Looks like Jarrah, but not sure if Jarrah was used in Queensland

A good builder will be your salvation. He will be able to source all the trades for you, brief them, keep them on schedule and budget (unless it's something major) and deliver what you want. A good builder is hard to find - go by referrals and interview them to find someone that you can work with. Dont be afraid to ask questions and expect answers. I have to admit I got very lucky with my builders and I adore them and trust them implicitly - you've got to love a builder that gets stuck into trades when they don't do the right thing by you or clean up after themselves.

all heaters and stoves should have very specific installation instructions including distance above the stove to any mantlepiece and i suggest you start with advice from local suppliers and then confirm with specific written instructions from each manufacturer that you can usually find on line...There are a number of heaters that have wood fires that are designed to be inbuilt in a purpose made wooden frame so hopefully this can be done inside your opening

Hi Anne, Your home is beautiful with so much potential. There have been some clever ideas presented but I think its important to have an overall plan that you're working towards. This way you avoid needing to re-do certain areas. With the overall plan you would decide which materials you like and what needs to change and then you can stick to that plan as you roll out the changes. For instance, I think the brick on fireplace wall is a lovely feature of the home but the brick in the kitchen area is competing with it. With the timber panelling, it was certainly a feature of the home originally but these days we tend to paint out the panelling to make spaces feel lighter and more open. We often use Dulux China White when working with robust materials like brick and timber as it has a warm stone like tone. In one of the pictures, I can see that there is a full feature brick wall in another room which should creates a lovely flow and consistency. This is a home in Fairhaven Victoria that looked just like yours (but without the brick) and was painted in the China White. Cheers, Vikki. Your bathroom will also looks great with a touch of paint and a new vanity.