The history of the house has been captured in the latest book in the Maitland Heritage Group Historical Publication Series by historian Cynthia Hunter, called Hearths and Homes.

Ms Stephenson, who took on the challenge to restore the house, was pleased its history would also be preserved.

The book will ensure the family’s legacy is embedded in each brick; and the shadows of those children who chased butterflies and ran barefoot across the lawns will not fade.

Bathed in spring sunshine and filled with the promise of lazy summer days to come, the shouts and laughter of children from a century ago who inhabited the garden of Bryn Glas can almost be heard.

There were three who spent their childhood at the majestic Telarah property, built in 1904 by their father, Welshman Azariah Thomas, the superintendent of the mining operations of the East Greta Coal Mining Company.

Their names were immortalised in the streets that were carved from the original 200ha estate: Bronwen, Ivor and Trevor.

Azariah’s mother lent her name to the address of the property in Elizabeth Street.

Modelled on the late Victorian-style with Queen Anne characteristics, the two-storey home has four bedrooms, a study, four bathrooms, two lounge rooms, two dining rooms, an eat-in kitchen, a cellar and sitting room.

It was named for the Welsh translation of “green hill” and was the place associated with the battle of Bryn Glas that was fought in 1402 between the English and Welsh armies.

Renata Stephenson has owned the property for almost six years, and spent two of those working alongside her brother to restore the house from the roof to the cellar.

A former real estate agent, Ms Stephenson had no idea the property existed: the house was shielded by high walls and an overgrown garden.

“I sold a house at Rathluba and I had nowhere to go,” she said.