mcxu8 I'm in the same position as you, and I've decided to buy the freestanding cooker that I want to cook with...I figure I 'll be using it nearly everyday so I want it right!

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Hi samkosky. We had two of these very efficient heaters until a friend, who works as a specialist 'tester' for Energy Safe Victoria, visited and inspected them. (We had no idea but these old heaters have been deadly, sadly.) Your Plumber and Gasfitter should be able to test them for safety, I believe and will also know the models that should be dismantled. Yours may be safe, but you do need to check. We had to get the plasterer in after we got them removed, of course. (We replaced them with split systems, up high, so no issues with furniture placement or efficiency. Not cheap but really work well and look good - and are safe.) Good luck with yours.

If you get good dry wood and for the right price I'd go with wood everytime. It burns hot, dry and clean. However not everyone has the ability to get the wood, nor has time to stack, bring it inside, etc.. I'd have a wood fire for the look and feel but just use it occasionally if regular wood supply is not possible. Electric reverse cycle is very efficient now and even better when used with solar power. Gas was the way to go for heating up until a few years ago now its back to electric again.... Keep the open fire and have electric reverse cycle as well! I'd keep the chimney but add some corbel's to it. Maybe the blue feature brick like on the window sills. You could make the chimney a feature rather than trying to do the opposite.