For Bruce Marich restoring three historic homes is a labour of love ... but a costly one

Mr Marich, who last year purchased the historic Bridge and Toll houses has a vision for two of the city's most iconic and little known about buildings.

Along with their sister home Walli House, the trio of properties are a little off the beaten track in old High Street, Maitland, but plans Mr Marich has for them will certainly put the precinct on the map.

Bed and breakfast accommodation, where people can experience 19th Century living, and a wedding venue are just two of the ideas Mr Marich has planned for his first project - Bridge House.

Bruce Marich remembers with great fondness visiting his great-great aunt Ann Clift at Bridge House built by her husband Samuel Clift. He also built Toll House and Walli House.

To pay homage to his relative's contribution to Maitland's beginnings, Mr Marich will restore Bridge House to its former glory with the possibility of throwing its doors open to the public. In what he has described as a labour of love, Mr Marich, a heritage enthusiast, is carrying out most of the renovation work himself.

With the help of his carpenter son Anthony, borer-ridden trees (each replaced with two additional trees such as cedar) have been removed, tin shed on site will be replaced with another structure made of Western Red Cedar. Earthworks have been carried out to divert water away from the house. "A lot of work has been carried out that is not really visible but it had to be done," Mr Marich said.

Plans will soon be lodged to build a conservatory at the back of Bridge House and an atrium in a breezeway between the main cottage and an out building. The property's swimming pool has also been resurrected.

"We've had to do a lot of cleaning up because over the years the building has been occupied mainly by elderly people who have been unable to keep up with the maintenance," Mr Marich said.

"We aim to build a picket fence like the original and restore stairs to the out building that lead to a loft." Mr Marich will also return a large sandstone sink to Bridge House which was moved to Toll House as a planter box. He isn't sure how much it weighs but said it is about five inches thick and will take four people to lift it back into place in the kitchen.

Mr Marich is asking anyone who has lived in Bridge House or anyone who has timber, convict bricks or any memorabilia relating to the property to contact him. "We're trying to keep it as original as possible. We are happy to pay for anything that may be of use to us."

Mr Marich has already ploughed hundreds of thousands of dollars into the project and said there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done. He can be contacted via email at bridgehouse@marich.net.au

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