All language subtitles for Country.House.Hunters.S03E16.720p.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.

www.able.co.nz
Copyright Able 2023.

Today, I'm in the
New South Wales town of Orange

with newlyweds Grace and Luke,

who are looking to put a stamp
on their very first home together.

- Veggie garden, retaining wall,
entertaining space, could do
whatever we wanted.

- Yeah, that's so lovely.

Now we'll be exploring three
different properties that
offer loads of opportunity

for our couple to make it their own.

- This house was amazing.

As first-home buyers, it's very
tempting to come in and go for
something like this.

- Mm-hm.

- So can I find our first-home
buyers their dream first home?

Welcome to one of my all-time
favourite country towns, Orange
in country, New South Wales.

It is gorgeous and it's no wonder
today's couple, Grace and Luke,
would love to move here.

They've been priced
out of the Sydney market.

You see, they're newlyweds on a
tight budget. They wouldn't mind
a renovation.

They also would like a little
bit of a garden that they
could create or build from.

And for Luke, he'd like a nice little
outdoor fire where he could entertain
his friends.

I cannot wait for you to
meet Grace and Luke.

- I'm Grace.

- I'm Luke.
- And we're from
Marrickville in Sydney.

- We've been married
coming up two years.
- Two years.

We met at uni.
We both studied graphic design.

I mean, we were probably friends
first and then a little romance
flourished

and we moved to Sydney
and started our careers in Sydney.

- Luke is from Deniliquin originally,
while Grace is from the gorgeous town
of Corindi,

so I can understand why they would
now like to leave behind the hustle
and bustle of the city

and return to the country.

- Being country kids, we are looking
to have a true change and get back
to sort of where we came from.

We're a pretty easy-going
sort of couple, like, as long
as we have a nice local pub, meals.

If we can get away for a weekend,
weekend away to recharge.

- Bit of bushwalking,

quiet life.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.

I feel like after we made the move
to Sydney that...

it kind of never really
felt like home.

So even though we had each other,

didn't feel like home.

- Yeah, I think we're
looking at a place that we can
settle in and feel like it is ours,

and I think Orange might be
the place that will feel like that.

- Famous for its food,
wine and fabulous shopping,

Orange is also well known
as the birthplace of the legendary
Australian bush poet Banjo Patterson.

The rich history of the town is kept
alive through its stylish
blend of old and new architecture.

They do it so well. And with loads
for our young couple to do,

I think they are going to absolutely
love it in Orange.

Our first home on today's tour,
well, it could use a little
bit of work here and there.

However, I have heard
that our couple are actually
looking forward to a renovation,

so let's see if they're
up for the task.

- Hello.

- Hi.
- My gorgeous girlfriend,
Corindi. Favouritism.

How you going?

Hi. I'm all the better for standing
underneath this beautiful
blossom tree at house numberone.

I can understand why you'd
want to leave the big smoke.

You've been priced out of Sydney,
so why would you choose Orange of
all country towns?

- Orange was big enough to be
able to continue our careers here.

Close enough to Sydney for me
to be able to work from home
and travel to Sydney if I needto.

- Oh, lucky you.
- And it's also still got
that country feel

that we both grew up in.

- I know that you're first-home
buyers, so what is the budget that
we're looking at?

- Around 650.
- Cool.
- Yeah.

- OK. What do you think of the facade
of this 1980s-style home?

- I think with a bit of paint,
you could definitely freshen
that up.

- I think the house on the outside
could use a bit of a facelift.

The brown and cream is
a bit dated...
- A bit dated.

- ...compared to the other
houses in the street.

- I've got the budget in mind. Let's
go and check out house number one.
- Perfect.

- When we first walked in, it was
nice and bright, nice and airy.

It has plenty of natural light,
which is a bonus.

- Yeah, it has quite a
warm, homey feeling.

- Now, just before I take
you into the main living area,

I just want to quickly ask your
opinion of what could be a second
living area or entertaining spot.

It's currently used as a dining room.

What do you think of this space?
Would this work for you?

Because I know that you
love your entertaining.

- I could definitely see this as an
entertaining space that we would
use.

Our family would
fit around a table that size.
- Yes.

- Yeah, it's a beautiful space.
- But let me show you the main
kitchen and living area

because I know you want
the gas stove.

OK.

I know on the wish list was
a gas stove.

It's got to be one of the oldest
gas stoves I've ever seen,
but what do you think?

- It's good bones.
You can update the cabinetry.

The benchtop could probably use
a little bit of a facelift,

but overall, it's in
a good position.

- You're so positive.
This is wonderful.

Is that because you're from a family
of builders so that you know that
you can get the labour?

- We know we got free labour.
We put them to work.

- Do you know what?
I'm going to be honest with you ―
this carpet is kind of old.

- Yeah, I think some timber
floorboards or something would―
- I knew you were going to saythat.

I can definitely see that as well.
You could do timber floorboards
right throughout the house.

- Yeah. That would really
modernize it a lot.
- So when you're ready,

meet me outside.

- Cool.
- Nice one.
- Good luck. See you soon.

- Oh, nice one.

It's a good size.

- Yeah, it's nice and bright.
I like it.

Probably update that carpet, though.

- You can see there's a fair few
stains, so that is more work and
budget that cuts into it.

- Yeah.

- I'm just listening to the bird song
out here in this massive back garden.

- It's a good blank slate
too, which is nice.

- Veggie garden, retaining wall,
entertaining space,
could do whatever we wanted.

- Yeah, that's so lovely.

Would the Hills Hoist stay?
- I think it would, yeah.
It's classic. It's a classic.

- I shouldn't say it,
but I'd get rid of it straight away,
but I think that says more aboutme.

- We're pretty classic Australian,
just standard Aussies, I feel like.
- Down to earth, pretty...

- The Hills Hoist is not
an issue for us.
- Yeah.

- So what do you think this place
is on the market for?

- Hmm.
- 650 to 700, I would say.

- You're very confident. Something
I'm a little bit excited to tell you

is that the current
owner is ready to sell.

- Good.
- Good.

And they are open to offers ―
650 to 700.

- Perfect. Nice.

- I think the fact that this house
is right on budget, but it's still
liveable,

means that we can kind of work
through it while we're living there.

- Add what we want, update what we
need and then really make it our
own home.

- After the break, we tour this
quite interesting character home,

and then later on, we check out
this cute little 1950s cottage.

and then later on, we check out
this cute little 1950s cottage.

- I am in Orange, New South Wales,
helping Grace and Luke find their
first home together.

We've already toured one house
that did need a little bit of work,

but our couple loved the opportunity
to make it their own house.

House number two has had
a lot of renovations,

but there's still loads they could do
outside if they wanted to take on a
project.

So let's bring our couple
in to check it out.

I wouldn't normally mention this,
but I know that you're gardeners.

What do you think of this lawn?
- It's pretty lush, isn't it?
- Lush.

- It's great.
- A lot greener than the last one.

- Isn't it funny that we noticed that
straight away? I was like, 'Oh, nice
lawn.'

What do you think of this house?

It's got the columns,
it's got the brick.

- It's a nice character compared
to the first one, I think.

Really nice curb appeal, especially
with all the trees and plants.
There's a lot of greeneryin nature.

- All right, let's go
and see the kitchen.

I know you want to see that kitchen.
- Let's do it.

From the front, you could
sort of see the heritage style,

and then that flowed
through the brick.
- That brick wall.

- Just before I show you the kitchen,
I just would like to show you this
first entertainingarea.

Is that your style?
Is that your thing?

The brickwork there and the arch?

- It really warms up the room,
doesn't it?

- I was going to say it
makes it really warm.

Just the texture and the colour of
it really warms up the whole area.

- Speaking of warm, you may have
noticed there is a fire.
- I've got my eye on the fire.

Yeah, that's a bonus. That's good.

- OK, let's check out the kitchen.

Well...

Wow.

What do you think?
- This is it, isn't it?

- This is what you
call move-in ready.
- This is stunning.

- How would your dog go in here?
- Look, the floorboards would be a
lot better, a lot easierto clean.

You can see that it flows out on to
the entertainers area, which is
good, which is a bonus.

- Absolutely.
- That's probably so far
the only thing is

that there's not much that
you would need to do.

- It is move-in ready,
though, isn't it?
- Yeah.

- When you're ready,
I'll meet you in the back garden

because I'm very excited to show
you what we have out there.

And let me know what you think
when you're ready.

- Oh, nice.
- Yeah. Wow.
That's a very bright little space.

Yeah, this is pretty luxe for
if there was kids or guests to
use this space.

- Or a his and hers, we could have
separate sinks and cupboards.

You get that one,
and I get these three.

- At least then your makeup wouldn't
be all over my one, would it, eh?

- Isn't this lovely out here?
You can just hear the rustle of those
unbelievable gums.

It's just beautiful.

And I should let you know straight
off the bat, that is an open reserve
that can never be built out.

- Amazing.
It sounds quiet, doesn't it?
- Yeah.

- Doesn't it? Yes.

Duly noted, Hills Hoist.
- Again. Here we are, the gumtree,
the Hills Hoist.

How much more country can you
get coming from Sydney?
- Give me a home in the country!

Coming from Sydney, we've got a
little clothes horse, instead of a
clothes line.

- So you really appreciate that?
- It's the little things.
Little things.

- So what do you think this one
is on the market for?

- Above 800.

- You're right.
It is at the top end of your budget.

- I think we have to discuss
the cost of repairs to the first
house and weigh up the options.

- Yeah, yeah.

- This house was amazing.
- Yeah, you can definitely tell
the difference from the price.

- Yeah. As first-home buyers, it's
very tempting to come in and go for
something like this.

- Is it worth having
spend more money and less work?

- I was kind of looking
forward to doing the work.
- Mm.

- Next up, we sit down with
Kristen to hear her story

about transforming the Byng St
homestead into an award-winning
hotel.

And then we tour our final property
for today, this gorgeous little
country cottage.

And then we tour our final property
for today, this gorgeous little
country cottage.

- People absolutely love coming to
Orange to experience the harmony
of its old and new architecture.

Kristen and her husband, Thomas,
have kept inside the town's theme

with their restoration of the
historic Byng Street homestead.

So I caught up with Kristen to learn
all about how they managed to bring
this magnificent building

into the modern day.

Tell me a little bit about the
design ethos of your hotel.

I guess we want to keep the,
you know, the heritage and restore
that back to its originalbeauty

and then the juxtaposition
with the modern and the old.

It's a sense of excitement and awe
as people walk down the driveway,

and they don't realize that
there's this long extension
at the back,

and we just love seeing
the look of surprise on their face.

- What do the locals
make of Byng Street?

- I think that they're really proud.

We certainly hope that they're
really proud, in the way it's
been restored.

I think we bring
a lot of tourism to Orange.

People really appreciate the
shopping and the food and the wine,

and we just want to give
back to the community as well,
so we enjoy being part of it.

- So to live here, it is
really quite beautiful.
- Oh, absolutely.

Feel like Orange is the new black.

I'm just so glad that I came here
because so many people had told me
about what you had done here.

And for me, it really represents
the new guard of Orange ― people
who respect the past,

who've embraced it, but are taking it
into the future as well.

- Yeah. And I think it's great that
regional centres have been
discovered,

both in New South Wales
and around Australia.

So yeah, it's great.
- It's exciting.
- Yeah, it is very exciting.

- Now on to house number three,
this gorgeous little cottage.

It's only a five-minute walk to
the heart of town,

so let's see if our final property
can win over Grace and Luke.

You can probably hear, with a little
bit of that traffic noise,
we're closer to town.

- That's a positive. That's good.
- That's a positive. Great.
- That's good.

- This is a 1950s
cute little cottage.

I will be honest,
this place is under your budget.

And I'm saying that
because as we go inside,
just be open-minded to what we see.

Can you smell anything?
- I can smell the fire.
- Let's go get toasty.

- That's a really big TV.
- You can't miss it.

- You can't miss that TV. But I
really wanted to show you the
fireplace.

- You can feel it
as soon as you walk in.

- Keeping in mind,
this is a 1950s cottage,

so you can also tell straight away
that you have designated spaces.

- Probably prefer a
bit more open plan.

- More modern.
- Might feel a little bit tight with
our current furniture in this.

It's probably a little bit small.
- You're worried.
- A little bit tight.

- You're worried already.
- Yeah.

- But then also keep in mind what I
said right out the front is that
this is under budget.

- Yeah. Have some wiggle room.
That's good.

- All right. Would you like to have
a look at the kitchen?
- Let's have a look.

- OK, great. All right. In you go.

You can see those original
floorboards come all the way through.

Is that your kind of colour?

- Yeah. It really brings, like, the
warmth up from the carpet to the
kitchen.

- Yes.
- With the new cabinetry, for an
older house, it looks quite modern.

- What about all the
different textures?

- Probably a little bit too much.

We could modernize that a little
bit, but overall, it's actually
quite a good space.

- Yes. All right, well, have a look
at the rest of the house and when
you're ready, I'll meet you outside.

- Nice one.
- OK. Out the back.
- Cool.

- This could be a good office space.
- Yeah, the lighting's really nice.

Would be really
good for office space.

I can still feel the heat from that
fire. It's so warm in here.

- Yeah. And the fire carries across
the whole house.
- Yeah.

All right. It's pretty warm in
here. Should we go outside?
- Let's do it.

Room for a fire. That's good.
- Excuse me. It's already there.

- There the chimney and everything.
Too perfect.

- And hello.
- Hills Hoist.

- Three from three.

- I kind of love this space. I love
having this open porch and it's a
very country thing to doas well,

just to sit out on that back porch
and just enjoy...

...the trucks and the
bird life.

Could you do your outdoor
entertaining here?

- Yeah, you can see a big table,
barbecue.

- So what do you think this one
is on the market for?

- Mm. I'd probably say 660.
- Yeah. Probably I'd say
600 to 650.

- Yeah. Well done. It actually was
put on the market at 625 and up.

- I was surprised that this
place was under budget.

It had everything, really,
that we were looking for.

Mm-hm. Overall, it's actually
quite a nice property.

- I think it'll be a pretty
tough decision.
- Yeah, they're all pretty close.

They all have their positives
and negatives both.

We'll just have a chat
and see what we think works.

- Now that I have met Grace and Luke,

I can see why they would be open to
the idea of renovating.

They're young first-home buyers.

They've got the energy,
the creativity.

And hello, with a family full of
builders, they've got the free
labour.

Even though we've shown them three
homes that are all around their
budget,

I think they might go for number one.
But I can't wait to see what they
think.

- Well, Grace and Luke have had some
time to think over the three houses

that we have toured
in wonderful Orange.

Let's check in for a little cuppa
to see if they've made a decision.

Hello. I come
bringing sweetie treats.
- Hello.

- Have you been chatting about all
the wonderful places that we saw?
- We have.

Plenty of things to talk about.
- How are you feeling about those
three?

I had a feeling the third one, you
liked it, but you were quite clear
it wasn't for you.

Is that fair?
- Yeah, that's fair.

I think the yard was probably just
that little bit too small for what
we would like todo.

- Yes. How did you feel
about house number two,

which was pretty much
schmick, wasn't it?
- It was stunning.

- It was stunning.
- Yeah.

- But in a weird way, that's almost
detrimental for you. Is that right?

- Well, the updated kitchen
was everything we'd need in it.

The floorboards were amazing, but it
probably takes away the challenge of
owning our firsthome

and then making it in our
own along the track.
- Yeah?

- Yeah.
- Which leads me to the first house.

So you've got the family of builders,

and I'm sure they just can't wait for
the phone call to come and help you
out.

- Yeah. I feel like being first-home
buyers, you kind of need to have
something that you needto renovate.

It's like a rite of passage
where you do a bit of DIY, so...

- You're young.
- Yeah.

You've got the energy.

- So what do you think you'll do?
- I think we'll go for house one.

- Yeah. We'll get on the call.
- If we can make our stamp,
it has everything we need.

A few updates with the carpet.

The kitchen could use an update,

but they're all things
we can do as time goes on.

- Yeah.
- But it is, essentially,
at the moment, move-in ready.

- Yeah.
- Yes. And the dog will love it.

- The dog will love it.
- The dog will love it.
- Priorities.

Yes.

- Well, I have to admit, I'm openly
envious of the life that is in
front of you.

Excuse me.
You get to have this every day.

- It's amazing, isn't it?
- Oh!

- Our couple did end up putting in an
offer for house number one,
the fixer-upper.

And they got it.

Yeehaw! Well done.

They also wanted to let us know that
they have already started on the
renovations.

Grace and Luke, we just wish
you all the very best

for creating your new dream home
together in our beloved Orange.

Captions were made with
the support of NZ On Air.

www.able.co.nz
Copyright Able 2023.