenue and in the surrounding neighbourhood.
The home has been listed for sale with a $500,000 to $550,000 price guide, which is well below Cessnock’s $690,000 median house price.
Selling agent Drew Olsen of Urban Real Estate said the home felt surprisingly roomy.
The homes was converted from a temporary military building that later housed new migrants in the 1950s. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
“It’s very cylindrical inside,” he said. “It’s a bit more spacious than what you would think for a two-bedroom home in that price bracket.”
Mr Olsen said there had already been strong interest in the property from first-home buyers and investors attracted to its affordable price point.
“You can't get anything else in Cessnock that's liveable for $500,000 to $550,000,” he said. “I’d expect it to be sold within the next week.”
Timber floorboards and a combustion heater provide creature comforts. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
Nissen huts were originally designed in 1916 by British engineer Peter Nissen as fast, low-cost military buildings that could be shipped flat and assembled quickly.
Thousands were used during World War I and World War II, with many later repurposed in Australia as emergency housing during severe post-war shortages.
Although never designed to be used as permanent housing, many have been extended, renovated and personalised as treasured family homes.
The curvy interior is has been fitted out as an affordable home. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
Others were relocated or converted for other uses such as storage sheds or scout halls.
The Nissen huts in Cessnock and other suburbs in the Hunter region were originally erected at the Greta Army Camp, a training facility built during World War II which was later converted to a migrant camp.
When the camp closed in 1960, the Nissen Huts were sold, dismantled and dispersed across the region, with most repurposed for housing or recycled for other uses.
The curvy home's interior feels larger than it looks, according to selling agent Drew Olsen. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy
Many have since been upgraded with new flooring, interior walls, bathrooms and kitchens, extending the lives of these unique buildings well beyond what was originally intended.
The unusual homes serve as a timely reminder of how Australians responded creatively to housing shortages in the past, and are now providing an affordable way into the market for today’s buyers.
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