It all started three years ago when Emma and Joel Sim decided to buy a property at The Rock in NSW's Riverina with their in-law's Phil and Alison Lumsden.

They were more focused on the land and one of the houses and did not give much attention to the old home on the property.

"Then we realised it was too beautiful to let go, and it had a lot of potential sitting next to the creek with beautiful views of the hill," Mr Sim said.

"It was derelict, but now it's transformed into something beautiful with history restored," Mrs Sim added.

The house was built in 1930 by the Hardy family and owned by the Blackwoods. Then, in 1938, it was purchased by the Kohlhagens, who lived there until the turn of the century.

The Sims said the home's history adds to its character and charm, but turning it into a farm stay was no small challenge.

"It was fairly run down, and over the years, it had been added to," Mr Sim said.

"There were sleep-outs on the verandahs which the termites had gotten into, and there was old asbestos sheeting too. So first things first, we took all that away and took it back to the bare bones."

The renovation took about a year, and the Sims, who also have four children and run their sheep and wheat farm, had a team to help get the job done.

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"We returned it to the open verandahs, which are just beautiful, then we got to work sorting everything out," Mrs Sim said.

"We put in where we could, but the trades that helped us were Shane Cummins, John McMullen Builds, JME Electrical and 000 Plumbing," Mr Sim said. "It took about a year as there were some delays with planning, but the shire has been great."

One of the family's favourite transformations is the music room where Eileen Kohlhagen used to run lessons.

"A lot of the local community came here for them, including my mum and aunts," Mrs Sim said.

"That's a really special room to me. It's beautiful and cosy, and we have the original fireplace in there too."

Mrs Sim said her family has a beautiful history of women working on the land, one that she is honoured to help continue.

"Through those generations, it has been the women who have been the backbone and brought husbands into the picture," she said.

"Mum grew up in The Rock and went away to Sydney to study, met dad and encouraged him to buy a farm in The Rock. Then I convinced Joel to come too."

For more information about the Avalon Farmstay, click here.