To make a short story long........

 

Check the  HISTORY page for details of the 1857 built House and previous owners.

 

This is the longer story of Rosenhof German Heritage Cafe and Restraurant :

 

For us, Kirsten and Christian Uhrig, the project commenced in July 2016 with the vision of renovating and revitalising the property and bringing back some of its original features.

 

Following our Childhood Memories of "Kaffee und Kuchen" Coffee and Cake with the whole family in nice places and outdoor garden settings, we decided to create a genuine German Food Experience as well as a place where people of all ages and ways of life just want to BE - want to stay longer, sit, talk, eat, drink, share stories, revitalise and simply enjoy. 

  

Fischhaus Lund with Kirsten in the pram                 Kirsten's Father selling smoked eel at the market               Christian's Father at Gutsschaenke Neuhof

 

Throughout our upbringing, work careers and during travels around the world, we, Kirsten and Christian found a number of places that formed and impressed us strongly.

 

Some of them are:

 

Café Steigleder, Wyk auf Foehr, Germany

Gutsschänke Neuhof, Dreieich, Germany 

Larnach Castle, Dunedin, New Zealand 

 

So, we set off to do just that - we bought a very delpidated property and started bringing it back to life while giving it a new purpose. 

  

 

       

 

JUMP TO PHOTOS

The Garden - Before and After

And so it starts - from the beginning in June 2016

 

When we started the Rosenhof project those memories inspired us and still to today they motivate and keep us going throughout the project, which we finance privately and also received a Heritage Ner Me Grant from the EPA, which helped with the transformation.

 

Looking at the property, it became quickly clear that after many decades of neglect, house and garden needed a lot (as it turned out a lot lot lot more than we thought..) of work to be brought back to life and some form of usage.

 

Having done 2 rejuvenation / renovation projects before, we followed our gut feeling and started planning.

 

First things first - we cleaned up the Garden and removed lots of useless fences and rubbish, then planted 140 heritage variety fruit trees, which will, in a few years, provide an amazing scenery and playground for visitors. A bit later we established the veggie patch, rose flower beds and different berries joined the market garden.

 

Renovating a place to stay was the first activity and while on site during the first winter, the fireplace in the "living room" was sucking so much cold air through the windows and doors that one could have kitesurfed in the room.

 

We worked on a complete design that included as much of the existing building and also allowed adaptive reuse in the form of a public space that also would help keeping the building occupied and financially viable – a Café & Restaurant.

 

Given that the property was "private" i.e. used as a private residence since the late 1800s, we then went through preliminary design and submitted a development application for "change of use" to council. This was approved in November 2016. A major milestone in  itself as we could now settle on the masterplan and start detailed design and planning.

 

Construction commenced and because we did manage the project and performed a lot of the work ourselves, progress was reasonable but slow due to the significance of the scope. Initial assumptions that we could keep and reuse quite some of the existing infrastructure turned out to be false.

 

Basically we ended up gutting the building out, removing and replacing all plumbing and electrical services, all doors and windows and many of the external walls. We maintained most of the original tin ceilings, removed 1960s floor covering and refurbished the original timber floors. Windows and doors were replaced with hand made timber doors and windows in the heritage stile approved by the Tenterfield Council.

 

The original Ornamental Garden was cleaned up by removing some dead trees and shrubs first. Then Carolyn Robinson assisted in remodelling and upgrading with over 1200 new plants. Dry Rock Walls, stairs and the new outdoor cafe area were created bit by bit. 

 

The external stairs to the Garden had to be demolished as they were no longer structurally sound and the new stairs were to become the centrepiece for the Eastern Side of the House. We trust that these stairs will be the stage for many happy wedding, family and group photos. The Bannister was made by Kyogle based Blacksmith Mark Cooper and it is another masterpiece and example of traditional craftmanship.

 

After three and a half years of renovation we reopened the property to the public on the 6th of September 2019, the same day the bushfires started here in Tenterfield. A scary, almost surreal image to see a fire sweep through town, so close to us. We were lucky, many others weren’t.

 

Visitors to the Rosenhof are all welcomed by the Exposed Rock wall and some heritage information in the entry area and offered a tour through the house, which many mention in their comments on social media.

 

To us, Kirsten and Christian this was probably one of the biggest adventures and commitments of our lives (kids excluded of course). Doing all the planning, design, approvals, project management, procurement and most of the construction ourselves was a big undertaking and steep learning curve.

 

We embarked on this mission with the utmost confidence and creativity and are thankful that by the time we realised how much we had underestimated the complexity of the task, it was too late to turn around as we were already fully committed – so we kept going.

 

Our vision was to bring this historical place back to life  – and now we enjoy people from all ways of life, all age groups, coming through our door not only to enjoy the gardens and atmosphere – but also the heritage “old fashioned” food we make in house and serve in a traditional way.

 

And when we show the guests the finished product – they can not imagine the journey and how things looked along the way. Only we know.

 

A few photos below to share our experience in images.

 

See the current status of the renovatios below. 

Progress Update (newest to oldest) 

 

September 2019

It is done.

We are open - and the bushfires have kicked in.

 

July 2019

June just raced by and good progress on all fronts.

Electrical and plumbing are almost complete - Lights are on and looks amazing. We are fitting out the Kitchen and Cafe/Restaurant area.

Internal fencing and car park Gates done. Foodpath aroung the house.

Liquor Licence obtained. Operations Manual written.

Next stops are Driveway access and getting the kitchen operational and TEST baking, cooking, eating  any voloutneers?

Then Council sign off and certificate of occupancy and ready to go.

 

May 2019

Great Progress in the Kitchen and outside areas. The Garden has survived the excessive heat and no rain of this year to date.

We are at close up stage and the floors are being done and kitchen is tiled.

Painting, electircal and plumbing and we can move in. September here we come.

 

March 2019

Not tooooooo much longer now. Last 10% are always the hardest. And we are not even at 10%.

Anywho - garden survived - thanks to plenty of water in the dam and Kiraten hand watering 2x per day. The really hot and dry summer was a close call and with some rainfall just providing a bit of relieve at the end of March, we are glad that we only lost 1 plant. The 257,000 L tank is in and ready to collect plenty of stormwater. 
We have officially stopped demolishing and are technically at lockup stage. Kitchen walls, windows, plumbing, electrical, ventilation, ceiling and floor are in.

Internal wallpapers, painting and skirting are done in all rooms but the kitchen.

Garden footpathes and carpark is completed and the stairs have their bluestone slates installed. 

 

January 2019

Massive progress made over Christmas and in January - thanks to a wonderful team of helpers / tradies.

Also met plenty of lovely people locally during the ballooning, at the auction for tommy and at other events.

Garden established to 80% and despite the heat, all of the 800 plants survived.

Main entry area bulk earthworks are done. Garden Paths and Carpark steel edges are in and decomposed granit delivered and partially spread and compacted.

Rock walls in the garden are growing quickly.

Kitchen walls and windows commenced. Electrical and Plumbing rough in commenced.

Lots of tidy up in the garden - fallen tree and many other old trees cut and split - remainder chipped for mulch.

 

December 2018 / New Year 2019

What a year it has been.

We have been so busy, I didn't even update the news page.

Last section of demolishing commenced - commercial kitchen is a big one as we had to remove the floor and all services. Also changing windows and extending the wall segment. At the other end the first room is 90% ready. Garden Stairs are also coming together nicely.

Garden has been 80% planted - you would think that about 800 plants made it in already.

With some good rain, the dam is full and the new plants have enough water and take up well.

Lots of fresh Raspberries have been converted into home made ice cream and YUMMMMMMMM.

First Hotair Balloon Flights in Tenterfield 

Now everyone has a well deserved break and we come back in late January for a final big push to the finish line (8 months).

 

October 2018

It has to get worse before it gets better - a lot worse.

Thankfully the rain kicked in and green is the new brown - awesome.

A few highlights: Garden work commenced, services in the ground, dry wall growing, tidy up done, carpark underway, trees planted, electrical continues, internal walls & doors continue . .... . . . . . . Great Job every one. 

 

August & September 2018

A rather quiet 2 months with winter coming to an end and garden work commencing.

 

July 2018

A good opportunity to test the fire places as winter is in full swing.

Cladding completed and soon ready for painting.

Old kitchen is being removed at the moment and we will then officially be done with demolishing existing.

 

June 2018

Another month gone in a flash. All internal and external walls, doors, windows, plumbing & electrical rough in done. Insulation in place and ready for wall and ceiling plastering and cladding. Thanks to Neil, David and Jeremy for their ongoing strong support. A few challenges getting electrical wiring in under the house and into some of the rooms where there is hardly any space underneith. The land has gone into winter hibernation so not much happening there. Fruit Trees protected from rabbit damage by putting chicken mesh around the bases. 

 

May 2018

May was a great month with lots of progress and only minor setbacks. New Windows and doors are in and the ceiling is also ready for rough in of electrical and plumbing.

The Guest Toilets are framed up as well.

Fireplaces are installed and working which helps as now we are getting good frosts in the morning.

Very Happy Kirsten and Christian say a BIG THANK YOU to Neil, Angelo, David Yarnall, Onellio, Peter, Jeremy, Chris, and all other good souls helping us with this project.  

 

April 2018

Time flies and the progress is very visible. Almost all demolition is done and rebuilding has commenced. The old "sunroom" has been stripped and new walls have gone in. The windows have arrived from Europe (ordered in November) and they are well worth the wait. Window reveals and sills manufactured and windows are all in. The entry is also advanced and the external cladding is half way in place. Soon the remaining fireplaces are going in, new electrical fitout, new ceiling in the cafe, then wall cladding.

 

March 2018

Very good progress ahas been made in February. The team is back at it and walls and windows have been installed for the new guest bathroom. Ceiling Skylight Windows recently installed and the natural light will illuminate the internal rooms in the future.

Nearly done with demolition and services relocation. 

 

January 2018

Back after the Christmas Break - lots of work in the garden and orchard needed. Work inside the house will also re commence with more walls, windows, a little more demolition and then working on putting it all back together.

 

November 2017

Heritage Near Me Grant Funding received, roses and trees have taken up and grow happily, internal renovation commenced. Main Focus on the removal of un wanted internal walls, infrastructure and services. Long Lead items have been ordered.

 

August 2017

150 new roses and 30 new fruit trees arrive for planting.

 

Before Christmas 2016 we had the tree specialists in and the change is amazing. 

 

November 2016 - Currently we are going through the internal design and continue to make improvements to the property.

September 2019 to March 2020

July 2019

May 2019

March 2019

January 2019

December 2018 / New Year 2019

October 2018

August & September  2018

July 2018

June 2018

May 2018

March - April 2018

February 2018

January 2018

Back to work after the Christmas Break.

Thies is on holidays and wants to help the old parents with a bit of gardening work. Following the old motto - if it doesn't fit, we will make it fit. Standby for more updates.

November & December 2017

The secret is OUT - it is with Great Pleasure that we announce the receipt of a Heritage Grant for the renovation and conversion of the KEBA house into Rosenhof Heritage Cafe and Gardens. The NSW Government, Office of Environment and Heritage - Heritage Near Me - Heritage Activation Grant allows us to undertake the renovation and modifications commencing immediately. Thanks to Jody Nichols, Tenterfield Shire Council, several Tenterfield locals and Businesses, Barnaby Joyce and all others for their support with the application. Needless to say that Kirsten and Christian are grateful and humbled by the outcome of the application and will use the money wisely and carefully (in conjunction with own funds) to achieve the best possible outcome - and opening soon of course. Please feel free to contact us directly if you always wanted to do a bit of physical work around a Heritage House - there is plenty to do.

 

Stay tuned for Updates

August 2017

And previously at Rosenhof