‘HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS’
THE HOMES OF YALLOURN
INTRODUCTION
The famous American author of ‘Little House on the Prairie’, Laura Ingalls Wilder, once said: ‘Home is the nicest word there is’; and, it appears from the plethora of photographs and comments posted on the Virtual Yallourn website, that there that is no place like home or to be more precise ‘there was no place like Yallourn.’
This article, for the Virtual Yallourn website, had its origins in the sale of a house at No: 7 Fairway Drive, Yallourn Heights. The house was the former residence of Mrs Susannah Lacey for more than 70 years; and it was sold in 2021 following the sad passing of Mrs Lacey on the 15th October 2019.
The house, which was relocated from Boola Crescent in Yallourn to Yallourn Heights in 1979, has quite a background story which is best told by Susannah’s daughter, Veronica and her husband, Rod Barfoot…
‘THE LACEY FAMILY HOME AT 10 BOOLA CRESCENT YALLOURN & 7 FAIRWAY DRIVE YALLOURN HEIGHTS’
Written by: Veronica & Rod Barfoot. February 2021
“10 Boola Crescent… was a modest but practical and functional house with 3 bedrooms, generous lounge/dining area, kitchen, bathroom and laundry incorporating the toilet.
There was no air conditioning with a wood heater and wood hot water service requiring regular family wood chopping excursions.
It was the standard weatherboard with tile roof design and the SEC regulation all white plaster walls and ceiling.
Over the years as regulations eased, with much excitement colours such as light mint green, pink, blue, and lemon were introduced to the interior.
The house was brand new when the family moved from 23 Narracan Avenue to 10 Boola Crescent during June 1946. It was a large undeveloped block apart from the house and the standard SEC provided garden shed.
Wally and Sue set about landscaping the property including the construction of a garage/workshed with vehicle access via a laneway off Driffield Road.
After much hard work, the garden would become a feature of the property including carefully manicured (by Wal) pencil pines bordering the two sets of front steps, rock terraced garden beds (made by Wal) with a large grassed play area for the kids together with a 20 yard concrete cricket pitch beneath the clothesline. A very large paddle pool was also constructed which was a popular attraction for the neighbouring kids; and this would later be converted to a fishpond.
There were many assorted fruit trees and a large vegie patch together with the chook house which provided both eggs and occasional meat.
Wal and Sue were both avid gardeners; and with an abundance of natives and bulbs, you were able to pick flowers year round.
The house was a true family home abuzz with children and friends, dogs (mainly fox terriers for rabbit hunting) cats, guinea pigs and assorted wildlife.
It was always a welcoming and open house with Sue able to whip up a meal or a batch of scones in no time for regular visiting family, friends or church acquaintances.
7 Fairway Drive Yallourn Heights… The house was relocated from Boola Crescent to Yallourn Heights in 1979 and after undertaking minor renovations, the family moved in during March 1980.
This was another large block and once again the family set about establishing another garden of flowers, fruit trees, vegie patch, fish pond, natives and pathways but this time the chooks missed out.
It was still the same loving and welcoming home with children and dogs always a feature and each shown equal affection.
By this time, grandchildren had arrived; and over the years, photos of family/extended family members and kids adorned every available space on shelves around the house.
The home continued to be the “hub” and gathering place for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas gatherings and any other celebration that deemed recognition.
Sue passed away in October 2019 at the age of 98 and was still living in the same house by herself to the end. It is truly remarkable that she had occupied the same house for over 73 years. Another interesting statistic is that, due to the age spread of the children, there was at least one child 21 years or younger living at the home for over 40 years. An era closed when the house was eventually sold in January 2021.”
Source: Veronica and Rod Barfoot. February 2021.
PLANS AND FRONT ELEVATIONS OF YALLOURN HOUSES
The plan and front elevation of the house at 10 Boola Crescent is one of many such ‘blueprints’ (related to the houses that were built in Yallourn) which can be found on this website.
NOTE: One of the most demanding, yet interesting, projects that Julie George has undertaken in her role as administrator of the Virtual Yallourn website, was the collection, ordering and posting of floor plans/front elevations of the houses constructed in Yallourn. It is doubtful if any other community website can offer such an insight to the homes of local residents.
There are 13 pages of plans and elevations on the Virtual Yallourn website; and each house has a designated ID number, relevant street name and number; and, in some cases, the function of the building (eg the Reservoir Cottage). Many entries also contain comments and/or photographs from the former occupants of that particular home.
To study the list of homes posted on the website go to:
http://www.virtualyallourn.com/places/houses?field_streetname_value=Allandpage=0
To read this article in its entirety and see many more pictures, please click on the link to the pdf version below: