Family farewell: Nine years in Neale Whitaker's former Surry Hills Terrace

The property is being marketed by Ray White Touma Taylor director Charles Touma and is set to go to auction on 8 November.

Mr Middaugh is selling the much-loved tri-level home as exciting career opportunities await.

The couple purchased the property in October 2016, drawn to its heritage charm and prime location in a quiet dead-end street in the heart of Surry Hills.

Mr Middaugh said he knew Mr Whitaker had previously owned the property, which added to the home’s fun history.

“When I first arrived in Australia, I had never heard of The Block or of Neale himself. But the moment I stepped inside, I understood why this house was so admired,” Mr Middaugh said.

“The attention to light, the proportion of space, and the integrity of design spoke volumes. Over time, I came to deeply appreciate Neale’s aesthetic.

Since moving into the three-bedroom two-bathroom home, Mr Middaugh and Ms Crotty have raised two children, Olivia (7) and Lennox (4), while carefully updating the 130-year-old terrace to suit their modern family life.

The family added a third bedroom designed as a flexible guest suite and home office, complete with 11-foot custom pocket doors and period-appropriate fixtures.

They also built a new entertaining deck, installed air conditioning, re-sanded original floors, and carried out extensive period carpentry throughout.

"When I first came to this country, I learned that 'buildings depreciate, but land appreciates’,” Mr Middaugh said.

"A restored terrace on 130sqm in the inner city felt like the perfect intersection of investment and lifestyle."