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A 19th century church has been converted into a spectacular luxury house with history etched on every wall.

Built in 1866, 'The Arches' in Allendale East, 458 kilometres south-east of Adelaide, is believed to be one of the oldest churches still standing in South Australia.

The property consists of two separate buildings, 'The Church' and 'The Annexe', the former ideal as a family home and the latter which has the potential to be rented out as an Airbnb.

The Church boasts three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a sprawling open-plan living and dining area that flows into a designer kitchen, with original features such as vaulted ceilings, stained glass 'leadlight' windows, open archways and timber floors all painstakingly preserved. 

© Provided by Daily MailThis 19th century church has been converted into a spectacular luxury house with history etched on every wall

Outside, the Annexe - a self-contained single bedroom apartment with a kitchenette, a bathroom and a private deck and courtyard - sits on a 2,072 square metre plot that contains landscaped gardens, an enormous shed and plenty of space for parking cars well out of view from the street. 

Listing agent Gail Richards, who is overseeing the sale of the property for realtor Key 2 Sale Mount Gambier, told Daily Mail Australia the church has captured imaginations in a way she has rarely witnessed before.

Ms Richards said she been 'blown away by the level of interest' from prospective buyers from across the country as well as one from overseas, despite the obstacle of the international border closure.

'There's a lot of history inside the walls,' she said, adding: 'It's just so tastefully done.'

Original features such as vaulted ceilings, stained glass 'leadlight' windows and timber floors have been painstakingly preserved

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The renovation, which was completed by the previous owners who also converted another church in a nearby regional town, is regarded as a true standout in the sleepy town of just 472 residents.

Ms Richards said it is clear the owners have a 'real eye for doing up old buildings', preserving heritage features while creating contrast by installing sought-after modern comforts.

The church has been marketed with a guide price of $400,000, which Ms Richards said it 'a bit higher' than the average for the area but a small sum to pay for such an 'outstanding property'.

Best of all, both buildings come fully furnished - a rare find on the Australian property market.  

The designer kitchen creates a modern contrast, with red splashbacks and a black island bench in the middle

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Instead of turning the Annexe into an AirBnb, Ms Richards said it could be used as a quiet spot for anyone still working from home.

'The beauty of what's happened with Covid is so many people are working remotely and relocating to the country,' she said.

'We're seeing so many enquiries from buyers across New South Wales and Victoria, it's really unprecedented.'

Sleek, contemporary bathrooms contrast beautifully with historic features

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Ms Richards said she has noticed a growing number of house hunters from regional NSW who are turning their attention west to South Australia, as Sydneysiders buy up properties in small, country towns in their droves.

The pandemic pushed many of the Harbour City's 5.23 million residents to reevaluate the benefits of life in the bustling state capital.

But the impact means families who have lived in the regional areas for generations are struggling to compete with new arrivals from Sydney and Melbourne and their city-sized budgets.