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From: Nandina Morris <>
Subject: Re: [AVDR] 'Llewellah' Guest House in Sassafras
Date: Mon, 03 Jun 2002 09:55:04 +1000
In-Reply-To: <3.0.32.20020602172840.00ddf8dc@aardvark.net.au>
Thanks Robert - every little bit helps. I have 2 dates - the ad in the
Argus a lister posted yesterday, of 1926, (sorry, I've already transferred
that to another folder) and the will, dated 1932.
So the dates referred to in your mail help to eliminate those properties.
Nandina
At 05:28 PM 6/2/02 +1000, you wrote:
>Hi,
>
>Dianne had a couple of suggestions which I believe may be incorrect -
>
>from the earlier mentioned draft research project on the backburner:
>
>BRACO PARK (Coulson p.356), Sassafras, located main road, site now mainly
>occupied by the Sherbrooke Community School, probably built in the early
>1900's, was operated by a Miss Murdoch, aunt to Sir Keith Murdoch. During
>WW1 was a nurses home (most likely owned by the Red Cross?). Schauble
>indicates (Schauble p.16) that a "convalescent home for ex-AIF nurses" was
>threatened by the March 1920 bushfires - this is most likely the same
>property - Braco Park. The Red Cross by 1924 had sold the property to Mrs.
>T. Techow, who renamed it CLOVELLY.
>
>BRACO'S HAVEN, Sassafras, In 1929 props. Misses Murdock and Logan,
>accommodation for 5 (Jones p.304) Could this have possibly been the cottage
>on the same site as Clovelly???? Note the spelling of Murdock - should this
>have been Murdoch??
>
>
>CLOVELLY , Sassafras, see also Braco Park, has had many lives:
>
>sometime (possibly in the late 1970's) it was a base for the treatment of
>people suffering from drug dependency, the Gate had a sign - "NARC-ANON".
>
>It was a 'hippy squat' in about 1984-85 and was allowed to fall into
>disrepair prior to and during this period.
>
>A visit to the derelict building in 1985 revealed that the bedrooms were
>quite small - many had a hand basin attached to the wall, many of the walls
>were covered in fibrous plaster - its Guest-house glory days had long since
>gone..
>
>The site was subdivided into 3 allotments in about 1984/5, it was most
>likely subdivided on at least one earlier occasion - creating the site of
>the house fronting main road immediately north of the Sherbrooke Community
>School. The allotments which back on to the school property on the western
>boundary may also have been part of the original BRACO PARK
>
>The Education Dept. acquired the allotment containing the Guest-house and
>the cottage for the Sherbrooke Community School, built about 1985. Most of
>the original guest-house was gutted and removed but some of the original
>framing timbers were used in the main school building.
>
>The original gateway to CLOVELLY remains today as the entrance to the
>bluestone house immediately south of the mud brick house (this bluestone
>house is on the final allotment created by the most recent subdivision). In
>1929 props. Mrs. F. Techow , accommodation for 55 (Jones p.304)
>
>LORNA DOONE (Coulson p.356), Sassafras, built by A. G. Plowman (apparently
>in about 1904). It was threatened by the March 1920 bushfires (Schauble
>p.16). Fortunately, the property survives to this day and is prominently
>positioned on the west side of the main road entering Sassafras from Ferny
>Creek. Rental accommodation was available in the late 1970's (and may still
>be??). In 1929 props. Mr. and Miss Keeble, accommodation for 40 (Jones p.304)
>.........................................
>
>It should be remembered that some of the guest-houses were quite modest
>affairs - perhaps little more than say a standard home with an extra room
>or two for guests -
>
>the identification of the Llewellah site won't be too hard - just not
>possible on the net at this stage?
>
>good luck
>Robert
>
>
>At 04:32 PM 2/06/02 +1000, you wrote:
> >At 10:53 PM 1/06/2002 +1000, you wrote:
> >>Can someone please advise whether the above Guest House still stands? It
> >>belonged once to my grandmother's younger brother, Benjamin HALLEWELL, and
> >>was left to his 2 daughters upon his death. He died in November 1932.
> >>I am also interested in his 2 daughters, Jean, married G.V.Clarke, of
> >>Sassafras, and Alma Mary Minnie married C LEINHERT from Hopetoun.
> >>Could find no further records for either of the girls - believe Alma Mary
> >>Minnie may have been an accomplished pianiste (nothing formal - my hunch).
> >>Benjamin's will was witnessed by my grandfather, who was a J.P. Funny
> that
> >>there was no mention of the family that I can recall.
> >>
> >>Thanks for listening - hope someone knows of the Property.
> >>
> >>
> >>Cheers,
> >>Nandina
> >>RUSSELL and HALLEWELL researcher
> >>
> >>Dear Nandina,
> > Being a former resident of Sassafrass I know there are
> few properties on
> >the main road wihich are large enough to have a tennis court. However there
> >are three I know of both on the church side of the township almost opposite
> >one another. One on the high side was called (and I think is still
> >called)Lorna Doone. It has been restored in the last 10 to 15 years. I know
> >for a fact it was a guesthouse. A former colleague (whose name
> >unfortunately escapes me) told me her aunt ran it as a guesthouse perhaps
> >up until the 1950s??. The current location of the Sherbrooke Community
> >school is another possibility - an old house is still at the front of the
> >property. This is back towards Ferny Creek past the Drunken Duck
> >restaurant. On the opposite side to Lorna Doone on the low side it is
> >possible to see quite a large block with an established garden and what
> >could have been an original cottage. I have lived in the hills for many
> >years and vaguely recall seeing a tennis court somewhere on the low side. I
> >think a trip to Sassafrass if not too far would be well worth your while.
> >
> > Good luck
> >
> > Dianne.
> >
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