You will need to get a structural engineer to advise what you can do with the wall, but something like this may work. I note I can’t read the dimensions and they should be confirmed.
You want some rooms for noise control and some open plan. You need to work out stairs as they are a constraint.

Thanks Kate, i will post the dimensions later. i had difficulty posting a picture that didnt have to many megabyte.

Looking at your drawings I would look into adding skylights which would make a big difference

Verandahs are great for shading rooms at the expense of light, you could add strategic glass panels into the verandah roof, above windows I don't think opening up the wall between the kitchen and living will throw enough light for all your trouble

Unfortunayely there are solar panels covering the roof at the front. i also would like the lounge room opened up for the place to be more open plan.

This is my suggestion. Obviously due diligence first with a structural engineer.

Remove wall in kitchen, which supports the walkway, so remove the walkway as well. Relocate the oven and fridge etc, to the existing meals area, and add a pantry. Remove side cupboards of kitchen, keeping the bay and add an oversized island with storage both sides and seating. Since the stairs are non compliant, remove stairs and install two new separate sets of stairs to access separate loft areas.

If structurally good, then removing the walk way and opening up the cathedral ceilings would be fabulous.

I would be very careful not to lose the character of your wonderful individual house

The staircase can be replaced and pushed up against the wall you can get pre built stairs which can save you money

But strongly suggest you get advice from local Professionals

Who do you think would be the best person to advise me, as well as giving an indicative cost? An architect, A structural engineer, A builder??? The original floor plans had the stairs coming along the back wall from the bit of wall space near sliding door, then turning and adjacent to the bathroom wall, but the owners said they couldnt get things up their easily when it was like that. The stairs now are more like what you would see in a yacht, (I am told).

Engineer Architect draftee who will consult with a engineer ask them about costs if you can get them to come out would be best

I would start with a builder. They’ll give you an opinion which will probably include needing a structural engineer. If you’re lucky they’ll know one. Don’t start with an Architect because a builder still has to be able to build it regardless of what the Architect may think is possible.

My suggestion for the new stairs which should link up with the first floor and walkway, you may need a return at the start to make it reach depends on the dimensions and the height of the ceiling downstairs

I think that eating nook isn't really needed anyway, and with the stairs in this position You won't block off access through to the living and passageway

Can't read any dimensions so can't draw it for you which could help your choice of Pro, Engineer, Draftee,

Architect or builder all of whom will need to consult an engineer to advise on what you can or cannot easily remove You might need to compromise and have a partial opening, ie Pantry, wide doorway, fridge and even build across the entrance passage for more storage by using the new doorway opening

Structural engineer will assess the situation and give you a costing on whatever you want to do. Or if you know a builder, who knows are structural engineer, so they can work together, as they usually do, would be ideal.

consult a builder and/or structural engineer and you may be able to create a wide above counter height opening between kitchen and living without compromising the structure and my suggestion would be to swop the living and kitchen to allow a lounge on the garden view side and combine kitchen with dining area overlooking the patio and pool as well as a view from the new kitchen through the new central opening towards the rear view as well ... you need a proper staircase to make upstairs more usable and rearranging the bathroom allows for a separate toilet and vanity and consider adding panels of transluscent sheets to the verandahs allow more light over all the windows and inside Solar skylights can help brighten dark corners

Looking at the floorplan the walkway going across the top of the wall between the kitchen and living shows that the two short brick walls plus another pier between the cupboards supports this walkway. Keeping both brick walls and either adding a horizontal RXJ or a post between them could support the walkway . My drawing shows a Nib wall between the kitchen and living but this wall is not needed and can be removed, but you could add bifold doors above it to close the kitchen of at night

My Old CAD program hasn't shown the walkway but it should give you some idea of what could work. Moving the fridge and pantry across joining up to the laundry wall, with the cooktop opposite or within the large Island. Because of the age of the CAD program the fittings are also old so you need a bit of imagination a lot

Thanks siriuskey, i greatly appreciate your insight and time you took ro do this. i tried to post some photos of the view (gardens, big trees, long driveway, grass, mini dam - extends about 60 metres out from the house) from the lounge room windows at the front, but the megabytes were too big. i have more windows/glass doors at the back but, at the bsck, my property line ends 1.5m from the versndah boundary. There is 20-30 metres grass that house owners mow and can use to walk and play on, then lots of gum trees before the lake. whilst we get a lovely view, it is all owned by the water board. They sometimes (rarely) drive their vehicles on the back grass .

That 3D diagram is great!

Thank you, it doesn't show all the amazing rafters etc but gives a basic idea of the space

the support only has to hold up the walkway, not a room, love your house

As a short term measure, paint would make a huge difference. All that timber with the black rafters is not helping at all with the light situation. A white (there are lots to choose from), with greige rafters would change the mood of the house considerably, while you make long term plans. Good luck.

Thanks wright. i was actually startting to wonder the same thing because the other plans will take a while to develop and implement. i think i will keep the rafters dark til i know the long term plan.

Sirluskeu is it possible to get a view of the area outside laundry on your cad drawing thingy.

Mylongtermhome, yes, even if you don’t change the rafters initially, that option is still there later. I’m not able to attach Houzz pics, but there are lots ideas to look at and I think toning down all that orange toned timber, will be a dramatic improvement…

Will do

Sorry, I only just found the previous extensive paint discussion…

I just wrote you along winded message with attachments only to have the internet drop out!!

The following 2 & 3D shots will give you some idea of the space with the kitchen, living wall opened with retaining both small brick walls to help support the walkway. I have added built in book shelves to each of these to add additional support if needed, if more support is needed for the walkway that will be confirmed when you have your site inspection..

I have moved the fridge and pantry across next to the laundry and after looking back over the photos you posted I have returned the cooktop to the original position and added an Oven Tower on the other side of the Bay Window..

All of this will need to be confirmed by the site inspection to work with the width of the walkway?, doors, windows etc

That has happened to me before siriuskey. Thank you so much for this. I will check them out.

Well, I had a structural engineer come to the house yesterday at a cost of $600. I thought I would get drawings or something for that price but this is what he said.....(oh, before his visit, I cute into some of the plaster of the dividing wall between kitchen and lounge and the brick wall goes all the way along the wall). Structural engineer said that the wall is load bearing because he think that it provids support the support rafters (or what the horizontal beams that are at the bottom of the cathedral ceiling). Those horizontal beams that go across the house (each one from back to front of house) and partly supported by the brick dviding wall. He said that if I totally removed the overhead walkway, I would still need to leave a post or some of the brick on either side of the current dividing wall , as well as a support beam between them. He said I could cut out a window into the wall, but the bigger the window the bigger the horizontal support beam would be required. He said he didnt like working with brick because it was not like timber etc, where you can calculate what load it takes. He said there can be a lot of variation in a brick wall. He said that I should contact a building designer (someone who can give an idea of design whilst also consdiering loads and being able to draw plans...he said normally, those people will ask his advice on something). I hate tryin to do renos, because you can spend a lot of money and not really get much from it, and also go in circles about knowing who is the best person to contact. I know I do need someone to help give me an idea of design, but someone who also takes into consideration comparative costs including structural elements/loads etc. When I said to him ..so I shouldnt see an architect, he said that he often sees things from architects with no technical drawings...just design only. I really would like to be able to see the view at the back from anyway in the house, but I am a little bit reluctant to move plumbing, as I imagine with a concrete floor, the costs will start to rise significantly if plumbing has to be moved. I tend to spend most of my sitting outside time, at the back of the house, looking at the lake...even though there is only 1.5metres from the back of my property to public land (and that I have to put fencing up there to keep my dogs in). It is only me and my dogs at the place, but I do want to make sure that any changes that i make are family friendly and AirBnB friendly. The exisitng laundry seems to have heaps of wasted space in it and because the current windown is so high in it, it seems to be very segregated from the outside pool and not in the best place. I dont know what to do with this place.

Did he give you a written report, for that kind of money I would expect something in writing so you can take to a builder/ designer/Architect. how disappointing for you but don't give up

Thought you might like this Reno

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upQJI1sUTCo