Lee Vandervis (left), Antonie, Juliette and Lukas in the garden of their Garfield Ave property. Photos by Stephen Jaquiery : Labour of love

With most of the original fireplaces gone, replacements had to be found at demolition sites. A woodburner and radiators provide additional heating. : Labour of love

Large oil paintings of Lee Vandervis' great grandparents hang in the entrance hall. A former owner had cut the stairs off near the bottom to put in a dividing wall and Vandervis is still rebuilding them using an old black and white photo for guidance. : Labour of love

A storage area under the house holds lighting and sound systems as well as the violins that Lee Vandervis, an acoustics engineer, restores as a hobby. : Labour of love

The master bedroom is a quiet oasis and, in what Lee Vandervis says was a ''stroke of genius'' on the part of the Victorians, located as far as possible from what was the nursery. : Labour of love

The ground floor bathroom occupies the original kitchen. Lee Vandervis installed the oval handbasin in his former house, in Elgin Rd, and when he later saw that it had been thrown out by the new owners, asked if he could buy it back. : Labour of love

The restored stately residence makes the most of the sun through its north-facing windows. Photo from Hocken Collections S14-337C : Labour of love