All language subtitles for Country.House.Hunters.S03E08.720p.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-BTN

- From its barren beauty...

to lush landscapes,...

the Australian countryside is as
beautiful as it is breathtaking.

Many Australians are discovering
rural life and making the move.

So I'm on the hunt to help
everyday Australians find
their perfect country house.

Captions by Able.

Captions were made with
the support of NZ On Air.

www.able.co.nz
Copyright Able

- I am in beautiful Newcastle,

helping Deb and David return
to the area that has always
had a hook on their hearts.

- It's just a surprise, surprise,
surprise. So every room
is magical, really.

- You walk around the corner, and
bang, water as far as you can see.

- We are going to explore
three homes with each offering
something quite different.

- I have been involved in
some renovations in my life,

and so I can certainly
appreciate the energy that's
been put into it over the years.

- But will Deb and David
find their dream home?

What do you think you'll do?

Stay with us to find out.

You will love today's
couple, Deb and David.

Both of them grew up in Newcastle,
moved away for various reasons,

and now for business and family,
they are returning home.

Now, they absolutely love the water.

They're looking for a place
that they can happily entertain,

and with a budget of $3 million
and the weather behaving like this,

I think Newcastle is
going to turn it on.

Newcastle is a town that
Deb and David have long
had a deep connection to.

So when it came to moving away
from Sydney, this town was
always calling their name.

- My father was on
New South Wales Railways.

This is one of the areas where
he used to work, controlling
trains around Newcastle.

So to actually inside here is...
Is quite something.

We grew up in a very similar area.
We went to the same high school.

- We sort of knew of each other
but we didn't know each other.
- Yeah.

And as we traced back on
history, there was a number
of Sliding Doors moments

where at one stage we both lived in
the same street. Never met.

We'd gone to the same school,
yet we'd never met.

And then we met at...

High school reunion.

- I'm relieved to come back home
so that I can be supportive
to my family, my parents.

I wanna be here if―
if and when they need me.

- I like sailing.
Deb likes a beach, so being close
to a beach would be good.

And that it'll be a place that...
- That feels good.
It feels like home.

We need to know that we feel
the vibe. The vibe. Yeah.

- Newcastle is the largest
coal-exporting harbour in the world,

but there is so much more
to this city than just coal.

During WWII, Newcastle assisted
Australia's war effort significantly,

being the industrial hub
of the country.

But in 1942, in the early hours of
the 8th of June, a Japanese submarine
shelled Newcastle township.

Thankfully, no lives were lost.

Today, the city is seen as
one of great opportunities ―
there is so much optimism here.

I just know that Newcastle
is the perfect fit for Deb
and David to prosper in.

Welcome into the atrium.
- Oh, wow.
- It's quite beautiful.

- It's absolutely amazing.
- And you haven't even seen what's
on the other side of this house.

- Yeah, that atrium is quite
something. And that glass
that is pretty impressive.

- You've got the beach
a few minutes down that way.
You've got the lake out this side.

So are you ready
to leave the big smoke and move to
a smaller community like this?

- For me, the answer to that is yes.
I've got a reason to move back

in terms of moving here to―
for work and opening a new office.

- And you've got family
already here as well?

- Yes, so I'm really happy to be
returning so I can look after Mum.

- What's on your wish list?
What are you looking for?

- To be near the beach
would be wonderful.
- OK.

- A house that has a room so that
when our older children visit,
there's somewhere for themto stay.

Or if we have guests from Sydney.
- And for you?

- Yeah, water views would be good.
- Oh, water views. Absolutely.

- OK. The houses that we are
going to show you today will
be completely different,

but this one, there's quite a few
bedrooms, and I think you might like
the view too.

Shall we take a look?
- Absolutely.
- All right. Let's go through.

I just wanted to quickly
show you this room. It's
sort of like a cosy snug.

It leads out on to
a protected courtyard.
Do you ever do meetings at home?

- Yeah, yeah.
We often do meetings and calls.
- Could that work?

- Absolutely.
- What do you think?

I think it's amazing, all the
wine in there. That'll be great.

- It'll be hard to keep him focused
on the work, but it is amazing.

- What about this sort
of long, narrow home?

- I think it feels
too narrow for me.

We've come from a house that's
a lot bigger, a lot wider, and so
the neighbours are quite far away.

So this feels a little bit narrow.
So I'm hoping that when we get...

- Come on through. Come on through.

So, this...

is what I was leading you to.
- Oh, gosh. Look at it.
It's stunning.

It's a surprise. A big surprise.
- You walk around the corner, and
bang, water as far as youcan see.

- What do you think?
- That's a water view.

That is unbelievable.
- Wow. It's incredible.

- Do you see yourself here in this
beautiful, open living space?

- Yeah, this is a fabulous open
space. It just flows outside,

and, yeah, that view
is just amazing.

- We walked past a theatre room.
We've got the snug. Haven't even
shown you the bedrooms yet.

What do you think of this open
space? Of the kitchen? Are you
cool with that kind of cabinetry?

I think I'm accustomed
to having a new kitchen.

I like to have the white,
the fashionable white white.
- Yes.

- I think we would love
to entertain in this house.

If we did purchase this house,
I couldn't wait to invite
all our friends.

- I will send you upstairs. When
you're ready, I'll meet you outside.

I want you to sit on the bed in the
main bedroom and just think about
waking up in that space, OK?

- Will you do me that favour?
- Yes.
- OK. Off you go.

- You're selling this hard.
- And I'll meet you outside.

- That is just a remarkable view.
You know, we talked about having
water views,

and it's right around us.
It's like we're already on a boat.
- It is.

So where does the sun...
- Sun rises over here in the east.
- OK.

- Come around, and west is
over there. So it's perfect.
- And there's the marina.

So there's our boat
that we're going to buy.

It's just a surprise, surprise,
surprise. So every room
is magical, really.

- I can certainly see us
being here. So how much do
you think this place is worth?

- Well, I guess we need to go and
ask Catriona. Then we can really
give it some true consideration.

- I just organised for
the ducks to turn up.

Could you get used to that view?
- Absolutely. I wouldn't get
out of bed if I had that view.

- Yeah, I don't― I'm not sure
we need to see more houses.
That is really just...

- Really? But let's play the game
right now. How much do you think
this place is on the market for?

- Three and a half?
- It is on the market at the moment
for three and a half,

but I think they will accept
something a little bit closer to 3.3.

- Three and a half might be...
- We might have to
figure that one out.

- That's way above what we were
feeling comfortable with.

But as time goes on, less and less
property for sale on the water.

- So it's just over your budget,
but, I don't know, do you
think it would be worth it?

- I think so. I think what
it's worth will increase in value
as the years progress.

- There's not many places
that look like that.

- There's nothing really
that I don't like about
this house now.

Cos maybe it's above our budget.

- OK. A couple more places to show
you. Keep your minds opened.

Next up, we tour this fully restored
Federation-style home.

And later, we'll see this house, that
is filled with warmth and character.

- I am in Newcastle with Deb and
David, who are returning home.

The first house I showed them
was a modern home right on the water
which they absolutely adored.

But now for something different.
Will this house be the one for them?

Now I've brought you somewhere
that is totally different.

There are things that are
on your wish list where
I'm about to show you.

However, how do you feel about
coming to a Federation home
in a neighbourhood like this?

- It feels fabulous.
- Does it?!

- Just green.
It looks really, really good.

- I have been involved in
some renovations in my life,
and so I can certainly appreciate

how exquisite the house is,
and the energy that's been
put into it over the years.

- It is walk-in ready. It has a
fresh renovation. Lockwood is in the
beautiful Hamilton neighbourhood.

I think you were saying before
it's the posh part of town.

- It's two minutes to the harbour,
and it's close to the office. It's
close to university forthe kids.

- So it's not far from the water.
It just doesn't have the water view
that we would perhaps have―

well, we've seen in the other house.
- However, we do have
beautiful parks,

and the house that I'm about to
show you is over 100 years old.
Wait until you see...

Let's go inside.

I just wanted to show you the master
before we enter the rest of the home,

because at the front here, you can
see this is where the history is.

This is where all these
beautiful period pieces are.
The beautiful plaster ceilings.

The tessellated tiles. Did you
notice the tiles as we walked in?

- We could definitely
live happily here.

- You'll love the fact that just
in there is a very schmick walk-in
wardrobe, en suite as well.

So there's four bedrooms in the
house, but come and see where I think
you'll do most of your entertaining.

What do you think of that kitchen?
I think the fact that you are
colour-coordinated is a good sign.

- Very lovely.
- I think having that
beautiful light come through,

you can keep an eye on your dogs,
possibly your children,

and then of course this is your
incredible entertaining space.

Really easy to keep clean.
You have a beautiful beam.

That has actually been
brought in from the waterfront,
from down by the harbour,

and that kind of separates
the old to the new.

Do you wanna check out what they've
done into the roof? And when you're
ready, I'll see you outside.

Don't peek too early.

- Oh, this is an escape,
isn't it? For―
- A teenager.

- For me, for you. A teenager.
- It is. It is.

- This is close the beach.
It's close to work. It's
really close to the office.

- Close to the uni.
- Close to the uni.

- See if we can have look at
the pool area and see if that
influences our decision.

- That's what you wanted to see.
- I did. I'd love to have a pool.

- Something that might please you
is the fact that it's self-cleaning.
- Oh.

- I told you.
- It's saltwater. The whole thing
can be done from your phone.

- The pool is amazing.
It also matches the kitchen
in that it's new.

It looks fabulous for entertaining.
- I also wanted to show you, though,

this granny flat that's
been placed out the back.

- And I can see that it's
set up as a gym, is it?

- Today it's set up as a gym.
There is a bathroom there as well.

What do you think about coming
out to this totally different
mood out the back here?

- It's sensational.
It's period house, period features,
really tastefully redone.

- It's only just come on to the
market. There is a huge amount of
interest. So what do you think?

- It's gotta be...
It's gotta be 3.6.

- It's actually just over your budget
at the moment. It's about 3.3.

- I thought the price
was pretty reasonable.

It's literally two minutes to
the beach, close in to town
for a four-bedroom house.

- All right. Are you ready
to see house number three?
- Absolutely.

- We're doing very well so far.
Two out of two ain't bad.

Next, we visit Fort Scratchley to
visit more about this historic city,

and then we will tour
this recently renovated home
that offers warmth and charm.

- Now, locals agree that
the very best view of Newcastle
is from Fort Scratchley,

which was originally
a coastal defence fort
and now functions as a museum.

I spoke with Carol, who provided
some Newcastle backstory.

It's a bustling port here,
all happening, honouring
the foreshore down there.

- It is an incredible
working port, and the second
oldest city in the country,

and still a very busy working port,
as you can see.

This city was
a pivotal part of the WWII effort
in protecting the steel industry.

This is one of only two locations
in Australia that was shelled,
and it landed just over there.

And our stories are everywhere
around us in this city, you know?

This fort is a story.
Our lighthouse is a story.

The coalmines under where
we stand are a story.
- Really?

And it is the story of mining, of
course, that created this city.

So, you know, for history lovers,
for storytellers, there's
a wealth of riches.

- And go and have a dip
while you're at it.

The family that we're working with
today, they grew up here,
they went away.

They're like most people. They're
coming home. They wanna come back.

- But we are now offering in this
city opportunities for younger
people to have careers that,

you know, people like us, we had
to go to Sydney or Melbourne for.
- Mm.

- We don't have to do that now. You
know, our kids are growing up here,

and they're only leaving if they
want to, not because they have to,

because now the opportunities
are created here.

The economy is supporting that. The
innovation and the infrastructure
around that is supporting it.

And I think it's amazing watching a
new generation coming through going,

'I can be anything
I want in this city.'

- Our final property is a recently
renovated home with water views.

Will this one be the property
that wins over Deb and David?

We're on a main road.

A main road with a great view.

So just bear with me, OK?

Where are we going
to park?

- This is a brand-new home.
It's almost like what your life
is heading towards.

It's new. It's lock-up-and-go.
I thought you might be intrigued

because the current owner
is a former kitchen designer.
- Wow.

- So...
- Good thinking.
- Yeah. Yeah.

OK. Apologies for the weather. It's
closed in today, but that's fine.

Let's head inside
and see what you think.

- Oh, wow. It's so impressive.
Oh, my goodness. It's really
amazing. Look at the light.

- I'm speechless. Speechless.
- What can you hear?
What can you hear?

- Nothing.
- That's very surprising. So
they're obviously double glazing?

- All double glazed.
- See, there was the question,
what will the road noise be like?

That's been looked after
in the design.

- There's a beautiful courtyard
out the back

which is a really lovely place
to capture the sun in the morning
and the afternoon.

And then, of course, everything is
designed to look out on that lake.
- Really impressive.

Like, this is most impressive
kitchen we've seen so far.

- Can you tell that the owner
was a former kitchen designer?
It is schmick.

- It sure is.
- Caesar stone. Blackbutt flooring.

We've got the pull-out pantry,
double fridge.

- It has a sense of warmth.
It feels like a home already.

I do feel like we would really fit
well here. I could happily stay.

- The marina's right there.
The views look great.

- I love it. I do love it.

And I have lived on a main road
most of my adult life, so it's not
really a problem.

- And the natural light
in here is fabulous.
- Is it your style?

- Yes, absolutely. It is. It is.
- I could take this kitchen
and put it in any house...

It's just spot-on.
- It is very incredibly designed.

- Take a little look around.
Master's down this way.
- OK.

- Oh, look at that view.
- Yeah, straight across the lake.

- Imagine waking up to that every
morning. We would be so spoilt.

- It's brand-new. Everything is...
Everything is done.

The kitchen, the bathrooms
look fantastic.

You know, we've still got the view
of the lake, trees, and surprisingly
inside it's quietas.

- And it's similar to
what we've come from.

What did you think?
Am I way off the mark here,

showing you something that's quite
different from the other two?
- I think you're way on themark.

I actually like it. I like that
it's a little bit more compact than
the first one that you showed us.

I was considering a lot of cleaning
in the first one, I'm imagining.
- Water views. Quiet.

Design is just speechless.
- It is. There's so much thought
gone into this house.

- Considering your budget is three,
you may like the fact that it's
just hit the market for1.5.

- Oh, my gosh.
- Wow.

- So I'm seeing European trips.
I'm seeing loads of holidays.
- Maybe less mortgage.

- A boat. Less mortgage. Exactly.
- Sorry, forgot about that one.

- It's a lot of house
for that price.
- Mm.

Three totally different homes.
Have a chat and when you're ready,
let's come back together.

What do you think?
- Perfect.
- OK.

- I've given Deb and Dave a little
time to think about the three
properties on our house hunt.

So let's see if they have
made their decision.

Did your dad used to
actually work here?
- Yeah, so in the signal box.

He used to operate the lines for the
trains coming in out of the station.

- You've come back to Newcastle, and
you're looking at $3 million homes.

Is that a little bit
of a pinch-me moment?
- Yeah, absolutely.

It's absolutely beautiful
in this beautiful town.

- So I was really curious
about the three houses,

because I felt that you saw
the positives in all three of them.

- You've made it
really, really tough.
- Sorry.

- There were three places
that were completely different
and were all possibilities.

- And with the first place, the one
with the multitude of bedrooms
that was right on the water,

and then the third place
that was the duplex,

they are representing two different
stages of your life in a sense.

So, I suppose the question is,
at the stage of life you're at now,

is there one of those
that will stand out for you?
What do you think you'll do?

- The third house is fabulous
sometime in the future for us.
- Yes.

- I really felt that. I think that―
- House one is fabulous now.
- Yeah.

We can't really deny that house one
meets all of our needs for now
and into the nearest future,

where maybe grandchildren can come
visit. Maybe my parents might need―
both parents, or ourparents

might need a place
to stay at some point.
- You've got the space.

- Cafes that are walking distance,
and standing at the front door,
you said, 'How quiet isthis?'

And you went, 'It really is.'
And then that fabulous view.

- And the architect was a genius.
I have to say that the house
is just amazing.

It sings to you every step of
the way along that corridor.

- You get to pick this glorious home.
I wish you all the very best of luck
with your family.

Thank you so much for joining us.
It's been really lovely, hasn't it?

Deb and David made an offer
on the house on the water,

and I am thrilled to say that
they were able to secure
their home of choice.

Congratulations to you both.
We wish you the very best
for you and your family.